CHARLIE’S POV

The walk home was presumably much faster than I had imagined and hoped for. I wanted thinking time away from the monstrosity of the pair who permanently lived downstairs. My mother hadn’t moved from her spot in the lounge room. Creeping in down the hallway, I could see she was still surrounded by the paraphernalia which had occupied her time prior to. I wonder if she’d even realised I’d left. Deciding sleep would be my best and safest option, I headed straight for my room locking the door behind me with a makeshift barrier of a pushed wardrobe and tried to get some more shut eye before the sun became alive and flirting. Tossing, turning, dry mouth and thirst for desire - my plan hadn’t gone as well as I’d hoped. I laid in bed, staring at the ceiling for hours before my body convinced itself I wouldn’t need rest. Perhaps it was because I wasn’t sure of my surroundings, or.. maybe, I just wasn’t ready.

A cold shower with splashes of water covering every bare inch of my skin, the feeling was somewhat rejuvenating yet depleted. I had to close my eyes in the shower; when my eyes were shut - who knows what could happen. Taps tightly turned and a towel around my middle half, I crept back into my bedroom from the ensuite; tearing through my draws for something both decent and practical - settling for a short autumn floral skirt and plain white tee. Hunting through, I came across an old diary Ruby and I had shared when we were younger. Running my fingers along the binder and spine, I pulled it out from amongst the mess and sat on my bed, legs neatly folded beneath me as I hunted and explored it’s pages.

‘his eyes are like the colour of the forests which surround dad’s cabin; alluring and exotic. i’ve only noticed him as more than a friend over the last semester; he’s got the sweetest of hearts but the rumours about him spark the of cruelest intentions..’

I wondered who this was about. Ruby always had this fascination with rhymes and riddles. As the pages kept turning and my curiosity broadened to the point of no return; I’d discovered several different passages all more recently written. Or, as resent as up to her disappearance.

‘his baby blues are as sweet as my mothers use to be; yet as sterling as the lies he whispers into my ears at night about romance and adventure.’

A few more flicks and I came across a photograph shoved hard into the middle pages of Ruby with two other people; Bella and… Harry. Throwing the diary hard against the sheets and rushing into the bedroom next door which had left the way I still remember from that fateful night I rummaged on top of the dusty desk sitting quietly under the window and searched for Ruby’s address book. If there’s one thing she got from our father that I didn’t it was organisational skills. The girl had been far mature from her years. A last name not springing to mind, I scanned the pages eventually stumbling across what felt correct. Carrying the book through back into my bedroom and collecting my cell from the bedside table, I started punching away at numbers.

Dialtones pressuring annoyance - I kept trying until my calls were answered.

“Hello?”
Finally!

“Um, hi..”, I stuttered, not having planned anything to say, “Is this Harry?”
“Yeah..”, the voice replied after a moments hesitation, “Why? Whose this?”
“Charlie,.. Charlie Fleming - Ru.. Ruby’s little sister.”
“Ah, Little Charlie Fleming, what’s up?”

Little? The words seemed a little too dejavu for comfort.

“Um, not.. not, not much to be honest”, I choked up, “Can.. we, um.. are you free for like, coffee or something?”
“You’re not trying to ask me out on a date are you?”, he laughed in reply. I felt like an idiot. Hold up, correction, I was an idiot. This was awkward; did he.. ugh.. Charlie stop thinking.
“No.. oh - no”, I responded, cheeks blushing a colour and temperature I wasn’t even use to before, “I ugh.. it’s about Ruby. I um..”
“I finish work at 4, if you—.”
“Sure!”, I cut him off.
“Great. I’ll come past the old Fleming place and pick you up.”
“Sweet.”

Unknowing of how I was meant to end the call; I just waited until silence between us became awkward enough that I could spit out a bye and hang up post-haste.

HARRY’S POV

Warm sips of latte and tea between laughs and silver lined walls wasn’t the way I had envisioned spending tonight but when company is offered, I can assure you I’m always the last person to decline. Eyes tracing the silhouettes of strangers and the girl who sat across from me, I tapped my feet gently underneath the table against the hardwood floor our seats were on and internally sighed silently. Charlie had turned out to be well, just like her sister - a mini Ruby although she probably didn’t see it like that. Both confident, pretty girls who if they spun the right way and just went with the flow could have the world at their fingertips. We spoke about everything under the sun from pets to school and winter vacations, video games to books we should both add to our lists and all that stuff in between. Time was flying and before I knew it, we were being old by staff that the place was closing for the night. Upon mutual agreement, we deciding to continue this chat outside; following a casual stroll back to her place where I’d left my car after figuring it’d be easier to walk.

