*A few years later*

Samantha's POV:

I sighed, my eyes staring into space, the bitter numbness in my stomach sharp and painful. It was as if history was repeating itself, monstrous and always out to get me.

Combing my fingers through my straight hair, I decided that a walk would be healthy for me. After all, I hadn't been out in awhile.

The fresh air certainly felt good against my face, but something was missing, like maybe a hand was supposed to slipped into mine, perfectly entwined, rough and calloused against my smooth skin.

The two years apart from Louis hadn't done anything to my feelings. Love will always go on, and I guess my love for Louis will never disappear.

A red leaf floated down from the almost bare branch hanging above me. I stretched out my hand and it landed on my palm. The edges were slightly torn, but still beautiful. The veins rubbed against my fingers, and I closed my hand, and the brittle leaf was shredded into millions of pieces.

My converse crunched against the pavement covered in leaves of all colors, red, gold, or brown. I was so busy looking at the ground that I hadn't realized that a car was trailing behind me until I heard its tires screech to a halt.

Without looking back, I quickened my pace, my hands in my pockets seeking for shelter away from the chilly air.

A swirl of wind blew, and as my hair danced out behind me, the car door slammed, and the sound of boots clattering against the sidewalk made me stumble over my feet in my haste as I tried to speed up.

Maybe I had wished it, maybe I hadn't, but nevertheless, the voice still reached my ears, and the familiar hand grabbed my wrist. Why did history repeat itself so much?

I whirled around, my voice much icier than intended. "What are you doing here?"

He ignored my tone, or maybe he just didn't seem to be affected by it. "I found you," he just said simply.

I was supposed to answer coldly, say I didn't want to be found, that I had rejected him, that our past was just our past, that our paths weren't supposed to cross. But me, being the person to act before they speak, started screaming instead.

"Two years, Louis! After two years, and you finally come!" A sob choked my throat, but no tears came out.

"I'm sorry." He was just so simple, he didn't even try to argue. Another sob racked my body, and yet again no tears came out.

"I finally found you." No affection in his voice; he was almost robotic.

"What do you want? Why do you keep ruining my life? Did I do something?" I held his hand tightly instead of yanking it off my wrist.

"It's not you," he said, and his voice broke, just like a dam cracking, releasing all the water it had held back for so long. Emotions flooded his words that I could hardly decipher what they were. Sadness, pain, anger, happiness, shock. "It's me! I don't know why I keep ruining your life! I'm sorry!"

"Louis," I breathed, and my arms wrapped around him. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't-- I wish--" My words couldn't come out, yet it had expressed so much.

He held me in his arms, exactly how he used to. "I kept looking for you. I hired private jets, detectives, everything. Yet I couldn't find you. And I never knew you were still living in the same town!" We laughed together, tears finally leaking from the corner of our eyes.

"Louis!" I gasped for air, wiping the stream of tears away. "Louis, I'm sorry I left. I love you."

No more words were needed, only the soft, passionate kisses were necessary to fill the long gap. He pulled away, smiling, whispering, "I love you, too."

Louis held my hand, grasping it like his life depended on it. We strode to the car, and as he inserted the keys into the ignition, I asked, "What do we do now?"

"I don't know," he answers breathlessly, his eyes bright and shining. "But with our love, we can do anything. We can elope, just tell me!"

"We'll think of it later," I grinned back as he stepped on the gas pedal.

Louis's POV:

After dinner, we went back into the car. At the highway, I kissed her hand and stared directly at her eyes. "Promise never to leave me again. Promise that you'll stay with me forever and always."

Her gentle smile spread across her lips, and she opened her mouth without hesitation.

But only I wish I didn't say those words.

Or look her directly in the eyes.

And especially not wait for the words she would never say.

Because if I had been looking, I might not have to dodge the truck extremely close to our car. Or I might not have had to veer off the highway. And I might not have heard the terrified scream coming from Samantha.

Her head crashed against the window, and after a few moments, I heard the sirens wailing in the distance. That's when I blacked out.

--

When I woke up, I found myself in a hospital bed. I threw off the thin blanket covering my shaking body, and wobbled out my room. The boys weren't crowded outside my room; they were standing outside another. I stumbled over there, pushing them away.

And I saw Samantha, with cuts and bruises all over her. And her eyes were already open, with a faint bit of determination in them. She turned to me, and her features immediately clouded in confusion.

"Who are you?"

Notes

Finally updated! I just want to know what you think. Answer one of these questions and you'll l get an update? I promise I probably won't do this again, I'm just curious on what you think.

What does the red leaf she shredded symbolize?

What does the two years symbolize?

I swear it won't be the same as last time! And you might want to read Chapter 12 again in the prequel, it's important later. And Miranda WILL be important.