Park Benches (EDITING)

twenty-eight

twenty-eight

 

Louis’s POV

 

            How dare she? How dare she? Charlotte was heartless and inconsiderate and selfish and some other bad things I can’t think of on the spot. She doesn’t even deserve a cutesy nickname.

            Here I am being the best guy I can be. I picked up her favorite pizza for her and got her coffee. How does she repay me? She tells another guy she loves him right in front of me. Oh and not just any guy. Her ex-boyfriend Emilio.

            All my body could manage was to stand motionless and glare at her. All I could think was what temperature her heart was, probably below freezing. I could barely manage a word, but when I did I roared. Every bone in my body shook with anger, targeted at Charlotte.

            “How dare you? After all I do? After what I just went through with El. I never could have imagined you could be so cold-hearted. That would be if you even had a heart.” My teeth were bared as I shouted at her.

            “Louis please, just let me explain!” Charlotte begged with tears preparing in her eyes and a wobbly throat.

            “Alright. Explain. Explain how you tell me you love me last night then proceed to go and ask all happy cutesy with Emilio. Explain!” My vocal chords burned.

            “It’s not like that! Please!” She gently placed her hand on my arm, which I rowdily shook off.

            “What was it like then? Did you just want to get close to the famous boybander and destroy him? That’d be a great story wouldn’t it.” Her eyes went wide. “I hope you enjoyed those five minutes of fame because they’re all you’ll ever get.”

            “Louis please hear me out.” I shook my head and she grabbed me by my shoulder and wouldn’t release despite my wiggles. “What else was I supposed to say? He has no idea that I even know you, let alone that I’m in love you. I need to let him down slowly don’t you see. He plans to visit me next week and I just need to tell him okay.”

            My body stumbled back and I began to speak with a lower volume, “Charlotte, it’s obvious you won’t be able to let him go just yet. So call me when you finally do.” I stomped past her, even with her weak attempts to hold me back.

            “Please Louis don’t!” There were tears streaming down her face as I reached for the doorknob.

            “Sorry Lotts, but I don’t think either of us are ready for this. You and Emilio and Eleanor and I, we’re both not ready to let go.” My head shook and I sighed.

            “Louis I love you.” Charlotte threw her hands around my neck and pulled our lips together as her last attempt. She was strong I had to admit, it felt like a sleeper hold. Before I could disagree and leave my lips kissed back in reflex. My body took over, pressing my lips hard down on hers. Her lips fought weakly against mine but still determined to win. I pulled back and she released me. “Louis,” her voice was fragile and childlike. Her eyes were watery and wide. Her lips were a plump reddened color and had a slight quiver. Char was weak, but in her moist eyes I could see her headstrong ambition. They were pleading for me to stay, to forgive her and just stay.

            “Goodbye Charlotte,” my hand grazed her soft cheek and my toes rose. My lips pressed hard against the top of her head. She stood still with tears slowly running down her cheeks. She didn’t speak a word as I opened the door and closed it behind me.

            I didn’t look back as I walked down the hall and to the elevator. We had both made our decisions. Hers was to keep whatever it was with both me and Emilio. Mine was to just leave and wait for her to realize how she was torturing everyone, even herself. I didn’t know where I was headed now. I literally felt like shit. So I just leaned against the back wall of the elevator, zoning out to the sappy tune.

            When the elevator reached the bottom with a ding and the doors slid open I didn’t move. I let the doors slide shut again and ride me up to the fifth floor until the doors opened and a mother clutching her young baby entered the elevator. The mother smiled at me with wide eyes and opened her mouth to speak, but then her baby nuzzled deeper into her, soundly asleep. In response I smiled back at her and watched the child snooze, which appeared to be a little girl. She reminded me of my family, which I missed dearly. I knew what I wanted to go and where I had to go. Home.

~

It has been way too long. I’ve gotten so wrapped up in a new book I’ve been planning it’s ridiculous.

 

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