2 Days Later
I've honestly never enjoyed crying so much. After my cry session on Monday, we all went out for ice cream and tacos. We did go to school yesterday and right now I'm sitting in front of Piper's school waiting for her to come out. She's taking a while.
"Should I go get her?" Henry asks and I nod. He rushes out the car and goes inside. I just close my eyes and relax for a bit. I hear a tap on my window and I look up expecting to see Henry but instead I see my mother. I immediately open the door, hitting my mother with it.
"Ouch child, what is wrong with you?" She says and I just look at her. Then I laugh. I laugh so damn hard my sides hurt and I get a 6 - pack. Abruptly I stop.
"What's funny?" My mother asks.
"You are, you and my pathetic sister. You guys are hilarious, absolutely comical." I spit and my mother raises her eyebrow. How dare she even show her face to me after that huge ass stunt she pulled? I'm done with her and she's finally going to know it.
"Yes well I'm not here to talk about that. I'm here to take you home. I've seen the abuse you are going through and I won't let my baby be hurt no more. So let's go." She says as if she's my hero. She puts her hand on my shoulder and I swipe it off like she's got leprosy. Her eyebrows furrow, her hands fly to her hips and her face sets in a scowl.
"What the hell is wrong with you Charlotte Marie Bolton? I am here to take you away from the hell you go through and all I've ever tried to do is give you everything! Am I not good enough for you? Do you not want a mother? You better -" at that point I tuned her out. This woman clearly has a twisted view of being a provider. I just roll my eyes and hold my hand up.
"Please stop acting as if you were a good mother. Please stop acting as though you seriously care about me. All you care about is making Dad as miserable as you are so please stop. I don't know what you thought you'd accomplish but it's not going to work on me. I am happy where I am and my family is better off not having you in our lives. Go away and don't come back. I'll kill you if you do and that's a promise." I say to her and I get back in the car. I don't even spare her a glance. I instantly felt more tired. I look up when I hear chatting outside the door. I roll down my window.
"You're the one who got my brother locked up! Come at me bro!" I hear Piper yell. My mother of course only sees Piper as a child that needs a good beating but if I know Piper she's got some tricks up her sleeve.
"Piper lets go." Henry says.
"I'll whoop both of yall asses, teach yall some manners and a lesson on not to mess with my daughter." My mother says and Piper bursts out laughing.
"Fuck no, you want to teach us how to treat your daughter? You need to learn how to be a parent. All you've ever done is force Charlotte to do things she liked and turned them into things she hates. All you've ever done is taken her happiness and turned it into misery. She is happy right now and all you care about is your damn self." Henry snaps and I watch his fists tighten. I leap out the car and I kiss his cheek.
"Hey Hen, focus on me. Look at me, I love you and it's time to come home. She's not gonna bother us ever again, let's go." I say as I pull his face down and his eyes meet mine. He sighs and just goes to the car. I face my mother once again and she looks angry. I smile.
"Next time I'll let Piper beat you. You're dead to me." I say to her and once again I get back in the car. This time Piper does too. I watch my mother stomp away in frustration. I really hope she learns to keep her distance. For the first time in a while I breathe deeply.
"You ok?" Piper asks. I nod my head.
"Yeah just wasn't prepared for her. I'll be fine." I say.
"I can't do this." Henry says and he gets out the car. He paces around the car for a while and then he just drops to the ground. I hop out the car and I watch him completely break down, I think. I drop in front of him and I just grab his hands which catches his attention. I sit on the sidewalk and place his head on my shoulder. I just rub his back and repeat the word "breathe" until he calms down. Eventually he does and I look at him. I kiss his temple and he gets up. He just gets in the car without saying anything. I follow him completely confused. His jaw is clenched and he grips the steering wheel pretty tightly.
"Henry are you okay? What was that?" Piper asks softly.
"Nothing, drop it." He says sharply.
"Umm what do you mean drop it? I'm worried about you, you can at least tell me what's going on." She snaps at him.
"I don't have to tell you shit. All I have to do is die." He says and Piper makes some weird noise.
"No you don't! Don't talk like that!" Piper cries out.
"Oh shut up! Don't act like you care now, it's been 6 years. You don't give a shit about me." Henry growls out and drives off. Piper just cries and pleads no repeatedly. I start to freak out, it's like hearing Mom and Dad argue again.
