chapter thirty-eight; Fallen with the night "So you're going to force me too, just like you did with Charles?"
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Lucy Reese Collins
THE DAYS HAVE BEEN COLD FOR ME, even though the weather was nice. All I am doing is learning and walking outside trying to fill the hole Charles left me with. The rest of the friends notice the tension in the group but nobody dared to ask what's going on, yet. My eyes go over the black lake staring in the horizon with my potions book on my lap. The exams are around the corner so I have to prepare. I am leaning against the three thinking everything through when I hear footsteps coming my way. Two pair of footsteps to be exact. I look behind the three and see how two boys I call my friends walk further away from the courtyard, closer to me.
"Why do you want to talk to me?" Nate asks his friend as they stop walking. "Don't tell me you forced Charles to break it with Lucy, Nate," Theodore says angrily while clenching his hands. "Can't you see that he's not good for her?" "Are you crazy?! Everyone knows those two belong together and you just made Charles break her!" "I am in love with her, Theodore! You know that and he knew that! Besides it's been weeks, do you really think she is still not over it?" Ouch, that hurts more than I will admit. "You are not in love with her! you are in love with the idea of Lucy, but you are not in love with her! Do you know who is? Charles, your best friend!"Theo defends me and I know I shouldn't be listening to this conversation, but I can't help it. "Don't let me laugh all he has done is hurting her, she is constantly crying over fights they have." "You just can't handle that playing games work for them! You are just annoyed that you are the only single friend in our group! You just feel left out!" I see how Theo pushes his best friend. It's true. Nate is the only completely single friend. Cassius and Noah are hanging out more and I think it's because they like each other. I remember Noah coming out as bisexual and something tells me Cassius is too. "Why do you care so much? I thought Jo was your girl!" "Lucy is my best friend and you are making her unhappy! Can't you see that she's broken?! That's all on you." "Charles broke her." Theo hits his friend hard and Nathaniel directly grabs his nose. "Dude, seriously again?!" "No, you did! You made him break her. He would have never done this because he loves her." After those words, Theo turns around leaving his friend behind.
~
"Thank you for having my back there, Lucy! Jo is being absolutely ridiculous right now. The fact that she has the audacity to do shit with Theo and after go to my brother- that's not okay!" He burst out and it makes me stop walking. I feel furious and it's all channelled towards Nathaniel Lanchester. He looks at me for a moment. "Luce? Is something wrong?" I don't say anything and just try to keep my feeling under control. Angry tears form in my eyes and I know he sees it too. "Oh, Luce, I am sorry. Is this about Charles?" "Don't say his name, Nathaniel." "Why?" "Tell me you didn't do it," I say knowing he can hear how hurt I am. "Wha-" "Tell me you didn't force him to break it with me." His gaze changes. "Lucy I would never-" "Stop lying to me, Nathaniel!" I yell at him as the first tears roll down my cheek. "He is toxic, Lucy. You were in a toxic relationship and you didn't even see it!" He burst angrily. "How would you even know what a toxic relationship is huh? You didn't have a chick since Emma Vanity!" He rolls his eyes. "All he did to you was making you sad! I had to do something before he destroyed you!" That's the moment my fist hits his nose, hard. I feel my hand and fingers break but I don't care. "He didn't destroy me! You did! I don't care that you are in love with me or something, but if you dare to ever decide for me who to love yes or no, I will never speak to you again!" I yell before running away from him.
