Ch - 12

Luis:

"Hey!" I said as Jessy answered my call. It has been three days since our last meeting. Since then, we have been really friendly and good with each other. We chatted, flirted, called and even played online games. It was all fun and good with her.

"Hi!" She replied in a very heavy voice as if she just woke up.

"How are you?" I asked.

"I'm fine!" She said drowsilly.

"Did you just wake up?" I asked rolling on my red.

"Yeah! Kate just trew me off the bed." I laughed as she said that. She started laughing too.

"Would you like to join me for coffee?" I asked nervously even though knowing she was sweet enough to not disagree.

"Ok! I need time to get ready." She said.

"Ok! I will come to pick you up at 11. You have an hour." I said and she agreed. The call ended and I smiled as her every assertive sentence made me more happier than ever.

I started searching the wardrobe to find something good and decent. I took out a white hoddie and black pants and moved towards the bathroom to take a shower.

Jessy:

"Oooohh!!" Kate teased.

"Shut up!" I snapped irritated by her continuous taunts.

"Where are you going?" She asked sipping orange juice. I sat on the couch next to her as she kept on chewing the bread.

"You heard it clear and loud." I groaned and started eating.

"Ok! Cool down baby! Enjoy with him." She winked. I narrowed my eyes at her in order to refrain her from saying that even again.

"What? We are just friends. Do you want me spell it our for you? F-R-I-E-N-D-S!" I said mimicking Anne- Marie.

Kate laughed loudly while I rejoiced even though annoyed by her. Living with a friend for a long time spoils your privacy and peace of mind.

"Just for now." Kate whispered and I gave her a menacing look.

"Ok! Shut up!" I whinned.

"I think he is really good for you. You should give him a chance. And actually not him. You should give your life and yourself another chance." Kate said seriously.

"You know what Kate -" I whispered trying to put my feelings in words. It was getting hard for me to concentrate anywhere due to Kate's unnecessary predictions about me and Luis. From the past three days, since she peeked at me and Luis getting closer and holding hands, she has been nudging me to spill the beans even though there wasn't anything to talk about. I was frustrated and annoyed.

"It's not easy for me. I really try to heal those wounds and forget those bad memories. But I just can't. I think these bad memories would never leave me and will keep reminding to never make the same mistakes again." Kate hugged me as a tear ran down my cheek due to the truth that I decided to let out after continuous  denials from my conscience.

She knew how to deal with me very and that is why I was able to behave normally with her not nervous at all. She being my best friend knew more about me than anyone. And Bobby too knew a lot about me. Bobby makes me laugh so hard and forget about all the miseries. I mean having friends is awesome. I felt so lucky to have such great friends.

"But-...Listen to me Jessy! You just have to remember the past, you don't have to drag it with you in your present or future." Kate paused.

"And you know Jessy, Luis is perfect for you. I know it! The way he looks at you reflects that he liked but he is giving you time. And the way he talks to you proves that he wants to be with you. But I think you need to test him more." She giggled. I smiled. Kate's words were having an impact on me.

"You are a good friend Kate and I will try my best to leave my past behind once all the insecurities fade." I smiled assuring her that I indeed wanted a good future. Kate smiled at me.

"Now go away! And get ready." She roared and pushed me inside the bathroom.

I got ready in almost ten minutes because it was already 10:30. I winked at myself looking in the mirror. I left my waist length brown hair open and kept my eyes, I mean specs in my suitcase.

The little green dress touched my mid thigh and the white sneakers completed the look.

I grinned towards Kate and waved before walking out of the hotel. I waited calmly and finally after approximately 5 minutes Luis came.

"Hi!" He said when I opened the door and got inside.

"Hey!" I said closing the door and getting a comfortable seat.

His attire was enough to make him look cute and dashing at the same time. His smile was an icing on the cake.

We chatted randomly about some of our childhood memories and school life during the entire journey to where he wanted to take me.

We reached a beautiful little café in the middle of a busy street in about twenty minutes. The appearance of the café depicted simplicity and calm. It was windy and really tranquil.

He smiled leading me towards the far end of the almost empty café. The corner near the window was all surrounded by colourful flowers. It all made me feel fresh and alive. The little pink painted circular table was adding glory to the white painted walls of the café.

