Charlie.- Completed

sixteen

I looked at the steps in front of me, standing still as my purse swung from my hand. David had insisted I stay at the very shortest for the full weekend but offered for me to stay as long as I needed. He wouldn't change any of our arrangement if I should choose to stay here, he just wanted me to be happy. He didn't pry a terrible amount when I briefly explained that a guy from my past showed up and we've been kind of seeing each other over the past week and he dropped a bomb on me about wanting to be exclusive. 

I move over to the wall, pulling my phone from it as I waited for David. He'd had an urgent meeting he couldn't get out of and it over ran. He came in as soon as he'd gotten home and apologised with a huge bouquet of roses. It wasn't an issue. I wasn't bothered about going out, he was. It was still nice though. 

Hey, how are you today? 

Hi Fin. I'm okay. How are the guys? Did you have a good night?

I replied to Fin's individual text from this morning. I'd put my phone in a drawer and spent the day writing. I hadn't even looked at it since around 11am. 

It started ringing with Fin's face and I sighed before pulling it to my ear. 

"Hello?" 

"Are you okay?" His words came out quick and sharp. A tone he only had when he'd been worrying about me for a while. 

"I'm fine Fin." 

"Facetime me because I'm thinking you're being held at gun point." I rolled my eyes and swapped to face time, holding the camera away from my face and slowly turning in a circle, showing him I was completely alone. "You're sure no one is making you say that?" 

"Fin. There's no one here, no one is forcing me to say a thing I don't want to." He sighed and nodded. 

"Why are you at David's?" 

"Because I needed a breather from everything." 

"Is this about the essay because if it is-" 

"It's not about the essay Fin. I've sorted that."

"Then what is it?" I sighed and leaned my back against the wall. 

"I don't have the answer to that question right now." 

"Loz, you can't just not answer." 

"Here I am, not answering. If you keep pushing, I'll just hang up and not speak to you." 

"Okay okay." He moved and sat back on the sofa. I wasn't stupid. I knew he wasn't alone in the room. He probably shouted the boys as I text him back and they were all listening. Noah included. "What are you doing?" 

"Going out for tea." 

"A bit late isn't it?" 

"He had a meeting over run. Plus it's only 9pm. It's not like it's midnight." He smiled softly as he nodded.

"Let's see what you're wearing then." I smiled and put my phone on the stairs, quickly taking a few steps back so he could see. We always did this when I was going out with David. They'd all rate their thoughts and compare it to the last one. "Hm. I'd say 8/10." He took a screen shot and I walked back to him. "I still prefer the long sleeved cream one you wore in May." 

"Yeah that was cute. I'll find another time to wear it." He nodded 

"Give me a sec Loz. Don't go anywhere." He put me on hold. or at least he thought he had. He'd only turned his camera off. 

"She doesn't look okay to me." 

"She says she is though." 

"Have you seen her face? I haven't seen her like that since year 11." 

"What the hell did you do Noah. You're back 2 weeks and fuck her up again. We literally just sorted her out." I laid my head back on my shoulders. It wasn't him.

"I haven't done anything." 

His voice sounded soft. Softer than he'd spoken to me since we were tiny. I'm talking new friends at about 6 tiny. It was hurt. He was hurt. I'd hurt him. This is why I don't do feelings. Why I only have stupid one night stands. Because once feelings and emotions get involved I hurt people. Whether I mean to or not, I do. It's natural and I can not stop it no matter how hard I try. 

"Well you have to have done something if she ran out crying." 

"We were just talking and she freaked out. Then she wouldn't even explain when I asked her why. She just left. I can't help her if she doesn't fucking talk to me. I tried. She won't let me. All I know is she's hurting a hell of a lot more than she's letting onto anyone. It's fucking destroying her and she won't even acknowledge it." 

I heard David's door close and quickly hung up the call. 

Had to go. 
Also you need to learn that turning the camera off isn't a hold button.
Tell him I'm fine. He's got me all wrong.
I'm fine. 

I'd keep saying it until I believed it myself. And then I would be. I pushed my phone into my bag after locking it and turned to face the stairs, putting my delicate little smile back on my face. 

"You look beautiful." He lifted his head as he fumbled with his cufflinks. I pulled the bag onto my shoulder and walked over, grabbing his hand and fixing it for him slowly and delicately. "Thank you." 

"It's okay." I smiled and he wrapped his fingers into mine. 

"Where do you want to eat?" 

"Anywhere." We started walking and he smiled as we went up the stairs. "I'm really hungry though." 

"Hm." He opened the front door for me, locking it behind us before escorting me down to his car. "Italian?" 

"Italian sounds good." 

"Italian it is then." He opened my car door for me and I slid in elegantly. It had taken some practice to do that so seamlessly. Hours of me getting in and out of my car in a dark car park. He hadn't said anything but he had chuckled the first time I got in his car. That was embarrassing enough.