France's Daughter // Hetalia

Chapter Fourteen- Cut The Turkey and The Shit

Charlotte (Charlie, Lottie)

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I admire my display of desserts, spread meticulously across the counter, alongside many of Papa's infamous dishes. Everyone seems to be here- and I've been getting so many welcoming hugs and smiles. It feels nice to celebrate with everyone again.

Papa is still in the kitchen, finishing up the last of the food before we start. For now, most of us are in the main living room on the first floor, playing card games, catching up- Elizabeta and I branched off for a few minutes to talk about Bryce- but so far everything's been pretty cool.

Except- Right now, the door bell is ringing, and everyone is counting heads trying to decide who's missing. When we come to the conclusion that everyone is here, Papa sticks his head in the room.

"Mon dieu, someone just answer it!"

"I'll get it!", I jump up, scrambling my way through the maze of people, and peer through the peep hole.

"Holy shit", I whisper under my breath.

"Who is it?", Ludwig asks, and I feel his burly frame towering behind me. 

I gulp hard, and turn around, looking up to meet his threatening gaze. How could such an enormous guy be such a teddy bear? No, I have bigger problems to deal with right now.

"J-Just the uh.. crazy lady two doors down. Yeah, keeps trying to sell me rocks- Let's get back to the party shall we!", My voice trembles as I try to slip away, and you'd think it'd be easy with all the sweat dripping down my neck, but Ludwig stays put, evidently blocking my path. 

I watch as he sets his hand on the handle. By now, a few people have gone back to their games or conversations, but I just know more than one person is watching the door with anticipation. I gulp hard, my breath thin and strained. Ludwig opens the door, and even he is taken aback. 

Anyone would've suspected Matthew to be behind the door- everyone has a hobby of forgetting his existence, but no. Stood there, in a fancy suit and slicked back hair, is Bryce, brandishing a bouquet of roses and his infamous backwards baseball cap. 

"What the fuck is he doing here?", Romano pipes up, catching everyone's attention.

Oh great.

Papa sticks his head back in the living room, and his eyes look like they're about to pop out. His eyebrows furrow, but he looks less threatening with his pink apron. I look around, and thankfully no eyes are on me- just the boy before me, who looks a bit sweet as he pours his heart out to me. 

"Char, I made a horrible mistake. I never should have left you. Please forgive me? I promise I'll do so, so much better the second time around!"

This isn't like him. He's never this kind, this romantic. Sure, he has his moments, but he likes being tough in front of people- and right now, there's over 100 people in this house. This is... weird. I don't like it. This is embarrassing for even me. 

I lean in close, and whisper through gritted teeth, "Why the hell are you doing this here and now!?"

"Because, yknow it's a holiday and I was just thinkin'-", He suddenly notices the large German behind me, and the colour drains from his face. "L-Look I know ya have a big family but I didn't think you meant literally..."

"What's that supposed to mean?", Ludwig asks, an intense superiority underlining his words (but I know he's more offended than he should be.)

"Ludwig stop, I'll be back in a second", I whisper, walking outside and slamming the door behind me.

Bryce stands there, hopeful and cheery- like he's a brand new person. What's gotten into him? One second he ditches me for some cul, the next he's offering me a bouquet and a promise. Perhaps he got laid, and finally realized that I have a personality, unlike every other salope he meets on the streets. I can't help but smile a bit at the thought of him missing me so much.

"Seriously, what's wrong with you? You're all springy and shit...", I ask, slowly taking the flowers from his hands.

"Mon cheri, I've been sober for a long time now- I'm doing so well without all that stuff in my body, and it's helped me realize that I need you. You were the one drug I couldn't get over, and the withdrawal is just so overwhelming. It's killing me every second you're not by my side, and I guess.. today it was just too much to bear. So... I came to see you."

His eyes look genuine as he flashes me a sweet smile I only dreamed of seeing from him. My heart starts to melt... Maybe giving him a second chance wouldn't be so bad. He's changed- He's so kind, and heartfelt now.. and without all the drugs, Papa has no reason to hate him! He's a changed man! Oh, this is wonderful, everyone will love him!

No! No, no, no, no, no, no- No!! I can't do this. He was manipulative, and selfish, and controlling- That's just what he's doing right now. I was so blindly in love that I just let him drag me down until I was a product of his own fantasy. He doesn't deserve me. I'm healthy, I'm pretty, and I'm trying to discover myself! I don't need him taking up all my time. 

"Go home, Bryce", I mumble, turning back to the door.

He grabs my shoulder, spinning me around quickly, and for I moment I expect him to start yelling- to start cussing me out, saying he doesn't really need me... But when my eyes meet his sympathetic, endearing ones, I can't help but swoon internally. God.. This boy is going to drive me crazy. 

"Please, Char. Give me another chance, will ya? I've been good- I'll be good! Let me prove it to you, let's go on a date this weekend!", he's so hopeful and excited, it distracts me from the door opening behind me.

"If you don't get off of my doorstep, I'll have the dogs eat you alive."

I turn around to face Papa, brandishing a kitchen knife shimmering through turkey grease, and sporting his oh so manly apron. His face is horrifying though- not angry, not threatening- but happy. I groan a bit, quickly taking the knife from him.

"He was just leaving", I sigh, pushing Papa back in. 

Before the door shuts behind me, I turn back, and he looks so heartbroken. I swallow my pride, my judgement and mouth the words:

'Saturday'

It's as if his ears perk up when his eyes light up. I can't help but smile- yet when I turn back around, once completely inside, my smile fades, and all I can see is Matthew. He looks so disappointed, while everyone else looks confused and worried. How can I tell him that I didn't invite him?

 No... I can't talk to him. I'll never talk to him again.