Unknown Love (Sequel to Unexpected Love)

six

louis

I sighed happily as I strolled along my usual route to the hidden area where the pond is to meet Lisa. She texted me saying she had good news for me, and that just gave me an excuse to get to see her again.

I found myself at the pond sooner than I expected and saw Lisa pacing back and forth. She didn't look upset or stressed, though. She was happily pacing. I cleared my throat and she turned to me immediately.

"Louis!" she exclaimed and ran up to hug me. I gladly hugged her back and responded with a "Lisa!" that was just as excited as her own.

She backed away, the wide smile still evident on her face. My smile vanished as soon as a saw a light bruise on her left cheek.

"What is that?" I asked, pointing to her cheek, not beating around the bush one bit. She held her hand up to her cheek, her smile slowly fading away as well.

"It's nothing," she said quietly and I took a small step closer to her. I looked into her eyes for clarification but there was none.

"Did he do that to you?" I asked, my tone getting a bit angrier as realization soon came to me.

"Maybe, but that isn't what I came to-"

"He hit you," I said softly and gently grabbed her cheek. She winced in pain and I dropped my hand.

"It's fine, he didn't know what he was doing," she defended him. I closed my eyes and sighed.

"Lisa, that's called abuse. You're really going to be with someone who physically hurts you? What did he say to you?" I began investigating her with questions.

I had to prove that David isn't who he says he is, without actually saying he's been lying to her.

"Louis, it's not important," she explained but I was fuming.

He really hit her? I'll never understand why people find joy in others physical pain.

"This is obviously important, Lisa! He physically hurt you. Do you understand that people go to jail for that?"

"It was just one hit, and it was because he was drunk. He wasn't thinking straight. That isn't what I came to talk to you about, I actually had good news to tell you," she said, already looking tired of this argument.

I sighed and closed my eyes before opening them and smiling. She seemed so excited about the good news, and right now, I would rather see her smiling than anything else. "What is it?"

"I talked with David and he promised me that I could leave the house when he isn't home if I leave him a note or text saying where I was!" Lisa explained excitedly. Except that was almost a normal thing that every other married couple should agree on. The fact that she was so excited about this made me a little angry, but I threw on a huge and excited smile just because I loved seeing her so enthusiastic.

"That's great! Does he know about our friendship?" I asked, slightly hoping he didn't.

"N-no. I hope that's okay with you, though."

"Of course it is, I would rather be a secret then get you in danger." I responded with a smile.

"Okay, great. I may put it off for a little while, I don't want to push what I already have," Lisa said, a smile still evident on her face. I couldn't get what she just said to stop replaying in my head after that.

I don't want to push what I already have.

Four hours later, Lisa tossed one more pebble into the pond before joining me on the grass. She began picking at her freshly painted nail polish, and right then, I knew something was up.