Charlie
850 Words
“Really?” Quinn was questioning our agent over the phone as Jordan and Noah walked into the house, “Why the sudden change of plans?”
“You have enough footage to make the video. You need to head back to start recording new music, and the girls also need to record music of their own for a change.”
“But-” Hakim started.
“No ‘but’s,” our agent interjected, “Your plane leaves in the morning. I’m sending you over the tickets now.”
Everyone processed what our agent had said after he hung up. The guys were being sent back to England because Jordan forced me to tell our agent everything. It was his idea to switch gears and focus on our own music, not mine. I was worried that everyone would somehow blame me for this.
“Hey, we still have the day together,” Amber piped up.
"Let's go night bowling!" Maia exclaimed.
Bowling sounded like a good idea to someone who's wrist wasn't in pain. The cuts still hurt, especially from when Noah grabbed my wrist, yet at least Blaire had found me in time and bandaged it up nicely. Before we left, I hurried to the bathroom to put some coverup over the scars, as well as a handful of bracelets.
While everyone was having a good time, I was texting Blaire, who hadn’t come.
"So how have you been doing?" she texted.
"I want to cut again," I confessed.
"Please don't. I love you."
"Come on, are you sure you don't want to bowl?" Hakim’s voice grabbed my attention.
"It'll be fun,” Amber added.
I rolled my eyes as I got up to join them. I took a bowling ball from Jordan and threw it down the lane, getting a strike. While pain shot up my whole arm, I was congratulated. Besides for the pain, it was pretty fun. We bowled until the alley closed at midnight. We decided to find a McDonald’s afterwards. When we arrived, I rushed to the bathroom, needing a moment to check on my wounds and make sure nothing was wrong.
“Charlie?” I discovered Noah had followed me, “Can we talk?”
"I don't want to talk to you," I said as I walked away swiftly.
Once I got back to the table, I saw Rudy flirting with Jordan, who was not having it. I sighed as I plopped myself down next to Maia and Erys. Why was Rudy acting this way? He hadn’t been like this before. Something must have changed.
We got home late. I left my phone in the living room while I went upstairs and got ready for bed. I took a quick shower, got into my pajamas, and got into bed. Maia walked in as soon as I got myself comfortable.
"Hey Charlie, how are you?" Maia asked, looking concerned.
"Fine?"
"Are you sure?" she pressed.
"Why?" I tensed up.
"I just saw a text that you got from Blaire telling you to stay strong and to not cut yourself, and then I found this in your phone case," she held up the blade I had stolen from Blaire.
The panic I felt inside flashed across my face.
“You have to tell the girls," she said.
"Not Noah," I pleaded.
"Okay, but you're telling Jordan and Amber.”
"Tomorrow. I just want to rest," I told her.
Maia clearly wanted to say more, but let me rest. It took me awhile to fall asleep. I awoke far too soon to a text from Maia, with nothing but an apology. I looked around to see not her, but someone else in the room.
“What do you want?” I demanded.
"I want to tell you how sorry I am for what I've done to you. It was wrong and if I could take back anything, it would be hurting you," Noah said.
"In life, you don't really get to take things back now do you?”
"No,but-"
"Save it. It's clear that you don't care about me, otherwise we wouldn't be in this mess," I grumbled.
"Are you crazy? Charlie, I think I'm in love with you," she confessed.
"Exactly. You only think. You don't know; you don't know anything, do you?" I retorted.
"Please, Charlie, I want a second chance," she begged.
”Why? So you can screw up again?"
"Okay, look. I know I made a mistake with Rudy, and I really am sorry. I promise that I will never hurt you like that again."
"That's right, because I'm not letting you."
"God, Charlie, why do you hate me so much?"
"That's the problem. I should be furious with you. I should hate you so much. I should practically want you dead, but I don't. I still love you. I love you so much. I just can’t handle getting hurt again. So please, just go?"
She sighed as she got up to leave, slamming the door behind her.
- Writer
