As the hands on the massive clock just ahead of me marked yet another hour, I grew more and more anxious. Partly because of what was going to happen in only two more hours and partly due to the fact that I had gone an entire sixty minutes without any interaction with the two hosts of the party; it must have been record-breaking.

Harry kept his promise, not once leaving my side through the course of the event. And now, even though he was chatting with some friends, he was still next to me, his hand loosely covering mine on the granite island of the bar behind us.

My eyes surveyed the room, taking note of familiar faces and assessing others. Danielle and Liam were snaking through the swarm of guests, making sure that everyone and everything was alright. I hadn't seen Perrie nor Zayn since our first encounter at the beginning of the party, but figured they were somewhere around. And when I spotted Niall by the snack bars, his hands tucked into his pockets as he talked and laughed with a girl whose face I couldn't quite make out, a thoughtful smile spread across my lips.

"I'll be back," I told Harry and he smiled and nodded in response. I lowered my head in a vain attempt not to be noticed as I made my way through the crowd. Once I reached the snack bar, I grabbed a plate and pretended to be surveying the trays of chocolate and various mouth-watering desserts, which were directly behind Niall. My plan to act nonchalant worked, because Niall noticed my presence and turned around.

"Charlotte," he called, his eyes gleaming, "I want you to meet my friend."

It was hard to ignore the gigantic and admittedly adorable smile on his face as he nodded to the girl next to him. The first thing I noticed about her was the way she smiled back at Niall. It was the exact same smile he was wearing. The girl's dress was different from mine; an exquisite midnight blue that wrapped around her torso and then flowed outwards at a sharper angle.

"Hi," the short girl extended a hand, her eyes holding a certain glint of liveliness, "I'm Monica." Her accent threw me off a bit. It was American, which made me wonder how the two had met.

Maybe it was because of her friendly demeanor, that I found myself ignoring her hand and instead bringing her in for a hug. I guess the other reason could've been that she obviously made Niall happy, which automatically warmed my heart.

"I'm glad to finally meet you," I beamed as I pulled back. "I'm Charlotte."

Before Monica could respond, though, Niall cleared his throat.

"Hey, it's not my fault I didn't want you to scare her away." His remark was accompanied by his own laugh, which held just a hint of nervousness.

"Nonsense," I returned my attention to his so-called friend. "She loves me already."

And to further prove my point, Monica snatched her arm from where it was linked with Niall's and came to stand by me, linking her arm through mine instead. I suppressed a laugh. I liked her already. Not only did she seem perfect for him, but she also the same sense of humor that I did.

"Actually, she's right," Monica interjected, "Sorry to break it to you, Ni, but I've found a new best friend."

I could tell that she was on the verge of laughter, but I wasn't one to speak, because I was, too.

Niall seemed crushed as he slumped his shoulders and pouted, his head falling in defeat. He continued his act and threw his coat over his shoulder as he turned around and began walking away. Finally, Monica and I allowed the laughter to spew out of our mouths.

"You can go to him," I said through a smile, "I have to get back to my date, anyway."

Monica nodded, "It was nice meeting you. We'll chat later?"

My heart ached a little at the last bit. I liked her already, and I knew Danielle would, too, but there was no way of telling her that after tonight, I wouldn't be chatting with anyone for a while.

"Sure." With a forced smile, I watched her take the same path as Niall and disappear into the crowd just ahead.

People were gathering on the dance floor as a slow song swept the hall, taking place of the trifle background music before. It was then that the guests seemed louder than ever and the lights brighter than before. I was growing more restless by the second, the desire to be happy that overtook my entire life overwhelming me right that moment. It was hard to watch all of my friends live their lives without struggles. And I knew that it wasn't necessarily true, but at that second, everything about it was. They were in the arms of the people they cared tremendously for. Monica, Perrie, and Danielle could all freely embrace the guys they had feelings for.

And then there was me.

I couldn't walk up to Louis and ask him to dance. I watched him from a distance, his eyes huge and his hands making dramatic motions as he animatedly told a story to a few guests, easily capturing the attention of everyone surrounding him. I couldn't tell him that I wished to spend the next day with him and the day after that and all of the days to come. It wasn't possible, and as if that wasn't enough, it seemed like I was reminded of the sorrowful fact every single day.

