CPOV

Seeing jack standing there in bar felt like someone had just kicked me in the stomach. I can feel the colour drain from my face and find it difficult to breath. My mind betrays me and relieves a memory I would have rather forgotten...

6 months ago...

I'm sat alone in jack's apartment, waiting for him to come home. He had decided that on the one day I managed to get off from the bar, he would rather go out drinking with his mates than spend it with me. I admit that I was pretty pissed off when he first told me that he was going out, but after promising to be back no later than ten, I gave in. looking at the clock that sits on his mantle piece I can see that he has broken yet another promise. When he finally got himself home, it was gone midnight. I could hear him stumbling up the stairs, cursing when he couldn't get the door to open. He was drunk and I really couldn't be bothered with another argument so I grab my coat that I sat on the back on his leather recliner and put on my shoes. I open the door to see him looking surprised that I was still here. A laugh escapes him before the lies start falling out of his mouth.

"Baby, I'm so sorry. I...um...it was Gary. He lost his...um...his phone and we had to go back to the other bars to find it I didn't realise what time it was".

"And what happened to your phone, jack? Did you lose it too? I called you like eight times".

"Oh well my battery must have died. Come here". He slurred as he tried to pull me in to him.

"You're drunk and I'm tired so I'm going home. This has to stop".

I try and step out of the door, but his alcohol stenched body doesn't move. He pulls me in close again, his strength outweighing mine and whispers in my ear. "You can always stay here. It's been awhile". I flinch slightly as his words only make me feel sick. It shouldn't be like this.

"I'm doing not anything with you while you're in this state, jack. Move!" I shout as him, too tired and bored to deal with him. I move past him but he pushes me against the wall. "Oh come on! Since when did you become a frigid bitch?"

"NO JACK. BACK OFF!" I yell at him. Before I know what's happened, his hand makes contact with me face, my face now burning.

The memory of the pain brings me back to the bar. I look at Jazz and he immediately sees what I have just relived. I position myself behind Rob, feeling a lot safer there than where I was. Just being in the same room as Jack has me wanting to run a mile. Rob, seeing me move behind him, turns and looks at me questioningly. I can't bring myself to look at him, afraid that my tears will betray me. Then, ever so softly, I feel him take my hand, a gesture that makes my heart skip a beat.

"Well Jack, it was nice meeting you, but we really have to be going". I don't know how he managed to stay so polite, but Rob was nothing but a gentleman. I feel him put his arm around my shoulder and lean in to whisper in my ear "just play along" before he pulls back and flashes me a cheeky smile that I could never tire of seeing. "Babes, we really need to get going. Why don't you go and get you're things and then we'll go back to mine". I look at him slightly puzzled but quickly catch up in the game he wants Jack to witness. "Okay sexy, I won't be long" I say, playing along. Before I head to the staff room he places a soft kiss on my forehead. I have to really focus on how to walk as I went and picked up my bag. When I came back I could see that Jack was beyond angry, his body shaking slightly from the pent up rage. Rob takes my hand again. "Shall we?" he asks, his eyes sparkling.

He guides me through the crowd that had gathered to see our performance and holds the door open for me. The cold air feels good on my skin but it does nothing to calm me. I let go of his hand, storm over to the wall on the opposite side of the road and plant myself there. I search through my bag and pull out my cigarettes. Taking one out, I put them back and try to hunt down my lighter. There only thing I needed right now was to have a cigarette. I finally find my lighter as Rob, Kellan and Ashley join me. The lighter won't light, and I feel myself beginning to lose it. I keep flicking the top of the lighter. "Why won't you light?" I say more to myself than the others. Frustrated, I throw my lighter on the floor. A few seconds later Rob is sitting next to me, holding out his lighter that held its flame. I inhale the lit cigarette and see that my hands are shaking.

"Are you okay?" Ashley asked looking extremely concerned.

"Who was that arsehole?" Kellan followed promptly.

