Her once true love defects to Dauntless, abandoning her.
Penelope finds herself lonesome two years later. She has everything she could ask for, but nothing is fulfilling. That's until she comes across Charlie again. Old feelings are lost but somethi...
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CHARLIE kissed me feverishly. Then at last, we pulled back for fresh air. His eyes searched my face intently and I started to feel the ever-familiar lump in my throat. I choked and dropped my eyes to the floor. I still clung to the front of his shirt.
"Oh, Charlie," I moaned softly, my vision blurring.
"I'm so sorry, Penelope."
He tipped my chin back, forcing me to meet his eyes. Right then, I realized that I loved him but he was still special. Always would be. Or, maybe I could grow to love him like I did once before.
Charlie kissed my cheek, planting smaller ones all around my face. His hands cupped my face, and I only started crying silently. My tears fell onto his shirt and he didn't mind the blubbering mess I'd become.
"I didn't want to leave you, but. .but I felt like I needed to," he confessed, continuing to kiss my wet cheeks.
"W—We p—promised," I stuttered, stepping back. Away from him.
Charlie only pulled me back, wrapping his arms around me. I buried my face into his chest and kept on crying. My chest felt heavy, as mixed emotions passed me. Sadness, anger, brokenness—too many to pinpoint. I missed his touch, but now it felt like a stranger was holding me. Not my Charlie.
"I'd thought maybe you would do the same, you know? Maybe you would also transfer to Dauntless. ."
"How did you get an idea like that?"
He sighed, and I felt the rise of his chest. "I—I don't know. .but I needed to get out of there. . .I had to."
His arms tightened and I felt his chin on the top of my head. He felt stronger, like he could have kept me safe, both physically and hypothetically speaking. But, strangely, Charlie didn't exactly make me feel safe. He took with him all the feelings I had for him the day he walked out of my life.
"My mother hoped you would transfer to Dauntless as well, so that we'd both have a fresh new start together," he murmured, rubbing my back.
"It's too late. . ." I whispered into his chest.
"No, no, we've got time now," he affirmed, taking his arms from me.
I stepped back but he still held onto my shoulders.
"You're here now and I don't care why, but we can finally have our fresh start." He gently shook me as if that would have helped.
"My parents don't want me near you." I glanced around to make sure no one was listening.
He swiped his thumbs across my cheeks, planting another kiss on my lips.
"They can't control you." he murmured.
I nodded. "They can and will. Charlie. ."
I took his face into my hands, making sure he was real. Maybe that spark was gone, but he held a special spot in my heart. He was Charlie, my Charlie.