I didn't like feeling sorry for myself, but it was happening way too often lately. Even as I stood there, feeling like the only person without a proper date, I felt sorry for myself. I knew that I had Harry and that I would always have Harry, but it just wasn't the same. It wasn't enough.

Before I could delve even deeper into a state of self-pity, I felt someone nudge my shoulder. I wasn't surprised to see Harry as he held a hand out and nodded to the dance floor.

"Care for a dance?" He raised his eyebrows quizzically and without even allowing me to answer, tugged on my hand so that I crashed right into him. I laughed as he took both of my hands and began swaying right on the spot, next to the snack bar.

"What if I don't want to dance with you?" I asked jokingly, letting him slowly maneuver us so that soon enough, we were with the rest of the couples on the dance floor.

He rolled his eyes, "Impossible."

I didn't realize we had ended up right beside Liam and Danielle until I heard her speak.

"Looks like you taught Louis well," she muttered, her gaze set on something behind Harry and me.

Reluctantly, I followed Danielle's gaze until I was able to see what she was seeing. Some guests had stopped dancing and gathered around Louis and Eleanor as Louis pulled her smoothly across the dance floor in a dance that could only be described as impressive. And as his instructor, I was thoroughly pleased with his techniques, but as a hopeless teenage girl, I felt jealous of Eleanor. I felt like she was aware of the pain that the two caused me and that wasn't even the worst part. The worst part was that halfway through their romantic dance, Louis' eyes found mine and refused to let go. His face was unreadable, but he soon snatched his gaze away and focused back on Eleanor.

Harry brought my attention back to him when I heard him mutter something.

"Two can play that game," he winked. I figured that he had seen the prolonged and unexplainable eye contact between me and Louis, but I had no idea what he meant by his strange claim. I was about to ask him, but Harry left no time for questions.

"Follow my lead," he whispered into my ear, his breath tickling my skin. As soon as he knew that we had gathered attention, he let go of one of my hands. He took the other one and smoothly set me off into a twirl. I was clumsy at first, almost bumping into guests that had slowly begun to surround us, but when I realized what Harry was trying to do, I gave it my all.

I never enjoyed fighting fire with fire, but now I knew why people did it. It felt good. Maybe I was being immature when I stopped feeling jealous but instead, wanted Louis and Eleanor to feel the same way I had earlier, but I didn't care. I wasn't perfect--nobody was, so one selfish decision on my hands wasn't going to kill anyone.

Soon, the people began to leave Louis and Eleanor and gather around the two of us instead. I felt a little self-conscious because of all of the attention we were receiving, but the feeling evaded when I focused not on them, but on the boy in front of me.

Mischief was prominent in Harry's eyes as he tugged and pushed on my arms, making a simple ball room dance seem considerably more romantic that it was supposed to be. We glided around on the floor, our feet and bodies moving in sync. He made the dance fun and there came a point where I cared not about Louis or about his girlfriend, but about how much fun I was having.

When I was close enough to him, Harry took the opportunity to whisper, "Look who's watching." He looked rather accomplished and before I could comply to his statement, he spun me around so that I was face-to-face with a certain blue-eyed boy. Our proximity made my heart lurch, but I regained my confidence.

His face was expressionless, and his otherwise brilliant eyes dull as they followed our movements. Eleanor was standing right beside him, scowling when she realized that I was looking at Louis. But I didn't care. I wasn't paying attention to her, I was only watching Louis, whose hands were clenched in fists and eyes were narrowed. I didn't realize that I had begun to slow down until Harry closed the dance off and took a bow beside me. Snatching my gaze from Louis, precisely how he had done to me, I bent down into a curtsy for the clapping crowd.

The tense look on Louis' face and his strange stance lingered in my mind. Why had he looked so mad? That definitely wasn't what Harry and I were going for, so it did shock the both of us.

Liam and Danielle were the first to rush over after the crowd had dispersed and everyone went back to chatting and others remained on the dance floor.

"That," Danielle gawked, "was sooooo cute!" She jumped up and down, resembling a kid who had just been handed a gallon of candy.

