Promise Me: Adopted By NateWantsToBattle

Chapter 7

Charlotte's POV

After neatly putting my clothes in my closet, I went back to writing my music. It was a simple piece that meant something bigger. The notes and chords flowed together. All it needed was words. Nate knocked at my door later that afternoon. "I'm making dinner. You want to come down and help?" "Sure!" I hopped up and walked over to the door. "I thought I heard you playing up here. It looks nice." I smiled. "It's not done. It still needs words and I thought a piano part would be cool. I'll show it to you when it's done." "Just like me. So creative." We walked downstairs to the kitchen and continued with dinner. We sat down with it at the table. I had to bring it up, whether or not he would like it. "Nate. Who's the girl on your phone's lock screen?" "What were you doing on my phone?" he asked. "It was there. I had too!" He took a deep breath and looked me in the eye. "That's my ex-girlfriend Morgan. We broke up two weeks before I adopted you. I really liked her and she didn't feel the same way." I looked down at the table. "Oh. I'm really sorry. I didn't mean..." "No, it's ok. You would have found out about her sooner or later." We finished eating and cleaned up the kitchen in silence. I snuck back up to my room while he went up to his recording room. I grabbed my new phone and immediately went to the play store to download Twitter. I signed up under the name Charlottewantstobattle; following in Nate's footsteps. I didn't expect to get a ton of followers, and that's just fine. I put my phone down on my desk and sat down on my chair. I was scared that Nate would be angry about me asking about Morgan. I didn't want to go back to the orphanage. I found a pad of Post-it notes in a drawer of my desk. I grabbed a Sharpie and wrote a note down. "Please don't be mad. I'm really sorry." I stuck it on Nate's bedroom door and went back to my room. It was getting close to 10 o'clock; the time I normally go to bed. I changed into my pajamas and slipped under the sheets.

Nightmare

I woke up and there was darkness. I reached for a light and realized as the lights turned on that I was in my old room back with my birth parents. The blue walls and the childs bed gave it away. No guitar or Nate. I heard stomping coming towards the room. "Charlotte Louise Fuller! Why is your light on!" my dad yelled. I cowarded back. "You mistake! Why are you even here?" He grabbed me by my hair and started beating me. "Dad! Please stop!" I yelled. He didn't hear me and continued to hit me. He later dropped me onto the floor, leaving me bruised and hurting. "We never wanted you!" He then threw the final blow.

End

I screamed and bolted out of bed. I started crying, my head in my hands. Nate ran in a few minutes later. "Char? Are you ok?" he asked, walking over to me. I cowarded back away from him, afraid he would hurt me like my dad did. "Hey, it's ok. I'm not going to hurt you. I promise." My muscles were still tense as he slowly walked over to me. "Charlotte, it's me. I promise I won't hurt you." I eased up and allowed him to get close. "Sweetheart, it's just a dream. Dreams can't hurt us." I nodded and scooted my way towards him. "It's alright. I'm here." He wrapped his arms around me and I cried on his shoulder. He started to stroke my hair just like Mrs. Lane would when I was scared. I continued to cry until I had no more tears. "Are you ok?" I shook my head. "Sweetheart, tell me what happened." I sat up and explained everything; the beating, my dad. "He's not here. I am. And nothing will reach you as long as I'm here. You're safe." I rested my head on his shoulder and he continued to stroke my hair. I woke up the next morning on top of my blankets. I must have fallen asleep. I saw Nate laying on the floor over by my desk. I smiled and crawled over to him. A chunk of his black hair was covering his eyes. I smiled and laid down next to him. "Thank you." I whispered. I positioned myself so our foreheads were touching. With Nate by my side, I didn't feel scared. I felt at home.