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He'd always found her beautiful. An enigmatic character he thought it lucky to have in his life. It felt like every time he saw her was something new, even if it was the same person. That was just how Charlotte was and Lucas knew it all along. There just wasn't many chances for him to let her know he knew that.

Their interactions consisted mostly of His and Byes. Even if they belonged in the same circle, they were hardly the best of friends. Frankly, Lucas couldn't even remember how Charlotte became a part of the group. One day she wasn't and the next, she was. One day, she was just Charlotte, the next, she was his Charlotte.

It was no understatement then, that when Lucas received a message from Charlotte, he fell down from his swivel chair, trying to catch the flying iPhone with his hands.

"Hey, are you busy? Can you meet me in five at BBs? Need someone to talk to. Drinks on me."

Lucas being beyond shocked was no unmerited reaction. The first and last time Charlotte had sent him a message was to thank him for taking her home once, after a party with their friends. Lucas being their designated driver for the night of course. He was the only one who didn't drink - a severe allergy to alcohol was the cause, although secretly, Lucas was relieved. He couldn't take the smell - much more the taste - of beer, the preferred drink of his idiotic, classy circle of friends. Classy being not classy of course. Charlotte was the one bringing class with her champagnes, vodkas, and martinis. So the mystery of Lucas' night was why Charlotte was asking him - of all people - out for drinks?

Why was Charlotte asking him and texting him in the first place?

No. It couldn't be real. It was some kind of sick joke.

Lucas slapped himself.

It hurt.

A lot.

"Hey, Charlotte. Sure. Not busy."

Not busy since it was a Saturday night and Lucas definitely was not busy with raging an old school war in Tekken.

The reply came almost instantaneously.

"Oh shoot. Lucas! I sent the message to you? No wonder Maybee wasn't replying. I'm so sorry! Please don't mind me. Not thinking straight, sorry for bothering you."

Oh. So it was a joke. The message wasn't for him.

"Yeah. It's fine. Are you sure you're okay?" he replied anyway. It wasn't everyday that he received a message from Charlotte, let alone exchanged messages. Like a conversation. Which he has not done with her in...ever.

"I'm ok. I'm really sorry Lu. Have a good night."

Lu? She knew he was called Lu? She considered them friends enough for nicknames?

"Maybee replied yet?" he asked in concern. She didn't sound okay in his strict opinion. And Lucas considered himself an expert in deciphering people's emotions when sent through technology. Text messages, IMs, tweets, facebook posts. It didn't matter. He knew.

"Yeah. She's out with Art. Thanks anyway, Lu. Sorry again."

Lu again?

Screw everything. Maybe it was his chance to call her Lottie now.

Was Charlotte even called Lottie?

So even if he knew he was going to fall harder into nowhere, Lucas found himself five minutes later entering Bubblebee's, the usual place his aforementioned friends hung out in. He scanned the crowd for a bit before finding Charlotte, as beautiful as ever, sitting alone at a couch, staring blankly at her phone on the table.