Liam laughed at Danielle's antics, then faced Harry. "Didn't know you could dance like that, mate."

Chuckling, Harry ran a hand through his hair. "Neither did I." The four of us fell into easy conversation, something that I'd surely miss. Even though I talked and laughed and looked like I was fine, inside, I was dying of anxiety. I tried to keep up the indifferent facade just until Liam went to get us drinks. That was when I could express just how nervous I was.

As soon as Liam was out of earshot, Danielle brought up the inevitable subject.

"There's only an hour left, and you know that I'll always support you, but are you sure you want to do this? We could always just--"

"No," I shook my head, "I'm tired of sitting around, waiting for another solution to just pop up. I have to do this Danielle."

Danielle nodded reluctantly, still not seeming satisfied with my decision. I did know that she would always support my decisions if they were for the best, but this time, even if she didn't, I had no other choice.

"It's only temporary, right?" Harry asked. He had been silent for quite a while now. I nodded my head, and just with the simple gesture, both Danielle and Harry relaxed some. The thing was that even I didn't know if this was going to be permanent or temporary. Like anyone would, I prayed for the latter, but I had experienced first-hand just how unpredictable life could prove to be. There was no way to promise something before it even happened.

Liam had returned only minutes later with drinks. He had no clue of the conversation he had missed and sure, I felt guilty not telling him, but it was for the better. And I was striving for better.

The four of us resumed our animated conversations and not much later, I felt someone gently tap me on my shoulder. Now, it's important for you to know that I had zero intentions of even interacting with Louis that night and in no way, shape, or form was I ready for what he had to say to me when I turned around.

I was shocked to see him, but somehow managed to choke out a feeble greeting.

"Hi..."

Repeatedly kicking myself in my mind, I forced my lips up into a smile. The conversations between Liam, Danielle, and Harry behind me abruptly died down.

"Erm," Laim cleared his throat, a ghost of a smirk appearing on his lips, "We better go...check on the dinner." With just that, the couple scurried away. Grateful that Harry was still by my side, I waited for Louis to say whatever he was meaning to say.

"May I have a dance with my instructor?" Louis asked, his hand held out, awaiting the moment I slipped mine into it. His mood had greatly improved from what it seemed to be before. Louis was no longer angry (for which a reasonable explanation was still to be discovered), but smiling and from what I could tell, joyful as ever.

I looked to Harry, who shrugged and nudged me lightly in Louis' direction. My eyes shot a pleading look his way, but he passed it off with a subtle smirk. I don't know what I was hoping--that maybe Harry would tell Louis that I couldn't dance with him? The idea was ridiculous and the fact that the two were best friends didn't help much.

I nodded, the capability of finding words escaping me, and soon found myself being dragged to the very center of the dance floor. I knew that I was being foolish for allowing Louis to affect me in such a way. After tonight, all feelings towards him should have been rendered meaningless. With these thoughts racing through my mind, I finally found the courage to speak.

"I wonder what your fiance thinks about you asking me to dance," I somewhat joked, trying to ease the tension that had surrounded us in a matter of seconds

Louis shrugged, his expression dead-serious when he answered, "She encouraged me to ask you."

I was honestly about to call bullocks. I didn't believe it for a second. Eleanor Calder, the same girl who went crazy upon discovering that I was Louis' dance instructor and basically threatened to ruin my life if I ever even laid an eye on her boyfriend, was now encouraging the two of us to dance together? Impossible.

However, the uncomical look on Louis' face proved otherwise. Why would he joke about this? He would never threaten their relationship, so I did what was probably best and dropped the subject.

The song that was playing was the slowest one yet. Couples around us were swaying side to side as they embraced each other and had divulged themselves into a world where it was only the two of them, without regards to anyone else.

And then there was us. We were a good amount of inches apart, and our movements were stiff--mechanical, almost.

After a few minutes of awkward silence, Louis finally spoke. But I wished he hadn't.

"What if I told you that I haven't been able to keep my eyes off of you the entire night?" He inquired, and with one smooth tug, pulled on my hands so that I was closer to him. I ignored the eruption if butterflies that took place in my stomach and gulped, (hopefully) inaudibly. I averted my gaze, thinking that doing so would somehow make the cherry red color drain from my cheeks.

