✦ ✧ ✩ Curtain Call ✦ ✧ ✩ - Charlie Gillespie

Chapter 45

{Eri's POV}

I got off the plane and the cold air of Vancouver hit me in the face making my nose red and my eyes water. I looked up at the sky who looked down at me gray and stormy, playfully teasing me with the thought of the rain washing my heavy sorrows away.

I walked to Maeve's car, and she unlocked the door from the inside allowing me to go in. She looked at me tilting her head, as if she was scared to trigger any kind of emotion in me. After a few minutes driving in silence she took a big breath to gain courage and turned to me.

"So, how's John?" she said, through a sympathetic smile.

"He is doing" I stopped myself to think about my words but there was no way I could explain this logically "He is ok. He looks healthier than ever." I said, shaking my head a bit, trying to reorganize my thoughts, "He is riding the horses and working, driving, smoking, drinking, eating like a mammoth. Everything." I continued, through now a big bright smile, "But he is dying."

"And how are you feeling about that?"

"No bit now?" I said, handing her sunglasses to her.

She just tilted her head again, and I let out a laugh.

"I'm ok. We all knew this was coming right?"

"I guess so. But it didn't sink in until now" She replied, looking melancholic.

"Hey they miss you as well" I said, putting my hand on her leg, "Would you like to come back home with us too?" I asked, crossing my fingers she would say yes, "You don't have to if you feel like it would be too much."

"I would love to. You know I love your family." She replied, and then furrowed her eyebrows "What do you mean by too?"

"I want dad to meet Charlie" I said, again twinkling at the thought of it. She looked at me and scrunched her nose.

"I'm so happy for you" she finally said, "What does he think about it tho?" I looked at her puzzled "What? you know your mom, and I talk"

I giggled at the way they would take in everyone and anyone who walked through that door. Even if it was just once.

"He is happy for me I guess. He just said he trusted me to choose right."

She just nodded in agreement and kept driving.

"So, how's Donna?" She asked, giggling.

"Girl" I sighed, throwing my back to the seat aggressively "Buckle up."

We talked all the way home but when we got there I ran out of the car without even taking my bags out of the trunk. She stood behind me perplexed, and I could swear I heard her smile as she watched me run. I didn't want to waste a minute, because all my heart could feel was that we don't have a minute to waste.

 I took the quickest shower and threw on the three pieces of clothing I had left in my closet, ran downstairs to the freezing cold Vancouver streets and with my cold wet hair being barely lifted by the wind I jumped in a cab after running past Maeve who was holding my bag in her hands. I gave the driver Charlie's address and urged him with an imploring look to please hurry up.

[Charlie's POV]

I woke up that morning with a feeling of unusual discontent as I looked out the window to the sky that menaced to make my mind state worse. I woke Owen up with one but hard knock on his door followed by my guts just spewing his name out of my mouth.

"Hey" he said, rubbing his eyes as he walked up to me "Is everything ok? You used your naggy voice"

"My what now?" I asked

"Never mind" he stated back "So, are you doing alright?"

"Yes don't worry I'm just moody today" I replied, sipping on my cup of tea as I made my way to the balcony again to look up.

"Have you talked to Eri yet?" He asked, and I could feel a shiver go down my spine as I battled with the regret of neglecting to call her again.

"Not since she told me she was coming here" I replied.

"And when's that?"

"Who knows honestly" I said, feeling my mouth dry and helplessly taking the cup up to my lips again "She just took of without saying anything, she can come back or not the same way."

"Dude you just miss her, and you're hurt but come on" He said, and I noticed he was now standing beside me looking out with me "You look angry"

I was about to give him a snarky answer when someone banged on the door. Owen took a look at me and then at the door, let out a sigh and walked up to it. I was still looking out when I felt a cold body collide with mine.

Her mouth clumsily looked for mine as she sniffled from having her hair wet. She nearly set her lips on mine, hovering over them like a hummingbird, barely brushing over them as if she was waiting for my permission to go in.

Her hands were freezing and wet as they made her way down from my hair to the back of my neck, but the cold diffused as they met the warmth of my chest, that hosted my heart, who was just a few moments before pumping aggravation in the form of boiling blood.

"I'm sorry" she said through a sweet innocent smile that could make any being bend to her will, breathing softly on my lips that were still hesitant to meet hers.

I could feel myself diving in head first into her eyes as she looked up at me through her fluttery lashes. My hands that were resting on her waist, pulling her away from my body just in the slightest, now gripped on her harder as I pulled her closer to me.

"I missed you" I whispered softly now my lips hovering over hers, feeling her breath getting heavier as my mouth teased hers. I couldn't help but smile as her eyes glistened looking for mine, knowing she was begging for it as much as I was.

Our mouths finally met, shyly, tender. Our lips flirting with each other's. As if they were trying to understand the privilege they had, not answering to our undying desire of making the kiss more intense.

"I missed you too" 

I was about to grab her face when we heard a loud scattering noise followed by a frustrated sigh.

"Uhum, sorry. I'm just gonna-" I heard Owen say as he came out behind the wall by the entrance where he was hidden after he let Eri in "I'm just going to go to my room, sorry" he said, crooking his smile and putting his fists up trying to hide himself behind them, "Sorry"

"It's ok" we both said, letting go of each other, groggily smiling. I kissed her forehead and signed her to go into the apartment, making my way to make her a cup of tea after I threw a blanket on her.

"So, how was your trip? Why did you come back so soon?" I asked, trying to walk straight after being weakened like that.

"I actually came here to look for you. Charlie I want you to come home with me"