Disclamer: Do. Not. Own. That's why it's called fanfiction.
~x~
Rain
Sometimes he wondered about Diana.
Okay, scratch that: He always wondered about her, because she was so unlike any other girl he'd met. She was beautiful – but that hadn't been what attracted him to her at first. That smile, open and honest and lonely at the same time, had been the reason he couldn't tear his eyes away.
(And now she is crying… crying… crying on my shoulder, as if her whole world just had shattered and the shards cut her until she bleed –)
From the first second on he had felt this strong urge to impress her. To make up a wondrous story, where he'd be funny and perfect and she'd love him and they'd live on happily ever after.
Looking back now, he couldn't help but think that he should have known better. Lies were like sand, unsteady ground to build on. And then it happened, his sand castles crumpled and left him with nothing than even more sand to build with. It was then that he realized, he didn't have to construct a castle for her, didn't have to lie, that maybe she'd like him the way he was.
And Diana did – at least he liked to think so.
(She always seems so strong and confident, there for everyone and in control of the situation, never showing weakness…)
He'd promised her one day, one day to make up for his mistake, to start afresh. He'd thought of a few things: Where they would go, what they would do…
It didn't go as planned. He'd thought that she had wanted this, another date, but he started doubting after she ditched him for the second time. Was a school project that important to just leave him standing on the spot? He had been ready to say goodbye to Diana and leave the town again, as she obviously didn't like him the way he liked her – but she'd stopped him.
Promised him one day.
That was when he realized she had a secret. And her friends were in on it.
(What could make her cry like that?)
When he came back to Chance Harbor today and met her at the café, she told him No, I'm sorry, I can't go with you and It's prom night today and he half expected her to invite him along, but her friends were there and she didn't.
They were still standing in front off her house, in the rain, and he might have just seen her father's face in the window, watching them, and that she'd rather be here outside in the cold with him, than inside with her dad made him wonder how bad this really was.
"Diana-"
She cut him off. "I can't tell you." Another sob.
Still protecting her secret.
He didn't know how long they stood there, in the pouring rain. Their clothes already were completely soaked.
"Let's go somewhere", he said. "Let's grab something to eat. Chinese? Italian? I know this wonderful diner not that far away."
She didn't answer.
"You might catch a cold", he added softly.
She tried to stop crying, he could see that. Whatever hurt her had to be big, too terrible, too frightening.
I can't tell you.
He didn't have to know. Not now.
"Come on", he said, tugging her by the hand.
From behind the curtains, Charles eyes never left his daughter.
~x~
This is somewhat of an experiment. English isn't my first language and I feel like I messed up with the past perfect - If I did please tell me, so I can take this down. Forgive me, and I hope you enjoyed nevertheless :)