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"You have eight new messages."

Message received yesterday at 5:44pm:

Hey! You've reached Charlotte. Sorry I can't take your call right now. If you leave me a message, I'll get back to you as soon as possible. Have a great day!

Lottie, it's uh, it's me. I just wanted to call and check in on you. I know things haven't really been great between us this summer, or these past few days really, but I want you to know that I'm always here for you...I've always got you. Just uh─just call me back. I really want to talk to you.

Message received yesterday at 9:07pm:

It's me again. I'm not sure if you got my other message, or maybe your phone is off...I'm not sure. But call me as soon as you get this. I need to know that you're okay. 

Message received yesterday at 11:22pm

Please call me. 

Message received today at 12:54am:

Do you remember when we first started dating? We talked every night on the phone until one of us fell asleep. I never told you this, but even if you feel asleep first, I never hung up. There was something so calming about hearing your breathing on the other end. Fuck. Maybe that's creepy. I guess what I'm trying to say is I miss that. I miss you. 

Message received today at 11:32am

I want to see you...I need to see you. Things are so fucked right now. My dad's a mess without Sarah. I could really use someone to talk to. 

Message received today at 1:09pm

Are you back at school? I'm sure you are. Maybe I can come visit you? I think it would be fun. Wheezie misses you. She's been asking to see you. I think you would be good for her...she needs someone to talk to. Just─just text me or call me...please.

Message received today at 2:00pm

I'm going to get help, Lottie. I'm going to get clean for you. 

Message received today at 4:57pm 

Lottie...my Lottie. I love you. I'm going to do better for you. 

Her phone dimmed as the message played again. Charlotte hated to admit it, but hearing his voice brought her the smallest of comfort. It was as if listening to these voicemails gave her the control to see Rafe in whatever way she wanted. She didn't have to respond, she could just listen. 

For days he had called her, and for days she had ignored him. 

She had ignored everyone. 

Her bedroom had become her escape. While in the safety of her bed, she didn't have to think about the real world. She didn't have to think about the fact that two of her friends were dead. She didn't have to think about the fact that her life had fallen apart. She didn't have to think about the fact that her ex-boyfriend was a murdering sociopath. 

Two weeks had passed since the fateful night at the end of summer, and in those two weeks, Charlotte's life had changed completely. 

She had deferred her return to college, stating 'personal troubles' as her reasoning. She had stopped talking to mostly everyone, and worst of all, she had barely left her room in over a week. 

Before her sister, Pope, and JJ had to return to school, they had all had a memorial for John B over at the Chateau. Aside from that, Charlotte had barely seen the light of day.

She saw no point. Kie, and the boys were back in school, and everyone else had moved on with their lives. But there was something that was holding Charlotte back. 

It felt a lot like guilt. 

If she had gotten through to Rafe earlier, he might not have killed Peterkin. And if he hadn't have done that, John B wouldn't have been accused of murder. And if that hadn't happened, he and Sarah never would have been chased directly into the eye of a storm. 

What-ifs were the most dangerous game to play when you were in the mindset Charlotte was currently in. She was learning that the hard way. 

Rafe's final message was in the process of playing for the fourth time when Charlotte's door creaked open. 

She winced at the light the poured in, reaching out to shut off her voicemail as he mother stepped into the darkness. 

"Char?" Anna called, squinting to see her daughter's huddled figure curled up under the blankets. "Are you okay?"

Pulling the blankets over her head, Charlotte groaned. "I'm sick."

It was a lie, and they both were well aware of that. 

"No you're not." Anna accused, sitting down on the end of the bed. "You've been in here for days, sweetie. It's not healthy for you."

"I'm fine." Charlotte promised, her voice hoarse. "Just give me a few more days."

Sighing, Anna reached out to pull the covers off of Charlotte's head. "What's this about?" She inquired. "I know you're upset about John B and Sarah, but Kiara going to go back to school. You should too."

Charlotte didn't meet her mother's eye, unable to tell her what this was really all about. Because, sure, she was heartbroken over John B and Sarah, but she was also sick to her stomach over the fact that Rafe had killed someone. 

"I don't want to talk about it."

Her mother watched her for a moment before wordlessly standing and throwing open the curtains to Charlotte's bedroom. "Get up and get in the shower."

"Mom!" Charlotte snapped, pulling the covers back over her head. "I told you I'm fine."

"I know you are." Anna fired back as she began picking out an outfit for Charlotte to wear. "That's why you're going to do a job for me."

Charlotte groaned. "I said I'm fine, but that doesn't mean I'm leaving this room anytime soon."

The fresh pair of clothes was thrown onto her bed. "I made some food for the Cameron family. You're going to drop it off for me."

Now, the thing was, Charlotte and her father had dutifully forgotten to fill Anna in on the situation that had occurred at the police station two weeks earlier. Ward had─thankfully─ not pressed charges, which meant Anna was none too the wiser on the run-in. Furthermore, she had no idea the tension between the Pogues and the Camerons at the moment. 

"I'm not doing that." Charlotte argued, sitting up in a panic to face her mother. "I can't go over there."

Anna studied her daughter's face...challenging her. "Why not?"

"Because, mom. Rafe and I broke up...remember?" The attitude coming from Charlotte's mouth was enough to cause her mother to quirk a brow. 

"Don't give me that crap, Charlotte. You two have been sneaking around together all summer. I'm not an idiot."

Busted. 

Charlotte huffed, throwing herself back against her pillows. "We have not been "sneaking around," mom. It's called being cordial."

