Escape

Chapter XVII

"You alright, Charlotte?" Zac asks stroking my arm.

"I remember a couple things." I sniff.

"What do you remember?" He asks quietly. I don't tel him about Ricky. I just tell him about the boy with the beautiful brown eyes. I hear voices downstairs.

"Zac, who's downstairs?" I ask.

"I don't know." He gets up and we walk down stairs slowly. Jackson is stands in the living room and a boy is by him. I immediately recognize the boy. A smile comes across my face as I jump down the last couple steps and jump into his arms.

"Who is that?" Zac asks.

"Ricky. Her old boyfriend. He moved away and she was heartbroken for the longest time." Jackson replies.

"How does she remember him?" Zac follows up.

"No idea."

I tune out their conversation. Ricky presses his lips against mine. Thats all I focus on. I remember the first time we kissed. I was walking home in the rain because I was upset at him. He pulled up next to me and ran after me. He was going on and on explaining about how he never wanted to be my friend. He went on talking about the first time our eyes met. He ran up to me in the rain and kissed me. A tear falls down my cheek at the memory. Ricky sets me down on the ground but holds me close.

"I had to come see you." He says against my lips. "It was all over the news about what happened." I don't know exactly what he's talking about but I don't care. I lean my head against his chest. Bellamy comes down the stairs.

"Whats with all the noise?" He asks running his hands through his hair. He blinks a couple times looking at the bunch of people in front of him. "Why is Zac still here? And who's that?" He asks pointing at Ricky.

"I'm Ricky." Ricky says "Who are you?" He asks.

"I'm Bellamy..." He says coming all the way down the stairs. I let go of Ricky. I grab his hand instead. I look at Zac who has hurt in his eyes. Is it hurt? His eyes flicker toward mine and I quickly look away.

"Thats my other brother." I inform Ricky. Ricky just nods.

"Again, why is Zac still here?" Bellamy asks again.

"I fell asleep, sorry." Zac says scratching the back of his neck. I suddenly feel light headed and I stumble forward. Zac rushes to me. "What's wrong?" He asks quickly and worried.

"Just lightheaded thats all." I smile. I black out.

-Third Person POV-
Charlotte's eyes roll into the back of her head and she collapses into Zac's arms. Zac rushes her up to her room and lays her down on her bed. Ricky pushes Zac away and knees down next to her.

"What's wrong with her?" Ricky snaps.

"The doctor said this could happen. We just have to wait it out." Zac replies annoyed. Ricky holds onto her hand which makes Zac scoff.

"Lets leave them alone. Come on Zac." Bellamy says dragging Zac and Jackson out of the room. They head downstairs and into the kitchen.

"I don't like him." Zac huffs.

"I think we can all tell." Jackson laughs. "In her defense she did date him for a long time. She was heartbroken. That is until you came along. But you broke it in shreds again." Jackson says anger growing in his voice.

"I only know of what Charlotte told me. But I don't think Ricky will stick around." Bellamy says. "And don't think I don't know you stayed in Charlotte's room with her last night." Bellamy says. Zac's cheeks turn red.

"She had a flashback in her sleep and she was freaking out so I laid next to her to calm her down and we fell asleep. It wont happen again." Zac says.

-Charlotte's POV-

"She is going to find out eventually." My dad snaps.

"Bellamy is no good for her! She is on such an extraordinary path. Can we please just keep things the way they are." My mom replies. I was sitting on the stairs listening in on their conversation.

"Bellamy is her brother. She deserves to know. Do you want her finding out from someone else?" My dad says.

"I don't want her finding out at all." My mom replies and walks out the door slamming the door behind her.
***
"Every time I make a shot you have to tell me something about your self no one else knows." Zac smiles dribbling the basketball.

"How about every shot you make, I take the same shot and if I miss then I tell you something and it doesn't matter who knows. But if I make it then you tell me something about yourself." I say placing a hand on my hip.

"Alright." He says. He takes a free throw shot and makes it. I go to the free throw line and make the shot. I smirk at him. "My favorite subject is English." He says. I nod my head. He goes half court and shoots backwards. He makes it.

"What! I can't make that!" I shout laughing.

"Sucks for you." He smiles handing me the ball. I go half court and go to take he shot. Zac blocks the ball right before it went in.

"That's no fair!" I shout at him. I dash at him and we fall down on the grass. We both laugh. "You have grass in your hair." I laugh pulling the grass out of his hair. He smiles.

"You have an eyelash." He swipes his thumb of my cheek. "Make a wish." I close my eyes. I blow it away. "What did you wish for?" He smiles, his smile growing every second.

"Does it matter?" I laugh.
***
"Clay, I don't care what it takes. Zac knows where she is. Make sure he doesn't come for her." A man shouts into his phone. Clay? He can't be talking about my Clay, can he? "Just get it done!" He shouts throwing his phone against the wall.
***
I look down at my phone.
Me: Have you landed yet?

Ricky: Just did. Now, delete my number, Charlotte. You have to move on. I do too.

Me: it's not that simple.

Ricky: make it that simple.

My eyes flicker open. All of my memories fill my brian. Clay, Jackson, Bellamy, Ricky, Zac.. My feelings for Zac.

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Cast/ Info on characters continued:
Chris Zylka as Ricky Thorn: 17 years old. Previous boyfriend of Charlotte. No siblings. Both parents alive.