Bend The Rules• njh

25⌝ Starting Over

Song of the Chapter- Some Things by Mali Koa

As I step in, I notice that a man is talking to Tessie at her desk. What surprises me the most is how immersed Tessie is with the man to not even notice I'm here, even with the chime in the door. He looks quite plain and simple. Flat brown shaggy hair, dressed in a track suit, and a slim build. For a man that's generally normal looking and not eye catching, he looks so familiar to me. I approach him, and as I near him I see it. The card band tattoo.

"Louis?"

The man turns around, his vibrant blue eyes shinning as they meet mine. "Well look who it is," he exclaims in his old and familiar cheery tone. Opening his arm out, he grins as he calls out to me, "C'mere and give me a cuddle Toni."

I rush over to him and squeeze him in a tight embrace. How I've missed Lou, and especially his hugs. He pats me as he chuckles, his laugh lighting up the room. His signature Cedar Wood and baby powderish scent lingering around him with a hint of smoke.

Once we let go, I remember everything that has happened, everything he did, and how it affected Tessie and I. I peer over Louis' small shoulder at Tessie, noticing how calm she is. She's smiling with us, her eyes aren't on fire, and she's not yelling at him. "How did this happen," I question as I pull away from the hug, clearly confused on why he's here and how Tessie is fine with seeing him. And even fine with having him in the same room as her.

"Yeah about that," he drags out his words slowly. "I got rear ended at an intersection, and now the bitchy loser that's the driver has the audacity to claim it was my fault," he continues on, his apparent sass shinning through just like I remember it. His brows furrow in a mean way but he looks anything but it, it's quite funny. "Fucking loser," he mutters to himself, his words coming out soft even though he was upset.

A chuckle escapes me at his little statement, but I take notice of what he actually said. "I'm just glad you're safe Lou. You got very lucky," I say sorrowfully in an unintentional way, thoughts of a not so lucky car crash reentering my thoughts.

His lips press together tightly as he understands who and what I'm referring to. "I'm so sorry Toni. I know how much you loved him. And I'm sorry I didn't interact at his funeral," he confesses as his arm reaches over to comfort me, "I just thought I was the last person you'd want to see." He looks over at Tessie before averting his eyes back to me, "I knew I was hated and not wanted. It's just- just that he was like my only close friend for a while. I couldn't not say goodbye." His eyes look almost glassy, and I can truly tell how much he regretted his decisions. He's changed. And for the better.

"Oh Louis," I sigh out, "I'm sorry you felt like that. Yeah we were all upset for a while but we've all got a whole lot of history. We can't throw it all away."

Tessie leans in from over the counter, adding into the conversation, "Yeah even though I felt like ripping your head off if I ever saw you, your company would've been nice." Louis and I both nervously laugh, as we don't know if Tessie is being serious or not with her threat. But I know that she most likely would have.

She doesn't lead on, but she was extremely hurt by him cheating on her. She swore up and down she'd never love anyone ever again, and would definitely not do relationships. And she kept to that promise. She hasn't been in a proper relationship with anyone after Louis, only sticking to flings and casual hookups. She changed a lot after Lou, almost completely different from her high school self. Louis' cautious voice snaps me out of my thoughts, "So would you be down to doing some catching up eventually? Maybe over coffee?"

"That sounds great," Tessie pipes up once again, now directing her attention towards me, "speaking of catching up, how was your Thanksgiving with 'ole lover boy?" Great, what I've been wanting to kinda avoid.