“So, why did you and Ruby stop talking then?”, she asked. I should have known the question was coming, at least this way I could of at least half prepared myself for an answer. Thoughts running through my mind, I shrugged my shoulders, coat slightly dropping back and shook my head to no avail.
“I don’t know Charl, just.. happened I guess.”
“Harry, best friends don’t just stop talking”, she pushed.
“They do when others get involved.”
“So, you don’t know anything about her disappearance then?”
“Charlie, I know as much as you know.”
“Hey Harry.. do you like riddl—.”

“Charlie.. CHARLIE!!”

The sweet sounds of a ladies voice turn sour began rushing through my ears as a girl I’d never seen before came hurling towards us, arms around Charlie and pulled her off to the side in a swift motion.

“Oh thank god I found you”, the stranger let out, rubbing her hands along Charlie’s arms roughly, “Was he hurting you?”
“Chloe”, Charlie let out with a smile, “This is Harry, Ruby’s old friend”, she finished explaining.

Untrustworthy looks and stern lips not breaking into smirks, the girl linked her arms with Charlie and joint us for our walk. It wasn’t long until an old familiar face also came into view - one I wasn’t expecting to see but nonetheless should have expected.

“Charlie…”
“Louis.. I..”

The two were pulled away and out of near sight quicker than I could manage to snap my fingers. Rummaging around my pockets for a cigarette and lighter, I politely offered the girl, Chloe was it, one before being declined with a facial expression which read all kinds of disgust. Lighting up and exhaling briefly, our company quickly formed again, Charlie now a little emotionally worse for wear.

“I have to go home”, she stated quickly, looking at her shoes. I watched closely as she tapped her toes agains the ground; the red leather flats making the most innocent of sounds.
“We’ll get you home then”, I suggested without fault. I wasn’t in the mood for trouble.
“Louis thinks you’re bad news..”
“Louis thinks everyone is bad news..”
“Harry —.”

“Charlie, c’mon!”, Chloe instructed, pushing at her shoulders to keep her moving. By the time we’d gotten to the house; things had become a different story.


CHARLIE’S POV

Goodnights from Harry and a promise that he’d call me if he found out anything as soon as possible, Louis, Chloe and I were sneaking in through the back of the house to avoid any unwanted attention. A night cut short of possible motive and amusement I was forced into explanation in the kitchen as to why I’d contacted Harry.

“He’s not that bad!”, I tried to explain, getting frustrated at my friends angst.
“Like you would know..”, Chloe fired back.
“Chloe, how do you even—.”
“Louis filled me in and told me everything. We met on the front porch this afternoon because well, he wanted to chat to you and I noticed you weren’t at school.”

My eyes fluttering over Chloe’s shoulder to a stern standing Louis resting back by the kitchen counter were enough to start sending through a guilt trip. I didn’t want anyone to know. Not anyone who I could avoid telling my complications about. Now I had a friend who was pulled into the mix for reasons she could have dodged and a now harder time trying to seek answers. No one wanted to help me; they just wanted the best for themselves. Frustrated and annoyed at how my day had crumbled, I kicked off my shoes against the tiled floor and marched upstairs hoping for a little space to myself. Bedroom door slammed shut and not a seeming piece of evidence showing human life upstairs, I fell back, sinking to the carpet and began crying. For what reason, I honestly don’t know. I was lost, I was confused, I was angry, I was frustrated, I was grey. A gentle knock awoke my senses.

“Charlie, can I come in?”
“Louis go away.”
“Please?”

Wiping my eyes dry and face clean, I pushed myself up; reluctantly opening the door just enough for him to squeeze himself in and watched as he rested back against it, myself now taking a stance for an audience.

“I’m sorry.”
“Lou you’re not.”
“Charlie, hear me out.”
“I don’t want to.”
“You need to.”
“Louis…”

The pleading in his voice was enough for me to drop my guard down for a minute. I wasn’t completely convinced that he had the best of intensions for me but something in his eyes made me want to trust him. Then it clicked.

“His baby blues are as sweet as my mothers”, I whispered.
“Excuse me?”, he stated a little confused.
“Ruby..”, I explained, “She wrote about you.”
“I don’t understan--..”

His phrase was cut off by the sound of my cell calling from the bed.

“You should get that.”
“It’s probably just Harry”, I shrugged it off.
“Charlie, just answer it..”

Walking over to the bed, I felt around in the darkness for the cell, my touch coming into contact with it as Louis flicked the bedroom lights on. I wish I had of cleaned up a little if I knew company was coming.

“Hello?”, I answered. Louis shot me a half smile and rested on his hands; a sweet look turning harsh and merciless stare through my window. My eyes quickly fixated to join his, we both stared, speechless at the watery-thin paint like substance which had been painted in a figure 6 against the glass.



“Oh looky here, what a surprise. You turned on the lights; check out your window girly - you’ve only got 6 more nights.”

Notes

:) we're getting somewhere! let me know how you like it and if there's anything else you'd like to read. i'm in a good mood; let's get creative.