Project GoldCrest ✓

Chapter 21

Charlotte

Later that evening, I had dinner with my family. It was weird, considering the fact that my last memories included that awkward dinner where dad was thinking heavily about something. Oh right, he wanted to hire a babysitter for us.

Once we were seated and dad had said grace, we started eating. I tried hard not to think about everything that's happened to me the day before. The shortage in my memories was driving me crazy. Especially since I was used to small gaps, but not huge gaps as in a whole day. I didn't have the slightest idea of what happened the day before.

Maybe something important happened, other than us sneaking out. Did I finally talk to Alec? I remembered that I'd realized I was going to have the reunion happen. That was something I was seriously leaning on that night when I was writing on a damned paper about Mickey.

"Charlotte?" My mother's voice snapped me back to reality. "What are you thinking about?"

"Nothing, just schoolwork." I said and gave an awkward smile. I guessed that my attempt to focus on this dinner and not think about my problems had failed dismally.

Try to think about something else, Charlotte. Schoolwork. The presentation. Henry.

I remembered that that day, we'd said we would meet Saturday. Tomorrow. So soon. I hadn't prepared anything for that meeting. Shit.

My dad cleared his throat. That made me pay attention. "So, I thought about it clearly these past couple of days. And I've decided to leave you girls alone without a babysitter like your mom suggested."

Maddie and I looked at each other. We literally shared a grin of triumph. We'd get the whole house to ourselves, unbothered. Finally.

My mom started. "But darling, I thought—"

"No, honey. I thought about it and I realized that the girls are right. They are old enough. Besides, this will be like a test. To see if they can handle it." He said. I didn't care that it was a test. I was just happy that we wouldn't have a babysitter. And admittedly stunned that dad had decided to go against mom's decision.

That's when dad looked back at us, pointedly. "But don't get too excited. You still have to follow rules. No parties. No unknown people over. No fighting. No boyfriends..." The list went on and on. I zoned out then because I already knew the list. Besides, I wasn't planning on breaking the rules.

When I was finally in bed, I opened my phone and got into my messages. That was the first time I'd done that since waking up today. And surprise surprise, I had a message from Cole.

Cole: I'm sorry for acting weird that day, but you can't ignore me for it.

Actually, I can. I snapped as I remembered what he'd done. His behavior just made me think about Avery. The bookworm douchebag.

Both of them were douchebags. Freaking worms.

I locked my phone and put it on my nightstand. Then after settling, I prepared for sleep. After a while, I could feel myself drifting off. Firstly, in between useless dreams and then in between my 'visions'.

The young and beautiful maid finished dusting off her clothes, and prepared to go visit her love. The visit was good and she had a great time. Her lover shook all of her worries away about that other lady left behind. She eventually forgot about her and about that wretched article written about them only to cause pain in her heart. The King had even given them a warning to stay away from each other, but alas, they'd both failed.