Forever and Always

Louis's POV:

I stared down at the black screen on my phone. It was as black as my soul right now. I couldn't believe what I was going to do. I couldn't even imagine what would happen later because of my actions.

My fingers fumbled, and I almost dropped my phone. The wind blew beside me, the empty seat next to me on the bench lonely and empty. That was where Samantha was supposed to be. Not with Niall.

Should I do this? This was...horrible, what I was going to do. But it was the only way for me to get Samantha back. I might actually have a chance. I dialed a phone number and waited for her to pick up.

"Miranda?" I whispered. Her voice crackled against my ear, and there was a long pause.

"Who is this?" she said, and there was a rustling sound, like the movement of clothing.

"Louis," I hissed as I glanced at my watch. 12:30. Only five more minutes until Harry comes back.

"Louis? Why are you--?" Her voice cut off as someone spoke to her in an earnest tone. "Okay. Cut to the chase. What do you want?"

"Who was that?" I asked, my guts turning inside out. Was it who I thought it was? Was it--?

The answer was hesitant, like she expected me to explode. "Samantha."

"Why are you with her?" I snapped, my protective side immediately showing. I took a deep breath to calm myself.

"Last time I checked, I was her best friend," she angrily said, and there was another empty silence. "Sorry. I'm just helping Samantha choose a wedding dress. You haven't forgotten that she and Niall are...?"

"How could I forget?" I sighed, trying to numb the growing pain in my stomach. Just the thought of Samantha walking down the aisle to Niall... It hurt just imagining it.

"So you still love her," Miranda triumphantly declared. In the background, I heard a voice say, "Who are you calling?" A hint if suspicion was tinted in Samantha's voice.

"Can you leave the room?" I requested quietly. Footsteps echoed from the phone. I checked the time again. 12:32.

"What?"

"I have a favor to ask you." I waited for her reaction.

"If it has anything to do with Samantha..." Her voice was exasperated and tired.

"It actually does," I said, hesitating a little. "Miranda, I still love her."

"So?"

"I want to get her back!" I shouted, but quickly looked up to see if Harry was back. "Look, I need you to be my pretend fiancée."

Pause.

"Oh, I get it. To make her..." Her voice trailed off, like she wasn't sure I'd use such a dirty trick.

"Jealous," I confirmed. "And she might come back to me."

"That's a long shot," Miranda muttered, unsure.

"It might work," I argued. Hopefully, it would work.

"And what's in it for me?" Miranda inquired, him outing me, it seemed like.

That startled me. "For you? Um..."

"Hook me up with Harry."

"What?" Miranda liked Harry? But did Harry like Miranda? I never noticed a romantic feeling between them two, but I guess I was too deep into my own troubles.

"You heard me." Bitterness laced her voice. Suddenly, I understood. Her best friend, Samantha, always seemed to have everything. Two guys fighting for her, all the world worried for her health after the car accident, and so on. Miranda wanted that attention. But Miranda got it all wrong, too. Samantha didn't ask for all that. It just came to her.

"Alright," I agreed.

"What? Really?" Miranda uttered, shocked, and I nodded even though she couldn't see me. Time was slipping quickly.

"Anything for Samantha."

Abruptly, her voice hardened and became brittle. "Or course," she said softly. She hung up, and I slowly lowered the phone.

"Lou?" Harry walked up to me, his hands jammed in his pockets. "Are you alright?"

I looked up at him, wondering about his feelings for Miranda and wondering about my feelings for Samantha. "Of course," I said.

Notes

I'm alive. How do you like the plot twist?