"So, what would you like to have?" I was looking curiously at the beautiful walls of the café when he asked taking a seat in front of me.

"Uh- Cappuccino." I stuttered.

"Ok." He said. The waiter came and took our orders.

"So, how many days you will be staying in Paris?" He asked keeping his hands on the table while directing his gaze on me.

"Just 3 more days." I said half heartedly.

"Oh!" He nodded.

Finally the waiter came with our orders. He placed the coffees on the table and walked away.

I looked at Luis and he winked making me move my head here and there. I finally sipped the coffee and savoured the taste. It was so good.

"So what are your plans for today?" He asked sipping his coffee.

I cleared my throat and recited "Just going to wander here and there for an hour after going back then we will go to Mussee du Louvre as decided by our teachers."

"What about day after tomorrow?"

"Nothing special. Teachers are not taking us anywhere so we will be in our hotel rooms only." I replied.

"Oh! I was saying would you and Kate come to our villa?" He looked at me with pleading eyes. I knew where it was heading and I indeed had this premonition.

"Why? There's another party?" I asked.

"It's my birthday." He smiled like a kid and looked at me questioningly.

"Oh! I didn't know." I said moving my hair behind and looking a little guilty.

"Yeah! How would you? I never told." He sniggered.

"We will try." I said.

"Please!" He said with a sad smile.

"Ok! We will come." I finally agreed because he is JUST a friend and I didn't intend to hurt him on his birthday. Because I knew how it felt.

"Thanks a lot!" He smiled broadly. I smiled back. We finished our coffee and decided to have a walk around the street.

"How's your trip going?" He asked.

"Good. I always wanted to come here. And I am, so it feels good." I grinned.

"Yeah. I know." He said in a sad tone.

"What happened?"

"Nothing."

"Don't hide from me Luis. We are friends remember? " He laughed as I finished.

"Yeah! Actually I was thinking about my girlfriend." He said with eyes staring somewhere far.

I placed my hand in his and gave it a squeeze. We walked hand in hand and it felt so good and relaxing.

"Hey Jess?" Someone from behind said as if asking a question.

I turned my head around and saw a tall guy with a normal adult man's body and blonde shiny hair. My mouth fell open horrified, as the mole under his lip reminded me of someone I met years ago, Cedric. Maybe during my high school years.

I ran to him and threw my arms around his neck and hugged him really tight. We've been really good friends during our high school years but after some years he went far away for his football career.

I was just going to mutter a greeting when he kissed my cheek maintaining the proximity between our bodies.

"How are you Jess?" He asked exhilaratedly giving some space between our bodies. His hands were still entangled with mine while I stepped a little further to maintain some distance between us.

"I'm fine. What about you Cedric?" I said giving a squeeze to his hands.

"Great! But look at you.You look so hot!." He chuckled.

"Shut up! " I blushed and laughed.

"I missed you a lot Jessy." He said giving a soft squeeze to my hands. The warmth erupted engulfing me in a cloud of happiness and relied.

"Me too Ced." I grinned widely at him.

"Who was that?" He said pointing behind where Luis should be standing but he wasn't there anymore.

"Where did he go?" I asked a little upset.

"I don't know. I didn't see him leaving."

"Ok! I will talk to you later. This is my number." We exchanged numbers and smiled at each other before walking away in different directions.

I ran towards Luis's car near the café. But unfortunately he was gone. What happened to him?

I groaned frustrated by his childish behaviour.

I called a cab and went back to the hotel. I called Michael when I came back to my room. Kate wasn't there. Maybe she went shopping.

I asked if Luis reached home when Michael recipient my call. He replied positively. He added that he was looking really angry and frustrated about something.

"Bae? You are back so early?" Kate entered the room and said keeping the bags she brought on the bed.

I recited the whole situation to Kate and she urged me to go and talk to Luis. So I decided to go before it was late. I changed into causal black jeans and a pink tank top.

Throughout the ride from the hotel to Luis's villa, one thing kept me stupefied and disturbed. That was Luis's unnecessary behaviour.

"Hey!" Jordan said as I walked inside the villa. The watchman let me in knowing I'd come there before.

"Hi! Where's Luis?" I asked breathing heavily.

"Up!" He replied. "Is something wrong?" He asked.

