LOUIS' POV

It has been an hour and thirty minutes since I've been waiting for her, laying in the backseat with my phone.

Finally, I got a call from her but I did not pick it up. That didn't stop her from trying repeatedly. I looked through the window because she could not see me.

I watched a girl dressed in blue jeans, a purple shirt, and black Snickers with her loose ponytail dancing at the back of her head as she looked left and right nonstop, running from one edge to another, my grin turned to a chuckle as I tried to hold it.

She sat on a bench with her palms on her face, after some minutes I got down then settled close to her but she didn't move.

"Hey, Fiona" I tapped her shoulders and she jumped then landed on the floor.

"Ouch!" she dusted herself as she stood up, Fiona squinted like she knew I'd been around the whole time.

"Why didn't you answer my calls? I called fifteen times" she increased her voice a bit.

"Oh, you did?"I raised the phone to my face and it wasn't a lie.

"I'm the victim here, you waited for a few minutes but I waited for more than an hour"

"Yeah that was my fault, I'm sorry" she apologized without hesitation, this made me feel like the bad guy.

"Apology accepted, let's start working, any ideas?"

Fiona paused looking around carefully like a detective looking for clues. 

"Louis let's paint something natural, I know a good spot for that, follow me" 

"Hmm... how far away?"

"We can walk to the place" 

"Okay, go on I'd catch up later"I went back to the car and told my driver I'd be back in an hour or two.

I trailed behind Fiona, we went down a narrow part leading to a big field of flowers. She set everything in front of the scenery and handed me a paintbrush.

"Let's paint a garden of flowers, oh! Let's not forget the sky too" she half-smiled. 

I shook my head and chuckled

"Let me remind you that this is group work, what makes you think I wanna paint dumb flowers?"

Her lips were slightly opened without saying a word, she just stared at me.

"I-I'm sorry... what would you like to paint?" she asked in a soft tone.

"I won't make many changes, just paint trees instead of flowers"

"That will be nice, why don't we paint both. Look! Those trees are far away, we can add them" she pointed forward.

"No flowers! That's what I want" 

Fiona exhaled with her eyebrows slightly creased as she glared.

"You are so selfish, why would you ask Mr. Edward to make us partners if you don't want to cooperate"

"I didn't know she was such a disrespectful and stubborn girl. Everyone wants to be on my good side. Let me remind you that I'm Louis Walter in case you've forgotten" I said with a smug look.

"It doesn't matter who you are, since you're so confident why don't you do the assignment all by yourself" she stumped as she walked away.

I didn't mean to upset the girl, she should know how lucky she is to be my partner, she wasn't grateful enough that's why I had to be a little authoritative.

That was not the issue now, I had to start painting as I raised my hand to begin but it suddenly froze. I wondered if this is what they called guilty conscience, it's very rare to me.

"I know I will regret this later" I sighed and went to find her.

I spent almost an hour searching for her. I decided to take a break in Magnolia park, the sound of the ice cream truck drew my attention so I got some.

"So tired" I exhaled in relief as I sat down, because of the red hood over my head and thick black glasses I didn't attract attention to myself.

I was about to start licking my ice cream when my eyes moved to the water fountain, beside was a girl standing that had Fiona's blonde straight hair and the same clothes. I walked to her then bent over to be certain. 

"Ah! You startled me!" Fiona exhaled with a hand in her chest.

"Oh, sorry"

She nodded twice then walked away.

My conscience pinched me as I watched her go further and further. I began to tell myself inwardly why I shouldn't be the first to apologize.

"Fiona, wait!" 

When I caught up with her she turned with a fixed look. I stared as I argued internally if I should be the one begging.

She broke the eye contact and turned

"Look, maybe I said something wrong back there but if I do it all by myself you should accept any score by Mr. Edward for my project" I emphasized "my" knowing how people like her don't joke with their grades.

Fiona glared without uttering a word. 

"You're arrogant, you don't even know when you're the one at fault, you just do what you can to get what you want"

Her words kept playing in my head, she was right.

"I-I'm sorry" I muttered hastily.

Fiona's eyes widened like she had just seen a ghost.

"Are you serious?" she arched her brow then I nodded.

"Oh, I'm sorry too" 

I walked back to the bench to relax and she followed.

I called the ice cream man to buy one more "Which flavor would you like?" 

Fiona was staring intensely at the floor before she was distracted by my voice.

"Oh me? No thanks, I'm not thirsty" she smiled. I returned her smile shortly.

"Gimme strawberry" I paid for it before he left, Fiona looked at me then the ice cream as I handed it to her. She shook her head 

"No, thank you" she smiled again.

"I can't eat when someone by my side is not eating, please accept it"

Fiona was dumbfounded "Can't you give it to someone else? I'm sorry but I don't accept things from people"

I sighed with disappointment "Okay, I will just throw it anyway"

"I'd take it! It's not good to waste things" 

She finally took it and we had ice cream together before going back to the garden. 

"Okay, let's start"I picked up the brush and turned to her, she was staring at the sky as if something was bothering her.

"Or... we can come back tomorrow if you want"

"Yes please" she answered instantly and started packing fast, after assisting her I went back to my car. I saw Fiona with my side view walking back alone.

"Fiona, would you like a ride home?"