admiration [l.t]

xviii

It's so hard for me to write this story now. Here you go though, I hope you're enjoying the journey. 

Graduation was a blur. It was a mixture of a whole lot of hugs and a handful of smiles, a few tears and even more goodbyes. When he walked across the stage and grabbed his diploma, everything that had happened to him in the past four years came rushing back to him, and a small smile made its way to his face. Looking back at everything he had been through and not knowing what was in store for him in the future truly just made him the happiest he had been in a while.

After everyone threw their caps in the air and screamed and hollered in happiness, Louis went around finding his family and closest friends for some pictures, never wanting to forget such an amazing night. Many gave him a high five before pulling him into a hug, only causing Louis to squeeze his eyes shut and hope that the few tears that were threatening to spill didn't make their way out.

The days of packing up his room and shoving all his textbooks aside never prepared him to actually leave the place he had been calling home for the past four years. Sure, he was going to come back to college and obtain his Master's but for the time, all he wanted to do was go home and just live life, maybe even go to a few places he had never been before.

The day had finally come to an end and Louis was walking to his car, impatiently wanting to get to the apartment he bought a few months back way down in Florida, hoping to get a fresh start. As he came closer to his car, he heard his name being called.

He whipped around to see Bella running towards him, and despite him not being close with her anymore, he smiled when he saw her.

"I couldn't find you after the ceremony," she said through heavy breaths, stopping a few feet in front of Louis. "I just wanted to tell you congratulations and all, ya know? I don't know what you plan on doing and I know we aren't exactly on good terms but I still want the best for you." She looked up at him with hopeful eyes, hands shoved in the pockets of her small jacket.

Without a word or a moment hesitation, Louis pulled her in for a hug, squeezing her tight and burying his face in her neck. He stayed there for a moment, just holding her, neither of them saying a word.

He wasn't sure why he felt the need to hold her, but now that he was he's not scared to admit that he missed it. It was comfortable and familiar, and he didn't want to let go.

When he finally pulled apart, he gently kissed her on the cheek, ignoring the warmth that spread throughout his body. "Thank you. And when you graduate next year, you can expect to find me sitting among the people that can't wait to watch you trip across the stage."

Bella laughed softly, slapping Louis arm with the back of her hand. "Now that you said it it's definitely going to happen."

Louis let out a small laugh as well, looking down before meeting her eyes again. He knew he had to leave college and she had to stay, and he knew as he looked at her standing before him he still loved her, but he would never let her know. He also knew that he would not be coming back next year to watch her walk across the stage for he'd be off doing his own thing. Sighing heavily, he pulled her in for one more quick hug.

"If we never see each other again, just know that I love you, and I always will." Louis looked at her for a few more moments before slowly backing away to his car. When he sat down and heard the engine whir as he turned the key, he didn't wait to pull out of the parking lot.

Maybe what he had just done wasn't right and maybe he'll regret it for some time, but as he drove away he also felt a weight being lifted off his chest. And he knew that although it wasn't exactly orthodox, maybe it was the closure he needed and had been craving.

It was time he moved on, and it was time he let go.

[A/N/; Again, so short and so bad. I'm so sorry]