Hello Everyone.

First of all I apologise for being a lazy potato and not updating in almost three weeks because my dumb ass had written chapter 19 before this one and I couldn't get ideas.

Also, you can blame my sister for this as she cursed me to have a writer's block because I had been, you know, kind of disturbing her with work.

Anyway, this is the worst chapter I've ever written and to be honest I'm ashamed of it. I wrote it while drinking Hershey's Syrup directly from the bottle, so you know what I was high on.

And oh, have I told you all that I love you guys?

“Why are you so happy today?”

I frowned at his sudden remark. What led him to that conclusion? Was I too obvious?

“Did you finally take a bath today?”
I stopped on my tracks, making Jax stop with me as well. I twirled about my heels to face my friend who gave me a beaming grin. Returning his gesture rather cheekily, I replied,

“Unlike you, Jax, I don’t wait for the New Year’s Day to take a bath.”

“Ah, I see….. so, you bath on the New Year’s Eve?”

Rising on my toes, I slapped the back of his head. “Shut up idiot.”

“Seriously, why are you even this happy?”

I opened my mouth to let the cat out of the bag, making up the sentences in my head, meanwhile, realizing that what a terrible idea it would have been. I almost informed Jax that the reason behind my happiness was the fact that his best friend, aka, my ex- arch enemy, Finn Walker was joining the school, again, as promised. Until then, I didn’t realize what a shocker it would’ve been for Jax, who was already unhappy with his friend’s sudden appearance and disappearances from his life. He was in no mood to forgive Finn.

“I don’t know. I guess it’s just a good day.”

“Good day? My foot.” He grumpily commented, making me chuckle.

“Why? What happened to you now?”

“I have a presentation due.” He said, “And I’m nervous.”

“You?” I asked in disbelief, “-are nervous to speak up in the front of the class?”

“No, I am afraid that my presentation might make them feel low and disheartened. Not everyone can afford to work like that.”

“Egoistic much?”

“Sarcastic is the word.” He blankly replied. He was being sarcastic. Jaxon hardly ever behaves like that.

“Of course. I know.” I lied. “And you’re going to do great.”

He made an ugly face just for the sake of irritating me. I would’ve given him another hit to fix him up when out of nowhere I felt an arm swung around my neck which didn’t belong to Hayes. I would’ve frozen to death if my brain didn’t have already realized who it was.

“Ew.” Jax said scrunching his nose. “I smell a skunk.” I glared at him.

“Oh, it’s Vector.” He said looking at Blake. “Don’t take it as an offense, dude, but you stink really bad and your hair look like they’ve not been combed since the era of dinosaurs and is that what you call a perfume-”

“Hayes-” Blake said with a smile. “Stay in your limits before I knock you off." I didn't feel like there was a need for me to interrupt, so I kept quiet.

"What were you guys talking about anyway?”

“Oh nothing, Charlotte was about to hit on me for the second time in the day when you decided to bless us with your gracious presence.”

Blake looked at me in horror which I happily reflected through my eyes. I vigorously shook my head to deny.

“He’s just an idiot.” I said, “Don’t mind him. I wasn’t hitting on him!”

“Yeah man” It was Jaxon, “She wasn’t hitting on me. How could you? How could you doubt her, you misogynist?”

“I…” Blake was very much perplexed. “I’d see you later, Cherry.”

He said and walked away towards his next class leaving me and Jax. I looked at him to give him a death glare which he clearly ignored because as Blake disappeared into the crowd, Jax was the one who turned and shouted, “misogynist”.

“Why do you bully him like that?”

“Because I’m looking after you.”

“By ruining my friendship with Blake?”

“By preventing you from falling for another possible douche.”

****

I never really had dreams at night, or even if I had, I never used to have a memory of them once I woke up. The only dreams that felt vivid to me were those where I used to witness death swallowing Violet as a whole. They were terrifying. Heart wrenching. My eyes used to be bloodshot, and my breathing intensified by over two times.

I guess that’s what losing someone you love, in front of your own eyes does to you- makes your life turn into a nightmare. But do you know what’s worse?

Living with the sword of fear of losing someone, hanging over your neck every single day.

