Just Breath

Chapter Two

-- A WEEK LATER, ABOUT 6:00 P.M .--

♔ LAKEN'S POV ♔

I walked toward's Charlie's front door, trying to keep my confidence. 

He had called and invited me over. But, I've been thinking about how wrong he treats me, and decided I would talk to him about it.

I reached the door and knocked.

I was nervous. What if he hurts me?

Just then, Charlie answered the door. His blonde hair was messy and he had a t-shirt and sweatpants on.

"Hey." He said. He sounded like he was in a good mood, so I was hesitant about going through with talking to him about us.

"Hey." I replied, realizing my mind had wandered. He gestured for me to go in first, and I walked through the familiar doorway.

 He closed the door behind me and turned towards me, offering a smile. I forced out the words, "Charlie...we should talk." 

The smile vanished from his face. "About what?" He asked cautiously. 

I had no idea what I was going to say, so I had to pause and think carefully. 

"Um...well..." I stammered. Come on, Laken. Just say it. 

"I don't like the way our relationship is." I managed to say. He stared at me, his blue eyes turning dark. "What do you mean?" He asked, and I knew his good mood was over and it most likely wouldn't return. I couldn't meet his eyes.

Again, I didn't know what to say, so I just stood there like an idiot.

"Well?" He said, pushing me.

Anger welled up in me all of a sudden; he's always mean to me, and I'm tired of it.

"You're a worthless jerk." I blurted, having a short burst of courage, and I looked at him. 

My courage only lasted a few seconds before it vanished and was replaced with fear.

Why did I say that?

I saw him move towards me, and I knew what was coming. I winced just before his strong arm push me, and my shoulder made contact with the edge of the nearby bookcase he had.

I winced, a hand flying to my shoulder, and I pressed myself against the wall beside the bookcase, seeking for any place of protection. Pain and fear clouded my thoughts. 

"What'd you call me?" He said in a low, menacing voice. I couldn't bring myself to say anything.

He grabbed my shoulder, the injured one, and made me cry out. He shoved me towards the door. "Get out," He spat. "You're the worthless one."

I fumbled with the doorknob before opening the door and walking out.

A sob escaped my lips, and I began to cry. 

As if on cue, I realized the light drizzle that had started pouring from the sky while I was in there.

I stumbled out to my car. My vision was blurry from both the tears and the rain, which was soaking my clothes, and the sharp pain in my shoulder was hovering over my every thought.

I opened the door and got in, cranking up the car. 

I sat crying for a moment or two, pondering on where to go.

Not home, I couldn't go home. I don't want my mom to see me like this. 

Charlie hasn't struck out on me but only a few times, but my mom doesn't know. And she's not going to find out any time soon. 

A few more seconds went by before deciding on the second thing that came to mind besides home: the bakery I went to last week.

♛ HARRY'S POV ♛

I sat in silence, swiveling around in the rotating chair I kept up front; it's only purpose to entertain me on days like this.

A couple of customers have just left, and since it was almost closing time, so did my manager. She trusted me to stay alone for these last few minutes. 

I sighed as I noticed that the slight drizzle of rain outside had turned into a downpour.

I stopped turning around in my chair and checked the watch on my wrist. Only five minutes to go.

I pushed myself up, deciding to go ahead and close up. 

I walked through the halls, making sure the back door was locked, before coming back to the front. 

I stood inside of the store still, but just in front of the front door. I tried to decifer which key went to it while humming the melody of 'Free Fallin'' by John Mayor, which had been in my head all day long.

I finally found the right key, and looked up at the door to use it. 

Suddenly, I stopped myself as I saw the headlights of a car pull up in the parking lot of the bakery. 

I sighed, checking my watch again, and saw that it was a minute past closing time.

I watched as the person got out of the car, and I opened the front door, calling, "We're closing."

I looked closer at the person, and realized it was a girl. She looked so familiar...

"Please... can I just come in for a moment?" She begged, walking closer persistantly. Her voice had cracked, and a mixture of curiosity and sympathy flooded me. Had she been crying?

"Yeah, yeah, of course." I gave in finally, and held the door open for her.

She sat down in a booth nearby. She was soaking wet and shivering, and by the redness of her face, I was right, she had been crying.

Her face. Looking at it again, I remembered who it was: Laken, the girl that came in about, what was it? About a week ago.

"Hey..." I said softly, sitting down in front of her. "Laken, right? What's the matter?"

"I don't wanna talk about it." She mumbled miserably, wrapping her arms around herself for warmth, a hand staying put on one of her shoulders.

I stared at her a moment longer, trying to decifer a reason she was upset.

Suddenly, I felt so rude: she was freezing.

I stood quickly. "You're freezing; let me get you something. Is hot chocolate okay?" I asked. She just nodded, her mind elsewhere.

"Alright." I said, and walked off to make her hot chocolate.