Lewis was sitting on the docks, about to cast the line, when it happened. He knew it would, but all the same, he couldn't help but feel that slight jolt of surprise. "What are you doing here?" he asked, not even having to look up.
Charlotte didn't respond at first, she just kept walking down the pier, until she and Lewis were only a few feet away. "I came to... apologize" she finally replied, looking down as she said it.
"Look, I'm not interested in any apologies," Lewis said, trying to make his voice sound as cold and detatched as possible "And besides, it's not really me you should be apologizing to."
"I know, but... it's easier for me to talk to you than them..." she told him, "and it's probably easier for them this way, too," she tacked on as an afterthought.
"Oh, so now you're worried about what is and isn't easy on them?" Lewis replied. "Last I checked, you were doing your best to do them in"
Pull yourself together, Charlotte thought to herself. Just tell him.
"Look, about that..." Charlotte began "I never really had anything against them..."
"Oh, so you'd do that to anybody?"
"No, not anyone, but it wasn't because of them..."
"Come again?"
"It was... because of you."
Lewis just sat there a few seconds, trying to process what she said. "...me?" he asked, more confused than ever.
Charlotte sighed. "Yeah, you." When Lewis didn't respond (besides just kinda gaping at her in lack of comprehension), she decided to elaborate. "I didn't really have anything against them... except for that I felt like they were taking you from me." Once again, Lewis just looked at her. Well, I guess this'll be a monologue then... she thought to herself. She took a deep breath, and continued. "Lewis, the truth is... I think I love you."
Of all the things Lewis thought she might say to him, this definetly wasn't one of them. He took a few seconds to compose his thoughts before responding. "Charlotte..." he started "that's... really... sweet of you, but..."
"You don't feel the same way." It wasn't a question. Deep down, she'd known all along how one-sided her feelings were.
How one sided they'd always be.
She thought she'd be able to handle this, but suddenly she couldn't take it anymore, and something inside her snapped. "How could you choose her over me!" She demanded. "I did everything right! All she ever did was get in your way!"
This Lewis thought, was something he could handle. "Because... because I love her" he said, surprising even himself as he said it.
That did it. "Whatever" was all Charlotte could think of to say as she whirled around and stormed off.
As Lewis watched her leave, he noticed something else. A pair of hazel eyes looking at him. Cleo had seen the whole thing.