Hope is Never Lost (Book 3)

Chapter 5

I watched Alex talk excitedly, gesticulating wildly. He seemed to have forgotten that everyone was supposed to get a turn talking, but nobody seemed to mind.

Don't get me wrong, I love hearing Alex ramble on about his college life and studies, but I was getting a little restless, which kept me from paying attention.

Looking around, I saw that my parents and Gemma were engrossed in what he was saying. Liam, Kaya, Harry, Valerie, and Melanie were only half paying attention. Tim and John were paying attention, but they'd obviously heard Alex's adventures before. Like me, Louis just looked bored out of his mind. But he'd found a way to be politely occupied, or so it seemed.

I quietly excused myself, not wanting to bother the excited boy, and headed outside. In recent events; college, my new job, my crazy social life, the amount of time I'd spent inside sulking; I hadn't been in the backyard at all.

Slowly, I headed toward my old swing set, memories flowing back to me.

That song Alex and I made up with Kaya when we were little. Finally managing to get to the top of the rope with knots in it when I was seven or eight. How I used to come out here to swing and sing when I was in a bad mood, or if I was feeling gloomy.

How obsessed my younger friend, from across the street, was with the swings. She would be in high school now.it was hard to believe. Parents are right, we do grow up to fast.

I remembered how many long, deep conversations Kaya and I had had, and the number of times I'd cried to Kaya about things that nowadays, I find stupid. And she'd cry to me too sometimes.

Testing out the swing, I sat down and started to push myself off the ground. As I got higher and higher, I began to sing, just like I used to.

Closing my eyes, I enjoyed the wind on my face as I belted the lyrics.

When I finished the song, my eyes remained closed for a few seconds, cherishing my peaceful alone time.

"You've got a lovely voice, you know that?" A voice interrupted my thoughts. My eyes flew open, startled.

"Shit! You scared me!" I exclaimed, turning to look at the boy now sitting next to me.

"Language, young lady," he teased.

"Louis, that's not fair!" I glared at him, "I'm twenty! Plus, the number of times you've cursed in front of me, especially when I was thirteen, was horrendous!"

"Horrendous?" he laughed.

"Yes, horrendous. I like big words, okay? No need to tease me about it."

"Oh but I have every right to." I didn't have to look at him to know he was grinning.

"No," I replied, "you don't.

~Louis's POV~

"No," she replied, "you don't."

"Says who?" I missed having time with Kaitlyn when she was being herself. She'd been so busy lately. She used to spend so much time in her room, and then she occupied herself with her new job, and going out with friends, I'd barely gotten to see her all summer. And its a week into July!

"Says me," she brought me back to reality, "Only Alex, Harry, and Ethan are allowed to." I felt a sudden wave of protectiveness over her. I'd never heard of Ethan before. Maybe she'd gotten a boyfriend at college. Strangely, a part of me didn't want her too. I had so many questions now.

"Who's Ethan?" was the only thing that came out of my mouth.

"My best friend," she smiled. I found a small bit of comfort knowing that, but friendship could always escalate. And there was a small jealous feeling that refused to part with me. I didn't know why.

~Kaitlyn's POV~

It was a little hard to talk to Louis without breaking down, but that was expected. The fact that I hadn't yet just proved that I was finally getting over him. This was good. I just had to keep pushing myself to keep my mind off the past.

"My best friend," I smiled in reply. Ethan was my best friend. He was the only one who knew everything about me besides Liam. Liam knew me inside and out. Ethan did too, but he didn't know everything. He was still clueless about my past with my feelings for Louis. Liam did. And I planned to keep it that way.

"That hurts, Kaitlyn," he held a hand to his heart, "it hurts right here. I thought I was your best friend."

"You've been terribly mistaken then," I smirked, "you've got an entirely different place in my heart."

"And that would be?"

"My worst enemy."

"Katie!" he whined, using my recent nickname.

"Louis!" I mimicked him in an exaggerated high pitched voice. He rolled his eyes.

"I didn't believe it was possible!" a familiar voice came from the other side of the yard, "Kaitlyn Styles actually got a boyfriend! Its so shocking!" I turned to look at the annoying ginger walking toward us.

"Louis is not my boyfriend!" I protested, even though it hurt, "as I'd just informed him, he's my worst enemy!"

"Oh I see," he laughed turning to Lou, "I wish you luck on her bad side, it's pretty... bad."

"Oh, c'mon! You're supposed to be my friend!" I complained.

"Aww, is little Katie sad that her friend joined the dark side?" Louis teased.

"Shut up!" I muttered indignantly, "and I'm not little."

Ethan looked between us, "Are you sure you're not dating, 'cause it sure seems like it."

"No," I replied, "he has a girlfriend."

"Ah okay."

"By the way," Louis looked at Ethan, "who are you?"

"I'm Ethan," he grinned.

"Oh Ethan," Lou turned to me, and playfully winked. I glared at him. Looking over to Ethan, I was relived to see he hadn't noticed. That would've been really awkward.

A/N: omg, guys! I updated! so I've decided that instead of putting this on hold, I'd just say that I have slow updates... cause I do.

Anyway! what do you think? Is Lou finally falling for Katie? If so, will Katie come running back, or has she truly moved on? What about Ethan? Or Liam and Kaya?

Tell me what you think will happen in the comments! I'm curious!

Love you guys!