The Contract

12

"Georgia? What are you doing in here?" I heard a voice ask. I glanced up and wiped the tears from my cheeks.

"Nothing, I'm just looking for something," I said, hoping to explain the reason why I was on the floor.

"Georgia, you know you're the worst liar in the world," Louis said softly. He reached out his hand to help me up.

"How did you know I was in here?" I asked.

"Harry asked me to come find you, they're about to throw the bouquet and he thought you might want to be there for that," Louis said. "But you have some time. What's going on?"

I tried to smile but faltered. "Nothing. Don't worry about me."

"Georgia," he said softly. "Tell me what's wrong. Why are you crying?"

I sniffled and couldn't hold back the tears anymore as they fell once more. I threw myself into Louis' warm embrace and felt him wrap his arms around me as the sobs wracked through my body. "It's over."

"Shh, Gee, what's over. You're not making any sense," he whispered, rubbing his hands up and down my back in an attempt to calm me down.

"Harry and I. We're done," I said once I pulled back, releasing another flow of tears.

"What?" He asked incredulously. "Surely whatever happened is something you two can work through."

I shook my head before burying my head in Louis' chest again. "It's not, I ruined everything."

"Love, tell me what happened," he whispered.

Through sniffles and tears I explained how Richard from Modest had approached me seven months ago with the idea of the challenge and how initially I had thought it a good idea when I thought it would be helping Harry until I started to get feelings for him and called it off but we had already been a month into the challenge.

"That's not that bad, Georgia," Louis said. "It could be way worse."

"I didn't think it was the worst thing either but I had to tell him. He doesn't think we would be together though if I hadn't taken the offer initially and now he wants nothing to do with me. He.. He said he wants to divorce me," I wailed, biting back the tears.

Louis' eyes widened. "Really? I can guarantee you anything he's just saying because he's upset."

"I don't thinks so, Louis. I think this time it's really over. I think this was the final straw. You can only hurt someone so much before they give up and can't take anymore," I said. I had finally been able to compose myself and calm myself so I was no longer crying but I was sure I looked like a disheveled mess.

"Georgia, if anyone can get through anything, it's you and Harry. I'm sure he just needs some time. If you like, I can talk with him?"

I nodded. "Please, anything. I can't believe he just gave up on us like this.. But he was so defeated Louis. I'm sure it's exhausting I can imagine him just being tired of everything."

Louis smiled softly. "Fix your makeup and let's go out there and get your boy. This isn't the end. It can't be the end. You two are meant to be together regardless of how this whole thing started off."

I managed half a smile. "I hope you're right."

He squeezed my hand. "I'm sure I am."

I fixed my appearance in the mirror that hung on the wall in the storage room before we left the room together. The makeup that had been put on me this morning had mostly faded off but the eyeliner and mascara remained which was the most important. I had added a quick coat of lipstick from my small purse I had been carrying with me.