Not "Imagine Charlie"

Not "Imagine Charlie" 1.2

           

I physically feel numb. I can't feel my feet touching the ground, my arm that was pointing at the door is now by my side, or at least I think it is. My throat is tightening again, and I can feel the dinner we had making it's way up. I limp as fast as I can to the bathroom, throw myself to my knees in front of the toilet and throw up violently. I can feel Charlie's hands on me, pulling my hair from my face and rubbing my back.

Nothing else is coming out, thank goodness. I move and sit with my back pressed against the cool tile wall, tears streaming down my face. Charlie is kneeling beside me, eyes wide, regret etched on his face. Good! I hope you feel like shit! I knew I was right. Something did happen... but at this moment, I wish I had been wrong. Fuck, Charlie.

"Can I explain?" he asks quietly.

I don't respond, I just stare at him. Straight faced, and wipe the tears from my eyes. He's looking at me expectantly. I stay shut.

"Adelynn?" he continues but silent I remain. I blink a few times and he stares back at me. He sighs and sits on the floor, his elbows propped on his knees. He licks his lips and crosses his fingers. "It wasn't exactly how I made it seem," he stops, looking for a reaction from me. "She kissed me, and I know how shitty of an excuse that is, but it is what happened. We had all been drinking that night at a local bar near the hotel, I was waiting for my beer and she just lunged herself at me. It happened so fast I didn't really have time to stop it. I didn't even see it coming. As soon as it registered, I pulled away from her and headed back to the hotel."

He stops and runs his fingers through his hair. Seconds, maybe even minutes pass by.

"Adelynn... Say something...please," he begs.

I rise to my feet carefully, and limp around Charlie, straight up the stairs to the bedroom. I head to the closet, break out a duffle bag and start packing a few things. I have no idea where I'm going, considering that I gave up my apartment when I moved in with Charlie. I just can't be here right now. I pack enough clothes for about a week, slip on my jacket and my stupid, ugly crocs and head back downstairs.

Charlie is sitting on the last step with his head in his hands. When I grab my keys off the table beside the door, his head shoots up.

"Where are you going?" he asks, astounded.

"I don't know. But I can't stay here," I respond, my voice shaky. He stands and I put up my hands. I need to keep him at a distance because if I don't, he'll touch me and I'll let him right back in.

"Adelynn, please don't go," he begs.

Don't look him in the eye, look everywhere except for his eyes. "I'll call you later," I say hesitantly. I turn and open the door, slamming it shut before attempting to run to my car. Stupid fractured toes.

I slide into the car and throw my duffle bag on the passenger seat.

Where the hell am I supposed to go? Definitely not Jary's house, she certainly knows more about what happened than I do. I call Jennifer and ask her to stay over, she of course says yes, but I know that as soon as I step foot in her apartment, the inquisition will begin.

_______________

It's been two whole weeks since I left Charlie. Not to say that we've broken up or anything like that, but I needed to cool off. Jennifer's house, not the right place to have gone to apparently. Jennifer has literally spent the past two weeks bad mouthing Charlie. She's only ever seen the bad in Charlie. She wasn't around much after my move to Jersey, she only happens to be around when Charlie and I are having problems.