Anna rolled her eyes. "Sure it is. Now get up, get in the shower and get dressed. It's almost dinner time. I want to get the food there before then. "

Glaring at her mother from her bed, Charlotte raised a brow. "If you're in such a rush maybe you should do it."

"Charlotte, if don't want to go to school, and you want to live in my house, you'll live under my rules. Now get up." The lighthearted tone had fallen from Anna's voice, letting Charlotte know that this was no longer up for negotiation. 

Looks like she was potentially going to face Rafe much sooner than she had hoped. 

─☼☼☼─

Thirty minutes later, Charlotte was driving down the road toward Tannyhill, her hair wet from her shower, her chest pulled tight in worry. 

She didn't want to see Rafe, and she especially did not want to see Ward. 

Her best bet was to leave the food at the front door and run. 

As she pulled into the driveway, she felt her heart flutter in her chest, nerves crawling their way through her entire body. 

The containers of food sat on the passenger seat next to her, and briefly she considered dropping them off at the food bank and telling her mother that she had taken them directly to Tannyhill. How would her mother know for sure?

But at the same time, something within her told Charlotte not to do that. 

Pulling into the spot next to Rafe's bike, Charlotte let out a shaky sigh as she shut off the car...he was home. 

She grabbed the food, hurrying up to the door before someone could see her car. Glancing around for a moment, Charlotte started to bend down to place the food on the front step. 

She was in the middle of doing so when the door swung open. 

Her stomach instantly flipped as she stilled for a moment, too afraid to look up at who was standing before her. She had to convince herself not to drop the food and run for her life. 

When the person spoke, Charlotte was glad that she hadn't run. 

"Charlotte?" The youngest Cameron's little voice sounded shocked, but elated. "What are you doing here?"

Charlotte looked up, giving Wheezie a sheepish smile as she held up the containers of food. "Dinner." She explained. "From my mom."

Wheezie regarded the food, taking it from Charlotte's hands and setting it on the table in the foyer. "I'm so happy to see you." She admitted, her smile twinged with sadness. "Rafe said you went back to school. I thought I might not get to see you for a while."

In that moment, Charlotte's heart broke for Wheezie. She had lost her mother, and now her older sister. 

Giving her a comforting smile, Charlotte nodded. "I'm staying home for a bit." She explained, her eyes inadvertently travelling into the house, worried she was going to be seen here. "So I'll be around anytime you need me."

Wheezie smiled, leaning against the door. "I would love that. Maybe we can get our nails done together?"

"Of course." Charlotte assured. "Anytime you want, Wheeze."

"Do you want to come in?" Wheezie wondered, turning to look behind her. "I got these new clothes that I want to show you."

Don't do it, Charlotte. 

"Sure."

She couldn't say no to Wheezie...come on!

Hesitantly, she stepped into the house, almost holding her breath as she glanced around. There was no one in sight. 

"Hey, Wheeze." She whispered, pulling the younger girl close. "Let's maybe keep it on the down low that I'm here right now, yeah?"

Wheezie wore a knowing smile. "You don't want Rafe to know you're here? I've heard him calling you like ten times a day."

Charlotte narrowed her eyes at the look on Wheezie's face. "It's complicated, okay?"

"Right." Wheezie agreed with a small giggle. "He's been locked in his room all day. Don't worry."

A small sigh of relief fell from Charlotte's lips as she followed Wheezie up to her room. But she still couldn't let her guard down. 

Of course Wheezie's room was on the very top floor, so by the time they reached it, Charlotte felt like she was going to explode from anxiety. 

She collapsed onto the bed, letting out a deep sigh. "Your brother is going to be the death of me, Wheezie."

Wheezie snorted as she began digging through her closet. "Me and you both."

For the next hour, Charlotte and Wheezie just hung out. It felt good being out of the house, and it felt good laughing with someone. 

Charlotte was hyper-aware of where she was at the moment, but did her best not to let that ruin the fun she was having with the younger girl. 

But of course that fun had to be interrupted. 

It started with the sound of footsteps bounding up the stairs to Wheezie's room, followed by a voice...his voice. 

"Wheeze!" Rafe yelled, his voice getting increasingly closer. "Why is Charlotte's car here!"

The two girls shared a wide-eyed look as Charlotte rolled off the bed, letting out quiet curses as she scrambled for a hiding spot.

"Under the bed!" Wheezie whispered, hurrying to her door to stop Rafe before he could get in. 

Barely making it under the bed in time, Charlotte clamped a hand over her mouth and Wheezie's bedroom door flew open. 

"Geez, Rafe. Have you ever heard of knocking?" Wheezie demanded, her voice calm and collected. 

At least one of us can play it cool, Charlotte thought. 

Rafe ignored his sister's statement. "Why is Charlotte's car out front?"

"How should I know?"

Silence coated the room for a moment, and Charlotte felt that somehow Rafe knew she was there. 

Finally, he spoke. "You're telling me you haven't seen her? Why would her car be here?"

Wheezie kept her composure. "She's your girlfriend isn't she? Shouldn't you know?"

"No." Rafe snapped back. "She's not really talking to me right now."

A laugh fell from Wheezie's lips. "Why? What'd you do now?"

"None of your business." He paused for a moment, and Charlotte could picture him running a hand through his hair. "Just let me know if you see her, please."

"Whatever."

By the time Rafe's footsteps could be heard disappearing into the hall, Charlotte felt like she was going to pass out. 

That was close...too close. 

─☼☼☼─