Love is Dangerous

6. Revelations (Part II)

She tried to say something but her mouth was voiceless.

Then she decided to look at Mark and, incredibly, he was still close to her, smiling in a sweet way. She would have imagined to see him angry, or at least nervous in that situation... Instead, his feelings seemed always the same.

His kindness, if possible, made Charlotte even sadder.

It would have been easier to speak, maybe, if he was disappointed, while actually his happiness made everything even more complicated.
Some little tears appeared in her eyes and that detail finally upset Mark a little.

- I must confess you something – she whispered.
- No, please, I have to speak – he replied immediately – I have to speak now. -
- I don't think that what you are going to say it's more important than what I should tell you... - she tried to laugh, unsuccessfully.

- Well, I think it is – Mark looked into her eyes.
Eventually, Charlotte accepted to listen. After all, she had waited two years before telling the truth, a couple of minutes more would not have changed a thing...

- You Charlotte – he started to speak again, and it seemed almost a relief for him. – You are the...the loveliest person I have ever met. - said Mark, and after those words he took a long, deep breath. - Although you may not appear that way at the beginning... - he smiled – But after a while, after I've known you, I started to really understand that I wanted to spend more and more time with you... -

She tried to speak but it was impossible. Once he had started to talk, he was determined to go on, even if Charlotte didn't seem too much involved in that conversation. Those weren't the right place and moment to say something like that...

- We've started to work together – he said again - and I've always been so happy with you. I never hid my feelings, I think, but at the same time I've never been able to fully understand yours... -
- Mine??? –
- Yes, I've always thought – he almost laughed – you know, I've always thought you had your "skeleton in the closet" and never really wanted to annoy you with weird questions or anything like that. I just wanted to be your friend. To make you feel safe her in Bath, with me. –

- I am safe here, I know... -
- But the recent events, like the writings on the building scared me so much! For the first time ever in two years I've started to be afraid for you. I thought you could have wanted to go away. To run away once again. –
- Do you think I ran away from Newcastle because I was in danger? – she asked suddenly, because Charlotte was very curious about the ideas her friends had about her past - is that what you think? –

- No, I just think you were disappointed...and decided to leave. But I am here to promise you – he grabbed her hands – That you will never be disappointed here in Bath, this is your new home now. If you just could give me a chance... -

- A chance... - she repeated, but it seemed as if she was not even really listening. She was lost in thought. A part of Charlotte perfectly knew what was happening, while the other one was still thinking about her own problems, and wasn't really able to focus on Mark and his feelings. And, actually, what were his real feelings?

He had always been a good friend but, during the last weeks, he often appeared to be nervous and quick-tempered. Maybe he was just worried for her...but there was something more in his behaviour; only the greatest kind of affection could have led him to act in that way and, in those 2 years of work together, Charlotte never suspected anything about his "love" for her.

And, also, Mark knew almost nothing about her...so how could he love Charlotte? How could he love her for real?

Maybe he had just imagined to be in love with her, but those feelings were just a lie because he didn't really know her; and there was more in Charlotte than the simple, kind and good-hearted girl he had always talked to.