Finally Free - Charlie Gillespie

Chapter Twenty-Two

Kenedi
I hesitantly knock on Owen's door. I haven't spoken to him in almost a week when everything with Sofia happened. I miss talking to him.

A few seconds later, Owen opens the door reeking of alcohol. Charlie told me he was doing bad, but I didn't realize it was this bad.

"What?" I frown slightly taking in his appearance. His knuckles are busted and bloody. His eyes are bloodshot. His hair is oily and a mess. He hasn't shaved and I can tell he hasn't showered in a week.

"I just wanted to hang out." I smile lightly. He rolls his eyes.

"Now isn't a good time." He starts to shut the door and I stick my foot in before he can close it. I wince slightly at the pain and groan quietly. He opens the door and I immediately push my way in past him.

I start cleaning up all the empty beer bottles as well as the white claw cans. Charlie wouldn't tell me what he and Owen talked about, but now I know it's worse than what I thought it was.

"Kenedi, stop okay? I don't need you coming in here trying to fix everything." I look up to him frowning slightly. That kinda hurt.

"Either we stay here and I cook lunch for us or we go out and get lunch. Your choice, but you're not getting rid of me."

I watch him sigh sitting down and realize just how small he looks. It looks like he hasn't eaten in a week. Jesus what happened?

"When's the last time you ate?" He shrugs not caring.

"When we made pizza." That was the night before everything happened.

"Owen! How the fuck are you still alive?!" He shrugs closing his eyes.

"I wish I knew." I hesitantly kneel down in front of him frowning.

"Owen."

"What, Kenedi? Are you just going to tell me how much I fucked up? I already know okay. I'm worse than shit. I wish I wasn't alive so that you wouldn't have to deal with me. Now just leave me alone. Please."

"That's not what I was going to say." My voice cracks in a few places and I can't help the tears threatening to fall.

"Then what were you going to say?" He rolls his eyes.

"I was going to say I love you and it hurts seeing you like this." He hums shrugging.

"What also hurts is watching someone you're in love with fall for someone else."

"What?"

"You know what I'm talking about."

"Um no I really don't."

"You're telling me you're best friends with Sofia and don't see the way she looks at Josh?"

"Josh? You mean the hotel life guard?" He throws an empty beer bottle at the wall causing it to smash into pieces. I jump holding my heart in tears.

"I don't want to hear his name!" I hesitantly nod swallowing hard.

"S-Sorry."

"He has everything I don't and she loves it okay? I don't need a sympathy friend."

"Owen, she doesn't like him. She never has and she never will. They're just friends."

"You and Charlie were just friends. Now look at where you are."

"Sleeping on opposite sides of the bed? Hiding things from each other? Basically ignoring each other?"

"What?"

"He's mad at me because Sofia is staying with us."

"Oh."

"It's like you and Savannah told Charlie, relationships are hard, but love is worth fighting for. Why don't you fight for her?"

"It's hard for fight for her when I can't even fight for myself." I close my mouth in tears. "I know about the accounts, Kenedi." His voice cracks making me swallow hard.

I did everything possible to keep him from founding our about it, but somehow he still found out.

"They don't really know you, Owen. They don't know how amazing you are. Please don't listen to them okay?"

"I hurt you, Charlie, and Sofia all in the same day. I kissed a girl I don't even know. All of my family shit. I'm a terrible person, Kenedi. How am I not supposed to listen to it?"

"Because friends get into fights and they make up. That's part of friendship. And I kissed Charlie because of a dare. I have family shit too, but it's not my fault."

"But it's my fault."

"No it's not. Your parents fell out of love. It's not because of something you did."

"What if love isn't even real?"

"You know it's real, Owen."

"What if love just isn't real for me?"

"You have the girl of your dreams in a room down the hall and you're sitting here asking if she really loves you. The fact that she's barely left my room or the pool is proof that she loves you."

"It's proof that I hurt her."

"It's proof that you made a mistake and she still loves you. You told Charlie to fight for me and now I'm telling you to fight for Sofia."

"I'm tired of fighting."

"We all are, but that's why we have each other to help us fight. We're all here to help you fight, but you're pushing us away." He slowly looks up to me setting his drink on the table.

"How did you stop?"

"Stop what?" My eyes soften realizing what he means. "I still struggle with it daily, Ow. I almost relapsed last night, but Sofia stopped me."

"I can't stop." His voice cracks. I quickly move onto the couch just holding him. "I hate who I've become, Kenedi."

"Well I don't. It's just proof that you're stronger than you realize."

"But I'm not."

"If you weren't strong, you wouldn't be talking to me right now. You wouldn't be trying to get better."

"What if I can't get better?"

"Then I will die trying to help you." He laughs lightly then looks down at me silently crying.

"I think I need help."

"That's the first step to being okay, Ow. We'll get you the help you need and I'll be here for you every step of the way."

"Thank you." He says quietly wiping his nose.

"I think you should talk to Sofia."

"And say what?"

"Everything you've told me. She deserves to know how you feel about her and the both of you deserve to fight for each other."

"And if she's repulsed by me?"

"She won't be. She loves you as you are okay?" He hesitantly nods. "Now let's get you showered and into some clean clothes. We'll eat together and then we can go talk to Charlie and Sofia together."

"Can you...can you shower with me?" I squeeze his hand knowing he's really trying.

"Of course, Ow. I love you."