& when I get there it won't be far enough[closed]

[ospreyed]

Who: Eponine and Charlie
When: February 13th, the day after Charlie's 13th birthday
Where: The Arena
Why: Eponine said if she ruined his birthday party, Charlie could come yell at her and get a few free shots in at the arena. She's expecting him to take her up on her offer.

It was only the promise of Charlie that got Eponine out of bed that morning. Throwing on her shoes, smearing her tired eyes with liner, her hair a complete mess, she grabbed a coffee from the dining pavillion before making her way to the arena. She didn't bother to say hello to anyone or anything. All she knew is that by now, Charlie had read her letter. And he probably, without a doubt, hated her for ruining his party. And would never be her friend again.

And that... It stung. Part of her knew it would be for the best. She wouldn't hurt him anymore. But...

But he'd always been there for her. And she didn't want to lose him. Not at the end of the day. There was still that little bit of feeling there that told her, deep inside, maybe she wasn't as hopeless as she thought.

All the same, it was only a matter of time before Charlie arrived and told her he hated her. Welcome to being a teenager, kid.

Comments

[ospreyed]

"Your dad's dance," she admits. "And I was smashed on Halloween."

[moointhedark]

"Oh... I guess you're really good at hiding stuff..." That wasn't exactly a compliment, but he is kind of impressed.

[ospreyed]

"My father is Hermes, god of thieves. Hiding stuff and lying comes with the title." She shrugs. The way he looks at her... "I shouldn't have."

[moointhedark]

"No, you shouldn't have. And you won't again 'cause you don't have to now. ...Right?"

[ospreyed]

She shakes her head. "Because I can't." There was a difference, there. And that was the problem with forcing her to go through withdrawal. She had no say in it. It was just something that happened, and she didn't come to the conclusions herself. So the next time the offer arose, she'd take it with both hands.

[moointhedark]

This was new. There was a well of frustrated disappointment in his chest. Charlie may be all sunshine and rainbows, often oblivious, but he wasn't an idiot; he picked up on the subtleties of her word choice and he frowned, stopped on the path.

"Ep... Can't or won't?"

[ospreyed]

"Both." She hangs her head, a heavy feeling settling in her chest. She can't even look at Charlie.

[moointhedark]

The disappointment welled. "Then what can we do to make it won't?"

[ospreyed]

"I don't think there's anything, Charlie," she admits wearily. "It's like Enjolras told you- I'm sick."

[moointhedark]

"But -- but there's gotta be something! Like chicken noodle soup or whatever makes people feel better when they're sick." Chicken noodle soup always helped him.

[ospreyed]

"If there was, I'd already know it. But there isn't." She shrugs her shoulders. "Next question."

[moointhedark]

With a sigh, he continued on with their walk, squeezing her hand gently. He'd find something, he would. "I think I'm all outta questions right now."

[ospreyed]

She'll take it. "Alright. Invitation stays open, I guess." She squeezed his hand back.

"So tell me more about this cake."