"Then I would have to remind you that this is your engagement party." Satisfied with my answer, I awaited his with a smug look on my face. Why Louis was behaving so flirtatiously, I had no idea. What I did know was that I despised him for it--for the way he was still capable of making my heart flutter with words too little.

Louis laughed, "And if I told you that I'm a better dancer than Harry?" He seemed quite confident in his words and though I believed that both Louis and Harry were equally skilled dancers, I made the mistake of giving him exactly what he wanted: a challenge.

"I'd say that I think you need a few more lessons until that could be declared true."

A musical laugh escaped his lips and he pulled back from our dance before mouthing something I couldn't quite decipher to the DJ, who stood a few feet away from us. Louis then turned back around and placed one hand on my waist, pulling me in.

"Then allow me to prove you wrong," he whispered, his tone every bit mischievous, a smirk bleeding through his words Before I could even open my mouth to speak, with one swift movement, he loosened the tie around his neck and extended his arm, sending me away from himself. I was relieved at the distance that had been wedged in between us, but that didn't last long. Because as soon as an upbeat melody began to blare from the speakers surrounding the hall, Louis pulled on my hand so that I was once again sent into a collision with his body.

"Wh--what are you doing?" I stuttered, my eyes wide, searching the area around us to see if anyone had witnessed his bold move. And indeed, there were people who slowly retreated from the dance floor and formed a semi-circle around us. Thankfully, Eleanor was no where to be seen, but the fact that Louis was dancing in such a way with someone other than his fiance must've definitely arose suspicions.

And as if that wasn't enough, I was soon able to recognize the type of dance moves Louis was pulling. It was a form of tango--a dance that was on our list, but we never got to practicing. Yet here he was, dancing as if he was born to do it.

"Having fun," his smile now was a genuinely sweet one, different from the cunning smirks he had previously been sporting, "loosen up, Char."

But Louis didn't understand. How could I loosen up, when the person guilty of snatching my heart from its sanction was the same one that was holding me by my waist and by my hand, dancing as if we were meant to be something more than what everyone else saw? How could I loosen up when I had tried so hard to guard myself after being repeatedly beaten down every time I tried to stand back up?

Everytime I tried pulling away from him, he'd tighten his grip on me as he glided across the ballroom floor. His eyes were shining with emotions unreadable and there was an undeniable moment where I made myself believe that this engagement party, this celebration was for me and him. I didn't allow the thought to linger, dismissing it as soon as it crossed my mind.

I had no choice but to follow along with Louis' movements and not create a scene for those watching. I was confused, alarmed, yet there was no way to deny that my heart was in the process if performing back-flips and other stunts unknown to mankind.

When I was close enough for him to hear me, I asked, "You never learned the tango, how are you doing this?"

Louis was quick to respond, "I've always known how to dance."

No one would have heard the soft gasp that escaped my already parted lips over the commotion that already existed in the hall. No wonder Louis was so good at the other dances--he knew how to perform them all along. That then led me to the inevitable question: Then why did he take dance lessons? And when I put my thoughts into words, his answer was one that made my stomach churn.

"Because you were my instructor."

Countless times, Louis made me feel like I was something more special that what I made myself out to be. He made me feel like no matter how different it may seem at the moment, I would always have a purpose. But I never quite discovered what the purpose was. Was I here to have my heart shattered countless times and my strength drained until there was nothing left of me but a body with only a saddened soul and a vacancy that, no matter how hard I tried, couldn't be filled? Or was I here for something bigger, something that I was not yet aware of, but would discover when the time was right?

All I wanted to know what why I had met Louis. They say that everything happens for a reason. So why did I meet Louis? Why did yet another coincidence lead me to seeing him again? And why on earth did I fall for him, if the only outcome was that it became hard for me to even be around him anymore without wanting to resort to tears. I just wanted answers--I needed answers, but they were nowhere to be found, locked away in an unattainable jar full of my numerous other desires.

