⌞ the chain ⌝

⌞ seven : lost ⌝

"Maybe another time. I don't think it's my turn yet."

_

It was time again. Rev texted me he would be at mine in around ten minutes which meant I only had a few minutes left to get everything I would need for the night. I made sure to tell him that I wasn't going to do the usual things I did at the after-party. The conversation had gone better than I could have imagined. I thought he would judge me for my choices but he had been very understanding and promised to keep the reasoning away from the others.

It was nice to have a friend that would do that for me. To make sure I would hold myself accountable and take away all the awkward parts. I wasn't used to having someone that would put my needs into consideration. Part of me had wanted to explain it all to him, but rules were rules. Life outside of the street was kept private. And I was already bending the rule by having that conversation with him.

The knock pulled me away from the mirror, going to unlock the door.

"Sup Lily."

"Hey, Rev. Almost finished, I just need to grab my jacket."

He saluted me, turning to walk back down the stairs to meet me at the garage. I threw my jacket on, knowing that the weather would turn colder as the night went on, and rushed down the back stairs. The red Ferrari looked at me from its place in the back, collecting dust. There had been times when I wanted to race it, or at least drive it. But every time I got close, I shut down. The red was too close to the car that crashed, the blood on clothes... all of it.

"Lily!"

"Yeah, yeah. Coming!"

I rolled my eyes and walked over to my usual ride; the McLaren.

_

"Lily!"

I smiled as all my friends waved me and Rev over to our usual spot. After hugs, handshakes, and all other greetings, the usual conversation flowed. There were talks about races I missed while I was sick and the drama that always came from it. The shifting of ranks, the newcomers, and those kids that were in town looking to find some adventure before the summer was over.

"Oh, by the way, some annoying twat came over asking for some chick named Eli. He showed us a picture and it looked exactly like you."

I looked up at Road, raising an eyebrow. "What did he look like?"

"Brown hair, annoying ass voice. Not super tall, definitely not taller than Phoenix. Actually, looked a lot like you."

My heart dropped. "Did he say his name?"

"Speed tried to warn him not to but yeah. Gent said he was called Charles."

Time froze. Charlie. Charlie was here and he was looking for me. Which meant that Pierre had talked to him. And Pierre had told him I was racing. And this was the only place that you could race. And Charlie was here. And he was looking for me.

"Lily...?"

"Yes, sorry?"

"You good?"

I nodded but none of them looked like they believed me. I cleared my throat, trying to act like I always did out here; in control. "Did he say where he went or where to meet him?"

Phoenix was the one who spoke up. "He said to meet him by the piano. Whatever that means."

The piano in the market. That wasn't far from here. And Charlie would be waiting for me. I looked down at my watch. There was enough time for me to see what he wanted before my race started. It would be stupid but I still wanted to see him, hear what he had to say.

"I'll be back before my race starts. Don't let them start without me."

Speed gave me a salute and I didn't wait for anything else before I took off running in the opposite direction. It wasn't long before my lungs started to close. I didn't know if it was because of how out of shape I was or because it felt like I was walking back into this prison I had lived my life in.

Charlie was part of a life I left behind. It wasn't like I wanted to leave him behind, he was half of my soul but he had created this rift between us. He had separated us and not just with what he said. But over the years when he let me take the fall for him, when he would back Father up, when he would overlook everything that happened to me. Charlie was something I had to leave behind and yet. There he was. Sitting on the bench. Hands hovering over old keys.

"Charlie.."

He looked up and I watched as his eyes flashed. Never one for facial expressions but his eyes could never lie to me.

"Eli-"

"I don't go by that anymore."

He nodded. "Lily, then?"

"No. That's not for you. You can call me Lula."

He nodded. "Lula, then."

"What are you doing here?"

My tone came off harsher than I had intended but there was hurt. Years worth, built up. He stood and I took a step back. He nodded, realizing that this wasn't going to be like it always was. I was different and so was he.

"I wanted to talk to you."

"Pierre told me that."

"Right." He sighed. "Uh- where do I even start?"

"With why you came here off all places, maybe."

"I couldn't- I can't go in that house. It's... it's too much for me. But I wanted to talk to you. And Pierre told me you were racing. I would know if it was anything legit and I hadn't heard anything. We used to talk about this place as kids. So I gave it a shot. Your friends... they seem nice."

"They are."

He nodded. "How are you?"

"Probably as well as you assume."

"You look well. I like your hair."

"Thanks."

"Look," He took a step forward and I took another back. "I know you're mad at me and you have every right. I'm not expecting you to talk to me. But uh- I guess I just wanted to see you. It feels weird. Been almost a year and I haven't seen you. Arthur misses you, not that he'll admit it. And so does Father."

I chuckled at that. "Sure he does."

"El- Lula, look-"

"Charlie, it was great to see you and everything. You can tell Arty that he can reach out whenever and I will always be there for him. But this isn't your scene and I have to get to a race. So it's probably best that you go. I'll see you around."

"Right, of course. Later then."

"Yeah, later."

I watched him walk away, trying to keep my face as I walked back to my friends. The conversations never fully made it to my ears and the race was a blur, not even caring enough to celebrate the win. All of it was a blur; the party, getting back to the flat, updating Nico and Lewis on my day... none of it hit until I was finally alone and I cried until there were no tears left.

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a/n: aha, angst. i love you all, tissues are there and therapy bills will not be paid this time but i have promises for more chapters, happy ones to come. sibling love, am i right? oh well. as always, love it or don't :p