𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐅𝐋𝐈𝐂𝐓𝐄𝐃─𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐬

one hundred eleven

─☼☼☼─

SILENCE.

That's all that could be heard as Rafe's truck travelled from the beach back to Poguelandia.

Rafe and Charlotte had been in the truck together for a total of ten minutes and twenty seven seconds (Charlotte was counting) and nothing had been said between them. It was as if neither of them knew what to say to each other, how to start a conversation after more than three hundred and sixty five days of silence.

Charlotte could barely believe she had even agreed to get in the vehicle with him. It was almost surreal being so close to him after so long. So instead of focusing on her overwhelming feelings, Charlotte focused on her hand that had already begun to swell. She hadn't mastered the correct punching form, and part of her feared she may have broken a finger or two.

"You'll need to ice that when you get home," Rafe's voice finally cut over the song that was quietly playing on the radio. It was the first, well technically second thing, he'd said to her since the day they broke up.

Looking over to him, Charlotte said the first thing that came to her mind. "Guess you would know."

Rafe didn't even look remotely offended as he gave her a smile. "It was a nice hit," he commented.

"Doesn't feel so nice now," Charlotte muttered, lightly laying her hand on her lap. "Guess I need to brush up on my skills."

When she looked over, Rafe was smiling at her with pride, as if just seeing her exist gave him immeasurable joy. "You look good, Lottie." he finally said after a few passing moments.

Lottie. God, she had missed hearing her name come from his lips. The only person in the entire world who called her that was him, and she couldn't even explain how much she craved to hear it over the past year.

"You too." She answered honestly. "You look...healthy."

Rafe nodded, Adam's Apple bobbing as he looked back to the road. "I am." He confirmed. "I've been clean for twelve months."

Charlotte's breath caught in her throat slightly. She knew she should be elated to hear that, and honestly she was. But part of her wondered why he hadn't been able to do it while they were together. And why he hadn't reached out to her once since becoming clean. Was he afraid he'd relapse with her back in his life?

Pushing away the thoughts, she hoped they didn't show on her face when she smiled at him. "I'm really proud of you."

Rafe nodded, and it looked like he wanted to say so much more. But he seemed to stop himself, switching paths. "Did your boyfriend go back to Durham?"

Charlotte tensed slightly at the mention of Carson. Truthfully, she'd kind of forgotten he had ever been here. Part of her didn't want Rafe to even know they'd broken up, the winning part of her really wanted him to know. "We broke up actually."

With his brows shooting up, Rafe kept his eyes on the road. "Oh...sorry to hear that."

He wasn't and she knew that.

Charlotte's mind shot back to what Carson had said during their break up. Although she was slightly drunk, there was one thing that he said that she'd never forget. "He told me what you said." She declared, a new sense of boldness overtaking her.