𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 | 𝐣. 𝐡𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐞𝐬

𝟏𝟎 | 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐞

It's been four days since Jack and I last talked and saw each other. That night, everything seemed like it was fine after we almost kissed. We texted for a while and said goodnight to each other, but it's been silent ever since. I know Jack is occupied with his job and practices, but I can't help doubting Emilie's belief that Jack likes me as more than just a friend.  What if he thought more about us almost kissing? What if it just scared him away?

I haven't had much time to think about the lack of Jack on my phone since I've been busy editing, filming, and planning my twelve-day bookmas series for my channel. From the moment I wake up, I get myself a glass of water and return to my room to get to work. Hours go by and the next thing I know my room is in utter darkness, the light from my computer being the only source of light. I have no clue if Emilie is still home seeing as she usually worries when I stay in my room for hours without leaving once other than the occasional bathroom break. 

Overworking myself is usually my response when I'm anxious or overthinking something. I like the feeling of keeping my mind busy. It stops me from thinking too much about what's worrying me.

 This morning, Emilie barges into my room to wake me up and have me get ready in an hour. She leaves no room for me to even question what's going on before dragging me out of our apartment and to her car. Once we're in the car and drive off I ask Emilie why she's acting so strange and where we're going, but her lips are sealed. Whenever Emilie is silent like this, it makes me nervous because you never know what to expect. She's an extreme extrovert who usually never knows when to shut up, so you can see why I'm a little nervous.

Pulling into a parking spot in front of a little coffee shop about ten minutes from our house, I'm led to a small table in the back corner of the coffee shop, Gabi greeting me with a bright smile, drink in hand. Confusion coats my face, having no clue why were at this coffee shop and meeting up with Gabi. Neither of the girls mentioned this in our group chat, so clearly this was something Gabi and Emilie talked about without me.

"Charlotte Mitchell, sit your ass in that chair and I'll go get you a hot chocolate." Em points her finger at me looking at me like a mother would look at her child when they want them to behave. She walks away towards the barista leaving me to take a seat across from a laughing Gabi across from me. If anyone saw how Emilie and I treated each other sometimes they'd think I was younger than Em when it's the other way around.

"Wait what's going on? Em hasn't told me anything." I shot a glance over to where Em stood waiting for our orders turning back to face Gabi. "I'm not sure. She just texted me asking if I was free to meet up here and I said I'd be more than happy to come." I slightly nod my head, not too convinced by what Gabi says.

Making her way back to the table, Emilie places a hot chocolate in front of me before sitting next to Gabi. "Charlotte, do you know why we're here?" I try to think of why Em dragged me out of bed to come here, but nothing seems to stick. Gabi and Em look at me, at each other, smiles slowly rising at their faces, then back at me with creepy smiles plastered on their faces. "No, why are you guys looking at me like that?" I was starting to squirm in my seat uncomfortably. Something was going on and I was being left out of the loop.

"Well the last few days you've been holed up in your room working like a madwoman and Gabi and I have an idea as to why this is happening, but we decided we wanted to hear it from you." Both girls lean in closer to me waiting for me to spill my guts. I hesitate, not sure if I should tell the girls why I've been holed up in my room often in the last few days. If I tell them, they might tell Nico, Luke, or even Jack himself. If they tell Jack, I don't know what he'd think and I would rather not know what he thinks if it's something I don't want to hear. It would feel like a stab to the heart if they did tell him and he just doesn't care, that's when I'd become a madwoman. The positive if I tell the girls, they might be able to help me shut down the nagging voice in the back of my mind that's been bothering me for the last four days.