Still Learning [C.L]

Disappointment

"She's never behaved like that before, I'm really sorry Jen" he rubbed my back
"No it's fine" I sighed "everyone's entitled to their own opinion" I smiled unconvincingly "Anyway I half suspected it might end up like this so I have prepared myself"

The waiter arrived with the plates of food and looked at the two empty places, confused.

"Yeah, us too" I joked with him, trying to lighten the mood a little

He put the plates down in front of us and I advised that Lorenzo and Pascale's could be taken back for the restaurant staff to have

"Are you sure you want to stay?" Charles asked me
"I've not eaten since breakfast because I was so nervous and I'm definitely not letting this go to waste" I pointed at my plate of food "besides I don't think tonight could go any worse. Unless Julietta decides to show up again" I laughed only to be met with blank faces from Charles and Arthur "I'm fine, honestly. Let's just eat and then we can go"

We ate our food mostly in silence even though I continued to try and make conversation with the two of them. We soon finished and Charles paid the bill before leading us out of the restaurant and in to the waiting car. The drive back was silent again until we reached the hotel and got into the reception

"We're going to find maman, will you be okay?" Charles asked
"Yeah I'll just go back to the room or something" I smiled as he placed a kiss on my temple before heading to the front desk with Arthur and I made my way to the lift

I pulled out my phone as I was waiting

Jen
Are you in your room?

I stepped into the lift and pressed the button for the first floor

Pierre
Yeah, everything okay?

Jen
Just on my way up

I know I should be going to Emma with things like this but recently I'd felt like a burden on her and Max as they were trying to grow their new relationship and I was the continuous clingy third wheel when things went wrong.

I knocked on the hotel room door and it immediately opened to reveal Pierre

"You look nice" he complimented "were you out with Charles?"
"I joined the Leclerc's for a family dinner" I grimaced
"And?" He questioned
"And Pascale called Julietta a lovely girl and asked why Charles split up with her before walking out of the restaurant" I laughed watching his jaw drop
"Pascale? Charles' mother?" He asked in disbelief and I nodded "Are you okay?"

I thought about the whole incident and I had definitely been pretending to be fine, not letting it show around Charles and Arthur that it had actually affected me as much as it did. I met Pierre's gaze and shook my head, my bottom lip quivering as the tears started to fall and he pulled me in to a hug

"Why doesn't she like me?" I gasped out into his shoulder as he rubbed my back
"I'm sure you've just caught her at a bad time" he tried to reassure me
"Family means everything to Charles so surely he won't stay with me if his mum doesn't approve"
"Did he leave with her?" Pierre asked and I shook my head "there you go then. She'll come round, I promise" he comforted me

After around 10 minutes of me trying to pull myself together there was a chap on the door which Pierre answered. Charles stood there looking disheveled after returning from the talk with his mum and his face dropped further when he locked eyes with my tear stained face