First Love, Worst Love

Chapter 4 - Cheered Up By Chunk

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Hey guys! I hope you're all enjoying the new story. This new chapter is your proper introduction to Charlie Monk aka. Chunk, the super sweet boy next door who works in the greengrocer. I think this photo of Eoghan Quigg  is the definitely the image I have in mind for him! I hope you'll enjoy meeting him :)

Please leave a vote and comment if you like the chapter :D Big hugs to you all!

Becky xx

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Chapter 4

Cheered Up By Chunk

"Oh my goodness. Ohmygoodnessohmygoodness."

Chunk runs over to me in a fluster and hovers around my general vicinity before finally deciding to place a tentative hand on my shoulder. I'm sobbing my lungs out and I can tell he has no idea what to do. Boys never know what to do when girls cry.

"Whatever's wrong?" he asks, his warm voice filled with concern. He's so nice and it just makes me cry even harder.

"EVERYTHING! EVERYTHING'S WRONG!"

He pulls gently at my arm. "Come and sit down. Let me get you some water or something."

I find myself being steered toward the counter. There's a little footstool hidden behind it and Chunk gestures for me to sit down. It doesn't look particularly comfortable but I appreciate the thought anyway and slump onto it with full force.

"I'm so sorry," I exclaim, trying to take deep breaths. "I didn't mean to come in here like this." It's true, I didn't. I've known Chunk for years from around the village but I don't know him that well. Certainly not well enough to come into his store and start dumping all my personal problems onto him.

I mean, if my own friends and family don't want to know about them, I hardly expect the local greengrocer to be interested.

"Don't be silly," he replies kindly. "You're obviously really upset. What's happened?"

It's too late not to feel silly. I feel absolutely ridiculous. My sobs start slowing down and my cheeks begin to burn in their place.

"It's nothing really," I mumble in embarrassment. "I'm just being stupid."

"It doesn't look like nothing. Hang on darling." Chunk wanders out to the back room of the tiny store and comes back carrying a big glass of water. I take it from him thankfully and chug it down. The sensation of cool liquid hitting my lips feels calming, but it can't erase how mortified I am.

"Thanks, Chunk. I can't believe I'm acting like such a moron. I'm really sorry."

"You have nothing to apologise for," he answers. "Don't worry about it whatsoever."

I find myself calming down more and more until most of my tears have completely evaporated. I think Chunk just seems to have this kind of effect on people. There's no way you can stay sad around him. He's a little bit like my brother Benji in that respect. They're both always smiling and everyone in the village loves them.

I finish the last drop of water and place the glass on the side of the counter. Chunk grins sweetly at me. "Looks like you needed that more than you realised."

I look down at my own lap, picking at a loose thread on the hem of my dress. I picked a plain black one to wear today since I'm in mourning. "Yeah, I guess I did."

There are a few tiny moments of silence before Chunk speaks again.

"So, do you want to tell me why you're so sad? It's really not like you to come in here without your pretty smile alongside you."