I raced to my car, my feet slashing through the rain puddles on the ground. My hair was dripping and I felt my hoodie sticking to my body.
By the time I got to the car, I didn’t know if I was wetter from the rain or the tears. I dried my eyes with my wet sleeves and let my head hit against the steering wheel. Another tsunami of tears washed over me. I hit my hand on the wheel and the car horn sounded, making me get up with a start.
“Don’t cry,” I said quietly to myself. But my eyes had other plans. To be honest, I didn’t even know why I was crying. After this I’m completely sure he’s out of my life. But why does it still hurt? It’s like a giant ball of rancid iron’s been forced down my throat, not letting any air in and leaving me feeling trapped. “Don’t cry!” I scowled myself.
I managed to get my head up and look around the car- I had half an empty water bottle, an empty Starbucks cup and a Kit Kat, a few books for UNI, my suitcase and my computer. Where to go now? I asked myself. Chessie’s? I’d have to explain everything to her. Mom’s? Again, I’d have to explain everything to her, and I didn’t have the heart to tell her everything’s been just a terrible lie. I couldn’t go to Perrie’s or Danielle’s or Eleanor’s because I’d have to face Harry at some point, and we’re not really close friends. A hotel wouldn’t solve anything, so that left me one last option- home.
So I drove south, through the La Manche tunnel, leaving London far behind me. I didn’t even stop for gas until I was in France. Luckily, the credit card Management has assigned me was still with me. It seemed to grow hotter in my pocket, as if to say, You can’t escape us. You can’t escape him.
I drove 19 hours and 29 minutes straight, without even stopping somewhere to sleep.
When I finally crossed the familiar boulder to the city of Split, it was 8 o’clock in the morning and I was simply exhausted. I used my last bits of strength to drive to my old neighbourhood and then I fell asleep in my car.
“Carter?” Someone knocked on the window while calling my name. “Carter, get up.”
My eyes opened and I saw Johanna and Ellie looking down at me.
“What time is it?” I asked.
“3:30 PM,” Johanna said. “We just got back from school—”
“What are you doing here, Carter?” Ellie opened the door to my car and sat on the back seat.
It took me a while to remember what happened. “Harry and I had a little fight…”
“Little? I don’t think it was little, considering you drove all the way from London.” Johanna continued.
“You’re not helping.” Ellie rolled her eyes at Johanna and looked back at me. “Do you need help?”
My stomach growled, making a dying whale sound. “I could use some food.” Ellie smiled and helped me get out of the car.
We walked shortly to a café behind my old high school. I stopped for a while and looked at the place as the memories of Junior Year piled up in my mind- homecoming with Ana as my ‘date’ and Charlie as our plus one. Christmas break when we broke into the yard and had a snowball fight. And the last days of school and when I found out we’re moving. Johanna had to pull me by the sleeve just so I’d keep going.
When my donut and hot chocolate finally came, we sat at an aluminium table under a marquee to hide from the rain which seemed to be everywhere I was ever since the fight.
Ellie shifted uncomfortably in her seat. “So, what will you do now?”
I set down my donut. “I don’t know. I guess I’ll just stay here. I don’t really have another choice.”
“We could try to get you into our UNI.” Johanna added. “It’s the middle of the semester but I’m sure we can squeeze you in.”
I smiled faintly. “I’d like that.” I tightened my hands around the hot chocolate, letting my hands to drown in the warmth of the cup.
I was supposed to be faking missing Harry, but the truth is, I’m not faking it. I really, truly miss him. And I hate him. And I hate myself. It’s like trying to catch a glass ball that’s not even there. And if it falls, it breaks. It’s like that- if that makes any sense at all.
And to top it all off, the more time passed, the more I hated myself and him- me for leaving and him for letting me go so easily. I don’t expect my life to be a Nora Roberts novel, but it would’ve be nice if he’d at least said Carter, please oh please don’t go half-heartedly. After all I did for him, don’t I deserve at least that?
“—what happened between you and Harry? Hello, Earth to Carter!” Johanna waived her hand in front of my face as I realised she was talking to me. “What happened between you two? You looked so happy.”
Looks deceive, I thought. How to put a year of lying to the world in a single sentence and try to explain it without looking bad, I wonder.
“We—we sort of just grew apart,” I stuttered. It wasn’t quite a lie. As I may have mentioned, he felt distant lately. But that was before I found out he loved me all along, though… Oh well.
“I’m sorry,” Ellie said softly and put her hand on mine. My instant reflex was to push her away, but I couldn’t this time.
“Thank you—” I managed. I looked her in her dark chocolate brown eyes and I knew she really was sorry. Ellie always had the ability to make me feel better- unlike Ana who’d just slap me in the face with the truth knowing it’s the best thing even though it hurts. Ellie was sort of like the ‘adult’ of our little clique, Ana and Johanna were the crazy fangirls, I was the depressed teen who hated her life and could sum her existence in a single song and then there was Charlie- the only guy I knew without drama. Up until a while ago, at least.
“How—how’s Ana?” I managed.
“She’s uhm—I haven’t seen her in a while.” She turned to Johanna.
Jo jumped out of her seat, suddenly realising it was her turn to talk. “Ana—she’s fine, I guess. But, she and
Charlie—” she pronounced that name softly and carefully, like leaning my head onto a pillow just before she’d throw a space ship on me, “they’ve been talking. I don’t know about what, but she seemed angry at him.”
I let that sink in.
“I’m sorry Carter, I shouldn’t have even brought him up, I know he and you are—”
“No, Jo, it’s okay. Really. A lot has been going on lately and I just need a break.” I sighed and put my head between my hands.
“That’s why you have us.” Ellie smiled cheekily and together with Johanna, peeled me off the chair and took me into the unknown.
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HEY GUISEE
Sorry I kept you waiting for so lond but crappy internet so yeah :/
Anywho all votes and comments are welcome
Next chapter as soon as possible
CIAO :) xx
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The Girl Next Door
FanfictionTypical story about a typical girl who moves to a typical city. The only problem is- her next door neighbor is a not so typical guy she does not really like.
