Red (sequel to TYG)

Chapter 22

Anna's pov:

It's night time and I'm wide awake with Charlie sleeping next to me. I can't take it anymore.

I spent the day avoiding Charlie. After my walk outside last night I went to bed and pretended to be sleeping when he came in. He got up early this morning and didn't wake me up and so after that I spent the day avoiding him and busying myself.

The weight of the sheets is suffocating me and I feel un-bearably hot. I kick them off with my legs and walk over to the window. It takes a little bit, but I force it open and lean out the small frame, letting the cool night air in and taking deep breaths.

As I suck the cool air into my lungs my control finally breaks and I burst into to tears. I put my hand over my mouth to keep from making any noise so I don't wake Charlie.

I don't want this to be my life. Sure, my old life wasn't lollipops and sunshine either, but that was my life. I grew up during some of the most important times of my life with my group. I've had my ups and downs with just about everyone but at the end of the day we're family and this is tearing me apart. I can't just forget about my old life and start this new one with Charlie like he wants. I can't have both. But I want both.

If this is ever gonna work out he has to let me see Carl. Or at least try to. Maybe he left along with the rest of the group and they've forgotten all about me. That is what I told them to do. I at least have to try.

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"I want to see my group." I announce to Charlie the next day.

I worked up the courage and am now confronting him in his office.

"Anna, you know I can't-"

"You said you would give me anything or do anything to make me happy, right?" I interrupt him. "This is what I need to be happy. I need to talk to him."

"How would that possibly be arranged?" He questions me, pressing his hands against his lips and raising his eyebrows.

"I know where they were staying." I say, shrugging. I hadn't given much thought to that part.

"Things are really busy right now, I don't really have time to take you right now." He says and it's my turn to raise my eyebrows at him.

"I would go alone." I say, fidgeting slightly from his stare.

"That's not happening." He says abruptly.

"You said that-" I start.

"I know what I said!" He snaps.

I look at my hands for a few seconds and swallow. This isn't going good.

"I can take care of myself for a couple of hours, and I'm gonna come back. I know that it's hard for you to trust me because of your-"

"Don't you dare finish that sentence." Charlie growls at me.

I nod my head, gulping a little bit. I shouldn't have brought that into this.

"Anna, it's not happening." He snarls.

"I'm sorry for wasting your time." I mutter quickly before exiting the office, slamming the door shut behind me.

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"Honey, you don't have to help me again." Wanda says when I show up at the kitchen.

"I don't mind, really." I say. "I don't like sitting around the whole day and I would hate to not contribute anything."

She smiles a warm, genuine, smile at me.

"Go get some wood for the stove then?" She asks me and I smile and nod my head.

Outside the air is nice. I stand back and take a couple of gulps of air before going back in.

Maybe I could run away. I doubt it. The fences wouldn't be easy to get past let alone the soldiers. I need to get out.

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When Charlie comes to our room later on I throw the book down that I was reading and pretend to be asleep again.

"I know you're not sleeping." Charlie says, his tone laced with aggravation.

I keep my eyes closed anyways. I can hear him un-zipping his jacket and taking it off. I can tell that he winces slightly when he does this from his small groan. He must have hurt himself.

"Stop pretending. I need to talk to you." He says.

I sigh and sit up against the head board.

"What?" I snap at him. I am in no mood to talk to him.

I can tell that he wants to yell at me for talking to him like that from the way his jaw tightens and he grinds his teeth together. It takes him a second to let it go.

"I thought about what you want and I've decided that you can visit them, but just this once." He says.

"Really?" I squeak and he nods his head.

"Yes!" I cheer.

I jump off the bed and tackle him, wrapping my arms around him tightly and giving him a big kiss on the cheek.

After I knocked him back slightly from my hug he steadies us, his feet firm on the ground. I notice that he winces slightly when I hug him. I wonder what's wrong with him.

"But-" He starts and I groan. "It's going to be my arrangements. I'm not sure how it will work yet but I'll let you know."

"Fine." I say, too happy to complain. I'm going to see Carl.

"Now what's wrong with you?" I ask him. "You're acting like an old man."

"I'm just sore from training today. The guys and I have been slacking off." He explains, laughing lightly.

"Do you want me to put some icy hot on for you or something?" I offer.

"That's okay." He declines. "I'm just gonna go to sleep."

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The next day I'm antsy the whole day. And the next day. And the next. It isn't until three days later when I'm not thinking about it anymore that Charlie finally tells me what I've been waiting to here.

"Tucker found them."

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(Sorry it's so short 😥 Xoxo, Isabella 💕)