Beyond Repair

Chapter 9

Be strong enough to let go,

and patient enough to wait for what you deserve.
-Unknown

=Chapter 9=

Fiddling with my shirt hem I quietly walk across the school car park and towards Charlotte who was sitting on a brick wall talking happily to Chris and Annie. I knew that I must look terrible today, with dark purple lining under my tired eyes and my messy hair thrown into a knot on top of my head.

After the phone call last night, I found myself lying awake in bed for most of the night thinking about the guilt that seemed to be brewing inside for the assumptions I had made about my friends.

Despite finally falling asleep during the early morning, a familiar dream of my father's death had violently woken me in a cold sweat.

After thinking about yesterday I can't help but feel that I completely over reacted to my friends behaviour, I'm sure that if something was wrong then they would probably tell me about it.

It wasn't even really my business to be honest.

"Hey guys," awkwardly I raise my hand in a small greeting before looking right into Charlotte's warm hazel eyes. "Could I please speak to you for a second Charlotte?" she nods her head at me and bounces down from the wall.

"Well we better be heading off into class, Ill see you later Alex." Cautiously Annie walks towards me with a soft smile and gently touches my arm before heading into the school with Chris hot on her tail.

"Charlotte I'm really sorry about yesterday. I shouldn't have jumped to conclusions like I did," murmuring softly I glance down at my shoes unable to look into her kind eyes, it would only make me feel worse. "Will you forgive me?" Raising my dark eyes I can't help but look right at her to gage her reaction, as she hesitates to answer me.

"Of course I forgive you Alex, just please don't be so stupid ever again." Grinning at me she pulls me into a tight hug and lets out a seemingly relieved sigh.

I stand there for a few seconds with my arms hanging limply at my sides, too shocked to move. She was really forgiving me that easily? Wrapping my arms around Charlotte's slim frame I can't help the slight smile that makes its way to my lips.

"Now come on we are going to be late for class!" Pulling away she clasps her hand onto my arm and starts dragging me to class in her normal fashion. As we dash to class I scan the hallway notice that it was mostly empty of students. I guess having a sobering conversation with a friend means you don't always notice what's going on around you.

"Charlotte you know that you don't have to drag me everywhere," letting out a small chuckle I watch as she huffs somewhat exasperated.

"Honey, if I didn't drag you we wouldn't get anywhere on time." Sending a grin over her shoulder she laughs at my displeased face.

By the time we make it to the classroom everyone was already seated and listening to the teacher rambling about what needed to be done for the day. I breathe out in relief when I realise that the teacher is not Mr Ives but in fact a substitute teacher.

I wasn't too keen on him keeping his promise of putting the two of us into a detention if we were late again. Glancing up I watch as Charlotte releases my wrist and happily dances to our table situated in front of Annie and Chris', shaking my head I quietly follow behind her in a less demanding manner.

I can't say anything interesting happened in the class; really it was exactly like every other day, except this time Charlotte actually put her head down and did the work that was handed out to us. She seemed to be acting like her normal energetic self, but that was the thing, it seemed acted. Like underneath she was really struggling with something.