a/n: This is a continuation of the last chapter, "to catfish, or not to catfish". This short story, should ideally be read in chronological order or things aren't going to make any sense to you. Well unless you usually read the ending before the actual story.

I'm stupid. I'm so fucking stupid.

I rested my head against the cold vibrating car window and sighed. All well, no going back now.

I had agreed just a few days ago to stay with my cousins in London for a few days while my parents went on holiday for half term.

I was already the age where I could or rather should be able to stay at home by myself. Trust my over protective parents to make me stay at a cousin's house. Even the taxi driver who was driving me there was a somewhat close friend.

I didn't know my cousins very well. A part from once last year I hadn't seen them in six years. The real reason I wanted to go was to somehow, accidentally "bump" into Nathan.

Sad, I know.

But these past two weeks I couldn't get my mind off of him. Wow. This sounds like the start of a cringe love story.

I thanked my taxi driver and paid him before walking out the car and shutting the door. I had asked him to stop several blocks away from my destination, not wanting to pay the extra money for somewhere I could get in walking distance.

+++

It's the third and last day. I spent most of the first two days in my room ignoring everyone. My eldest cousin was out working and the other was, like me, in her room the entire time.

I think the stupidity of this whole 'mission' had suddenly hit me in the face because I couldn't even bare to go outside let alone go looking for Nathan.

I didn't even know when he worked there. I didn't even know if he still worked there.

However on the morning of my last day, I looked up the address of the company and told my cousins I was going out, neither of them really caring; as unlike my parents, they believed I was old enough to do as I pleased.

+++

I found myself by the Thames. I looked up at the many boats in front of me, all of them baring the same company name. This was it.

I walked towards a young man. He had brown hair and brown eyes as Nathan was described. But how likely was it that it was actually him? How likely would it be that he was actually real and not a made up person?

He was waiting by the side of a wall for the rest of the workers helping people on board. I walked up to him quietly.

"Excuse me?" I asked in a timid voice. Obviously still loud enough to surprise him as he jumped in shock.

"Oh, hi!" He said smiling in a friendly manner. "Are you here for the boat ride or..." He discontinued waiting for my answer.

"Oh, no. I'm just looking for someone."

"Oh right." He said. "Anyone I might know?"

"Does a Nathan work here?" He raised his eyebrow at me.

"Yep. I know Nate."

A sigh of relief left me. He was real. Or at least could be real, if it wasn't just a coincidence.

"Is he here?" I asked a little to quickly.

"Nah. I don't even know if he's coming in today. He called in sick yesterday." He said, pushing his hair out of his eyes.

I tried to cover the disappointment in my eyes. This was my last day as well.

"I wouldn't mind spending a bit of time with you though." He looked at me hopefully.

"Sorry, I'm sort of leaving today." I said and he nodded back at me.

"Would you mind giving him a message?"

"No, sure I will." He answered willingly.

"Can you tell him Ella came? He'll know who I am." At least I hope he will.

"Alright. Anything else?"

"No but thanks." I said before walking away.

I resisted the few tears that had started falling down my cheeks. I was stupid, I know. But I had still gotten my hopes up of seeing the boy who made me genuinely smile.

As I pushed through the crowds of people, I went out to cross the road.

I felt a large hand pull at the hood of my coat, preventing me from crossing and making me fall and trip backwards. I looked up at the man who had pulled me back in anger wiping away my tears. A car then sped right past me blowing my hair back.

He stopped me from getting run over. I looked at him as I got up from the ground.

"You should slow down there. Wouldn't want a pretty face like yours to get run over, would we?"

I smiled at him, wiping a few stray tears.

"Hey, you alright there?" He asked, but I ignored him.

"Sunshine?"

I took a double take and looked at him again. Brown hair, brown eyes. About 6,0 maybe 6,1. But instead of an adorable smile he had a look of worry painted across his face.

"Yeah, I'm fine." I said nodding my head.

"Good. Am I allowed to know the name of the girl I just saved?"

"Saved is a bit extreme don't you think?" I said grinning at him.

"You're avoiding the question, sunshine." He got me.

Now to catfish, or not to catfish. That is the question. Or is it even a question?

"Avery."

"And mines Nathan." He said, but of course I already knew that.

"Hey, Avery? Don't go getting run over again, 'cause I'd like to see your pretty face again, one day."

I smiled shaking my head before walking off. Then, my phone began to ring.

"Yes." I said through the phone.

"Avery! Where are you, we're looking everywhere for you? Avery, why aren't you with your cousins?" I sighed, overprotective parents come into play once again.

"I'm coming, I just went for a walk, mum." She told me to come back instantly and then hung up on me. Putting my phone back in my pocket, I turned.

And I smiled.

+++

Here's the alternate ending that I also wanted to do:
*starts at the line '"No but thanks." I said before walking away.'*

"Hey, Ella!" The man called after me. I turned around to look at him.

"I didn't think you'd come all this way just to see me, sunshine."

"Nathan?"

a/n: I think I'm gonna cry. Welp.

I know you all thought that it was just gonna be one chapter on "to catfish, or not to catfish" but I just couldn't help myself.

200 mark✔️