Louis' POV

“Louis, wake up.” I'm abruptly awoken by my shirt being thrown at my head. “We shouldn't have done this.” I hear Kate mutter as she's frantically looking around.

“What's going on?” I ask finally dragging myself out of my slumber state and slipping my shirt on.

“We did a very bad thing.” She turns to me, her eyes look tired and her body just exhausted.

“It was good though.” I smile trying to lighten the mood.

“Yeah it was great, but you need to leave.” She looks frantic.

“What time is it?” I ask her.

“It's after two am. I need to get back to the hospital. And you need to get back to your girlfriend.” She pulls her socks on and turns the movie off, leaving me no choice.

“Shit.” I finally realize the gravity of what has happened and look around. “Have you seen my phone?” I ask digging in the cushions.

“It fell out of your pocket when I took your pants off, I heard it hit the ground somewhere.” She spins around and helps me look on the floor.

“Are you really going back to the hospital?” I ask.

“Found it!” She pops up from the floor and hands me the phone. “Yeah, what else would I do?”

“Maybe we could just stay here?” I suggest. I had just gotten a taste of Kate and I wanted more.

“No we can't.” She crosses her arms.

“Why not?” I fiddle with the bottom of my shirt.

“Um, maybe because you have a girlfriend? As much as I like you this shouldn't have happened.”

“Wait. You like me?” My eyes wide.

“Come on Louis, we're not in grade 10 anymore. Yeah, I like you. But I'm also not the kind of girl who lets emotions get in my way, you're with someone else. And here I am, a terrible person who just slept with a taken man. What we just did was bad. I'm a terrible person.” She collapses on the nearby chair.

“You're not a terrible person. I'm the one that cheated on Eleanor. I'm breaking up with her.” I decide out loud.

“OH great. First I sex with you and now I'm breaking up a relationship! And I am the worst person I knew you were in a relationship, I should have just pushed you away.” She brings her knees up to her chest and starts crying.

“Don't cry Kate. This is not your problem. It's mine. I wanted this. I just can't explain it. I just find myself happier around you, things seem easier with you.” I sit next to her and pull her into me.

“Why is this happening to me Louis?”

“What do you mean?” I'm confused with her sudden emission.

“I mean, am I a bad person? I tried to do everything right. I fell in love young and then James died. And I tried so hard to be a good mom and deal with all my pain and then Olivia got sick and everyone is giving up on her. I just can't say goodbye again. My soul can't deal with that pain anymore. And I'll be all alone.” Then it hit me. She's not upset about us, she's got so much to deal with my problems are so small compared to hers. The strongest people can only be strong for so long.

I say nothing but just hold her close as the sobs take over her body.

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The next morning I wake up by myself.

I find a note on the floor.

“Went to the hospital. Stay as long as you like.” Simple and to the point I guess. I rub my eyes and crumple the note, throwing it in the trash.

I look at my phone that has hardly survived the night. It's crazy that being with Kate I didn't look at my phone once. Time didn't seem to matter. Other things didn't seem to matter. I see several calls from Eleanor and texts. I've decided I'm pretty serious about ending with with El. I know she'll be upset but I feel like our relationship isn't real anymore.

I turn the lights off and skip up the steps quickly noticing all the toys cluttered around the house. I just feel terrible that all these things have happened to Kate and her family. Just thinking of Kate makes me smile.

I quick dial her number.

“Hey.” She's quiet.

“Hi, how are things?” I ask spinning around the kitchen.

“Um, not good. Olivia still hasn't woken up. She had another seizure. The doctors don't know if she's going to wake up.” I can tell she's trying to hold back tears even though I'm not even with her.

“I'm so sorry. Is it okay if I stop by?” I ask.

“If you want to. Sorry, Louis, I gotta go.” She's distant.

“Okay, I'll talk to you soon.” I hang up the phone and have things racing in my head. Things I should be doing, things I shouldn't be doing. I shouldn't be here, I shouldn't be with Kate but I just can't stay away. I know something is not right when I'd rather think of Kate then Eleanor. I haven't even talked to El in almost a whole day.

I quick hit another number and wait for him to answer.

“Hey Lou.” Liam answers.

“Hey, what are you doing?” I ask looking around the room.

“Um, not a lot. Just took Soph out for a bit of shopping.”

“You free for a little bit?” I ask.

