Strangers

Chapter 55: Hashtag Hag

I slam the laptop closed after replying to Louis and Niall via imessage on my mac.

I have no interest in getting a new phone, but I couldn’t let those initial messages go unanswered.
Aside from that, I don’t want any connection with the outside world and all of the hate I can only imagine I would be getting.

Shit like ‘die bitch die’ on my instagram photos. Which is hilarious. But also fucking rude and unwarranted. I think there are worse things in the world than dating 3 guys from one band. Bullshit. I don’t need any of that negativity in my life.

I am Charlotte Jones and I don’t deserve to be walked all over.

I was mildly disappointed when Alice wasn’t here when I got home. Now I sit in anger and wait for her return. I can’t believe it. What an absolute joke.

I can feel my heart closing over and freezing whole with every second that passes. No good comes of getting attached to people. Trusting anyone other than family is just too risky and I don’t fucking like risks. I like calculated, measured risks that I can justify the outcome before it even happens. And loving Harry was anything but a calculated risk.

My eyes shoot up at the sound of the door opening and her stupid innocent smile at me only revs up my anger.

“Hey! I wasn’t sure when you’d be back…” She says, her smile fading when she sees the look I’m giving her.

“I guess you’ve seen twitter and everything. That sucks, Lola.” She sits down on the bed opposite me, giving me a sympathetic smile as if she hasn’t done anything wrong.

“Yeah good guess. How could you do that to me?”

“Do what?” I can hear the shock in her voice, she’s clearly taken aback by the anger in my voice, and the underlying tones of pre-emptive hatred.

“Tell everyone what I told you in confidence!”

“What are you talking about Lola? It wasn’t me who talked if that’s what you’re implying.” She defends, sincerely. But I’m not buying it.

“Oh fuck off Alice, you’re the only person who just found out. The timing isn’t coincidental. How can you sit there and lie to me after everything I’ve told you! You have been privy to information no one else in the world knows. You knew Harry and I broke up before anyone else, you knew how much that was killing me and how I didn’t even feel ready to tell my best friends or my family, yet you somehow find it appropriate to leak that information and more? What the fuck is wrong with you?” I waste no time in jumping on the offence, fuelled by the frustration of yet another betrayal.

“Lola, I’m serious, I didn’t tell the media or anything! I told one person!” I feel like she’s about to cry. If my heart wasn’t so cold right now I would probably start to feel empathetic for her, I wouldn’t like to be on the wrong side of me right now.

“Yeah, well that one person just ruined my life so you can tell them thank you next time you see them. You didn’t just fuck me over you screwed Niall, Harry and Louis too. If you think Niall’s gonna be crawling into bed with you after this you can think again.”

“Lola, I swear I didn’t know she would tell anyone. I didn’t mean for this to happen.” She starts to cry, burying her head in her hands.

“Oh save it. If you want sympathy you’re looking at the wrong person. I can’t believe it. I knew you couldn’t be trusted. I knew from the second I walked in here that you were some thirsty One Direction fan and I should’ve known better than to trust you, I fucking let you into my life Alice! I took you to Harry’s house, and Liam’s apartment and I introduced you to all the people you wanted to be, fuck you’re fucking Niall Horan thanks to me. I helped you with assignments, and you sat there this week and acted like you were so supportive and a good friend helping me through a break up but you’re so fucking fake.”