Sweet Charlotte

「 twenty-one: heavy confessions 」

Willow felt different walking to school the next day. She felt energized, alive, empowered, and she knew it all came back to Seth. Those days, it always did.

Even thinking about his name made her smile. Even though she was all alone, she lowered her head to hide her dopey smile from the world — embarrassed that even she was witnessing it. That energy had carried through her house too, and her parents were starting to take notice. Not detailed notice, but some, even down to the way they looked at her as she practically skipped out of the house.

She felt good. Genuinely good. She felt like she was alive. She'd survived every treatment, every obstacle, and every day in bed she thought she wouldn't survive. She had lived, but she wasn't alive. Finally, that had changed. Seth had changed that for her.

She knew he felt the same. He'd told her as much on the drive home the night before. She'd kept him on the football team, stuck around when everyone else had given up, was more forgiving and understanding than anyone else, and was there. She was there when nobody else was. When Charlotte wasn't.

She was so on top of the world when she rolled up to her locker, she felt as if nothing was going to knock her down. It wasn't until Carter swung up, leaning against one of the lockers at side, did her mood shift. Her breath lodged in her throat, gulping as she watched the male adjust himself at her side, as if their auras were clashing. "Carter?"

He wasn't looking at her. In fact, his eyes were darting everywhere except her. "I need to be honest with you."

Willow could feel her heart jump into her throat. Was he implying that he hadn't been honest before? She looked behind her, down the hall, checking for Seth. He was there, chatting with his friends, his stare distant but present. Carter's gaze followed hers, checking to see if anyone was listening. They were in the clear, no matter how badly Willow wished Seth was there. Instead, she hugged her arms and let her silent stare settle against Carter's.

She could feel his stare quiver as she looked him in the eye. "It's about me and Mara."

Willow could feel her heart leap higher, but tried not to show it. She needed to seem casual and natural.

"After our double date, I just feel the need to tell you. I feel like it's unfair to you and Seth to not know." He gulped and Willow dipped in, hoping the gesture could encourage him. "Things have been rocky between us. That's why dinner was so," he hesitated, shifting uncomfortably against the locker, "awkward."

Willow hesitated, rubbing her hands along her arms. "You mean, how you were quiet?"

"Yeah," he said through a sigh, shoulders relaxing. He seemed relieved — glad that Willow had caught what he didn't want to explain. "I don't know. I just wanted to apologize if it made you feel," he hesitated again, "weird, I guess. That wasn't my intention."

"You didn't," she said, slowly closing her locker and clicking the lock shut. "Is everything okay?"

Carter picked up what she was asking and cracked a small smile. "Yeah, yeah," he said, scratching the back of his head. "Mara has been a little off recently. It's taken a toll on us."

Willow raised a brow higher. "Off?" She could feel Seth's stare on her cheek, and tucked some of her hair away from her face, so he could get a better look at her.

Carter looked around again, and Willow could feel her curiosity spike even more. He was acting strange; way stranger than Willow thought possible. "I started noticing after the last time she hung out with Charlotte."

Willow couldn't help the way her eyes widened, and clenched her throat hoping that it wasn't too obvious to Seth who was watching them. "Really?"

Carter shrugged. "I think it was because shortly after that her and Charlotte cut ties. It was months before, you know," he shrugged. Willow did know. Before Charlotte had gone missing. "I think she's just been off since then. First, losing her best friend. Then actually losing her."