Forever and Always - Olivia Rodrigo and Louis Patridge

Distance and Desire

The days after their conversation in Hyde Park were a mix of quiet longing and busy distractions. Olivia had returned to Los Angeles for rehearsals, and Louis had thrown himself back into his work on set. They kept in touch through text, sending each other casual messages here and there—updates on their day, funny anecdotes, or simply checking in. But every time Olivia reached for her phone to reply, she couldn't help but feel a small ache in her chest. The distance between them wasn't just physical; it felt emotional too, even if they had agreed to take things slowly.

Olivia was in the midst of preparing for the next leg of her tour, her mind filled with set lists, choreography, and vocal exercises. Still, every quiet moment seemed to be filled with thoughts of Louis. His smile, his laugh, the way he made her feel like she could just be—no masks, no pretenses. But the reality of their lives made her pause. She couldn't deny that she was starting to miss him more than she expected.

One evening, after a grueling rehearsal, Olivia found herself sitting alone in her dressing room, her thoughts swirling. She picked up her phone, staring at Louis's last message.

"Hope you're doing well. Thinking of you. ❤️"

She read the message again, a smile tugging at her lips. It was simple, but it made her heart race. The fact that he was thinking of her meant something, didn't it?

She debated for a moment, fingers hovering over the keyboard, before she typed her reply:

"I miss you. I can't stop thinking about you either."

It took her a few seconds to hit send, and when she did, she immediately regretted it. Was she being too forward? Too open? But before she could second-guess herself, her phone buzzed with his reply.

"I've been counting down the days until I see you again. I'll be in LA soon, and I think we need to have a proper conversation. No distractions, no distance."

Her heart skipped a beat. Louis was coming to LA? For a moment, she couldn't believe it. She had been wondering how this was going to unfold, and now it seemed like the universe was giving her the answer.

"I'd like that. A lot." Olivia's response was quick, her fingers typing faster than her mind could keep up.

Days passed, and the anticipation of Louis's arrival lingered in the air like a pleasant hum. Olivia found herself wondering what would happen when they finally saw each other in person again. Would they be able to pick up where they left off? Or would the distance have made things more complicated than they seemed?

When the day finally came, Olivia was pacing in her apartment, waiting for Louis's text to say he had arrived. The second it came, she felt her heart jump.

"Just landed. Meet you at the café?"

She didn't need to think twice. Olivia grabbed her jacket, her pulse quickening with every step as she made her way to the café they had frequented during their time in London. It felt like a safe place, a spot where they could be themselves, away from the chaos of their lives.

When she arrived, she saw him right away. Louis was standing outside, his hands stuffed into his pockets, looking effortlessly cool as always. But when he saw her, his face lit up with a smile that made her heart flutter.

"Olivia." He said her name like it was the most important thing in the world.

She smiled back, feeling an immediate sense of ease as they closed the distance between them.

"You're here," she said, her voice soft with relief.

Louis pulled her into a hug, his arms wrapping around her tightly as if he was afraid to let go. Olivia melted into the embrace, feeling the warmth of his presence, the comfort of being in his arms.

"I missed you," he murmured against her hair.

Olivia pulled back slightly, looking up at him, her eyes searching his face.

"I missed you too," she admitted.

They stood there for a long moment, neither one of them speaking, just taking in the moment. It was as if everything they had both been feeling over the past few weeks was being said without words.

Finally, Louis broke the silence. "So... about that conversation we were supposed to have."

Olivia chuckled softly. "Yeah, let's have it."

They made their way inside, settling at a table by the window. Louis seemed to be gathering his thoughts, but there was a determination in his eyes, as though he had finally reached a conclusion about what he wanted.

"I don't want to take things slowly anymore, Olivia. I don't want us to be in this weird limbo where we're pretending we don't feel something for each other. I can't pretend anymore."

Her breath caught in her throat. She had known this was coming, but hearing him say it out loud made it all feel real.

"Louis..." she started, but he held up a hand, stopping her.

"No, listen," he said, his voice steady but intense. "I don't know where this will go. I don't know if it will be perfect. But I want to see where we can take this. I want you in my life."

Olivia's heart swelled, and for the first time in a long time, she felt sure about something.

"I want that too," she whispered.

Louis's eyes softened, and he reached across the table, taking her hand in his.

"Then let's stop pretending, Olivia. Let's be real."

She smiled, her heart full. "Let's be real."

And with that, they both knew that no matter where life took them next, this was a moment that would shape their future together.