𝘜𝘯𝘧𝘢𝘪𝘳-𝘏𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘢 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯

eight

chapter eight:
please, do talk about me when I'm gone

    Charlie slept, that's all she could do to pass time. She would open her eyes, then she'd close them until the sun greeted her again. It had been a week since the attack, a week since she's seen Hanna.

She rubbed at her eyes as she heard the distant sound of muffled voices in the hallway. Her mother likely speaking with the doctors on the phone. Charlie looked outside her window, the sun was out but she could tell it would run soon.

She pushed the covers off her small frame, sitting up against the bed frame. She winced at the ache that ran along her back as she grabbed the glass of water off her desk.

She drank it rather quickly, the cold water soothing the ache in her throat. She flinched when a rock slammed into her window, then followed another.

She frowned deeply as she pushed herself into her wheelchair. Rolling herself towards the window. Hanna stood outside, holding onto more rocks, at the sight of Charlie she dropped them.

Charlie frowned deeply as the girl waved at her, she pushed her window open. "Charlie! Please let me in! I just wanna talk!". Charlie closed the window and neared the door of the guest bedroom.

While her mother was upstairs now. Shouting with the doctors Charlie neared the front door and opened it after a moment of failing.

Hanna smiled in relief when she walked inside, the house had a warm aura that surrounded it. Charlie rolled herself toward the guest bedroom and Hanna followed after her in a fast manner.

The room itself was neat, for it being not used often it looked old and worn out along the walls. Chipped paint lined the window, likely from someone poking at it with fingernails or something sharp.

Charlie rubbed at her eyes as she pushed herself toward the window. She pushed the curtains close letting the room sink into darkness for a moment.

"I was going to wait until you were better and wanted to talk with me yourself, but I couldn't wait anymore, I guess I got pretty worried".

Hanna sat down briefly at the end of the bed, pushing her hair back slightly as she watched Charlie. The girl grabbed a whiteboard wiping it with her sleeve until it was blank.

"Your mom kept saying you didn't want to see me whenever I called, and honestly I can understand why. You probably hate me so much because of what I said! I regret it and I feel like shit".

The marker squeaked loudly when Charlie began writing down on it. Hanna felt nervous as she waited, her eyes looked around the room hoping that this wouldn't end badly.

She knew Charlie was upset, and she wouldn't be surprised if the girl told her to leave and never come back. The marker stopped squeaking and Hanna looked forward at the whiteboard.

What A told you was a lie, it hurt that you believed them, they're crazy!

Hanna sighed briefly "I was honestly just so angry in the moment, I saw you with someone in your room and then when I got home A texted me. I probably should've just asked you about it, I wish I did go to the dance with you, maybe you wouldn't have been attacked if I wasn't stupid. It's my fault A went after you".

Charlie shock her head as she rubbed at her eyes, she wiped the board clean once more. "Charlie, the girls felt awful about what happened. They're all a little shaken up about it, this whole A thing took a very dark and dangerous turn. We're all scared".

Charlie rolled herself towards Hanna showing her the whiteboard with a soft smile.

We'll protect each other, all of us will
A can't get to us if we fight back

Hanna smiled "Spencer thinks A won't do anything for awhile, but part of me is scared they'll attack one of us next. What if they come back and try hurting you again? Aren't you scared?".

Charlie blinked as she pushed the board onto the bed she shock her head. Hanna let out a heavy breath "I'm absolutely terrified, I thought at first it was just messages, someone messing with us for fun but now.... I can't even sleep because I'm so scared they'll attack me or one of the girls".

Charlie grabbed hold of Hanna hands wincing slightly at the discomfort on her back. "Charlie you don't have to forgive me, you can push me out. You can hate me and let me rot alone, I deserve it!".

Charlie's grip tightened on Hanna's hands as she looked past her at something. Hanna frowned "what's wrong?" Charlie let Hanna go and rolled herself towards the closet door.

Hanna stood up pushing the door open gasping at the mirror. With bold letters she read the words with worry as Charlie held herself.

I'm still here Charlie—A

"It's the same lipstick from Spencer's room, I don't understand.. why would A write this, why not just attack you again? Maybe they wanted to scare you".

Charlie pushed the door shut Hanna saw the distress on her face. "Don't worry, we won't let A get to you again, I'll tell the girls and we'll watch over you".

Charlie shock her head as she grabbed the whiteboard Hanna sighed "don't try and protect yourself, we can handle this Charlie".

Hanna grabbed the board out of Charlie's grasp knelling down and grabbing hold of the girls hands. "You don't have to face this alone, A is waiting for you to be alone, they'll attack the second they can. If all of us stick together they won't have another opportunity to attack. There's five of us and one of them, they're hiding away like a coward".

Charlie hugged Hanna ignoring the slight discomfort it caused her back. It was silent and comforting, Charlie missed these moments. Part of her knew Hanna wouldn't give up on keeping her safe. At the end of the day Charlie would always protect Hanna first, if A stormed in she'd fight until all that was left was just utter agony.

Hanna smiled as she moved back "I would've hugged you more, but I don't wanna hurt you". Charlie smiled as she rolled herself toward the bed, Hanna helped her lay down "I'll can stay with you if you let me".

Charlie lifted the covers and Hanna smiled as she laid down beside the girl. Charlie grabbed hold of her hand not letting it go once.