sweet escape [c.l.]

chapter twelve

When Rory got the call from Charles, she thought about not answering. Letting the phone ring and not look at it. But after the day Charles had she couldn't do it to him.

And that is how she found herself on a beach at 1am.

"Charles?" she called for him before he turned around and got up.

Even if she looked a little bit tired, she still looked beautiful to him. "You came."

"You called."

He scratched his neck. "Sorry, for calling you so late and getting you out of bed."

"It's okay really, no need to worry." The two stood there in silence for a couple of minutes before she broke it. "Can we sit?"

"Yeah, sorry."

Charles quickly sat on the spot he had been previously on and smoothed the one next to him so that she could sit.

"So," Rory turned her attention to Charles, "what's wrong?"

The boy just sat there looking like a little child who didn't know how to answer a question in school. He started playing with the bracelet he had on his wrist, not moving his gaze from there even though Rory's eyes were solely focused on his face.

"Hey," she reached out and grabbed his hand, "talk to me... please."

Feeling her touch made his eyes quickly move to her moon illuminated face. He knew he could trust her, why was he having so much difficulty talking to her about it?

"I just..." he started playing with the bracelet again but didn't move his eyes from her face, "It was supposed to be a good weekend. Everyone expected me to have a good race. And I'm just... It's not happening. I feel like I'm letting everyone down... including myself."

Rory took a deep breath. "I saw your interview today..."

"Oh..." Charles looked down for a second before turning his gaze back to Rory. "Sorry that I still mentioned you as my girlfriend."

"Charlie, it's okay." she cleared her throat, "You said that today it was the car's fault, as we could all see, but that yesterday it was because of everything..." she couldn't put it into words so she just looked at him waiting for an answer.

"In a way, yes..." when seeing her eyes drift to her feet, he grabbed both of her hands in his, "Hey, look at me. It's not your fault."

"In a way it is." Before he could start talking she put a hand on his mouth. "Don't interrupt me." She continued when he nodded. "In a way it is my fault, I said what I said and it shocked you, so it was a factor that helped you not being 100% okay. It's something that you will get over with time and as your friend I will be here to help you all the way through."

Rory looked at her wrist and pulled out a bracelet and put it around Charles' wrist. He just looked at it and then at her with an inquisitive look. "That has been my good luck bracelet since I was little and I want you to have it now. And don't think about protesting."

Charles laughed slightly and then admired the new bracelet in his wrist. It was simple but beautiful and the most important thing was the meaning it had to Rory and now to him. "Thank you." He said looking her in the eye.

"You're welcome."

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A way smaller chapter but a lot more to come.