enemies | rc

trente-neuf

charlotte's point of view
a month later...

i clung onto richard's arms as i slowly moved one foot forward, then the other. my nails were digging into his forearms, but he didn't seem to care. i was afraid he would let me go and i would fall on my ass. i looked at the floor, concentrated on not tripping over my own feet.

"you're doing amazing, sweetie." christopher shouted. he was sitting on a bench a couple of meters away from us.

i rolled my eyes. richard laughed and leaned forward to kiss my forehead.

"stop," i mumbled, tightening my grip. "i'm gonna fall."

"i'll catch you if you do, princess."

everyone can follow their therapists instructions at home without getting hurt at all. i am not everyone, so i decided that a park would be an amazing place to learn how to walk like i'm a damn baby again. the park, where the ground has more holes than the moon.

richard squeezed my arms in reassurance. i looked behind him, seeing we were getting closer to christopher now.

"okay, i can do this." i muttered to myself. "just a couple more steps and i'm done."

we finally reached where christopher was sitting down. he started cheering as richard picked me up bridal style to place me on my wheelchair.

"well, your arms definitely got their strength back." richard inspected the crescent moon marks on his forearm.

"sorry." i smiled sheepishly.

he leaned down to press a long kiss on my lips, to which christopher started fake gagging. i flipped him off and giggled against richard's lips.

"have you talked to my dad?" he said after a while.

i sighed and held richard's hand. "surprisingly, i've been able to avoid him up until now."

he chuckled. "you're not going to be able to avoid him forever."

"watch me." i scoffed.

"he's right..." richard interjected. "you have to talk to him and your parents."

i groaned. "not my parents. not yet. anything but facing my parents."

he kneeled down in front of me, still holding my hand. "you're gonna have to, sooner or later." he smiled and moved out of my face a strand of hair that had fallen from my messy bun.

i looked down. they were right. "i'm gonna talk to him today." i mumbled. "i'll procrastinate talking to my parents for as long as i can."

"we better get going, then." christopher said as he looked at the time on his watch. "it's gonna get dark if we don't leave soon."

richard leaned forward to peck my lips before standing up straight. "see you tomorrow?"

i smiled and nodded. "can i call you tonight after i talk to my uncle?"

"of course, princess." he mumbled and leaned down to kiss me again.

"i have to go." i laughed, but made no effort to push him away.

he pecked my lips once again before he said goodbye to christopher and made his way back to his place. christopher moved behind me to push me towards the car.

i bit my bottom lip. "there's something he's not telling me."

christopher hummed. "what do you mean?"

"about my parents." i sighed. "he's been insisting that i talk to them to know more... like, even more than you. i feel like he knows who my biological dad is."

he nodded and took the car keys out as we neared it. "well, he also insisted that your dad is still your dad because he's the one who raised you, so i don't see why he would want you to find your biological dad."

i shook my head and laughed. "i'm probably overthinking this."

christopher opened the passenger door, with his help i stood up from the wheelchair and got into the car. he kept the radio low and i leaned my head against the window, watching as the buildings disappeared and plants replaced them. a cold hand was placed upon my shoulder, i looked at him just as he squeezed it in reassurance. i smiled and grabbed his hand, leaning my cheek against it.

we finally stopped at our driveway, he pressed the button to open the secret garage door and let us into the underground garage. as we made our way towards his parking, i noticed my car had been moved, and another car i hadn't seen before stood in his place.

"chris..." i trailed off, not really knowing what to say. hey, i'm being paranoid because my car isn't where it's supposed to, but maybe i just parked it somewhere else last time and forgot about it.

yeah... right.

he got out and i waited for him to come to my side with the wheelchair. when i was seated on it once again, i glanced towards the unknown car. i was sure i left it there, those were exclusively our family's parkings. nobody would dare park there.

when we arrived at the floor where our rooms were, my uncle was already waiting for us outside the elevator. christopher and i shared a confused glance before we followed him to my room.

he remained silent as we threw questions at him. not even a single word was uttered. i sighed and leaned back against my chair. christopher looked at me and shrugged before messing my hair up. i squealed and tried to slap him, but he stepped away from me. i kept reaching for him while he stuck his tongue out at me.

we arrived at my room. my uncle held the door open as i wheeled inside. my smile dropped as i looked up and found my parents sitting on my bed with the widest fucking smiles on their faces.