Prologue:
Once again Charlotte was stuck listening to Henry's nagging problems. She usually doesn't mind listening to them except when he comes at her with his difficult love situation. Charlotte didn't wish to hear how Henry was torn between two girls. It breaks her heart to hear how serious he feels for them.
For years Charlotte has been crushing on Henry. She hasn't dared told anyone and never will. It was a secret that she will take to her grave. She knew that Henry didn't feel the same about her. She wasn't his type. The kind of girls he sought after were pretty, girly and not so bright upstairs.
Charlotte was none of those things and she accepted that. She has never even had a boyfriend and at the rate she's heading that won't change anytime soon.
"Char Char" came a familiar yet a slight impatient voice.
Shaking out of her low self-esteem thoughts, Charlotte stared at Henry who casually arched a brow.
God he looks so attractive she thought dreamily drooling a little bit.
Henry quickly cleared his throat. "Hey are you feeling okay?"
"Yes" answered Charlotte a bit too hastily and that only made things even worse. Of course, Henry didn't believe her and decided to do some testing of his own. He placed his hand on her forehead without warning. Charlotte gulped hoping he didn't hear.
"That's strange you're not running a fever" he crinkled his nose in confusion.
Charlotte found the gesture to be quite cute and she almost laughed.
"Why would I be?" she asked moving away from Henry because she couldn't stand his touch any longer.
His fingers were sending a million shivers down her spine and she couldn't take it. Charlotte shivered. Henry must have thought she was cold because the next thing she knows she feels his jacket around her shoulders.
"You didn't have to do that" she blushed not daring to meet his beautiful eyes.
She could hear the smile in Henry's voice when he told her that it was no problem. Frustration then ripped through Charlotte's being. She wanted Henry. She wanted him more than anything before in her life. But the sad part is that she knew she couldn't have him.
Tears threatened her eyes. Before she could cry Charlotte quickly got up and walked away from Henry. She immediately heard his concerned voice behind her.
"What's the matter?"
Charlotte didn't bother to answer him.
Didn't bother to tell him the truth because why should she? It would only make her even more depressed and she didn't need that. She was losing the battle against her demons. It was only a matter of time before they fully consumed her.
When Charlotte left the man cave she stumbled into Ray. The older adult gave her an apologizing look and then a worried one.
"Hey are you okay?"
She sighed because she was tired of hearing that damn question.
"I'm fine" she bit back a strangled cry in her throat.
Before he could ask her any more annoying questions Charlotte broke into a heavy run that led her to the park. Huffing and puffing she collapsed on a bench that was by a big tree. That's when Charlotte allowed her emotions to run free.
She cried for what seemed like hours. During her sobbing she kept repeating 'why me' like a broken tape recorder. Life wasn't fair. She deserved to be with Henry not those other girls. But apparently fate didn't seem to agree with her.
Hell she might be single forever.
Maybe that's how her life is supposed to turn out to be. Grow old and live with a hundred cats in an old decaying house. Charlotte shuddered at the thought. She then rocked back and forth on the bench her breathing becoming heavier.
"I like you Henry" she whispered. "I like you so much that it kills me"
He will never hear those words but saying them out loud helps a little bit. It made it seem like it was real and not fake. Charlotte finally stopped crying. It was getting dark and soon she would have to head home. Wiping her tear stained face, Charlotte forced herself to get up and walk. Her legs burned and ached from her previous run.
She walked with her head lowered December's air cool against her skin. Suddenly she wished that she had kept Henry's jacket. She remember how warm it made her feel and how much it smelled like him.
"I'm so pathetic" she muttered.
It was truth. She was pinning after a boy who was oblivious to her feelings for him. It was more than pathetic actually. It was downright heart breaking. From a distance came the cruel sound of screeching tires. Charlotte was too disinterested to look. But she should have.
A car was heading straight in her direction with no intention of slowing down. Just as it was about to hit her, Charlotte thought of Henry one last time. His beautiful face was seared on her brain and she swore she would never forget it.
The car collided roughly into Charlotte knocking her out cold.