So I did what I thought was best. I allowed Louis to have his dance because it was most certainly the last. The last of the strange feelings that had confused us both, yet brought us together in ways that neither of us ever anticipated. I let Louis have this dance and I allowed myself to have this dance because after tonight, nothing would ever be the same.

Louis was still smiling, obviously having fun, and so was I. I could see the beads of sweat forming on his forehead from the amount of exercise, and I had stopped resisting the dance long ago. My eyes locked onto his and I held on for what I was sure would be the last time.

I was somewhat saddened when the music began to die down and Louis performed a final dip, holding my weight with his forearm, our eye contact remaining intact. Applauds and whistles broke out around us, but I cared for none of that. I cared for the way Louis stared down at me and the words he uttered with such emotion.

"I need you by my side. I don't know how or why, but I'm going to fix this. And you need to trust me." He said between heavy breaths, his eyes full of sincerity. Louis pulled me up in a standing position, but didn't dare let go.

I wish there was a way to explain to him that there was a point to which whatever was broken could not be fixed. You could try countless times, but something like the relationship and times we shared could not be restored nor forgotten, regardless of the given amount of time.

I don't know when the people around us slowly dispersed or when Harry came rushing to my side, because all I could concentrate on was the only two things I could see: two bright stars that were speaking to me in a language known by only the two of us. It was a secret we shared; yet even we were unaware of the bond. Louis grasped my hand tightly, his fingers desperately trying to hold on as Harry gently tried to tug me away. I could feel uninvited tears steadily blurring my vision and no matter how many times I tried to blink them away, they returned with the same sinister intentions.

So this was it. After fighting so many wars, it was finally time to surrender. The best I could, I tried to comprehend his emotions, which were painted by colors unnamed and blended too well to decipher, earning a name as their very own language.

"Charlotte, we need to go," Harry's urgent words hit me like a truck, knocking the breath out of my already motionless body, "now."

Maybe when I smiled at Louis, it was my way of saying goodbye. Or maybe it was my way of apologizing. Whatever it was, though, didn't stop me from wanting nothing more than to pull away from Harry's grasp and be back in the one place I felt safest: Louis' embrace. And maybe when Louis smiled back, he somehow understood the words I did not speak and did not need to speak. Maybe he understood that sometimes, the best thing to do is let go. I shut my eyes, foolishly wishing that the pain would disappear, but it was felt rather than seen, so my attempt was rather useless.

I steadied my erratic breaths and with the little power I had remaining, I reopened my eyes only to be met by his.

And I let go.

I pried my fingers away from Louis', leaving him with his arm still outstretched. I was convinced that anyone within a ten-mile radius could hear the overwhelming drumming of my heart, my hand feeling lost without Louis' to keep it warm.

Letting go of Louis' hand didn't just mean letting go of him, it meant letting go of the memories that I cherished for uncountable days and months. It meant letting go of my old life in a vain hope to find a better one.

And most of all, it meant letting go of the same feelings that once gave me my life and later cost me the very same thing.

"Charlotte," the word rolled off of his tongue in a whisper and tumbled to the ground, the impact with the solid surface louder to my ears than anyone else's. It took all that was in me to squeeze my eyes shut and turn around, clinging onto Harry's arm because I was certain that without the support, I would crumble to the ground within a fraction of a second.

Harry's strides were hectic as he led me away from the hall, unseen by most. I was in some sort of a daze, the only image that was lingering in my mind being the one of Louis uttering my name one last time for me to hear. As we hurried to make our way to the exit, my wandering eyes were met by many others. I passed Liam, Zayn, and Niall, the three guys who had become nothing less than my brothers in the small family we had conjured. I smiled at them, the gesture being of gratitude for the things they'd done for me without even knowing. They only smiled back, not knowing that this would be the last time they'd be seeing me.

The pain remained even when I stepped out of the building and out onto the sidewalk, the cold breeze threatening me to return to the warm confines of the insulated building.

And for a few seconds, all I could do was try to catch my breath. I felt the overwhelming urge to cry, but somehow restrained from doing so. Danielle was by my side in an instant when she saw that Harry and I had arrived.

"I can't let her do this," those were the words I heard Harry say to Danielle and even though I wanted to, I didn't speak up because of the lack of trust I had in myself to do so.

