When I'm Gone

Kate's POV

It's been five days since I've seen Louis. I got a few text messages from him here and there, telling me when he got to Doncaster, when he got back to London. When he broke up with Eleanor. He didn't tell me much, I was shocked. But he didn't say anything else about us so I didn't push it. I'm far from clingy.

I did my usual routine, got Olivia ready for school, dropped her off, did some shopping at the supermarket, put everything away. Folded up some laundry from yesterday. Washed the sheets Louis stayed in. I didn't know when he was coming back or if he was staying the night so I waited just a bit.

I went through Olivia's candy. Yesterday was Halloween so I went through all of Olivia's candy today to check it, throw away the things that could be bad. She was a cat, her first official Halloween where she could trick-or-treat. Dottie came with us. I forgot how much fun going from door to door was.

I can't believe it's already November. So much has happened in the last five years. Everything has gone so fast, it seems like just a dream. At times a nightmare.

When it's approaching lunch time I find myself not very hungry so I snuggle up in my comfy chair and dig through my basket of books to find one to read. I'm always reading, usually a few stories at a time so I just try to pick up where I leave off.

While reading, I find myself drifting off to sleep, I put the book down and move to the couch, pulling the blanket over to me, I still have two hours till I have to leave to pick up Livie so I have enough time.

“Kate.” I hear someone whispering my name and I jump myself awake, covertly wiping the drool that I'm sure has accumulated on my cheek.

“Louis, what are you doing here? How did you get in?” I sit up rubbing my eyes, looking at my phone to check the time, I've only been sleeping for an hour.

“The spare key you told me about. I wanted to talk to you.” He leans back on his heals and pulls himself up to sit on the coffee table while I lean to my side still laying on the couch.

“Okay.” I smile at him and pull my knees out from under the blanket.

“So I broke up with Eleanor. Well I don't know if I technically broke up with her or she broke up with me, but she's moving to Italy the day after tomorrow. So. Yeah.” His voice drifts off.

“Are you okay?” I ask.

“I think so. I mean, after everything happened I was quite surprised that it didn't bother me as much as it should. Plus it didn't help that we had to go to Sweden on Tuesday to meet up with a song writer. So my recovery time got cut off.”

“And how was Sweden?” Just making small talk.

“It was Sweden. Lots of blonde hair, saw quite a bit of boobs like usual.” He chuckles and I roll my eyes.

“So now what?” I ask, not like I'm extremely hopeful, I don't know what to expect with Louis. Honestly he should take some time and do his own thing.

“Well I was wondering if you wanted to go on a date with me?” Oh my god this is happening. “Too soon?” His eyes grow wide and I can see the motions running through his head, regretting things.

“Not if you don't think so. I don't want to rush you.” It's the truth he just ended a four year relationship.

“It's no rush. What do you think about going to Barcelona?”

“On our date?” I sit up quickly. “That's a trip not a date.”

“Yeah, the Clasico is this weekend, you know, Barcelona and Madrid. I have some tickets. I try to go every year. I know you like football so I thought you'd want to go with me?” I try to hold in a laugh, he's the famous Louis Tomlinson and you can totally hear him second guessing himself. I'm actually kind of excited for this.

“What about Olivia?”

“Well if you want we could just fly out that morning, go to the match and fly back that night. Olivia would only need someone to watch her for the day. Or she could come with us and I could get us a hotel room so we can take a little bit of time.” He suggests but I feel like if we're going on a date then maybe it should just be us, we've never really had anything where it was just us.

“What about just you and me fly to Barcelona, watch the match, stay the night, and return on Sunday?” I suggest.

“But what about Olivia?”

“I can ask Dottie if she can watch her for the night or Patricia. She has a grand daughter around her age and they can have a massive play date, stay here for the night and we can see them in the morning.”

“You're not afraid of what Olivia will think? About us going somewhere together and staying the night?” He looks a little worried.

“Um, no I don't think so. I mean, you've stayed the night here before. I think we should be alone with out her every once in a while. I know we're a package deal but sometimes it just has to be us two to figure out how we fit.” I try to explain.

“Make sense.” He runs his fingers through his hair and looks around the room.

“What about the paps?” I'm thinking.

“What about them?” He laughs.

“Well, is it even out that you and Eleanor have broken up? What are people going to say when just you and I take a flight to Barcelona, go to the match, and stay the night at the same hotel? They're going to start rumors.” I know how this crap works.

“I don't care. Eleanor and I haven't even been photographed together in months. We just don't ever go out anymore. And my personal life is my business. I'm very guarded when it comes to that.” He explains.

“So this is actually going to happen? You and me?” I think out loud.

“You and me.” He smiles and I can't help but squeal. “Did you just squeak?”

“Maybe.” I avert my eyes and try to hide my embarrassment.

“I'd almost make fun of you if I wasn't so excited myself.” I laugh, I feel like I'm on cloud nine.

Louis and Kate.

Louis and Kate.

Has a nice ring to it if I do say so myself.

Notes

Felt like we needed to hear from Kate for a bit. It's been a while.

I'm off to lock myself in the library to study. Have a massive Ancient Civilizations exam to study for. Yikes.

You are all just fantastic! I hope you remember that. :)

xoxo