We were in his little plane, talking about how we wish we'd stayed longer. But we both knew it was back to reality for the both of us.
"So what was your favorite thing we ate there?" Andy asked as we were being driven back to his apartment.
I groaned at the question. "What kind of question is that? You know I like everything."
He gave me a smug grin, "Yeah I expected that answer from you." Soon we got there and it was like a normal thing, being home with him.
There was always so much to do, and I found myself being distracted from my sad and terrible character. Even if I ended things, I still kept it from Andy. And that wasn't fair.
He immediately had to start working, but stayed in his office that was beside the guestroom. I did my homework and when I got to my world history project I realized I was missing all the slides, and the folder that held them. That was when my heart dropped, and I knew I had left it at that man's apartment. I wondered if he'd even let me get it. I waited until school to see when my project was due.
After my teacher told me I had a couple more weeks, I declared I'd get it from him that coming weekend.
Each day that passed til then, I told myself not to cower out. I had to get it, because it was important. And he and I were done, so there was nothing to be afraid of.
It was the next Thursday and we were all in Erin's backyard, in Connor's truck and watching a movie outside on a projector.
"This is so cool." Connor said for the thousandth time.
I layed back and checked the time, knowing I should really get back to Andy's because I didn't want to be tired the next day for school.
"So Diana," Cole began, and we all groaned at his voice.
"We're watching a movie." Erin said dryly. "Stop talking."
Cole ignored her. "Tyler says you've moved in with Mr. Rich-Man?"
I stared at him in shock. "What?"
"He said him and the guys go over to your place at night and you're never there."
I felt my face grow warm, and felt glad for the dark sky and quiet moon because they couldn't see me. "Uh, I don't know why he would think that-"
"You're living with Andy?" Erin perked in with a squeal.
I sighed. "Not really. I mean, I sleep there now, but I don't like..." I thought about how to describe it, but when I thought about it came to the conclusion that I did kind of live with him. "Okay, yeah, fine I guess I do."
My friends all gave me a look of shock, but of course Erin was extremely giddy and excited for the rest of the night. "Oh my god, I bet you have sex with him every night, am I right?"
My cheeks burned brighter and I looked away, having her laugh knowingly. "You do!"
It was then I realized, that we pretty much did. Then a short memory of Charlie and I. And how it was always more than once, in different places in his apartment. I hated that I missed him.
"Well, look at you." Connor said in shock. "You're growing up."
"Please stop talking." I said in embarrassment, making them laugh as I watched the stupid movie in front of us. The Conjuring.
"Y'know, this is based off a true story." Cole said in excitement.
"You mean based off a bunch of bullshit? Yeah, I know." I said, making Erin laugh and Cole shoot me a glare.
"Don't be a bitch, Diana." He said, sipping on a bottle of beer. Soon the movie finally grasped interest, even if it sucked, and we watched it until the end, soon moving to another stupid scary movie. I ended up going back to Andy's around one in the morning, and he welcomed me with opened arms and no clothes.
"Where were you?" He asked, his lips pecking down my chest.
"Erin's." I breathed out as his hands skimmed my thighs and I waited until he finally got ready, and we stopped talking.
Going into school with my friends was like old times. The weather was warming up and I needed only a light jacket. I walked in with Cole and he leaned into my ear. "You won't believe this." He began while Erin and Connor gathered near us.
"What," I said distractedly, too busy trying to remember where I wanted to eat that day.
Cole nudged me, bring me into attention. "Listen, please." He said politely, but sounding irritated. I tuned in. "Last night after going home from Erin's, guess who was at my house."
"Who?" Erin's voice perked between us.
He quieted her down and we stopped, huddling in a corner and he leaned in after looking around in paranoia. "Mr. Grant." He whispered.
Erin gasped along with Connor. "Bull shit." Erin called.
He shushed her. "No, I swear to god, he's friends with Tyler." Then Cole looked at me. "And Diana, he's best friends with your brothers, too." He said quietly as if it were the most fascinating thing on earth.
I didn't know what to say. His name just brought me to ice, and I found my heart racing faster than it should, and pain enveloped me. I felt scared. I wasn't sure why, but fear was my new friend. I couldn't tell why. "Mr. Grant has friends?" Erin said in surprise.
Cole leaned closer and I had a fear of what else he was going to say. I shouldn't have, but I felt it. "And he has a girlfriend."
That was when my heart got smacked with a baseball bat and replaced with a hollow swell that hurt terribly. "Liar." Connor whispered.
"I'm serious, she came by. And-" Cole leaned back and looked around to see if anyone was around or in earshot. When he concluded no one was around to listen he leaned back in, speaking lower than before. "She was so fucking hot."
"Nuh uh." Connor whispered back in shock.
I wondered if I could take it, listening to them talking about the man I was in love with. The man who took my advice on being with someone else. I wondered how often they kissed, how often they had sex, how often she stayed over. Maybe they were living together. But I didn't want to think about it. "Seriously."
"How can he be such an asshole when he has a hot girlfriend?" Connor asked in disbelief.
Cole shrugged and began to speak, but I couldn't take it and checked the time as if I had something important to do and turned to leave. "Where you going?" Erin called behind me.
