Just us.

5. Sweetheart

"Hello sweetheart. What are you doing here? Isn't it a school night?"
"Car trouble. It's been a very long day" the brunette replies
"Indeed" the red head finishes her drink on one go while slightly hesitating to ask her next question
"Kids with their dad tonight?" She doesn't face the brunette as she talks. Not until she feels Charlotte's eyes on her
"How'd you know?" The brunette faces forward once again, breaking the eye contact
"Wasn't too hard to piece together. How long?"
"Officially? Not too long"
"Unofficially?"
"Longer than I'd like to admit" Mia's heart sank for Charlotte. Not just because she had taken a liking to her, but because she knows what it's like to be stuck in an unhappy relationship.

"Let me buy you a drink"
"I shouldn't, really" Mia smiles at the woman in front of her before signalling over the waiter
"Trust me, you seem like you need it. One more vodka and a gin and tonic please" the waiter nods before walking away to make the drinks "I'm sorry about your marriage"

Charlotte was rather confused at the sympathy. It wasn't like the Mia everyone told her about to be sympathetic. Mia noticed the look across her features
"I know what it's like to be in a loveless relationship"
"But you want to be with Reece? Isn't that what this whole thing is about?" The red head laughs a little, confusing Charlotte even more
"Oh Char, you have no idea. It's a lot deeper than that. I don't care in the slightest that Reece is with Marjorie. Honestly, she's more my type"
"What?!" Charlotte practically spits out. Mia raises her brow and Charlotte seams to understand
"Oh" 'she's into girls? Then why is she so focused on Reece? What is all this about? It doesn't make sense' Charlottes mind begins to run in circles all over again
"You're thinking too much about it sweetheart" the waiter places the drinks down on the bar.

"Can I ask you something?" Charlotte hesitates, swirling the drink in her hand
"Anything" the red head replies
"Why,... why are you nice to me?"
"I could ask you the same question"
"I'm nice to everyone"
"That's your problem, sweetheart. You let everyone walk all over you"
"I do not!" Charlotte denied the accusation. Although, she knew one person who did. She wouldn't let anyone else.
"Marjorie, Carly, Autumn, Winter" Mia lists but is interrupted
"They're my friends"
"Friends that didn't know you're going through a separation?" Charlotte thinks for a second before replying
"Of course they didn't. I didn't tell them" she stands firm.

Mia faces the woman with a serious look across her features
"You didn't tell me" Charlotte is silent. Not knowing what to reply "you need better friends, Sweetheart"
"You just don't know them like I do. I know there is some kind of war going on between you and them I just don't know why. If you don't even want Reece then what's this all for?"
"It's so much more complicated than that, Charlotte" the woman sighs
"It doesn't have to be. You don't have to be a bitch" both women were slightly shocked at Charlottes words. She wasn't the type to come out at and say exactly what she is thinking.
"I didn't mean that. I just mean, you're so nice to me. And you're so good with the kids. I don't get why everyone makes you out to be the villain" Mia places the empty glass down on the bar before facing her
"Because I'm a bad person. I do bad things" Charlotte furrows her brows, remembering what her mother taught her as a child,
"Just because someone does terrible things, doesn't always mean they are a terrible person" Mia smiles. She knows she's not a bad person. But over the years, after everything she's done for Roger, she began to question herself. Deep down she hated it. Hated what she had become. Reece was once her best friend, Autumn like the little sister she had always wanted. Knowing how much they hated her now hurt. Knowing it's her fault, hurt more.

When she's brought out of her thoughts, she notices the smile quickly fade from Charlotte. She's looking over Mia's shoulders directly at someone. Mia turns her head to see who, thinking it was someone from the Nursery that had her all spooked. But she had her eye on a particular male sat at a table. Not recognising the man, she turns back to face Charlotte to see who he is
"It's um... Nathan's best friend"
"You wanna get out of here?" The woman's words reminded Charlotte of the reason she waked in here,
"Oh, um, I need to call someone for the car" she reminded herself
"Well my place is a five minute walk. If you wanted to go?" Charlotte nods
"Yeah, okay. Thank you" Mia leaves a few notes on the bar before the two walk out together.

—-

A/N
Hey my loves, I'm sorry to do this to you again but I guess you'll have to wait for part 2. Please don't kill me :) I just have been really distracted and I wanted to get at least something out to you today.

This chapter may seem kind of boring but it's just leading up to the next which is the fun stuff :) I promise it's going to get better
Xoxo -I