That’s what Christian did to me.

The past four months were terrible for me just as much they were for Finn. It felt like, with each passing day, sense was being knocked back into my head, making me realize what a bad move it was to send Christian after him.

I couldn’t sleep for days. I couldn’t live with the guilt. I didn’t know if he was healthy or okay or even living, for the starters. I just had no clue and if, something would’ve happened to him, I would’ve hated myself forever.

And suddenly those scaringly familiar feelings came rushing back to me when he didn’t show up to school that day.

I haven't really figured out who really deserves the title of the biggest fool- the liar or the one who blatantly believes the lies every single time.

In my case, I’d go with the latter.

During my last visit to Christian’s den, one of his men had said something to me. Something about hurting the people I loved. It had housed the back of my mind since then and with Finn Walker had offering to go back to Christian, despite my huge disapproval, alarmed me.

I didn’t see him since them.

Seven days had passed.

A whole week!

A whole week since the day he had promised to show up at the school with me but as usual, he didn’t come. He didn’t show up at Olivia’s place or even at Kevin’s. I didn’t have his number, so we had absolutely zero contact and one thousand possibilities, negative ones, in my head.

“Jax?” I said placing my hands on the dashboard. “Can you take us to Preston Street?”

Changing the gear, he looked at me for a moment before turning his attention back to the road. “That’s opposite to where you live.” He chuckled.

“Please Jax. I need to be there and so do you.”

“I am not going to his place-”

“Please-” I pleaded, my voice almost cracking. “He might not be fine, Jax.”

“What part of you doesn’t understand that he doesn’t care about you, me or anyone else!”

I felt a lump in my throat, hearing his words, knowing how right he probably was. “I don’t care. I need to see if he’s fine, Jaxon. Please.”

His faced had been masked with a stoned expression. Giving my words a second thought, he finally replied.

“Okay, fine.” He swallowed. “But I am not coming in.”

*****

I stood at the porch of the Walker residence which was more of an eye-candy for me. It was the second time I was at the place. I remembered
Finn opening the door for me, last year. He had done everything to get to my nerves. I smiled at the memory.

Mustering a lot of courage together, I pressed the doorbell. The suppressed ringing sound was audible to me, even while standing outside.

I let out a deep breath and fixated my gaze over my feet. When the door was finally opened, I was face to face with the person, I completely forgot about and hence had no script ready beforehand.

“Hello, Mr. Walker.” I said, nervously. He responded with a small nod. He wasn’t expecting me, out of all the people, at his doorstep at this time of the day.

“I-” I realized if I had to see Finn, I had to do it quickly and leave. I didn’t have time to listen to Arthur expressing his distaste for me. I had to convince him.

“Mr. Walker, I know you must’ve a lot of questions in your head, seeing me here, at this time, but there’s so much that has happened in the past few days that….that I am not in a state to explain right now. I just have a request. Please, let me see Finn if he’s home. I just want to know if he’s alright.”

He was silent. His eyes were blue. Just like Finn’s. In fact, an exact replica except or the few wrinkles. He folded his arms to his chest, and I took it as a cue to continue.

“I-” I looked down, at my feet. “-I know that you think that I am a terrible company for your son, and you don’t want me any where near him. A parent is never wrong. I know you are his dad and would want the best in the world for him. I agree. I agree to whatever you think but…..but please just let me see once. You know what kind of person Christian is. I just want to see Finn once and make sure he’s fine. Just once, and I promise I’ll never show up here again-”

It was then when I finally looked up, to watch his face. I stopped amidst the sentence as I noticed that he had stepped back from the threshold, leaving some space for me to enter his place. I was pretty sure that my eyes were enough to reflect the confusion in my head. It wasn’t going to be this simple.

“If you’re done talking, you may come in.” Mr. Walker says in his prominent accent, which was thicker than Finn’s.

I was confused but still sane enough to accept the offer before he took it back.

“I would send him to you.” He said turning towards the stairway.

“Thank you, Mr. Walker.” I blurted. He knew why exactly I had said it.

“Anyone who cares for my child is a friend of mine.” He said before disappearing somewhere in his mansion.

