Wish We Could Turn Back Time m.c

Chapter 25

.

.

.

Al's POV

.

.

.

Lacey left town during spring break. She didn't tell me. But I guess I shouldn't have expected her to.

After Charlotte explained everything to me in Starbucks that day, I thought I would feel better, free of the emotional burden that was Lacey. I was always stressing about whether or not she was feeling okay, whether things were okay, and mostly whether or not she cared about me in the same ways. When I learned all the mood swings and the dramatics were just a charade and that she was stringing me along, I thought all the burdens would be lifted and that I wouldn't worry about her anymore, but lately I've just been feeling worse.

One day about halfway through the break, Charlotte and I were hanging out in the park and she noticed something was bugging me. She must be really good at reading people. When I told her that thoughts of Lacey kept plaguing my mind, she said something- a few things- that surprised me. A lot.

"That must suck, I know how tough it is getting over people you love. Moving on," there was a sad glint in her eye as she looked up in the sky, sipping her Starbucks drink that we had picked up earlier that day. "I broke up with Lance just before the break started and I can't get him out of my head either."

"You did what?" I was dumbfounded. From what I'd heard around the school, Lance and Charlotte had been the power couple for awhile now. Nobody ever guessed that them splitting up was even a remote possibility.

"It wasn't working out," her voice had gone up an octave. "There was no spark. We were only staying together because everyone expected us to," a couple tears started to run down her cheeks. "Not to mention Lance is graduating in a couple weeks anyway, so what's the point?" I knew that last bit was the real reason they had broken up, because Lance would be going off to University. They didn't want to do long distance.

"Charlotte, I-" she was sitting there now with her knees pulled up to her chest, full on crying. I couldn't just sit there and let her sob. I would never do that to Lacey when we were friends, just let her feel pain all alone. So, since none of her other friends were there to help, I did what any sensible gentleman should do... and wrapped her up in my arms.

Uncurling herself from the protective position she had just been in, Charlotte threw her arms around my neck and hugged me back. We sat there on the grass just like that for a few minuets. It was kinda nice, I thought. Her hair smelt like coconuts, like Lacey's used to. I wondered if they used the same shampoo.

"Thanks, Al," Charlotte said, wiping away her final tears and pulling away, just sitting next to me again. "Both of us, me and Lance, agreed this was the best thing to do, but that still doesn't mean I'm happy about it." I understood her, but I didn't know what to say, so we just sat there silently, staring up at the sky. The sun was starting to set.

"I brought you here because I wanted to ask you a little question, Alexander," she said my full name. It came out harder and more pronounced than the way Lacey says it. "I've really enjoyed hanging out with you these past couple weeks. You've been so supportive and sweet and I think you're exactly the kind of person I need in my life right now. Al, will you go out with me?"

Still looking up at the sky in that moment, I felt my eyes get wider upon her request. Friends, sure. Close friends, even. But date Charlotte? Just a couple months ago, I would've laughed. Lacey would've laughed at the thought of Charlotte and I dating. But Lacey was gone now. Out of my life. I don't need sneaky manipulative people like her in my life. Maybe someone honest and straight forward and encouraging like Charlotte was exactly what I needed in my life right now.

"Sure," I answered her finally.

"Cool," she smiled and reached over to take my hand. I didn't let it go until the sun was completely below the horizon.

And that's how I came to date Charlotte.

.

.

.

A couple weeks ago when everyone came fresh back from spring break, I was honestly nervous to face Lacey. I didn't know how she would react. I didn't know if she'd try to get revenge on me or something. It wasn't very unlikely, considering all the things Charlotte's said she's done. I rode in Charlotte's car to school that morning. She picked me up from my house.

Lunch was where my stomach started to tie itself in knots, dreading the moment that Lacey would walk out into the courtyard and see me with my arm around Charlotte. I'd avoided her all day up until then, but it was time for me to face the music. No more being some type of insecure, worry-wart baby.

Real mature, Al.

Anyway, when the moment finally did come and I saw that smooth brown hair and long legs coming towards me, Lacey didn't yell or have  a fit like I thought she might. It turned out that I really had nothing to worry about. She didn't even say anything to me. It was a relief, yet unnerving.

The only thing I noticed was that the look in her warm brown eyes when she walked past me that day was not one of anger or hatred or even disgust, it was one of hurt. Lacey met my eyes for only a couple seconds out there and yet I couldn't seem to get out of my head how hurt she looked.

Ever since then, I've been watching her. I know, it sounds creepy and wrong, especially considering I have a girlfriend now, but my curiosity was killing me. Lacey still hasn't spoken one word to me since before spring break. She walks around school with her head down all the time, usually with a hoodie up. The only thing she wears is leggings and a hoodie, even though it's summer. No more of the cute and girly yet unique outfits that is Lacey. Was Lacey. Just this zombie.

That's what she reminds me of now, a zombie. Just going through the motions, waiting patiently for junior year to be over. It almost is, only two more weeks. School's out on June seventeenth. Lacey only has to wait for the summer to pass before she can go see her precious Michael Clifford with those tickets Jasmine gave her. I wonder if she's using Jasmine in the same way she used me. In the same way she once used Charlotte.

I wonder how someone who is supposedly evil and manipulative can just sit back and not seek revenge. How someone as vile as Charlotte says she is can look so hurt, so damaged and broken by as Lacey did when she realized Charlotte and I were dating now. It didn't make any sense. How is it possible that I, one of her puppets, did this to her?

That's another thing I wondered. Charlotte and I were dating now, I became infinitely more popular, and most importantly I knew the truth. So why does Lacey Palmer still continue to occupy all my thoughts?

.

.

.

End of part 25.

Hello! How is everyone? Good? Good. I'm great because IT'S SUMMER NOW WOO YAY DAILY UPDATES FROM HERE ON OUT.

Today I sat down and planned out the entire rest of the book, so there is no chance of writer's block. I can just come update any time of the day whenever the creativity strikes.

Oh, and I got a summer job today. So that's a thing. YAY MONEY TO SPEND ON MERCH!

I know a lot of you are probably wondering, if this is a Michael fanfic, WHERE THE FLYING FUDGE IS MICHAEL but fear not, is is coming very soon and is about to be a very major plot element and love interest. *wiggles eyebrows* That's not a spoiler, I was very vague. Calm your tits.

Anyway, have a lovely day and I'll see y'all tomorrow. Ah, it's good to be back full time. :)

Song of the day: Bulls in the Bronx by Pierce the Veil

-SJ