"Henry pull over, you will not be driving while you are angry." I say in a calm tone.
"Don't tell me what to do." He snaps. I feel my heartbeat increase.
"Henry Hart you will pull this car over right fucking now because I do not trust you to drive." I say sternly. This fucker actually just steps on the gas. I forget how to breathe. Soon everything happens in a flash. One moment, Piper is crying in the back seat and Henry is pushing the gas to its limit. The next thing I know Henry slams on the breaks, I think I hear Piper get pushed back on her seat and my head flies up so fast that I hit it and everything goes black.
Charlotte, if you die the world will probably be a better place.
Come on let's face it, everyone was better without you in their lives.
Look how many people have died once they've started taking care of you.
Charlotte focus on me, I love you and all these other voices can kiss your sexy ass.
My thoughts start to gather back together. My body starts functioning again. I breathe normally and I start to blink rapidly until I can see. I open my eyes to find Henry and the pups looking at me.
"YOU BASTARD!" I shout at him and I wrap my hands around his neck. I actually start to choke him. I let him go forcefully, slamming his body onto the floor.
"God you dickhead! You could have killed every single last one of us. We were both concerned and just wanted you to be okay! You know what, fuck you! I'm leaving!" I lash out and I stomp off to my room. Piper steps out in front of me and hugs me.
"Please don't leave you know he has problems with his anger. Stick with him." Piper says and I just brush her off.
"No, I'm not doing this. I can't and I won't." I say apologetically and I rush into my room. I slam the door shut and I get out a bag. I start packing up everything. I go in the bathroom and just throw all my toiletries into my bag. I get out a 2nd bag and pack up more clothes and some shoes. I'll come back for everything else. I grab both bags and I open my phone to text my dad. Just as I open the door I'm met with Henry. I glare and slam the door shut. Well I try to. Henry catches the door and pushes it open. I groan and just drop my bags then bolt for the bathroom. Sadly, Henry catches me and tosses me on the bed.
"Get up and I'll rape you." Henry says and although I know he's kidding I still obey.
"I am sorry, I am so fucking sorry. I had an anxiety attack and I felt so weak after that. I got angry with myself for showing that side of me to you and then I just felt angry at everyone. You always bring me back. I can never get mad at you because I know you are the one person in my life that doesn't deserve anger directed towards you. You've dealt with it enough and I love you too much. Charlotte please do not leave me, I don't care if you go away for a few days just stay with me." Henry admits and I just sigh.
"Why should I? Henry all we've done is have setbacks every time we try to be together and be happy. I can't take it anymore. You know how I feel when conflict happens around me and the argument you had with Piper just triggered something within me. I felt like you did it on purpose and I suffocated within myself. I can't be with someone that lets anger consume them, I just can't. I love you too but I don't think we should be together at all." I say and we make eye contact. Henry's smiling and then he laughs humorlessly. He continues to smile but its a sad one.
"Charlotte, I'm in love with you. I was going to give you this in hopes that you'd promise to stick with me. I know I'm difficult but I will get help and until then I promise to be as calm as possible. But I guess that's off the table now." Henry pulls a ring out of his pocket and throws it on the bed after twiddling with it during his speech. He just sighs and wipes his eyes. He goes into the bathroom. I wipe my face even though the tears keep coming. I look at the ring and I pick it up.
I just cry even more. I slide it on my left ring finger. I wipe my eyes and get up. I start unpacking all of my stuff and once the bathroom door opens I hug Henry with my life. I kiss him with every fiber of my being and he responds just as passionately.
"I'm in love with you too and I promise to stay. I'll always be here, you'll always have me so long as I'll always have you. Henry kisses me and I kiss back. We pull away and he kisses my chin, my jawline, my neck and then kisses across my clavicle. He picks me up and puts me on the bed. He kisses me again and this time his hand slips under my shirt. He undoes my bra and takes it off then places a hand on my boob. He starts fiddling with my nipple and I moan. He stops kissing me and smirks. He raises an eyebrow and I just cover my face. He pecks my lips and chuckles. He removes my hands and we don't say anything. His eyes swell with love and mine probably do the same. This time we just share a smile and a sweet quick peck. He gets sneaky and nibbles on my lip. After pulling away we both laugh.
Oddly enough, I couldn't be happier.