The Secrets We Keep

Louis walked back to his car with a tense expression, sliding into the driver's seat without saying a word. His jaw was tight, and he avoided looking at Kensleigh as he started the engine, gripping the steering wheel like it was the only thing keeping him grounded.

Kensleigh shifted uncomfortably in the passenger seat, her earlier confusion giving way to irritation. She glanced at Louis, then out the window, trying to make sense of his behavior. The soft strains of "Last Christmas" by Wham! played from the radio, its cheerful tune an awkward contrast to the thick silence between them.

"It's not even December yet," Kensleigh muttered, rolling her eyes at the Christmas music.

Louis didn't respond. His eyes stayed locked on the road, his mind elsewhere. Kensleigh crossed her arms, tapping her nails on the door as she debated whether to press him. She had never seen him this distracted, and it was starting to annoy her.

The drive to her dorm felt excruciatingly long. By the time Louis pulled up, Kensleigh's patience had worn thin. He parked the car and stared straight ahead. "We're here," he said flatly, not bothering to look at her.

Kensleigh hesitated, wanting to confront him, but she held back. "Thanks for the ride," she said coolly, grabbing her bag and stepping out of the car.

Louis didn't watch her go. Instead, he leaned back in his seat, gripping the steering wheel tightly. When she disappeared into the building, he exhaled, staring at the dashboard as the faint jingle of another Christmas song played on the radio. He barely noticed the music. His thoughts were consumed by Maria—her sudden absence and the unresolved feelings he couldn't shake.

Maria sat on her bed back home in North Carolina, wrapped in the comforting familiarity of her old room. The sound of her family laughing in the kitchen brought a faint smile to her lips, but her heart felt heavy. She needed this break—needed to be away from the whirlwind of drama that had consumed her life at university.

She opened her laptop and sent emails to her professors, requesting an extension on her leave. The responses came quickly, granting her permission to stay home through Thanksgiving. It was a relief to know she didn't have to rush back to the chaos she'd left behind.

Maria leaned back against her pillows, staring at the ceiling. Her thoughts wandered to Niall, Louis, and the mess she'd left unresolved. Being home was a temporary escape, but she knew she couldn't avoid her problems forever.

At the university, the boys gathered in the common room, the air heavy with tension. Niall sat on the couch, staring at his phone. "She still hasn't responded," he muttered, running a hand through his hair. "Why wouldn't she tell me she was leaving?"

Harry leaned forward, his tone steady. "Maybe she just needed some space. With everything going on, it makes sense."

Liam nodded. "The rumors, the pressure—it's probably a lot for her. She'll come around, Niall."

Zayn added, "She cares about you, man. You just need to give her time."

Niall sighed, his frustration evident. "I just wish she'd talk to me. I'm her boyfriend. Why couldn't she trust me with this?"

The boys exchanged uneasy glances, unsure how to comfort him. Harry looked around. "Where's Louis? He's been acting weird lately."

Liam shrugged. "Probably off by himself. He's been pretty quiet."

Zayn chimed in, "Yeah, but it's not like him to be this distant."

The group fell silent, the weight of Maria's absence and Louis's behavior hanging over them. They all felt like something was unraveling but didn't know how to stop it.

Back in his dorm, Louis sat on his bed with his guitar resting beside him. He scrolled through his music and landed on The Beatles' "Love You To." The opening notes filled the room, and he leaned back, letting the song wash over him. The lyrics struck a chord, mirroring the emotions swirling in his mind—longing, confusion, and a deep ache he couldn't ignore.

He thought about Maria—her laugh, her smile, the way she made him feel. Guilt tugged at him as he thought about Niall, but no matter how much he tried, he couldn't push Maria out of his mind.

After replaying the song a few times, Louis opened his messages. He scrolled to Maria's name, the sight of their last conversation making his chest tighten. Taking a deep breath, he copied the link to the song and typed a short message:

"This reminded me of you. Hope you're okay."

He stared at the message for a moment before hitting send. Tossing his phone aside, he closed his eyes and let the music play again, hoping it could drown out the uncertainty gnawing at him.

Maria sat cross-legged on her childhood bed, her AirPods playing the song Louis had sent. The melody and lyrics hit her hard, each line stirring emotions she'd tried to bury. She stared at his message, her heart conflicted.

Why had he sent this? Was it an apology? A subtle confession? She couldn't tell, and that uncertainty made her hesitate. The last thing she needed was to stir up more drama, especially with Kensleigh and the rumors still looming in the back of her mind.

Sighing, Maria placed her phone face down on the nightstand. She wasn't ready to respond—not yet. For now, she closed her eyes, letting the song play on repeat as she tried to make sense of the tangled emotions inside her.