Facade - Jacob Elordi

thirty

*IN MEMORIAM OF LIAM PAYNE*

Charlotte Hart

I had been in the bathroom crying since my call with Brandon. I politely excused myself from the movie Wes and I put on. I knew I had to tell the guys, but I needed a moment to collect myself. I searched my Instagram just to see if anything new was posted. A birthday post was made just for Brandon. It was a picture of us at the country club when I first started working there. I wasn't surprised the stalker had found it. After all, my old phone was somewhere not within my reach, in the hands of some slimy person trying to impersonate me. The posts were damning, not only for the fact that I wasn't the one making them but because it made everything seem like it was normal. Everything was anything but normal.

I just wanted a normal day. I have two weeks to convince Brandon to stay out of New York and I was almost certain I could if I really tried. But today, I just need today. I don't care about talking to Jacob anymore, or how Barry has it out for me. Let me have just one day.

"You okay in there?" Wes interrupted my thoughts as I jumped up from the bathroom floor.

"Yes— um, just one second," I wiped my tears. "I'm sorry."

"No worries. Just been a while."

"I'll be out in a second," I responded, listening to his steps get quieter as he walked away.

You're okay.

Brandon will be okay.

I ran the coldest water over my face to lessen the puffiness in my eyes. I'm so tired of crying. Once my eyes returned to their normal color, I opened the bathroom door. I feel broken, unable to be saved from this constant sadness. It's always one thing after the other.

As I returned to the living room, I saw two extra bodies sitting down before me. Jacob and Barry were finally back and laughing together. I cleared my throat as I walked into their space, their heads shooting up to look at me.

"How are you guys?" I asked, trying to divert any attention from me.

"Good," Barry responded first, surprisingly.

"You're not going to fight me, are you?" I said hesitantly as I stepped forward. It was mostly a joke.

"Not just yet," He rolled his eyes. "I would like to talk to you in private."

I jumped from Barry and Jacob's eyes in a panic. Wesley was nowhere to be seen. I need him right now.

"Okay," I agreed, not seeing a reason not to. This was supposed to happen ages ago, and now of all times it happening.

I followed him to the garage. The anticipation of what he was going to say was weighing on me heavily. I looked back one last time to Jacob. He nodded his head, letting me know it was all going to be okay.

"I didn't really want to have this conversation with you. I told you to get out before it got bad, so it's hard to feel remorse when you feel like a victim..." He started off strongly, shocking me. "But I understand. We all do. I want to keep this short and simple. I don't hate you. I hate the life you gave up. You could have let this all go. Jacob could have not been so persistent, I know. I thought maybe if I were scary enough, you'd back off and not agree to anything. Once you did, I was angry. I came to New York to drill that into you, but I fell short. I've never not been able to run someone off. It's all I'm good at... But that day in the park, I saw your pure soul. I was jealous of how innocent you are. You didn't need this in your life, but it's come down to something we never thought would be a possibility. I'm so sorry for that. Charlotte," Barry took a second to compose himself. I've never seen him so emotional before. His anger is the most prominent part of him and to see it almost nonexistent is surreal— especially towards me. "I'm just sorry."