Stranger

10

Chapter 10:

(Daniel's POV)

It had been a week since the hospital incident with Charlie and I had been thinking about her ever since. I was sat watching TV with Lara, not speaking, not even together, on completely different chairs. I glanced over at her knowing we couldn't go on like this anymore.

"Lara I think we should talk." I stated turning the TV off, facing her direction. 

"I know what you're going to say." She said abruptly not even bothering to move. 

"You're going to say that this isn't working out anymore. Don't worry I get it. Since you got back you've been avoiding me and we've barley spoke. I know that you're going to say that we've just moved apart as people, and I guess we have. And it's a shame that we have but in the end of the day we're not happy. " She said confessing what was in my head. So at least I wasn't the only one in this relationship feeling this way.

"I didn't mean for us to get like this. It's just that since I've come back, I don't know ... it just hasn't been the same between us." I explained. I leaned on the edge of my chair as did she. We were both tense in this conversation we both thought would never happen. I don't know if it was my feelings towards Charlie that have changed things for me, I don't know if it was the army, but whatever it was I knew it was because of me. 

"I could tell." She commented.

"So what do you want to do now?" I asked. The living arrangements and everything we have owned together, we needed to make sure it was sorted fairly.

"I think I should stay with my mom for a while. To sort myself out." She answered taking a deep breath in. 

"No you can stay here, I'm going back in a month. You should keep this place."  I stated feeling bad. I wanted her to come out of this happy, considering it is me who is making her feel sad. 

"Here's a deal. You stay here until you go, you can find yourself a new place and i'll stay with my mom in the meantime." She negotiated playing fair. More than fair really, I don't understand why she's being so nice. 

"Why are you being so nice to me?" I asked.

"Because you're still my best friend. And I know that you care for me too. Even if you don't care for me as much as I care for you."  She answered. I could see that she was hurting but was doing well to hide it. I stood up feeling a little awkward, she stood up as well a little cautiously and we hugged out the end of our relationship. It was a strange moment that was made more uncomfortable when we let go of each other. We suddenly didn't know how to act around each other, it was if we had suddenly became strangers to one and another. But I knew that it was for the best, for both of our sake's. And besides, she already knew it was going to come to this, she said it herself. 

"I'm just gonna go." I commented feeling the uneasiness between us, and feeling desperate to go as soon as possible. I began shuffling backwards as she spoke.

"I'll see you around." She said as I opened the door. 

"I'll see you around." I replied with compassion as I left our home. I can't believe it's over, and so easily as well. I thought there would at least be tears or screaming, especially with Lara but she seemed cool and easy about it, a little to comfortable with the breakup. She must have felt the same way about us being together then I guess. I walked around the block for a while, not having any idea of where I was going when a car pulled up beside me, following me slowly, opening their window to reveal Paul.

"Hey." I said happy to see him. I needed to talk to someone about what just happened instead of thinking about it in my head.

"Hey, have you spoken to Daisy?" He asked not jogging my memory. Oh wait, Charlie, she goes by Daisy with Paul for some reason. There's so much I wanted to ask her, like why is she hiding? What is she hiding? How come she runs away a lot?

"If you mean Charlie then no not since the hospital, why have you?" I asked correcting him, my comment making roll his eyes as he pulled his car to a stop. I turned to him as he got out of the car, locking it up.

"No and that's why i'm asking. I worried about her." He spoke sorting out his coat. 

"Why? Because of the thing you so desperately needed to talk to her about?" I asked referring back to our last conversation. 

"Actually yes. Look you don't need to understand the details but if she happens to be with or talking about a man who goes by John then she's in trouble. Big trouble." He spoke as if he was genuinely concerned for her. 

"What's wrong with this John guy?" I asked shoving my hands in my pockets. 

"He is her ex husband." He stated taking me back a little. 

"She was married?" I asked a little surprised. She doesn't look like the kind of girl to settle down with a guy at her age. 

"Yes but he died." he said making my thoughts more confused.

"Then why should I be worried about seeing her with a dead guy?" I questioned wondering what he was talking about. 

"Again, you don't need to know the details, you need to know that she's not safe with him." He replied. I had a gut feeling that was strange and confusing, but it was as if it were telling me that if Charlie wasn't safe, I needed to protect her. 

"If she's not safe, you need to tell me what's going on. I can't help her if I don't know how too." I spoke making my point clear. He took a step back thinking about whether or not he should fess up.  

"She'll kill me if I tell you." He muttered. 

"If she gets hurt, or worse dies even because of him, she won't have the chance to harm you." I stated. He rolled his head, like he knew telling me would mess up something in his head but then sorted himself out, looking around cautiously. 

"Okay, but we should go somewhere a little less out of the open. Prying ears and all." He said walking past me, walking down the street. I ran after him waiting for him to talk.