ASTEROID TEARS || L. PARTRIDGE [2]

THREE ⇢ GIRLFRIEND IN ATLANTA

Louis walked slowly, but cautiously towards the girl and took his coat off, draping it over her shivering shoulders.

"Do you still drink chamomile tea?" He asked.

She laughed at that, "Yes."

"Now, let's get you back home. I rang Millie earlier. She said she hasn't seen you in a week. She misses you. I'll call Francis and Dior to tell them you're staying somewhere else - are you okay with that?"

"Yeah."

"You should take care of yourself, Cabrera. You have a low immune system. Shame on you for not bringing an umbrella just in case."

***

⠀⠀⠀⠀MAYBE IT'S SELFISH to let Louis ruin his PR contract just for her to have him all to herself. She looked at him sleeping on the floor.

Louis insisted she slept alone on the bed. It's been a long time since they shared one and he thought it would be uncomfortable on her part.

Partridge did change. He was more patient than he was before, or maybe Y/N just didn't get enough sleep to figure that out.

She smiled. His appearance was still the same, but why doesn't it seem to go out of date?

She laughed, 'Lord, he looks fucking ugly.'

"You should probably stop staring at me, Y/N."

Erm - well, that's embarrassing. Her eyes widened as she quickly turned away from him towards the ceiling, clutching the blanket tightly.

"What the fuck?"

And, what the fuck indeed.

Louis' lips curled into a smile, "Goodnight."

Silence, then an awkward sheepish mumble.

"Goodnight."

"Sleep tight."

Silence. The sheets made a soft rustling sound as Y/N awkwardly shifted on the bed.

"What's her name?" She blurted out. Louis' smile got wider.

"Jealous, are we, Cabrera?"

"Pfft, no. Just being thoughtful and contemplative as to how she put up with your shit."

"If ever, it was I that had to put up with hers."

"Oh, so Shakespeare suddenly possessed your eloquent ass to make you sound right?"

"You never changed a bit."

"I age like wine, I know. I'm asian after all."

"You and your immature comebacks," he said and remained closing his eyes shut, "I missed them."

Her cheeks felt like heating up once again. Like she was 18 once again, pulling through the mud with an annoying British bloke. She rolled her eyes and took a deep breath.

Maybe that would help with the rising temperature.

"Her name, Louis," she sighed.

"Oh, so now we're back with the first name basis." At this point, he was trying to push her to the edge.

"Her name, Patrick!" She whisper-yelled.

"Second name basis."

"James!"

"Third name basi-" he was cut off by the sudden movement Cabrera made. She turned away from him to her side, shutting her eyes in a petty manner as she tried to sleep.

The quiet midnight air suddenly whistled outside Louis' home accompanied by the rain tapping softly on the delicate glass windows. The beige lamp remained turned on which bothered the girl while it also comforted the boy himself.

A dark cloth was standing on a corner and due to the dimly lit room, he could imagine so many things.

"Do you see that?" he asked.

Cabrera didn't answer although she kept her ears open to listen.

"Oh my God, Cabrera. I think it's a demon."

She rolled her eyes and sat up, turning the lamp off.

"No! Turn it back on!" he yelled.

"What the fuck are you?! A child?"

"Please, just leave the fucking lamp on. I'm begging you!"

"No! I can't sleep with the lights on!"

And there they started firing angry whispers back and forth like any other day they're together.

"I'll let you sleep on the bed with me, but you have to let me turn the lamp off."

"No. Keep it on."

She sighed, "Okay."

Cabrera brought her thumb and index finger to her temples, drawing circles in frustration, "What about I let you sleep beside me, I'll turn the lamp on and you'll tell me the name of the girl."

He stared at her for a moment longer.

"Are you gonna kill her?"

"Christ's sake, Partridge! You have the mind of a ten-year-old child!"

"Are you?" He asked again.

"I'm not!" She whispered in an exasperated tone.

"Fine." Louis stood up from his bed and quickly went next to her. She scooted to the side to give him some space and as soon as they're settled, "Keep the half of the bargain."

"Khalista."

"Mhm?"

"Penarth."

"Is that the last name?"

"No."

"Then what is it?"

"Fauldhouse."

Her breath hitched as her head snapped towards his direction.

"Fauldhouse?" she asked as he nodded.

'As in the CEO, Steven Fauldhouse? Mr. Fauldhouse?'