In another life

16

No. No no no. I can't believe this. No! Oh my god I don't even have the words to describe this. I can't do this.

These stupid tears are stinging my eyes, what the fuck Charlotte why am I crying? Well of course I'm upset, can you blame me? I thought she was my friend! I thought...

No. I have to get out of here. I hear her call my name as I speed walk down the hall. Don't look back. I don't even want to see her. Why would she do this to me?

"Charlotte? You alright" crap. Reece
"I uh, I don't feel well. I'm sorry I have to go" I know I shouldn't, I'm practically leaving Reece in the lurch as he needed me to cover. But I can't stay here. I can't.

...

(3ed person pov)
As soon as Charlotte walked through the door of her home she broke down. Her thoughts were a mess tangled in her mind. Her phone buzzing in her pocket pulled her from her thoughts, only to read her name on the screen.
'Char, I'm sorry. Can we please talk? Let me explain x'

She shut her phone off and threw it on the sofa. The girls blankets and things were still in the living room scattered around so she decided to distract herself by bringing them back upstairs. She picked up the little white bunny and her mind went back to that day when Mia came over and gave it to Elsie. She was so kind, and to even think about buying a birthday present for a girl you don't even know is so sweet. But the whole time she...

No, she couldn't think about it anymore. She'd only upset herself more. And soon enough she'll have to pick up the girl. That's good, a distraction hopefully. But it seems her mind can't stay away from that redhead.

...

Mia sat at her desk and stared at the message she had sent to Charlotte. She had been left on seen. She had really messed up. She swiped off the app onto her Home Screen where a camera roll widget had popped up. Of course her phone chose the perfect time to remind her of how much she screwed up.

She clicked the photo and smiled slightly, they were both smiling like nothing else mattered and Mia couldn't help but lock her eyes on the brunette in the photo. She had never seen such pretty eyes.

"Mia!" Reece shouted for the third time, finally gaining Mia's attention
"What?!"
"I've just got off the phone with Marjorie and she said Charlotte was fine this morning. What the fuck have you said to her?"
"I haven't said anything to her"
"Well she came from the office crying and now she's gone home"
"She was crying?" Reece noticed the slight glimpse of worry in Mia's eyes, something he hadn't seen in years.
"What happened?" His voice softened and he realised something had actually gone on here. And not just Mia being her usual bitchy self.

"Nothing. I'll cover" she rolled her eyes and put her phone down. It was the least she could do.
"You sure?"
"Yes Reece!" Reece took her reply and sat back at his desk in silence. He gathered she was not in a good mood and it's best not to make that worse. Although she couldn't help wondering what was wrong with her, and why Charlotte seemed so upset.

...

By the time Charlotte had picked up her girls from school and gotten back home, her mind was a lot calmer. The pain in her heart was still heavy and she had no idea how to handle that however the show must go on and the smile must stay up. If not for her, for her girls.

"Mummy can Mia come see me dance today?" And the thoughts stuck in her throat again.
"Uh, no sweetie. Not today"
"Okay, is she coming over later though? I have to tell her about Tyler and Hadley!" Elsie smiled. It broke her heart even more to see how close she had gotten with the girls. She was so good at it, being the perfect friend. And to her daughters too.

She would always be up for a Disney movie with Izzy or talking with Elsie about her school and ballet. She had sleepovers and watched movies and brought them food. She picked Elsie up from school and took them both to the shops and park so Charlotte could do some cleaning. She brought her coffees and messaged her every morning to make sure she was okay. She was always there when she needed her.

How was Charlotte supposed to tell the girls Mia just won't be coming over anymore? She won't see them or play with them again.
"I'm sorry sweetie, Mia won't be coming round again for a while"
"Why?"
"Uh, she's just a little busy with her new job, okay?" She didn't know how to explain to them that she wasn't who they thought. That she wasn't their friend at all.
"Awww"
"Go find your shoes, we don't want to be late now" she smiles in hopes of changing the subject. Elsie runs off and Charlotte grabs her bag from the kitchen side.
"Izzy are you ready?" She shouts outs upstairs.

...

(Charlottes Pov)
After Elsie's dance class I picked Izzy up from Kathy's and we went straight home. I made a quick dinner and the girls went right to bed after, it's been a long day for all of us I think.

Now that I'm alone in my room again my mind just goes back to this morning. I can't believe Mia is the new deputy manager. Mia is the one who ruined Autumn's prom. She blackmailed Reece into being with her for like 20 years. She's rude and evil and causes trouble. Carly told me all about her. But that doesn't seem like the Mia I know at all.

The Mia I knew was kind and warm and she cared about me. I guess she really was just a good liar. I just can't wrap my head around it.

My head goes over every single thing we did. I can't get it out of my mind. How did I not know? It was only yesterday she was sat next to me with my daughter's head across her lap. Every movie the kids put on, every meal we had, every coffee we went for, every time we fucking kissed. And it was all a lie. It was all fake. How can she do that to someone. To me.

I just feel so hurt. Betrayed. This is worse than anything I've ever felt before. I don't even know what to do with myself. But it's not just me she did this too. She did this to my children. My girls. She got close to them, let them trust her and the whole time she knew exactly what she was doing. How could she do that to two little girls? That just makes me more upset. In fact, not even upset. I'm just angry. And it's like an anger I've never felt before.