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“Oh my god, how will I ever manage to afford this place?” I hear Raven cry as they re-enter the kitchen where Thorn and I are grabbing a drink. Rebel’s obviously been giving her a tour of the vast space. By the looks of her beautifully windswept hair, they’ve just been checking out the garden…I hope. Surely they’ve not been gone long enough for…no. No.
“What? What’s there to stress about? The house is all paid for, as are the bills, your groceries are sorted, and so’s your car,” Rebel tells her easily, cutting through my panicked thoughts about the two of them hooking up.
“I don’t have a car,” she points out.
“You do now,” Rebel replies, tossing his keys into the bowl on the side. “Sorted.”
“Reb…”
“Shut up, just say ‘thank you’.” He smirks.
“Thank you,” she sighs, smiling softly. “You know this is all too much.”
“Nothing is too much to ensure yours and Phoenix’s safety. Take the car, house and whatever the hell else I want to give you, for her sake.”
Much to my surprise, she doesn’t say a word, doesn’t put up a fight. Her and Rebel used to spark and clash all the time. She’s softer than she was before. Less feisty. It seems like she’s lost her spark, the only time I catch glimpses of it is when she gets protective of Phoenix.
“Do you guys want to stay?” Raven asks. She seems nervous. I can’t tell if it’s because she’s hoping we’ll say yes, or no.
“No. First night. Family time,” I tell her. I’d love to stay. There’s nothing I’d love more, but it’s their first night in their new home and they should spend it just the two of them, settling in.
Only, when her face falls, I instantly feel awful for saying no. It’s too late to take it back though.
“Come tomorrow?” I ask hopefully, and she brightens to give me a smile.
“Absolutely! I’ll make breakfast, as a thank you for carrying all those heavy boxes.”
I scoff, because the boxes were nothing, but I’m not about to turn down the opportunity to see her again.
“Besides,” Rebel jokes, “I don’t want to be here when you explore the basement!”
“It’s not full of…” she hesitates, and doesn’t finish her sentence.
“Dead bodies? No,” Thorn laughs, oblivious to Raven’s cringe. I want to smack him for his thoughtlessness. I give her an apologetic smile and she shrugs it off.
“I’ll see you guys out.” She smiles, walking us proudly to the door. I’m glad she likes the house. I want it to become a proper home for her and Phoenix. I hope it’s a happy home, one where I’m welcome to visit and help them make memories.
On the doorstep, she pauses awkwardly, like she’s unsure how to say goodbye to us. I don’t blame her; what is this? What are we? She hesitates, then steps forward and throws her arms around Thorn in a giant hug. He’s taken aback, a little tense, but eventually relaxes into her embrace.
Rebel throws his massive bear-like form around her tiny elfin one, and strangles her in his overbearing hold. She doesn’t complain though, even when he lifts her clear off the ground.
Finally she turns to me and I’m ready and waiting, arms outstretched, and she steps smartly into them, allowing me to envelope her. I hold her a moment too long, smelling her hair and drinking in every curve, inch, and memory of her. Too soon, she steps away, leaving me bereft.
I don’t know what this is between us right now, but I know that I want to stick around long enough to let it develop into something.
Charlotte’s Diary
24/12/19
Baxter helped me see sense. He was horrified by Cordelia’s behaviour and encouraged me not to go back.
Obviously, I had to, but only to back a bag and leave. She tried to stop me and things got pretty ugly, but I was able to escape. It sounds so overly dramatic to be saying I had to flee from my grandmother’s house, but it was like something out of a bad film.
Now I’m back at Baxter’s flat - with him this time - and we’re going to be spending Christmas together. He’s promised to help me find a flat in the new year.
Here’s hoping I can find something affordable.