"Gotta talk to Mrs. Rain." I said passively, holding my breath on my way to my locker. I squeezed my eyes shut after unlocking it and hated how his light was on. Hated how I knew he was still inside that room. That same room we met in, the same room we first kissed in, the same room he tutored me in.
I could picture him, sitting in there, twirling a pen between his fingers.
Then I suddenly had an image of them two. Him and beautiful Claire. Did he let her wear his shirts?
My heart throbbed so much as I thought about how she looked at him. I knew that to her he'd be everything. They'd spend a good life together, and I'd be remembered as a simple fling. That's what broke my heart the most. In the end I knew she'd mean something to him, and I'd be forgotten.
I wouldn't be remembered at all.
I grabbed my first period things and escaped into the library to stare at meaningless words. I couldn't read, because I was too busy thinking.
God, I hated thinking.
...
I took a deep breath in my jeep and slapped my already reddened cheeks. It was cold now, but even though my nose was rosy and numb, I felt I'd soon be sweating from nerves.
Charlie didn't reply to my text when I told him I was going to stop by and pick up my folder. Shit where even was it??
I believed it was in his room, and as I walked up the steps to the front of the door I had a feeling. I knew Claire was in there. I hated that I felt like I could just die then, but I sucked it up, since I did it to myself, and knocked anyway, preparing for the absolute worst.
The door opened, showing Mr. Grant and his shocked expression. "Uh- What are you-"
"I left my history folder here." I said. "I sent you a text, but I guess you didn't get it."
He stood there in his normal white tshirt and jeans. It felt like I hadn't seen him look casual in so long, but that didn't matter. "No." He said bluntly. "I didn't get it."
I couldn't exactly read his expression, but I saw he wasn't happy that I was there.
He widened the door so I could step in and he cleared his throat awkwardly. "Where is it?" He asked lowly and I looked over, seeing her sitting casually on his couch, curled up comfortably with a glass of wine in her hand. She looked so classy, and so beautiful.
But she wasn't the only one. His mother, too. And a couple of his cousins and Savannah. All in that little apartment. They all stared at me awkwardly.
"I think in your room." I said.
He walked away to his room without a glance or a word, his hard face staying as it was.
Claire smiled at me, I smiled back. "Hi, Diana." She said politely.
"Hey." I replied with the same friendliness.
"How are you?"
"I'm good, how've you been?"
She gave me a dazzling smile, and I couldn't help but adore her kindness. I hated at the same time how unfake it was and smiled back, not being able to control the friendliness toward her. Wasn't I supposed to hate her? I couldn't bring myself to do it when she was so sweet. "I've been good, too."
His mother greeted me and I did the same. Savannah looked like she was about to stand and talk to me but Charlie came out.
"It's not in there." He said uncomfortably.
I looked up at him and thought where. "Where else could it be?" He asked in a grumble and crossed arms.
I raised an amused eyebrow at him and he narrowed his eyes at me. "What- oh." He said in realization and I couldn't control the small smile I let out when seeing a teeny tiny piece of the clueless Charlie. He seemed to understand that it was in his library and he waved me curtly, telling me to get it myself.
I walked over, trying to hide to uncomfort I felt in being in there again around many other people who last saw us as a couple. Now he was with Claire. Everyone else also looked to feel a bit awkward.
I tilted the book Romeo & Juliet, and the shelf pushed forward, sliding sideways and I walked in.
I heard gasps erupt through his living room. "What the hell?" Savannah said in shock.
"Oh my god, that's beautiful." His mother fawned. "I didn't know he had a secret office!"
I saw my purple folder and took it, turning to rush out of there. When I was out of the library, everyone stared at me. "Sorry for intruding." I said casually with a wave. "It was nice seeing you guys."
Savannah smiled. "It was good seeing you, too."
I was almost to the door, escaping without Charlie when he walked back out of his room and called my name awkwardly. I looked at him. His cold brown eyes looking at me boredly. "Uh- here." He handed me a blue folder, that had on it written English. It was my English folder, too.
"Oh, thanks." I said, taking it from him. "I didn't realize I was missing that."
I looked back at his eyes and noticed he stared down at the delicate chain that hung around my neck. The classy heart that shined beautifully, especially since Andy insisted on getting it repolished. I felt ashamed again, and wondered what he told his family about what happened between us.
I probably look like such a whore.
"Well, bye." I said and he said nothing, storming off into his room and shutting the door.
I stood there, not bothering with feeling confused because I gave up. He hated me, and I had to accept that. Everyone grew quiet after he hid in his room and then looked at me. "Well, have a good night." I said in a casual cheerful way, surprised myself by how normal and friendly I sounded.
"You, too, honey." His mother called.
"Yeah, have a good night!" Claire called sweetly.
"Bye, Diana." I heard Savannah's voice and then his cousin Harry and some other guy mutter uncomfortable goodbyes as I turned to leave.
When I was finally gone from his home, I ran into my jeep and pressed my forehead to my wheel and took a deep breath. No, I was fine. I told myself I'd be just fine and soon left to go back to Andy's to finish my project.