Project GoldCrest ✓

Chapter 14

Charlotte

The following morning, I woke up from a normal dream. I was actually hopeful that this was going to be a great morning considering that I wasn't stressed. Mom dropped me off at school, and I had a normal morning. I actually felt lighter as I talked to my friend. I was also very early. Sophia and I were just waiting for Chrissy to arrive.

But then, like a dark cloud had settled over me, Mickey appeared out of nowhere. Sophie looked surprised, and I immediately turned cold. I knew I'd have to talk to him today, but I'd been feeling good this morning before he came.

"Hello," he greeted with a smile. As if that could make up for my morning that you just ruined.

We smiled back. "Hi," Sophie greeted.

Mickey was polite to her. This made me think about how Cole would react to her once they met. Not that I wanted them to. Cole had a tendency of attracting girls. I'm looking at you, Olivia.

"Charlotte, can I talk to you?" Mickey's voice brought me out of my thoughts. I quickly nodded, more than exasperated.

I ignored Sophie's smile as I followed Mickey out of the building and into the parking lot.

My strides became more confident as I headed towards his car. The car doors were already unlocked. We both slipped in and faced each other.

His inky black hair was what caught my eyes first. His hair looked a bit unruly, but he'd managed to tame it with a comb. I liked how it looked, especially when it was illuminated by light at night. Besides, I felt like that was the only time I could really focus on it since at school we rarely ever met. Except for today and the last time I saw him, a few days ago when he'd stalked me just outside the classroom, before the sleepover.

We sat in a comfortable silence for a moment, and it had me thinking. About our situation. Not just it, but also about my involvement. How exactly did I get into this?

How did he even get into this? It didn't make sense at all. I thought back to when he asked me to become his partner almost a week before. I still can't believe I was considering it.

My mind was already made up. I'd considered all the events that had occurred since the first time I'd seen Mickey that first night. I inhaled and exhaled deeply for a moment.

"So..." He began. At least I wasn't the only one at a loss for where to begin.

I finally looked up at him. His expression reflected plain interest in what I was going to say. "I've made a decision."

This is just Mickey, Charlotte. Someone I used to be close friends with. He was my peer. And he wasn't even dangerous.

So why was I so nervous?

"Everything in me wants to just forget about everything to do with this. I want nothing to do with it. I just want my old life back." I searched his face for a reaction, but he kept a proper poker face.

I wasn't going to get discouraged by that though, and so I continued. "But my mind is also telling me to go through with your investigation. Being here, with you right now, makes me rethink about everything that's happened so far and I'm slowly realizing one thing; pretending everything is normal is out of the picture."

His face remained stoic for a few moments, before a small smile graced his features. "I wasn't expecting that." I almost breathed a sigh of relief, but I caught myself.

"Me too. I thought that I'd pretend everything was fine, just like you told me to. But the truth is I can't even do that anymore." The whole of last night was spent thinking about how my life would be like if I hadn't snuck out to meet Cole that night. Counterfactual thinking, and it didn't help me in the slightest.