YOU 2 [Charli D'Amelio]

Chapter 121

After my shower I decide to get myself all the way ready before leaving the bathroom. I am a coward, I know but I need a little more time before I put on a fake smile for max's  mother. It's not exactly a fake smile, that's the problem. I had a really nice time yesterday and I slept better than I have all week including my drunken slumber with Max on Friday. I slept well that night but I only got a few hours of sleep.

Once my hair is curled to near perfection, I pack my things back into my small bag.

"Charli?" Harry's voice calls through the door as her knuckles lightly tap the wood.

"I'm finished." I respond and open the door to find her leaning against the door wearing long gray cotton shorts and a white t-shirt.

"Not to rush you or anything but I really have to piss." She gives me a small smile and I nod.

"Sorry." I say and try not to notice the way her shorts hang on her hips making the black ink over her side even more visible under the white t-shirt.

"I'm going to get dressed then I will be on my way." I tell Max and she looks away, focusing on the wall.

"Okay."

I exit the bathroom and walk straight to the bedroom to get dressed before facing Anne. I feel terribly guilty lying to her and leaving so soon. I know she was so excited to meet me and I am leaving on her second day here.

I decide on wearing my white dress with my old black tights underneath, It is too cold to wear only the dress. I probably should just put on jeans and a sweatshirt but I decide against it.  I wear the dress more than the rest of my clothes lately but I love it and it gives me a strange sense of confidence, which is something that I need today. I pack my clothes back into my bags and place the hangers back into the closet.

"Do you need some help?" Anne says from behind me.

I jump, dropping my navy dress that I wore in Seattle.

"I was just..." I fumble my words. I don't know what to say.

"How long will you be at your mother's?" She asks, her eyes staring into the half empty closet.

"Uhm.. I.. " I am a really terrible liar.

"It looks like you're going to be gone for a while."

"Yea.. I don't have many clothes." I squeak.

"I was going to see if you wanted to do some shopping while I was here, maybe if you come back before I leave we can go?" She asks.

I can't tell if she believes my lie or if she suspects that I don't ever plan on returning here.

"Yea.. sure." I lie again.

"Mum.." Max says in a low voice as she enters the room.

I notice her frown as her eyes take in the empty closet and hope that Anne isn't observing her daughter the way that I am.

"I'm just finishing packing." I explain and she nods.

I zip the last bag and look at Max, completely unsure what I should say.

"I will take your bags down for you." She says, grabbing my keys from the dresser then bends down to pick up the bags from the floor.

As Max disappears from the room, Anne's arms wrap around my shoulders.

"I am so glad that I got to meet you, you have no idea what it means to me as a mother to see my only child this way."

"What way?" I manage to ask.