"Not now. Thanks!" I said and ran upstairs. I heard loud music from a room.

The door was open so I entered inside even though knowing it wasn't a good thing.

Luis was working out. His upper body was bare which constantly resulted in reddening of my cheeks. I knocked at the door to grab his attention but because of loud music he didn't listen. I moved closer to him and stood next to him. He was doing pushup and also ignoring me at the same time.

"What happened Luis?" I asked but he didn't reply.

"That was rude! You left me there all alone. You know I felt so bad!" I shouted in order to aid my voice to reach his ears.

Luis stood up and passed an angry stare. He decreased the volume of the speakers to zero and glared at me while grunting his teeth.

"It's always about you isn't it?" He shouted angrily. I moved back a little knowing his large body was towering on my little one. And also knowing how dominating he was hence I didn't want to risk getting a punch or two.

"You know how I felt? Do you?" He asked grabbing my shoulders and squeezing tightly.

"Ouch! It's hurting." I said staring in his eyes while concealing my blurry vision my blinking constantly.

"Yeah! Still it's about you." He said breathing heavily. He pushed me making me stumble a little but not much. He turned his back towards me and pulled his hair.

His back looked as flawless as his abbs equipped chest.

"Go back Jessy!" He ordered not looking at me while pulling a shirt and wearing it. 

"Please listen to me. What happened? What did I do? Friends don't behave like that. Hear me out." I pleaded.

"You don't even know what's you fault? What's worse than that?" He turned around and asked with a really enraged stare. Tears started falling from my eyes as his loudness was unbearable for my petty sensitive emotions.

"Don't be so hard on me." I said and wiped my tears with my hands.

"See Jess. I think you should go home. It's getting late." He said a little calmer than before.

"OK I will go away if tell me what did I do?" I asked again in hope of getting a clear vision of my mistake.

Before Luis could say something my phone buzzed. I checked and it was Cedric. I saw Luis getting more angry as he saw Cedric's name on my phone's screen. I turned off my phone and looked at Luis.

Luis threw a vase, lying next to the speaker on the ground making it hard for me to stay calm.

I was shocked and petrified by his monsterly behaviour. I was starting to hate this side.

"Luis! I'm sorry for whatever I did. I will leave now." I stuttered as his disposition gave me goosebumps.

I walked towards the door but soon my body got squeezed to Luis's hard chest. He hugged me while coiling his arms around my little back. I could hear his heartbeat racing and also mine which was running a marathon.

"I'm so sorry. It's all my fault. I behaved so rudely to you. I'm sorry Jess. I really couldn't control my anger." He said and kissed me on my head while rubbing my back giving me immense warmth to take in and feel peaceful.

We moved away and my eyes fell on blood running from Luis's hand.

"Luis! " I said panicked. I placed his hand in mine cautiously looking at his wound.

"It's alright!" He said with a chuckle.

I asked for a bandage and an ointment and applied that on Luis's hand as he gave me the location of the needed items.

"You will be a great doctor." He laughed. I looked at him and started laughing knowing how much that drama made us mad and sick.

After talking to him while holding hands for hours, I stood up to leave. He proposed the idea to drop me back because it was getting dark almost 6. I agreed knowing it would be safe.

"Ok! Bye! Meet you tomorrow." I said giving him a hug. I stepped out of the car and went straight to my room.

After being rebuked by Kate for not picking up her calls, I resolved the lecture by telling her about the events that took place at the villa.

"Oh! So, now everything's fine?" She asked hopefully. I assured her and then we spent some hours crying and eating while watching a movie.

Finally after having a delicious dinner we decided to sleep.

"I'm hella tired and emotional. The movie was drastic at the end." She said still whining for the tragic ending of the movie we saw. Mightnight Sun.

"Yeah! Let's sleep Kate." I said tiredly.

"Yep! Good night Jessy."

Without Luis's angry glare in my head, I closed my eyes and waited for my brain to give me peace. But neither it gave me peace nor sleep.

His way of talking to me was too harsh. But I think he behaved like that because he was possessive for me. Maybe he don't want anyone to touch me.

Somehow my conscience begged me to move on. I left like leaving my past behind and writing a new story which included happiness. Just happiness. And I felt ready to take a step in my life after a long time.