The Rings

[ five ]

Thankfully I was earlier the next morning, before Charlotte, in fact, meaning that I wouldn't have to have her pull the blankets away from me again, like yesterday. I disliked Tuesdays because Tuesdays were just that day that was there, rubbing the fact that the weekend was ages away right in your face. It was like, 'oh hey, at least it's not Monday,' but then you realise that it still wasn't Friday either. Tuesdays were just pointless and in the way.

I poured my boiling tea into a mug and dropped in a sugar, mixing it round, watching the liquid spin round like a whirlpool. Charlotte came out of her room in a dressing gown, her hair messy and her eyes dark from a mixture of smudged eyeliner and sleep.

She yawned and ran her hands through her hair. "You're up early." She stated, walking over to the kettle and snatching my mug from me, taking a long sip and then slamming it back down again, spilling a few drops onto the counter.

I didn't make any comments at the fact that I was up early or at the fact that she just stole my tea and spilt it. I planned to not speak to her at all throughout the entire day, just to prove how much she really had upset me yesterday. She made my Coke explode all over my chips and all over my bed.

"Why are you being quiet?" She grumbled, walking back into her room, leaving the door open to talk to me. However I wasn't going to talk to her.

Instead I just stared at my mug, watching the drops of tea drip down the side of the mug, forming a circle at the base.

She got the hint and let out a loud and very long sigh. 'Have you got the sulks with me just because of that "'Coke issue'?" She said, with another one of those evil cackles. It was the sort of cackle that you would hear in your sleep, when you're having a dark nightmare.

I still chose not to answer her question, so instead I answered her with another question. "Have you finished bringing useless tossers home?" I snapped, surprised at my own assertive attitude. I could tell Charlotte was surprised too, seeing as she didn't answer for a few seconds.

"What is to you?" She growled, clearly irritated at the fact that I had spoken back to her. "Are you jealous?"

I shook my head and sighed, placing my head in my hands. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean that." I mumbled. "I'm just really tired and..."

"You're on your period?" She said quickly, folding her arms and raising an eyebrow at me, a hint of amusement flashing behind her eyes. I opened my mouth to reply but she spoke first, "Don't worry about it, all girls get like that."

I felt my shoulders relax, knowing that apologising to her was the safest way out of a fight, even though I actually wasn't. On my period. Or sorry, for that matter.

"And anyway," she continued, "I don't bring 'useless tossers' home every night. I bring home my boyfriend every so often."

So... Harry was her boyfriend now?

"You and Harry are...?"

"Yes," Charlotte said, pressing her feet into her black pumps covered in gold studs. "Yes we are. Why don't you consider getting a boyfriend?"

I shuddered. "Why do you ask that?" I stammered, pouring my tea down the sink -which I didn't feel like drinking anymore anyway- because Charlotte picked up her car keys, indicating that we were leaving.

"I don't know," she said with a shrug, slinging her bag over her shoulder. "You just seem like you need one, like you're lonely."

I didn't answer, because I didn't know what to say. I didn't need a boyfriend; I didn't want one.

"Ever thought of going out with Simon?" She asked, as we made our way out the door.

I closed the door behind me and watched her lock the door as we started down the staircase. "No." I muttered, simply. She wasn't getting the message that I didn't like this subject but she wouldn't let it go.