Stronger Feelings

Chapter 1

Chapter 1: “Wow,” was all he had to say. I stand just outside my front door to the place I call home. He stands just in front of me with his fiercely blue green eyes. It’s been 3 years since I last saw him. “You look absolutely incredible,” he says as he steps closer to my presence. “So, I’ll that as I do look good?” I begin to say, with my shy voice. “You look beautiful,” he says, again. “Louis, come on now! Is this appropriate for tonight? Or is it too much?” No words came out of his mouth. All he did was stare at me in such awe.

So at this point you could possibly be thinking, “What’s going on? What’s happening tonight? Who’s this Louis kid?” Well, Louis is my best friend. He always has been. We grew up together, living through the good and bad moments, and basically living our lives together as the best of friends that we were. You might know him as the comedian, carrot lover from that boy band, One Direction. But to me, he's my best friend.

Now to answer your other questions… yes, this is the first time we are seeing each other in three years. Yes, three whole years without Louis. Wondering how I could’ve lived my life so long without him? Me too. Three years without him is like eternity. So, thanks to technology these days, we finally get to spend our lives together just like the good old days. Now to answer your last question, we are headed out to dinner. Not really sure if it’s a date just yet. I mean, I just might have an interest in him, but I’m not exactly for sure just yet. Let’s just see how tonight goes and I’ll get back with you on that subject.

Things began to separate just after college. I moved pretty far away from home, which caused me to move away from all of my friends, of course. I took it really hard. I couldn’t handle leaving my friends behind. But now I’m back at home and have been for about a month now. I knew the first thing I had to do after I settled in was contact Louis. At this very moment, I think that’s the best decision I’ve made in a while.

As I study him, I notice he hasn’t changed all that much. He’s still the same boy that wears suspenders and striped shirts. I stand in my knee-length black, flattering dress. Louis smiles and slowly comes in closer to give me a hug. The smell of his cologne brings me back to when we went to homecoming together. He always knew that was my favorite scent of his. We stand there, not wanting to let go. I even begin to get a little teary eyed, I missed him so much. We finally let go of each other and he holds out his hand for me to take it. I didn’t even question on whether or not I wanted to hold his hand. Okay, I think I might have a slight interest in him now.

As we walk hand in hand to his car, he opens the door for me to get in. “I can’t believe this is happening right now,” I say to myself just before Louis gets in. As he gets in and turns the car on, he says, “What was that you just said?” I begin to realize that he saw me talking to myself. ”Oh, uh… I just said ‘Boy I’m really hungry right now.’” I completely lied to him. I don’t want this to be an awkward time out. “No that’s not it. I read your lips and that is not what they said. Tell me, love, what’s on your mind?”

Love? Did he just call me love? I love the way he said that. With his high, soft, British accented voice. His voice puts life in my heart. “Okay fine, I said I can’t believe this is happening.” He looks at me confused and says, “You can’t believe what is happening?” Louis asks in that same tone, as he puts the car in drive to go to the restaurant. “That I’m with you right now, of course! Louis, you have no idea how much I missed you.” He smiles and chuckles as he approaches a red light.

“How about this, let’s make tonight a date. We’ll see where this date takes us and it it’s not all that great, we can go back to being the best of friends.” Louis says to me, smiling, with his eyes locked on mine. “And if it goes well?” I ask, reminding him to finish what he was saying. “Oh right. If it goes well, which I won’t be surprised if it does, then…” He pauses. “Then what, Lou?” I can tell he’s giving it a thought by the way he has his chin resting on his hand, while looking off into a distance. “Then how about we go for date number two, tomorrow evening.” The light turns green and I say, “Deal.” We shake our hands to make the deal official. This could be the best deal I’ve ever made. I notice that the more I look at his flawless face, I begin to like him more and more.