Chapter 348: the walk back I

Chapter 348: Chapter 348: the walk back I

The streets were quiet.

There was hardly anyone outside.

The noise from William’s house had already faded behind them.

Christopher and Vivienne walked side by side.

Still holding hands.

For the first few minutes, neither of them said anything.

Vivienne’s stomach felt like it was sinking.

She kept looking ahead.

She had rehearsed what she wanted to say several times in her head.

None of it sounded right anymore.

She glanced at Christopher.

He was quiet.

Calm.

She couldn’t tell what he was thinking.

That made her even more nervous.

They walked for another few minutes.

They were far enough from the house now.

Vivienne finally stopped.

Christopher stopped too.

He turned toward her.

Vivienne bit her lip.

She slowly let go of his hand and turned to face him too.

Then she took a breath.

"I’m sorry."

Christopher said nothing.

Vivienne looked down.

"I... I didn’t tell you about Damian because I didn’t..."

She hesitated.

"I didn’t think it was important at the time."

Christopher watched her.

Vivienne swallowed.

"We... I did tell you before that we’re just friends."

She looked up at him briefly.

"But the truth was..."

Her cheeks grew warm.

"Well... it wasn’t exactly romantic on my end."

She looked away again.

"He liked me."

She took another breath.

"And I just thought it was a good idea to... um..."

Her voice became quieter.

"Enjoy his affection."

Christopher’s expression remained calm.

Vivienne’s face became even warmer.

"And then we ended up as..."

She hesitated.

"Friends with benefits."

She quickly added,

"But it didn’t really last long."

Christopher waited.

"Just four days."

Vivienne immediately looked away.

She hoped he wouldn’t ask when those four days had been.

She didn’t want to say it.

Not because she was going to lie.

She just...

Really didn’t want to say it.

Christopher was quiet.

Vivienne’s nervousness grew.

"And..."

She swallowed.

"That was all."

She looked at him again.

"There isn’t anything between us now."

Christopher nodded slightly.

Vivienne couldn’t tell what that meant.

She started speaking again before he could say anything.

"I know I can’t change what happened."

Her voice became smaller.

"And maybe you want to end things with me now."

Christopher’s eyebrows moved slightly.

Vivienne’s eyes were already beginning to sting.

"But..."

She took a shaky breath.

"Please listen first."

She clenched her fist.

"I promise there’s nothing between Damian and me now."

She looked directly at him.

"And if you’re willing to give me another chance..."

Her voice trembled.

"I promise there won’t ever be."

She paused.

"I’m not going to..."

She struggled for the words.

"I don’t want anyone else."

Her eyes were beginning to turn red.

"I want to be with you."

Christopher stared at her.

Vivienne’s lips trembled slightly.

"And..."

She stopped.

She had said everything.

Or at least, she thought she had.

Christopher’s expression softened.

Then, very gently, he smiled.

"Are you finished?"

Vivienne froze.

Her heart dropped.

Finished?

Was that what he meant?

Was he saying that she had said everything she needed to say?

And now...

Goodbye?

She stared at him.

"I..."

Her voice caught.

Then she realized she didn’t actually have anything else to say.

"Yes."

She looked down.

"That’s all."

Silence.

Vivienne looked away.

Her eyes burned.

She tried to blink it away.

She couldn’t.

God.

Her first relationship after everything she had been through...

And it was already falling apart on the first day.

She had finally gotten Christopher.

And now she was going to lose him.

Her eyes filled.

A tear slipped down her cheek.

Christopher’s expression changed.

His hand moved to her arm.

Then he gently pulled her toward him.

Vivienne looked up in surprise.

Their eyes met.

Christopher frowned slightly.

His thumb brushed beneath her eye.

"You’re crying."

Vivienne’s lips trembled.

She looked down not wanting to meet his eyes.

Another tear slipped down.

Christopher wiped it away.

Vivienne’s lips turned downward.

Her nose felt painfully sour.

"I don’t want to break up."

Christopher almost laughed.

"Who said anything about breaking up?"

Vivienne blinked.

She looked at him.

Her eyes widened.

"You’re not?"

Christopher shook his head.

"I’m still standing here, right?"

Vivienne stared at him.

There was something fond in his expression now.

Then slowly...

"Ah..."

A tiny smile appeared.

Christopher smiled back.

"I wouldn’t lie by saying I didn’t think about what was between you two."

Vivienne’s heart tightened again.

"But I’m also not obnoxious enough to think that there was something between us before last night."

"Either way, thank you for being honest."

Vivienne nodded.

She wiped beneath her eyes with her free hand.

She was suddenly much happier.

"So..."

She hesitated.

"I can still watch you play tomorrow?"

Christopher chuckled.

"Definitely."

His smile widened slightly.

"And I would be delighted to have you there."

Vivienne quickly wiped her remaining tears.

She laughed softly.

"Okay."

She looked at him.

"I’ll be there."

She looked down for a moment.

"Also... thank you for hearing me out."

She glanced at him.

"And for not passing judgment."

Christopher simply smiled.

Vivienne nodded.

She felt a little lighter.

Then she hesitated.

"And..."

She glanced left.

Then right.

The street was empty.

No one was nearby.

Vivienne stepped closer.

She rose slightly onto her toes.

And quickly pressed a kiss to his lips.

She pulled back almost immediately.

Then, before she could lose her courage, she said,

"I love you."

Christopher looked at her.

For a moment, he simply stared.

He had never been particularly affectionate.

Not even in his previous relationship.

But Vivienne was standing in front of him with tearful eyes and a smile that was trying very hard not to look too happy.

He couldn’t help it.

He smiled.

"I love you too."

Vivienne’s eyes widened.

And suddenly, she smiled properly.

She stepped closer again.

This time, she wrapped her arms around his waist.

Christopher laughed softly.

Then he wrapped his arms around her too.

Vivienne held him tightly.

For the first time since leaving the house, the knot in her stomach finally began to disappear.

A few moments passed.

Christopher looked down at her.

"We should head back."

Vivienne nodded.

"I’ll send you to your dorm."

She nodded again.

But she didn’t let go.

Christopher looked down at her arms around his waist.

Then back at her.

He smiled.

"Are you planning to walk like that?"

Vivienne looked up.

"Yes."

Christopher laughed softly.

"Alright."

Vivienne shifted to his left but kept her arms around his waist.

Christopher placed one arm around her shoulders.

They started walking again.

And neither of them seemed particularly concerned about how much PDA they were displaying.

After everything that had happened tonight...

Vivienne didn’t care.

She was still his girlfriend.

And for now, that was all that mattered.

Tbc