“Yeah, what's up?” He asks.

“Well, I need to call in a favor, remember Kate?”

“What about Kate?” He's skeptical, his voice flat. I know he would be. He already lectured me about Kate and here I am asking a favor.

“Well, her daughter took a turn for the worst and I stopped by to visit her, her house is kind of a mess, toys everywhere. I know she has a housekeeper but I thought maybe you guys could come over help me clean up?” I'm hoping he looks past my attraction to Kate and help me out.

“Um, yeah I'll come. Is anything going on between you two?” He asks cautiously.

“No, of course not, I'm with El.” I lie.

“Ok Louis.” He drags out my name, I know he doesn't believe me. “I'll call the guys and we'll met you over there.” He promptly hangs up the phone and I pace around the house trying to decide what to do. I know Niall knows where Kate lives, I'm assuming he'll direct the guys where to go.

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When the doorbell rings I all but race to open it. I don't really want attention to be pulled to us, then people wondering who lives here and why we're all at their house.

“So what's going on with Olivia?” Niall asks.

“Um, she had a seizure, had emergency surgery, and hasn't woken up yet. The doctors said she isn't doing good.” I look down and around the floor to try to avert my eyes.

“Jeez.” Harry takes his coat and scarf off. “So how's Kate?”

“She's pretty upset. I mean, she's already experienced a loss and now she has this all alone.”

“That's terrible. So what are we doing?” Zayn asks stepping forward.

“Well she just has a lot of stuff around, Olivia is apparently a little chaotic and I was just hoping we could pick up her toys and maybe all go see her at the hospital?” I ask hopefully and everyone silently nods.

-------------------

“So you and Kate?” Harry elbows me and winks.

“No. I mean.” I sit back on the floor and push my hair back with my hand. “We had sex last night.” I admit quietly.

“You did what?” He almost yells.

“Shut up! Calm down!” I talk quickly and look around to make sure the others can't hear. It's just me and Harry on the third floor so I'm hoping no one else heard.

“So, um, where did you hook up at?” He raises his eyebrows.

“Really Harry? You're not mad at me for cheating on Eleanor?” I probe.

“Well, it was dumb, I'll tell you that. I mean, whats going on with you?” He sits across from me on the floor leaning against Olivia's bed.

“I don't even know. The more time I spend with Kate the more I'm attracted to her and the more my feelings grow.” I try to explain.

“But is that enough to throw away the last three years with Eleanor?”

“I don't know. I mean I've never had feelings and attraction grow so quickly. Like I just forget things when I'm with Kate. She makes everything easy. I don't feel like I have to impress her. I just don't know what to do with everything.” I'm seriously confused with my feelings.

“Are you sure you're just not afraid of the next step?”

“That's the thing. El gave me a month to propose to her or she was leaving me.”

“You think she actually will leave you though?” He starts gathering puzzle pieces he's finding under Olivia's bed.

“What do you think? I slept with someone else. I cheated on El. Even if she wouldn't leave me for not proposing, she would leave me because I cheated.” I'm starting to feel terrible about all of this. My actions are finally sinking in.

“What does Kate think?” He stops putting the puzzle together and looks at me.

“She feels terrible. She's really not the kind of person who would do that. She told me she hasn’t even been with anyone since her husband died. I think we let our emotions get the best of us yesterday, she's been super stressed. She apologized a million times after it happened.” It's the truth. I pop up and start folding some blankets to hang over the chair.

“Do you regret it?” That question makes me just stop. Stop my thoughts and actions.

“Honestly? No. I think El and I are running on different tracks.”

“Kate's different though mate. You can't just mess around with her. She's vulnerable right now. She's got a lot of things going on and she doesn't need you to play her. You have a girlfriend. Fix it now before it gets out of hand. Either end it with El or end it with Kate. It's not fair to either of them. And you know that.”

Notes

So, wise words from Harry. How do you feel about where Louis is at currently? He's just utterly confused. And poor Kate. Trying to do everything and be everything she can can lead to pitfalls.

You all are too kind! I think yesterday I had a bit of a pity party for no real reason. :)

Hope you all enjoy the new chapter!Thank you as always so much for everyone who is reading, commenting, subscribing, and voting. I always love to read the comments, so if you're a silent reader, let me know! :)

Happy FRIDAY!!!!

xoxoxox