A New Turn

Chapter 6

LOUIS POV

Caitlin started rubbing the palms of her hands on her bright purple trackpants. I could tell she was nervous, just like me.

I started bouncing my knee up and down. I always did that when I was nervous.

Caitlin looked beautiful. Even though she was wearing what appeared to be an old hoodie with an odd logo on it and her hair was in a messy bun. Not many girls can pull off that look but she certainly could.

She just kept looking at me with a grin on her face. I had to say something.

"Nice hoodie." I added a little chuckle on the end of that.

She stared down at her stomach to examine what she was wearing. I could tell how embarrassed she was. All I wanted to do was give her a long warm hug, rub circles on her back and whisper soothing things into her ear. But that wasn't happening any time soon. She cut off my train of thought.

"Um thanks. Sorry for my awful state."

I had no idea how to respond to that. All I could think about was how beautiful she looked and how much I just wanted her voice in my ear. Suddenly, that train of thought took overly entire body.

"Oh no worries! You actually look really cute."

Oh shit.

Oh shit.

Oh shit.

Why would I say that? Now nothing is ever going to happen between us, EVER.

She didn't say anything after that. But she had a little smirk on her face. That's promising, wasn't it?

Ok, I needed to end this call. I needed to talk to Harry.

"Alright well I'd better go. Hey, when do you arrive in London?"

"In a week. Looking forward to seeing you in person! Nice to meet you!"

"You too! Bye!"

Oh thank god that was over. I don't think I had ever embarrassed myself so much. I needed to talk to Harry.

I suddenly heard the sound of what sounded like a bowl hitting the bench in the kitchen. I stood up from the couch and started rushing towards Harry.

I entered the kitchen to see Harry bending over and grabbing the ice cream out of the freezer. I took a seat at the island bench before talking to Harry.

"Can you grab me a bowl?"

"Yeah sure."

I imagined Harry would have something to ask me about the recent conversation with Caitlin. But he didn't say anything while he grabbed another bowl out and eventually filled them both with the cookies and cream delight.

As he slid my bowl across the bench, he finally began the conversation that I had been waiting for.

"Soooooooooooo how's Caitlin?!"

He sounded like a 14 year old girl who wanted me to get with my crush.

"You'd been setting that up for ages you sneaky bastard."

"Maybe, yes. But I never planned for her to stay with us."

"Ok, I'll give you that one."

He took a seat next to me and began to swallow his ice cream whole. Man, that guy was a pig sometimes.

Between mouthfuls, he asked me questions.

"So what did I miss?"

Yeah, what did he miss? Her being cute?The way she kept rubbing the palms of her hands on her pants because she was nervous? The way I completely stuffed up any future for us? I decided I'd tell him about the last one. Harry was always great at giving advice.

"Not an awful lot. We hit it off, and I was already falling for her. Then I just completely ruined everything."

"Yeah I mate I highly doubt that. Tell me what happened."

"Well she apologised for her so called 'awful state' and then I may have called her cute..."

I took a deep breath before speaking again while Harry just kept chugging down his ice cream.

"Haz, why did I do that man? I really REALLY like her! Now she probably thinks I'm an idiot who goes WAY to fast in relationships and I have completely ruined any kind of future that we would have together."

"Lou, would you take a chill? You are overthinking this way to much! Trust me, I know Caitlin. Was she smirking after you said that?"

I spoke really softly like I was a little child who had just been proven right by their parents.

"Yeah"

"Ok mate. You're all good! If she does that, it means she still likes you. Or would like to get to know you better. Take a step back and go at your own speed. Speak to her about a future when you're ready, ok? She's been rushed into relationships before and she has hated it and I know she prefers it when a guy takes it a but slower, so do that and I already that you will be hers. Alright?"

Harry really did know Caitlin well. I can see why they are such good friends.

"Ok deal. Thanks for 'setting' this up for me Haz. I really appreciate it!" I made sure I put the little air bunnies around 'setting'.

I stood up from the bench, put my bowl in the dishwasher, gave Harry a fist bump good night and headed to my room.

I threw on my boxers and immediately snuggled in under my doona. I honestly couldn't wait to meet Caitlin.

And maybe start building on a future relationship....