I've been invested in this book, in my hands, for possibly an hour or two. So much so that I haven't taken my eyes off the book once. Yet another romance novel that I pathetically long for, despite being in a relationship. What finally distracts me is a hand touching the table before me. My head snaps up, and my body stills as he sits to my right. Yet again, in all black and his hair styled up. Those blue eyes are smouldering into mine, and I don't move an inch.

"I didn't think I'd see you again," Louis states without tearing his eyes away from mine. There's a flurry in my chest, and I swallow back the tightness in my throat. The comfort of my favourite coffee shop on campus is no longer effective. He's so close. Even the cologne that he has on is enticing. A warm, delicious scent that immediately captivates me. Except I can't focus on that. My eyes glance around, worry slowly creeping in that Josh could walk in at any moment. "Were you with him when the two of us got together?" His words tear me apart instantly.

My eyes meet him once more, and I am barely breathing. It's as if he just stripped the room of all of its oxygen. He won't stop studying me. My muscles are timid, and my pulse is quickening so easily. It's torture.

"I don't know what you're talking about," I try to sound stable. My voice breaks, giving up my weakness, and Louis laughs. Nothing is funny about this. Not with this anxiety and dread wreaking havoc on me. He rests back in his chair and crosses his arms over his chest. I fold the corner of my page to mark where I left off before shutting the book. "You really shouldn't be here," I start, timid by his presence.

"Flustered, are you?" he questions. I wasn't red before, but now my skin flushes instantly. My cheeks are heating up so fast. I can't stand it. One more skim around the coffee shop. Only two other people are in here. One girl with short, black hair is sitting in the corner with her silver laptop, and a red-headed guy is sipping his drink with headphones on. They're in their own worlds, yet I am petrified that they are listening. That's the downfall of this school. People talk. Rumours spread in a matter of hours. I know things about people I never even met. I never know when someone is listening, waiting to spread rumours like wildfire. "Honestly, were you in a relationship with him at the time?"

My throat constricts on me. These nerves taking over are trying to take me out. I grab my coffee to provide myself with some sort of relief, and those blue eyes never lift from me. I clear my throat and set the paper cup back on the black table. "I've been with Josh for two, almost three years," I admit quietly, with guilt pouring right in. Maybe I'm in the wrong, but I don't feel guilty about what I did. I feel guilty admitting the truth to him.

His eyebrows are raised, not expecting that one bit. I don't want to lie, especially if he'll back off and keep a much-needed distance. If Josh even catches me sitting alone with another guy outside of Shane or Derek, I'd be dead. I'd rather him know the truth, so he can walk away before I'm caught here with some other guy. Especially this guy that I've thought about far too many times after meeting. The same guy that my friend drooled over in front of my boyfriend. I do not want Josh questioning me over and over again about him. The fear that he could walk into this shop at any moment makes my skin crawl. "That night was a mistake. I'm not talking about it, and you really shouldn't be here right now," I plead quietly.

A mistake. Hell, even I'm trying to convince myself of that. It might have been the greatest mistake, but it was wrong. It should have never happened, and I try to keep a stoic expression to push him away.

His lips purse tightly together as he watches me closely. His eyes narrow on me, most definitely filled with some sort of judgement. That week was the first I had felt so free. Josh couldn't stop me from going on a trip with a family that is practically my own. He could only do so much calling and texting while I was gone. It was wrong, doing anything at all, with anyone, but it was the first that I felt alive in so long. I needed to get away from him more than ever. Now, it is coming back to haunt me. The world is torturing me for listening to the devil that sits on my left shoulder. Josh could do a million wrongs and somehow be rewarded. I do one wrong, and it bites me in the butt.

"I haven't stopped thinking about that night," he whispers closer to my ear. A shiver runs down my spine, and my knees press tightly together with the memory of him between my legs. It's an instant heat that pulsates through me.

"What?" I squeak out. His eyes are hooded, gazing at my legs, noticing my reaction. "I am happily in a relationship," I whisper frantically. I'm too afraid that someone is listening. This anxiety unleashes all of this pressure in my chest. I swear my heart could burst.

"Happily in a relationship? After cheating on him with me," his statement makes my blood run cold. I pale entirely and instantly stand. A little smirk tugs at his lips as he realises my body is reacting just how he wants.