"Harry, it's not our decision to make," Danielle responded, her voice consoling, yet unsure.

I lifted my head up from where it was resting in my hands, smiling feebly at the two.

"I'm doing this for myself," I promised them. I was aware that both of their main concerns was the idea that I was giving away my life just for Louis. And though that was true in a sense, I was also heeding my mother's advice. Sometimes, trying to stay strong can be your undoing. And I wasn't necessarily giving up, I had already lost the fight, with nothing more to lose.

"This life isn't for someone like me and it's about time that I do something about it." I tried to fit in every chance I got, to make the most of the treasures I was granted, but everything I had received was nothing that I had wanted. Even after so many things changing, I was the girl I was born into the world as. Lost, confused, and inevitably alone.

Harry seemed a little less reluctant, but sighed heavily nonetheless. "I'm going to miss you," he said, his voice changing from agitated to vulnerable in a split second. Unable to bear seeing him this way, I threw my arms around his neck in a tight embrace, my head resting on his chest due to the huge height difference. Harry held me close, closer than he had ever before. I didn't know how to express to him that he was one if the reasons I hadn't given up on trying to be happy.

"Thank you, for everything." I mumbled against the soft fabric of his coat, willing myself not to cry. But as soon as I pulled away from Harry and was brought into an immediate embrace by Danielle, all attempts made at resisting the tears went to waste, because that's when I truly broke down.

Before meeting Danielle, I didn't know the true meaning of friendship. She welcomed me in to her own family when she found out that mine was dysfunctional and throughout everything, she was there for me. The same went for Harry, and leaving the two of them proved to be one of the hardest things I would ever have to do.

"Try to get a leash for that dog next time you go running," I joked through the tears, referring to the accident that had caused us to meet. Danielle only smiled the best she could through her own tears and shook her head in laughter.

"Call us when you land," she demanded, earning a nod of agreement from Harry. With the back of my hand, I wiped away the tears that refused to stop or even slow down.

And before turning around to leave, I found myself being engulfed by Harry once again. He ran a hand soothingly through my hair, holding on tightly until I was able to steady my breathing. I was great friends with all of the guys, but the kind of bond I shared with Harry was most definitely the strongest of all. And as pathetic or cheesy as it sounds, he was like my savior. He picked me up after the uncountable times that I tripped. He was always there to make me smile and dry my tears, and that's exactly what he was doing now. He then pulled away, his bright eyes gleaming underneath the night sky.

Harry swiped his hands across my cheeks, leaving them free of tears. "We're going ice skating first thing when you return," he declared, earning a genuine and hearty laugh from me. I nodded rapidly in agreement and with just that, I turned around. I found myself not wanting to look back as my feet carried me down the pathway, the sound of my heels colliding with the asphalt being the only one among the noisy highways and city life. I ignored the way my heart ached and begged me to turn back around and return to Danielle and Harry. I ignored the profound feeling in the pit of my stomach, warning me that something about all of this wasn't right. But what I couldn't ignore was the figure I saw sitting just ahead, on a bench occupied by no one else.

I cursed under my breath, my plan of leaving the hall unseen being threatened by this person, who would spot me if I tried to reach my car. But as I peered closer through the thick fog, I could make out the figure as one wearing a ball gown, so obviously, she was a guest of the party. I didn't allow my curiosity to get the best of me, though, and kept my head down, my fingers crossed as I tried to hurry past the person.

But it was no use. I had almost reached the sidewalk in front of the building, but was stopped short by a small and surprisingly recognizable voice.

"Charlotte?"

Turns out that the woman was not a guest of the party, but the disreputable host herself. My head snapped up towards the source of the voice and sure enough, there sat Eleanor, the upper half of her body wrapped in a coat that was a few sizes too large, undoubtedly Louis'.

What was Eleanor, of all people, doing out here? I didn't have time to ask, though, because I had only an hour to meet Rose.

Without saying anything, I shot a small smile her way and then continued walking, almost positive that if she had something to say, it'd be entirely negative.

"Charlotte, wait!" The urgency in her voice was alarming enough for me to abruptly stop in my tracks.