*****

I was seated in the same old living room that I had been in, last year. It looked like the seating area of some five star hotel, neat and clean. Why wouldn't it be? It belonged to the Walker's after all. And Finn Walker had a thing for cleanliness, even though, I refuted to belief that he had been doing the cleaning all by himself.

I was fidgeting with my fingers when I heard the footsteps approaching, making my ears stand up. I lifted my gaze off my fingers, towards the tall figure casting its shadow over me.

He looked absolutely fine, wearing a half-sleeve baby pink t-shirt and ruffled bed hair, standing in his might as if no bad had ever touched him.

I had been fretting for nothing after all.

"Would you like to have some tea." he asks standing in front of me, with his arms crossed over his chest. He looked incredibly tall, from where I was seated. His question took my off guard.

I was swinging between being happy because he was alright and lashing out on him for not showing up for days.

"No." I reply, "I do not drink tea."

His lips curled upside down, as he shrugged and approached the door to exit the room.

"Actually, I don't want anything other than you at the moment. Would you just sit down?"

"I'm gonna go and check on Amelia."

I arched an eyebrow as he turned his back towards me and stepped out of the threshold.

I immediately stood back up. "Who the hell is Amelia now?"

There was a moment of silence passed by. He mechanically turned towards me with a stoned expression housing his face. "Can't you tell, she's a lady?"

His poor sense of sarcasm made me roll my eyes.

"I have come, all the way here just to be bailed out by you? Again? So that you can go an check on some Amelia?"

My overreaction was justified. I had lived the past week in the horror of losing this guy all over again, just to find him to be absolutely fine, roaming around his house and avoiding me.

He looked at me in disbelief. "Charlotte? She's 56"

"So?"

"Don't be jealous."

I couldn't believe he said that.

"And you-" I suddenly felt irritation kicking in. "You should definately stop being a jerk! Especially to me!"

"I was checking on her because she was supposed to give me my tea twenty minutes ago and it's still not here. So, that's why I wanted to go and check up on her. I don't get what are you so mad at?"

That was it.

He was doing it on purpose.

He didn't want to talk to me. I didn't know why was I even this bothered to be honest.

"I certainly did not mean it that way." I said clenching my fists to suppress my budding anger. "Where were you since the last week?"

"I-Home." he replied quietly.

"And I thought something happened to you! Why on earth you didn't show up at school?"

"Because I didn't wanted too." he said as calmly he could.

Of course. I wanted to scoff.

Keeping promises wasn't the best trait in Finn Walker.

I was very close to spill the same words out of my mouth but realised that they would just fuel the fire. I didn't want to fight him.

"I thought that you went to Christian and-"

"Something happened to me blah blah blah, right?" I narrowed my eyes at him as he spoke. "But I thought about it and realised that going to Christian would be the stupidest decision I'd ever make for myself. You informed me where Dave was and I'm very much thankful for that-" he looked into my eyes for the first time, "and I have no reason to go back to him. It would be like digging my own grave."

I tried to cover up the frown from taking over my face.

But he said he was going to Christian for me.

No.

Even this thought was wrong. Finn was right. I never wanted him to go back to Christian. Atleast not for me. I wasn't hurt anymore. There was no need for him to put himself into trouble.

I never realised that he'd been talking nonstop and missed what he just asked.

"Sorry?" I said, implying that I hadn't been following.

He sighed.

"When would you stop this?"

"Stop what?" I was perplexed.

"Stop pretending that you care."

"What are you even talking about? Of course I care. I don't pretend."

He moved past me and seated himself over the sofa. I turned my body to face him.

"See Charlotte-" he began in a tone which suddenly sounded so foreign, so empty. It somehow frieghtened me, not because it sounded grim, but because a part of me had preticyed what he was about to say. "-I am tired of, you know, the whole thing of you trying to help me and me running away everytime. I just want it to stop." he paused to look at me. "I want you to stop."

"What do you mean?"

"See," he said looking away. My eyebrows furrowed in bafflement as he spoke. "We can't change the fact that I lied to you and you in return traded my life along with the secret to my arch enemy. I-I really don't know how you're even over what I did to you, maybe it's your guilt that's making you look over those things but..." I stored at him as he falters. I was hating every single word that came out of his mouth.

