CRAZIEST LAST MINUTES OF A YEAR!!!

Chapter Six.

Celine woke up the next morning, feeling slightly better but still unsettled by the previous night's events. She decided to spend the day focusing on herself, hoping some clarity would come with time.

In the afternoon, as she was lounging in the living room with a book, the doorbell rang. Her heart skipped a beat, wondering if it might be Jace coming back to talk things through. She rushed to the door and opened it, only to find Tate standing there, looking more disheveled than she had ever seen him.

"Celine, please, can we talk?" Tate's voice was desperate, his eyes pleading.

Celine hesitated for a moment but then stepped aside to let him in. "Alright, come in."

Tate walked in, his shoulders slumped, and sat down on the edge of the couch. "I know I messed up last night. I shouldn't have said what I did, but I can't stop thinking about you. I need to know if there's a chance for us."

Celine took a deep breath, trying to process his words. "Tate, last night was really confusing for me. You caught me off guard, and I didn't know how to react."

"I know, and I'm sorry for that," Tate said, his voice breaking slightly. "But I can't help how I feel. I've tried to move on, but I can't. I need to know if you feel the same way."

Celine looked at him, her emotions in turmoil. She had always seen Tate as a friend, nothing more. But his confession had thrown her into a whirlwind of confusion. "Tate, I care about you, but I don't know if I feel the same way. I need time to think."

Tate's face fell, but he nodded. "I understand. I just... I had to tell you how I feel. I couldn't keep it inside any longer."

Celine reached out and took his hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "Thank you for being honest with me. I promise I'll think about it, but I can't give you an answer right now."

Tate nodded again, standing up to leave. "Take all the time you need, Celine. I'll be here, waiting."

As he walked out the door, Celine felt a mix of relief and anxiety. She knew she had a lot to think about, and she needed to figure out her own feelings before she could give Tate an answer. The only thing she was sure of was that her life had just gotten a lot more complicated.