"I know that speaking to me is probably the last thing you want to do right now and I don't blame you, but I have to talk to you. You don't even have to say anything, just please, hear me out."

Despair. It was the first time I ever saw so much of the emotion in any one person's eyes. Not only was it accompanied by tremendous sincerity, but what Eleanor had to say seemed to be of great importance.

My eyebrows knit together in thought; I couldn't bring myself to guess what it could possibly be about. Every conversation I'd ever had with Eleanor consisted of snide remarks and just her doing whatever she could do get under my skin. Now, here she was, begging for a chance to talk, so no one could blame me for being confused and exceptionally curious.

I remained silent as I strode over to the bench and took a seat next to her, ignoring how cold the metal was. A heavy sigh was heard from next to me as I awaited her to tell me whatever she needed so urgently to say.

"I don't hate you," she finally said. I guess she somehow saw my unbelieving expression through the darkness that swallowed the alley, leaving little light to sneak in from where street lamps lined the road just outside, because she felt the need to repeat her words.

"I'm serious Charlotte," she urged, "I don't hate you and I never did. I know that there's no reasonable excuse that I could make when apologizing for the way I've treated you, but I can at least try to explain."

I shoved the part of my mind that was counting down the amount of time I had to get to the airport all the way to the back, instead focusing on what Eleanor was saying. It was hard to let the fact that she was apologizing to me sink in, and she took my silence as an invitation to continue.

"His name was Charlie. I was young and stupid and worst of all; hopelessly in love. We dated for nearly two years and he proposed to me when we were only eighteen. At the time, I had no idea what a huge step it was when I agreed. Just the thought of being with him for the rest of my life seemed like the perfect fairy tale. I was convinced that he was everything I ever needed and that we'd live happily ever after."

I could see tears beginning to brim Eleanor's eyes, but she blinked them away, bravely making the decision to meet my eyes. I wouldn't be surprised if my jaw was touching the ground in shock. There were a few things that triggered such a reaction from me, one being that Eleanor was opening up to me about her past and another being that she was actually engaged once before she met Louis.

I realized that she was waiting for me to say something and finally, I shook my head, snapping out of the not-so-subtle shock.

"What happened?" My voice was weak against the gust of wind that attacked the narrow alley right then, but I was certain that Eleanor had heard me, because she continued.

"He left me," she stated, as if it was the most obvious answer. I knew that no matter how strong she looked from the exterior, on the inside, she wasn't doing so well. And I knew because at that moment, she reminded me so much of myself and not only did I feel bad for her but, I understood the pain that was evident in her eyes.

"The night before we were supposed to elope, he left. And do you know what I did, Charlotte?" She asked, humor veiled behind her words. Laughing darkly, Eleanor carried on.

"I waited. Days became weeks and weeks months until finally I received a letter. He'd found someone else and didn't care to tell me until nearly a year later. He didn't love me anymore, Charlotte, he no longer wanted to be with me."

I never quite understood why some people did the things they did. I learned from my experience with my mother that there's always a reason behind someone's actions and the words they speak. Eleanor had always been so defensive--possessive--over Louis and all along, I judged her and allowed myself to believe that it was because she despised me. But it wasn't; it was because she was trying to save the last bit of her heart that remained unbroken. She was just a girl who fell in love too easily and didn't want history to repeat itself.

I nodded my head slightly, allowing her story and the realizations sink in. "Then you met Louis," I added on, the explanations fitting together like pieces of a puzzle.

 A smile bled through Eleanor's words, "And then I met Louis. He made me forget about Charlie and after such a long time, I felt loved again. And when he befriended you, I couldn't help but feel threatened. I wanted to push you as far away as possible because I love him so much, Char."

My heart ached for Eleanor and I began to feel bad for making her think she was in danger of losing Louis. I knew then what I wasn't sure of all along; that the decision I had made was the right one. Not only would it resolve Louis' conflicts, but I would also be saving Eleanor from having to go through something so terrible, for the second time.

 "You love him, don't you?" Eleanor asked abruptly, a small smile gracing her lips.

My shoulders shook with laughter. I knew that there was no way to verbally deny it.

"I guess you could say that."