"But, I can't really get over it, you know. No matter how hard you try. How hard I try. I guess I'm just not the forgiving type. I don't hate y-"

"You are a nuisance, you know that Finn Walker?" I spat. My voice was considerably high, it even made him flinch. "You don't know what you're saying. I was just-"

"And you don't know what you've been doing!" he gritted his teeth. "Stop saying that you're trying to help! I don't need help! I don't need to be fixed because I don't feel like I am even broken in the first place. I am just who I am. And I'm happy with who I have become. I don't want to change. So, would you please stop trying?"

I opened my mouth to say somthing but the words never came out. He took it as an opportunity to continue.

"I" he said softly but ran a hand through his hair too, giving in about the fake composure he was trying to maintain. "I don't want to fight you. I don't want to fight Jaxon. Heck, I don't even want to fight Christian! Once I get the things settled here and get Dave back. I'd be leaving this city for good. So, what I'm suggesting is.... Can we just stay away? For as long as-"

I looked at him in shock.

"You're a big jerk, Walker." I said trying to swallow the lump in my throat. His words felt like knives thrown at me.

What was his head even full of?

"It was established long ago, wasn't it." he says raising his voice. I rever realised for how long my jaw was clenched. I looked away and focused my eyes on the floor.

"Then why do you never leave me alone? Don't you have any self respect?"

My eyes were wide open, as I looked at him, pursing my lips.

"Come on, Evans, we both know that I'm not the only one with ego problem. Last time I checked you were the one who informed Christian about me because I had hurt your ego. You can't be that girl now, can you? Where's all the pride and self respect gone? I'd been treating you like nothing but you never stopped approaching me. I bailed out on you and look, here you are standing under the same room as me!"

My vision was blurring due to the tears covering up my irises. I didn't know why I was even crying, because of his words that stung so bad? or because he was right somewhere.

I had been so invested in trying to get him back that I forgot that I was dissappearing as an individual. I don't know what it was- an obsession or a vague hope still flaming in my heart that we'd be able to pick up things from where we left them and be better.

It was like I had been trying to smoothen up the a crumpled piece of paper, forgetting that no matter how hard I try, it would still have the creases. Creases that can't be fixed.

"You're right." I say quietly. I couldn't believe how I always preached about standing up for yourself but guess, it is actually easier to preach than to practice. It is funny how, no matter what you try, there is one person who has an edge over you and weakens you. Sometimes, they take your love for them for granted. Such people are toxic. And there should be no place for toxicity in your life.

He was indeed a toxic company.

"You have no idea how bad I want to slap you right now, Finn-" I said looking at his face, even though his eyes never met mine again. "-But I don't want to even touch a person like you ever again. You're not a big jerk. You're just a naive, little boy who doesn't know what or who, is good for him and who isn't and its for that-" I say deliberately laying emphasis on the words I chose to hurt him. "I pity you."

He was silent. Maybe ashamed who knew?

"Just remember, don't build too many walls around yourself just for the sake of your own protection because one day you might find yourself screaming for help and no one would hear you through them."

"You don't need to worry about that." he say as if I hadn't been speaking.

I looked up at the ceiling to contain the water within my eyes. My lips were dry as if I hadn't drank water in days. Licking them firmly, I nodded, agreeing to his words again and moved past him towards the door.

"I still don't hate you, Finn." I said my parting words carefully. "I just wish you had everything you ever wanted but never came back."

Let's get to the questions part straight because there's another update :P

1. What do you think of the chapter?

2. Do you think Finn was right about Charlotte losing her self respect?

3. Should Charlotte stop bothering Finn?

4. Finn was a huge ass throughout the chapter.... Or is there someone who still agrees/is with him?

5. What would you have done if you were in Charlotte's place and your friend would've said the same to you?
For me, I have two friends, and non of them would even dare to say that lmao. Even if anyone did, I would've kicked their asses to Wuhan.  You know why exactly.

6. Any favorite quote from the chapter /story? Please share.