In Another Universe

Monday 23:40 Lost Boy

Charlie answered another of his mum's worried texts by trying to comfort her. He just wasn't feeling his best, but he was grateful she justified his absence to the school. He was sick. That the official excuse, hence why his mum was worried about his health.

But to be honest, he just didn't find the courage to get up this morning and go to class. Not after what happened the Friday before.

He didn't know what he would do if he ran into Isaac. Clearly, Isaac had moved on, for a reason Charlie couldn't gather. He didn't really want to talk to him. He just didn't. Just thinking about a confrontation made him nauseous.

Then he would probably see his friends, with who he didn't part on the best terms, notably Thomas almost on the ground. Charlie had tried to send him an apology but they all sounded empty and weird. Because he didn't know what to apologise for. Pushing him, yes, but why? He didn't know. It was an impulse, because he was sad, and blinded by anger. But he couldn't tell him that because the cause was linked to Lea and Isaac, and he wouldn't be able to stand the possibility that while he was this down, his friends would react badly. So as of now, he wasn't sure what would happen when they all would meet. And the group chat was deadly silent, which didn't help Charlie calm down. Maybe they moved on too, created another group chat and decided to shun the new weirdo that they thought was their friend. Maybe...

As for Lea... he didn't think about her that much. She didn't seem to want anything to do with him, and he understood, he hadn't been the nicest lately, especially not to her. But what she said... that he was gay... he was scared that people might have heard, or that she had said it to other people. This made going back to school such an incertain bet. He could already feel the mocking laughs, the quick looks, the whispers, all directed at him. And even if they didn't know, he would have no way to tell.

So he just didn't want to go back.

"You know you're gonna have to leave your room at some point?" Evie said, leaning against the doorframe.

"I know."

"Look, you don't want to talk about what happened and that's fine but whatever happened, you're gonna have to go back to school at some point. The more you wait, the harder it will be."

"I don't think so... If I wait enough, people will move on."

"And you will think they didn't. I know you, you know you."

He shrugged. She was right. He could go back in a month and he would think that people might have moved on from the party, but would keep wondering why he was gone so long. Evie sat down next to him.

"People don't care that much you know. They might say one thing and it's not nice. But the more you give them, the more they'll talk. If you just own up to it, they'll stop."

Charlie looked at her and sighed. He knew she was right, that he would have to go back tomorrow, but he didn't want to. She opened her arms and he gladly found his place between them.

"It will be fine, you know?" She said, rocking him to reassure him. "No matter what's making you sad, it will get better."

Charlie nodded, trying to focus on her words. It will be fine. Maybe. He also thought that a week ago, trying to find Isaac, and that's where it took him. But in a way, staying here in his thoughts doesn't help with anything. It doesn't make anything better, he would have to force them to be better.