katy | l.h

twenty

After finishing up talking to Leah about my book, I left work early and made my way to the coffee shop so I could finish the ending.

—

The smell of fresh coffee filled my nose as I entered Sam's coffee shop, with my laptop in my bag and my stomach empty ready for my brownie.

"Hey, Sam," I smiled as I got to the counter.

"Miss Katy," he beamed at me.

"Just Katy, no Miss, it sounds weird," I laughed before asking for my usual.

"I hear it's your birthday today?" He asked, winking at me. I furrowed my eyebrows at him in confusion, "And no, I am not telling you who told me. Now, go sit down at your usual table by that window and I will bring your order over," he pointed to the empty dark brown wooden table and chair which was sitting perfectly next to the open window. I thanked him before making my way over, sitting down and taking my laptop out.

I turned my phone off as I didn't want anyone distracting me while I wrote.

As I waited for my laptop to load up, I leaned back while watching the programme that was on the tv which was right above my eye line. I had no idea what programme it was, but it looked good so I decided to get lost in it for a moment.

That was, until Sam came over to me with my order, but in the middle of my brownie was a lit candle. He and the rest of the coffee shop sung happy birthday to me cheerfully and I was so sure that I was as red as a tomato by the end.

I blew the candle out before laughing.

"Aw, thank you Sam." I said as he hugged me tightly, then walked away. I rolled my eyes at his little surprise before indulging in my brownie and sipping away at my cappuccino.

—

Once I was done, I quickly turned back to laptop, before starting to write.

But suddenly my concentration was distracted by the scraping noise of a chair being dragged across the floor behind me. I rolled my eyes before hovering my hands over the keyboard, then typing,

He was

But stopped as I heard the same sound once again.

I groaned before speaking as I turned around, "look, if you don't mind could please stop—" I stopped as I stared at the tall figure standing in front of me.

"Stop what?" He smirked as he looked down at me, before biting his lip, bringing his lip ring into his mouth slightly as his tongue played with it. His deep blue eyes gazed into mine and for a moment I struggled to breathe. I struggled to comprehend the fact that he was standing in front of me right now. The boy who I was hopelessly in love with but haven't spoke to for almost 16 months.

"Luke—" I breathed, standing up abruptly before embracing him into the tightest hug possible. A tear escaped my eye but I rubbed away once I stopped hugging him. "What are you doing here?"

"I've missed you, Katy, so fucking much. I have so much explaining to do. But please believe me when I say that I love you," he rushed.

"You can't— you can't just come here and surprise me like that. You— it's been almost a year and a half, we haven't spoken. You finished touring months ago, why didn't you come for me then? Why wait longer?" I quickly spoke as I pulled at my hair.

"Please let me explain, can we sit down?" He asked, gesturing to the chairs. I nodded hesitantly before sitting down.

"First of all, I'm sorry. For everything. The way I treated you right before we broke up was wrong and didn't help our relationship at all. But the reason why I did break up with you, was because I knew that it was only going to get harder - for the both of us. So I wanted you to move on, to find your happiness elsewhere as I knew that I couldn't be what you wanted anymore.. well, not while I was touring. And then when the tour ended, I went back home to Sydney, and the first thing I did was go to your house," he paused, "but, you weren't there. So I went back everyday - bearing in mind that no one answered the door for a whole week but I eventually found out that your aunt and uncle had gone on a trip - but what I also found out was that you had moved away... to London. They wouldn't tell me where you lived exactly, but they told me why you moved here, and I was so happy for you, but sad at the same time because it would have been nice to know that you were accepted somewhere, but that's partly my fault, I get that. Then, I phoned every publisher in London to find out which one you were working in, but no one would confirm or deny your placement. So I waited a little while, and then came here to see if I'd magically bump into you, but no luck. Then, after realising that I had no lead, seeing as you were ignoring my calls and barely tweeted anything, I decided to leave it. I knew that you needed to move on, and so did I. But a couple of days ago, Sidney's phone was unlocked and I realised that she was in the middle of texting you, so I read some of your conversation and found out where you worked and what coffee shop you have replaced Leah's with," he chuckled.

I sighed as I looked at him. I didn't know what to say. The fact that he did all this to protect me, in a way, was.. nice of him to do so, but why come looking for me now?

"Like I said, it's been 16 months, so even after all this time, why come looking for me now? Why not carry on with your life as if I never existed?"

"How could I do that when you completely changed my life? I've never loved someone as much as I love you, Katy. You need to understand that. Everything I have ever done, was for you. Not a day has gone by where I haven't thought about you, thought about your touch, how beautiful you look in the moonlight, the way your hair blew slightly in the breeze as we walked along the beach back at Sydney. Or even the way you changed me, for the better. Before you, I had no idea where I was going, but once I found you, I knew exactly where I was heading. I knew exactly what I wanted in my life..."

"And what was that?"

He looked at me with a smile smile.

"You," he said quietly. "Always has been, always will be." He sighed. "I understand if you no longer love me, I mean it has been a long time but—"

"No amount of time could ever change the way I feel about you, Luke." I smiled.

We were silent for the moment, looking around us, trying to avoid each other's eyes.

Luke broke the silence eventually, "so, where do we go from here?" He asked.

I sighed, "I promised myself I wouldn't fall for you again," I paused, looking at him sadly, he frowned but I continued, "but in all honesty, I never really stopped falling for you." I smiled as I sat up slightly. He smiled widely at me as we looked at each other.

My heart sank a little as I realised how much I wanted him back and how this is my only chance. No matter what has happened, no matter what either of us have done, I still love him more than anything. And now I realise that it wasn't a one way type of love, we both love each other, and frankly that is enough for me.

I leaned over the table, before kissing his lips gently. He smiled before pulling me back in for another - and much longer - kiss.

"Don't leave me again," I said quietly.

He shook his head lightly, "never again, Katy." He smiled," Oh and uh, Happy Birthday," he said, laughing as pulled me over to him to sit om his lap.

"Thank you," I said quietly as I leaned my head on his shoulder.

"What for?" He asked.

"For coming back to me."

"I told you I would," he hugged me tightly.

***

As we walked back to my apartment, I couldn't stop smiling. For the first time in a very long time, I felt happy again.

If you love someone, and they love you, then no measure of time or distance can come between you, and if it does then eventually you will find your way back to each other if it's meant to be.

I now know that this is forever. I've learnt what life is like without Luke in it, and it's not the life I choose. I've been in love, and I've been out of love, and despite every obstacle I have had to face, I choose love every time.

Just as I was about to unlock the door, Luke stopped me before turning me round and kissing me gently. I smiled at him.

"So, is this the happy ending you wanted?"

I shook my head lightly, looking at him with adoration.

"No, because this is just the beginning,"

Holy s h i t it's nearly finished , just the epilogue left :( I hope the ending is okay though :)