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Chapter 17

*H E R O*

During the entire flight I thought of Charlotte. Where is she? Is she happy? Will she listen to me? I cursed myself a thousand times for being this stupid. I should have realized Melany was lying. I should have believed Charlotte.

I'm driving through my home country on my way to Wales and it reminds me of Charlotte. She loved this place and this view. She loved the nature and the culture, the history and the people. Why would she leave? I was shocked to find out she left Belgium because that's where she grew up. That's where her family lives and her best friends. But the thing I really can't believe is that she would leave Cardiff and Lizzie. Surely she knows she fits in here. Jack, Lizzie, Killian they are all her family. She must know that they love having her here so why wouldn't she stay? Did I fuck her up that bad? Also, where would she go? Charlotte hates change. She absolutely hates it so why not stay in a place she knows well?

After a long drive from Heathrow I finally arrive in Cardiff. I haven't been back here since uni last year. It's strange to be back. I've only lived here for a year but it feels like home. It feels familiar and calms me down. Cardiff also holds a lot of memories. I was happy here. It takes me a while to find Jack and Lizzie's new place. Before I can park my car, Lizzie opens the door for me.

"Hero! You're here!" She comes running towards me and gives me a hug.

"Yeah. Took me long enough."

"Well, we can interpret that in two ways, can't we?" She already sounds like a bossy mom.

"No lecture, please," I sigh. "I'm exhausted."

"I bet, flying across the world because you were a stupid ass."

"Lizzie!" I hear Jacks voice from inside.

I look at Lizzie and I know that she just had to get that off her chest.

"Come in, let's get you settled."

Jack takes my things and Lizzie leads the way.

The apartment is full of boxes.

"We're moving into the new house next week," Lizzie apologizes.

She guides me to the guest bedroom and I notice she tried to make the bedroom as cozy as possible for me. It warms my heart. She will be an amazing mother.

"Okay, I'll let you settle for a bit. We'll be in the kitchen."

She gives me a final hug and then I'm alone. For the first time since I've found out about Melany I'm completely alone without other people around me. I don't know how I feel about that. I don't know what to do with myself. I sit down on the bed and I put my head in my hands. I feel a little lost. It seemed such a good idea coming here but now what? Charlotte isn't here. There is no trace of her. I'm exhausted but I know I won't be able to sleep so I put on a fresh shirt and head to the kitchen. Lizzie is making pancakes and Jack is pouring a glass of wine.

"Hero! Would you like some tea?" Jack asks.

"No but I wouldn't mine a glass of that wine."

"Sure thing!" He pours me a glass.

"I figured you might be hungry," Lizzie says. "Wine and pancakes are an odd combination but you've always liked my pancakes."

"I absolutely love your pancakes," I assure her. I follow Jack to a seat and let Lizzie make her pancakes. For a moment it takes me back to last year. We used to hang out in the kitchen all the time. The kitchen of Jack and Charlotte's flat that is. For some reason that was the place to be. Lizzie actually lived in my student flat across from Charlotte's but for some reason Lizzie and Killian spent all their time in flat 708. After a while I did the same. Flat 708 was just homey and everyone always gathered in the kitchen. I remember feeling so out of place at first. They weren't like my friends and they fit together so perfectly. Whoever assigned the rooms made a perfect choice picking the students to occupy flat 708. Sometimes I wish we could go back there.

Lizzie gives me some freshly baked pancakes and joins us.

"Okay, so, what's your plan?" she asks.

"I literally have no idea. I was thinking I might talk to Killian first. They were pretty close so he might have a clue and after that I might go to Belgium."

"And do what? She's not there mate," Jack says.

"I know!" I sigh. "But I have to try something. I was also thinking about Florence. She loves that city. She always talked about going back there."

"Florence? Wow, you're really serious about traveling the world to find her!" Jack says.

"Hero, you're right," Lizzie says to my surprise. "Belgium seems like a good place to start and Florence actually makes sense too. While you do that I might know another way to find her."

"Oh?" Her silence is killing me. Just tell me!

"Jack and I have some news," Lizzie says.

"Oh my God, you know where she is!" Hope is flooding through my body.

"No, no we don't but I'm sure she will come to us."