A Cup of Fate

14th Phase: Unlocking Keys

a/n: hiii! here is the latest update to my story. For all of you who has been waiting for a NiallxMaggie or HarryxMaggie scene, this is not it. Xx This is probably one of my favorite chapters of this story. So I hope you'll like it too. so here it goes. :) 

this chapter is dedicated to @TheLetterJ well, because she's an awesome person. You go check out her story. She's an amazing writer. Xx

PS. You might get confused who said who because of the flashback transitions on this story. I'm so sorry. I'm not good in transitions. :P Please bear with me. Xx

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14th Phase: Unlocking Keys

“But i was sure of something, too: it's a lot easier to be lost than found. It's the reason we're always searching, and rarely discovered--so many locks, not enough keys.” 

― Sarah Dessen, Lock and Key

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“Hi.” He finally says.

“Hi.” My voice chokes in. It's like there's a huge limp stuck in my throat, making me unable to utter a  single word. I have to keep myself composed. I have to keep calm. 

“So,” He begins. I see him slipping his hands in his pockets. 

“So,” I moisten my lips parched from the chilly weather.

“How are you?” He asks. 

“I’m well, thanks.” I cross my arms just below my chest as I give him a diminutive grin. His eyes are fixed on the ground. I know he’s nervous as I am. We can't both look at each other's eyes directly and be like normal people who have normal conversations.

Oh god, this dinner is really a terrible idea- a really terrible one. 

“How was France?” He continues to ask not letting the fire die down. 

“It was wonderful. I learned French.” I kid. He titters as a response to my sarcastic words.

“I must admit, you still have the same sense of humor.” A grin forms from his lips. “I guess nothing’s changed, huh?” James takes his hands out of his pockets.

“I think not.” I unfold my arms and let it down freely as place them on my side.

Standing has never been this fearful until now. With his same old stature just a few feet away from me, I wanted to run- to run away as far as possible. I would be willing to fly back to France just to get out of the situation I'm in. But I can't. I couldn't make myself to do so. My feet are glued on the floor. It doesn't allow me to move even an inch farther away from him. I hate it. I hate it. 

A clash of an aluminum cooking utensils echoes through the window that separates the lounge to the kitchen. I swiftly turn my way around and look at the window frame. I see James' mom and my mom's head sticking out through the four borders of the rectangular hole. They have been listening to our conversation. 

“Oh, mom.” My eyes roll skyward as I mumble.

“What did you say?” James turns to me.

“Oh, nothing.” I purse my lips together. James looks at the the direction my eyes are fixed. 

“You want to go out where no one is listening to our every word?” He says, emphasizing the “no one” part letting both of our moms hear it. 

“Yeah, sure.” I just agree. I don’t even have a choice. I don’t want to be rude in front of him. I want him to know that I’m completely okay with talking to him- that I’m completely done with whatever we had years ago and that I’ve completely moved on from the past. I have to let him feel that I am okay. Even if a part of me still isn't.