"You're an ass," I breathe out. I grab my book and shove it into my bag. I need an out. I can't be near him.

"I was not the one in a relationship," he quips. My breathing falters as I look down at him in disbelief. Blue eyes are locked with hazel. My heart is stuck in my throat, making it difficult to speak. I'm too stunned to move, and I start to fear that this person, who had seemed so perfect that night, may actually tell Josh what happened between the two of us. Dread courses instantly through me. He doesn't realise who I fear most in this world. One slip of the tongue, and I'll be dead. Being alone with him would do enough damage as is. If Josh found out about that night – I don't even want to think about what will happen.

"Oh good, you're here. I figured Megan would be, too," Derek's voice makes my heart leap in my chest. He comes into view, standing beside the table. He's in a black shirt and grey sweats. He has bags beneath his eyes, showing his fatigue. Shane appears behind him in a blue shirt and grey ball shorts. He looks equally as tired. My stomach twists violently, and I glance back, expecting Josh to be with them. He isn't, and I start to settle, just slightly. "Are you leaving?" Derek questions.

"Yeah, I've been here a couple of hours now," I note timidly, careful not to look Louis' way. Derek frowns, not happy to watch me go.

"I don't know how you're such an early bird, although you pretty much didn't drink at all," Shane snorts. "Let's go get coffee," he murmurs to Derek. Derek nods, and they bid me off, walking away. My eyes fall back on Louis immediately, and I clear my throat. I need to get away from him.

"You didn't text me back," another voice startles me. My back is touched, and my eyes move to Josh. His hair is still a ragged mess, and the circles beneath his eyes are dark. My chest is tight with worry that Louis will say something. They are inches apart. He could just give me away, right here and right now. The dread seeping through me won't leave. I have the urge to grab Josh and pull him away, but they're on the same football team. Louis has been brought into this friend group by the others. There's no keeping the two apart at all.

"Sorry, I've been reading," I reply sheepishly. He grumbles under his breath and grabs my coffee. He takes a sip, and I notice that he's still in the red shirt from last night but is now wearing black shorts. He grimaces at my drink and sets it back onto the table.

"God, I hate caramel. I don't know why you always get this crap," he mutters. I press my lips tightly together. My heart is beating at an overwhelming pace out of fear that Louis will say something. This is too much to handle. Shane sits across from Louis with a long sigh and mumbles something incoherently. "You look like crap," Josh chuckles.

"Fuck off," Shane laughs a little. "Louis and Megan are the only two proper-looking ones here because they didn't drink. You look like crap too."

"Alright, I'm gonna go," I mumble pathetically.

"I'll go with you," Josh offers. My face falls instantly, and a nauseating feeling takes over my stomach. At least they'll be separated, but I'd rather not have him follow me, either. He grabs my coffee, and I swallow the lump in my throat. "Talk to you guys later," he gestures toward them. I give a small goodbye and turn away, clutching my bag over my shoulder. We get to the door, and he tosses my coffee into the trash.

"I was drinking that," my voice wavers a little.

"It tasted like crap," he dismisses it and opens the door to head out. He takes my arm in his hand and guides me out. A morning breeze whips past, moving some of my hair back. I keep my head lowered with the slightest pain ripping through me. Even the smallest of things have been getting to me. It's just a cup of coffee. I shouldn't be that upset. "What were you doing all morning?" he asks roughly, pulling me to a stop.

I stammer a little, taken back. His darkened eyes are burning right through me, intimidating me. My eyes linger on the coffee shop for a moment, but his eyes are boring right into me. "I told you, I was reading my book," my hand gestures towards the brick coffee shop with my heart beginning to race.

"You ignored my texts," he replies harshly.

"I'm sorry. I never saw them," my voice drifts into the wind. His lips twist into a scowl, and I am unable to move. I truly have no idea what else to say.

"Come on," he grumbles with a roll of his eyes. I follow behind, crossing my arms tightly over my chest to comfort myself. It's a never-ending cycle. I accidentally miss a text or call, and I will get the bad end of his attitude the rest of the day. Any other day, I make sure my ringer is on. I curse myself silently for keeping it off.