"The way he looks at you, Charlotte, I think I have every right to feel jealous." The words coming out of anyone else's mouth under different circumstances would have sounded offensive and accusing, but this was different. Eleanor was being straight-forward with me, confiding in me her deepest of secrets. However, that didn't mean I wasn't taken aback by what she said.

"Wh--what do you mean?" I gulped, my stomach churning uneasily.

"He loves you, Char. And I know that because he looks at you the same way he once looked at me. Every single person in that hall can see how happy you make him, I guess you're the only one who doesn't."

It was then that I realized how all of this was sounding. Eleanor was probably considering breaking the engagement, but I couldn't possibly allow that to happen. To make her go through that pain was every bit horrible and even though she may have not believed it at the time, I knew for a fact that Louis did love her. He was just confused, like everyone else in this world.

Sucking in a deep breath, I swiveled on the bench to face her.

"Go back in there. Go and enjoy your engagement party, Eleanor, because Louis loves you. Maybe he does care about me, but never in the way that he cares about you. He's yours, and I don't ever want to do anything to come between the two of you."

I couldn't recall the last time I said anything with such confidence and certainty. I stood up, adjusting the bottom of my dress. Eleanor silently followed suit, watching as I slowly retreated from where we were standing.

"Wait!" she extended her arm, a look of confusion on her face. "Where are you going?"

I smiled, hoping she could at least make out the traces through the darkness.  

"I'm going home," I found myself answering, and it wasn't necessarily a lie. I was going home. I was on a journey to find my heart, and the two things were not far apart.

Eleanor didn't say anything after that. I simply walked and walked through the conquering mist, the desire to turn around and go back fading away with each step. It felt good to know that I was surely doing the right thing. And now, it wasn't just a hunch based on my own thoughts, Eleanor was living, breathing proof.

When the rain began picking up, I didn't care for my dress, which was becoming uncomfortably drenched, or about how much time I had left. The chilly air bit at my bare arms, and strangely enough, I was surprised that I could even feel it. Even though I could feel everything physically, including the cold rain that made me shiver from head to toes, I was numb inside. Senseless.

It was only my shadow and I as we promised each other to remain companions, but a small part of me was afraid that one day, even that could be snatched from right under my dependent feet. And once again, for what could very well be the thousandth time, I'd be lost.

 The silly thought only reminded me of the one night where I made a wish and the wish came true. Not many people can say that, can they? The night where I was humiliated, embarrassed into running and hiding from my own world, which had become my greatest enemy. The night when I met a certain boy--the boy who wanted me to help him chase his shadow. Little did he know, I  did just what he asked of me and chased and chased, and when the shadow could no longer be seen by my blinded eyes, I handed the reigns to my heart, which led me to where I was standing now. Broken yet every bit free.

For the last time ever, I took in the beautiful, lively city I was in the center of. From where I stood, I could see the towering skyscrapers of London, and the lights that blended in too well with the stars. The city I hoped would bring me many adventures lived up to my expectations, yet I attained things I never anticipated. Friendship, love, and a family. And now I was letting go of all of it.

I looked up at the stars, noting the presence of one that shined brighter than any other, prominent on the painted night sky. The world knew it as the North Star. Many called it Polaris, and others the Guiding Star, telling legends and myths of the star leading some people to their destinations and others to their destinies. So I did what anyone else in my position would have done. I wished for it to lead me to my destiny. And this time, having learned my lesson, I was careful with what I  wished for.

 "Take me home," I whispered and for what would be my last time, I did what I was best at. I stepped into the darkness, striving to reach the light that was every bit unattainable.

(A/N) That's it.

I just wanna say that it's been such a pleasure writing this story. I can't believe that it's over, and I'm positive that I will miss--

HA! Did I trick you? I sure hope I did :D nope, the story is not over just yet! I was actually considering leaving it here, but I know you'd have my head on a plate. So I really hope you guys liked this chapter because it took me a while to write. I can't believe this is almost over :( I keep saying it over and over, but it's just insane!

Dedication goes to @salollol (once I figure out how to do dedications from my phone) for her wonderful comments on all of the chapters! Thanks for the love <3

What happens to Charlotte? And Louis? Is the engagement still on? Stay tuned to findddd out!