𝟎𝟔

☆═━ 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐒𝐈𝐗 ━═☆

Isn't it funny how the memories you cherish before a breakup can become your worst enemies afterwards? The thoughts you loved to think about, the memories you wanted to hold up to the light and view from every angle--it suddenly seems a lot safer to lock them in a box, far from the light of day and throw away the key. It's not an act of bitterness. It's an act of self-preservation. It's not always a bad idea to stay behind the window and look out at life instead, is it?

Charlotte never thought the day would come where she had to hate everything that reminded her of the Salvatore boy with hero hair and a sharp jaw, but nothing is ever impossible.

The brunette decided to try one last time to talk to him before she would completely give up on their relationship. She went into her carriage, and the Bernard's loyal cab drove her to the Salvatore mansion.

On their way to the Salvatores, they had to pass by Charlotte and Stefan's little place or what they used to call such. The place where he had first kissed her, the place where they first admitted their love for one another, the place where he had given her an empty diary to write, and lastly, the place where he had broken heart.

"Stop here, Mr. Lance," Charlotte asked him, and he stopped in front of the small garden, "Thank you, it won't be for long."

To boost some of her confidence, Charlotte decided to take a small walk in the place. To intentionally remember all of her memories with Stefan and convince him that whatever thing he feels for Katherine was temporarily.

However, she stopped in her tracks and her thoughts faded as she heard the high pitched laugh of a girl, followed by the voice of the man she would never forget, "Katherine, wait! It was my turn."

"But darling, you lost," The brunette Pierce chuckled, turning to face Stefan Salvatore as he caught up to her, his hand grabbed her waist, ushering her closer to him before his lips brushed against hers.

So that was that. They were finally, finally over.

Charlotte looked at him, and she felt so sad, this was their place, their hearts and names were marked on almost every tree in that garden. If the trees could talk, they would have told the tale of the epic soulmates that carved their names on every branch, and their rendezvous haunted the forest.

She felt it, in the pit of my stomach, the familiar ache, that lost, regretful feeling. She should have never come, or even hoped to mend whatever it was Stefan and she had.

Her heart had grown so familiar to the pain of life without him, that to respond now seemed too large a pleasure she could not endure. If pain was love, then she loved fiercely. Yet knew she could not be near that boy again.

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Charlotte changed her destination, of course, to the Gilbert residence and furiously knocked on their door, luckily Paulina was the one to open if she wasn't and rather her older brother then Charlotte would be quite the embarrassing mess.

"Char, what happened?" Paulina pulled the girl into her arms and slammed the door shut after they both walked in.

Charlotte's heart ached, as she sobbed into Paulina's shoulder, wetting her dress with tears, "I listened to Angelina...and went to talk to Stefan....," She sniffled, wiping away some of the tears as she continued, "I found him in our place...with Katherine..."

Paulina looked at her best friend in sorrow, what would it take the Bernard girl to give up on Stefan? Just as much as it took her to fall for him probably.

"He doesn't deserve those tears, he is selfish and he made his choice...it's time for yours...," Paulina rubbed her back, sighing as Charlotte sobs quietened down and all was left were dry tears.

"Why can't I hate him...?" Charlotte questioned, more to herself than Paulina as she hugged her legs close to her chest and stared at the wooden floor, feeling like a worthless vulnerable weakling.

Paulina didn't know a right way to answer such question, so she answered with what she would say whenever she noticed Charlotte's inability to hate someone, "Because you are you...you are Charlotte Jillian Bernard...or Cherry Jilly," She paused for a second as Charlotte giggled, sniffling.

"You have the biggest heart, and you are incapable of such harsh feeling...it's one of the things that make you handle my annoying self," Paulina finished off, chuckling to herself as Charlotte lifted her head up to look at her Gilbert best friend.

"You are not annoying."

"Oh My...That's the nicest thing you have ever said to me!" Paulina faked a gasp, placing a hand on her heart.

Charlotte, for the first time in weeks, smiled genuinely at Paulina's countless attempts to help put the blooming smile back where it belonged.

The lovely friendship moment was cut short when the front door was swung open to reveal Jonathan Gilbert, looking quite worried and restless, "Johnathan?" Paulina called her brother, bringing his attention to her, "Are you okay?"

"The move is tonight, we are going to round up the vampires and burn them all," Johnathan informed her, to which Paulina sighed, crossing her arms.

"That's great, the danger will be gone...," Charlotte stated, standing up and wiping of some of her tears that, fortunately, Johnathan didn't see.

"That's not all...Katherine Pierce was proved to be one of them," Johnathan revealed and as if on cue, both of the girls' eyes widened.

Instinctively Charlotte was worried about Stefan, could he have known of the demonic creature the girl he picked was?

"But Guiseppe wouldn't let her off the handle...," Paulina shook her head, stating, "Not even for Stefan or Damon's sakes."

"They are going to take her, it must be happening now."

Stefan. That was the only thing going through Charlotte's mind if she was taken in such a brutal way Stefan would be broken and she couldn't stand such a thing. She had to be there, to comfort him.

The brunette girl nodded to herself before trying to excuse herself. Keyword; tried.

"Oh no no no, you are not doing what I think you want to do," Paulina prevented Charlotte from leaving as soon as Johnathan went to get some of the weapons he had prepared for that day.

"But Lina...he would be heartbroken and his father won't listen to his pleas...," Charlotte reasoned, trying to pass but Paulina was blocking the way.

"Over my dead body, are you leaving this house to comfort that bastard, he deserves what he gets. Now sit down." Paulina stated sternly as she grabbed Charlotte's hands and seated the girl on the couch, "What I am doing is for your own good."

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