Home

Chapter 5

*H E R O*

After three long hours I'm finally done for today. Acting has always come natural to me and it was never hard but today I just couldn't manage it. I know I didn't do well and I feel guilty but I just couldn't concentrate. Greg yelled at me at one point and the worst part is that I didn't care. Partly because he was right to yell at me but for the largest part because I want to be somewhere else. I desperately want to know the story here and I know for sure that Jack and Lizzie can help me.

It was hard to be cheerful around Melany for a change because she's a big part of why we have broken up. It's not that I blame her or anything, she hasn't done anything wrong but she's too happy about Charlotte's departure and I can't take it right now. Would things have gone differently if I had told Charlotte the baby wasn't mine? I doubt it. Charlotte would've found another reason to break up. She just couldn't handle the fact that Melany and I are friends.

It was also hard to see Josh. Things have never been easy between us from the start but today was awful. I know he blames me for his break-up with Charlotte. Is it my fault though? I have left her alone ever since our break-up. Maybe he should just face the fact that they weren't a good match. Maybe it's for the best that Charlotte is gone. Maybe now Josh and I can finish this project in peace.

All of those reasons where part of why I couldn't focus today but there is one main reason: all I could think of was call Lizzie and Jack. So when I'm finally dismissed I say my goodbyes to the others and leave the set.

Outside I take a few deep breaths. Maybe the fresh air will clear my head and make my headache go away. I take my phone and I call Jack. I know it's their final day here and I don't want to ruin it but I desperately need to talk to them. I can't wait any longer. I groan in frustration when Jack doesn't pick up right away. I don't know what to do next for a second. I was so sure he would pick up. Staying here won't do me any good. I can't go back to my room because I will go crazy. I decide to go to town. Maybe I can go for a drink and wait for them to return. God, I wish I knew where they were!

I go back to my room to change clothes and take my wallet. As I walk by I ask the receptionist to call a taxi. I quickly take my coat and wallet and head downstairs again. Waiting for the taxi I check if I've got my credit card and I spot the photo of Charlotte I've put in my wallet a while ago. I couldn't bring myself to take it out after our break-up. For some reason I was so sure that eventually we would be together again. Now we probably never will. I don't know how I feel about that.

In the taxi I think about Jack and Lizzie. I didn't get the closure I wanted because Charlotte left so suddenly but maybe what they have to say will help me end this in my head. I need closure and maybe a part of me resents Charlotte for leaving. I'm not sure if it's because she has given up on us or because I didn't get to say goodbye. The driver drops me off at the hotel and I sit down on the steps. I decide it's too early to go to the pub and I shouldn't be drinking anyway. I don't know where else to go so I might as well stay here. Let the waiting game begin.

After a long, long time and a numb butt Jack finally calls me back. After the first ring I pick up my phone.

"Hey man, I saw you tried to call us a couple of times. Is everything okay?" he asks.

"Yeah, I'm fine," I pause for a seconds. "Actually, I'm not. Can we talk?"

"Yeah, sure, about what?"

"About Charlotte. I need to know everything."

Jack is silent for a second.

"Everything about what?" he asks cautiously.

"I know she left, Jack."

"Ohh.." he sighs and is silent again.

I let the silence drag on.

"Who told you?" he finally asks.

"Does that matter?" I ask. My temper is rising. Why won't he just talk to me?

"No, I guess not," he says with an other sigh. "Look, I'm sorry I didn't tell you the second she left but she made us promise not to tell you."

This makes my heart ache a bit. I was so sure that they had taken my side last night but they've taken Charlotte's all along. They are still her friends. Wait a second... last night! They must have known before they came talking to me! This makes me furious.

"Did you know last night?"

Silence.

"Jack!"

"Where are you? We'll meet you there."

"I've been at your hotel for hours!"

"Okay, we will be there in half an hour."

Before I can say anything he hangs up the phone.

This will be one long half hour. Somehow their betrayal just made everything worse.