"Yeah, I'm okay. And that arsehole so no one you need to worry about. I'm sorry he started on you Kellan". My voice is sounding thick as I try to hold back the tears. What the hell was he doing here? I was hoping that he would have got the message when I didn't answer my phone to him earlier.

"Hey, don't worry about it mate".

"I'm really sorry, guys. I hope I didn't ruin your night". I was suddenly worried about what they must think of me. Not exactly the best first impression. It slowly dawned on me what Rob must think off me. I was someone with way too much baggage that turned me into an emotional wreck. I wouldn't blame him if he never wanted to see me again. The only small amount of hope I have left is that he is still sat beside me.

"Don't be silly, Charlie. We've had a great night. It seems that nights out with you are full of excitement and drama! What more could we want. Hey, you never know, next time we might see you hit a guy!" Ashley laughed.

Kellan also laughed in response. "Now that I would pay to see!"

I couldn't help but laugh at their attempts to make me feel better, and strangely it seemed to work. "So there will be a next time? I thought that scene in there would have made you think I was a right psycho", I half joked. I wasn't really sure that I wanted to know what they really thought. My night had been embarrassing enough already.

"Well you are a little nuts but what's so good about being normal anyway!" kellan said playfully.

"Thank you" I replied, happy that they had decided to stick around. For the first time since the incident inside, Rob spoke, his eyes looking sad.

"Charlie, did you want me to flag you a taxi or walk you home?" his voice showing an edge of concern.

"No that's okay. I don't live that far away. It won't take me ten minutes to walk back".

"I think it would be a good idea if Rob did walk you back. Jack has just come out". Ashley suggested.

My head snapped up quickly to see Jack stumbling out of the bar, a sight that I had seen too many times. Ashley was right though. I didn't really want to walk back by myself, in case there was a small chance of Jack trying to talk to me.

"Good idea" I said, trying to hide my excitement that our night was completely over.

"It was really nice meeting you Charlie. We will have to do this again. And soon", Kellan said as he hugged me good bye.

"Bye Charlie". Ashley was next, giving me a kiss on the cheek before her and Kellan began walking away. Rob and I also began walking back to my flat. I became aware then that this was the first time we had really been alone the whole night, without some sort of interruption. And in that moment, I became extremely nervous.

RPOV

Still perplexed by the scene that has just played out in front of me; I sit next to Charlie on the wall. I look at her for a brief moment and I can't believe that someone so beautiful could hold that much hurt and confusion in her eyes. I can't help but feel sad about the atmosphere when she was sat in my arms had taken such a nose dive. Things seemed to be going really well and he had to turn up. I don't even know the guy but I'm filled with anger when I think about him. What ever happened between them had obviously not ended well. He had really done a number on her. I'm sure she didn't want to talk about it, but I decided to give her the opportunity to talk.

"Charlie, did you want me to flag you a taxi or walk you home?" I asked hoping that she would take me up on the latter option.

"No that's okay. I don't live that far away. It won't take me ten minutes to walk back". My heart sank a little when she replied.

I look towards the pub doors, as the sound from inside floats out. My hands ball up into fists when I see him walk out. Why would she ever going for an arse like him? At one point, I thought he had seen Charlie and was making his way over to us, but luckily...for him, he didn't. Ashley looks at me and follows where my glare is directed.

"I think it would be a good idea if Rob did walk you back. Jack has just come out" she suggests to Charlie. One thing I have noticed about Ashley in the last two nights, it how observant she is. That's twice now that she has helped me with Charlie.

"Good idea", Charlie finally responded.

After saying their goodbyes, Ashley and Kellan heading away from us to get a taxi. Without talking we both get up and I follow her as she leads me back to where she lived. The silence between us is killing me. We had so much to talk about earlier and now nothing. I panic, thinking that maybe she was annoyed with me because I had stepped in and practically called myself her boyfriend in front of her ex. I've lost count how many times I have put my foot in it. I needed to know what she was thinking.

"Charlie?" I ask softly, not looking at her. "Are you okay?"

She waits a few seconds before she answers. "Yeah I'm okay. Thank you for helping out back there. I didn't know what to do when I saw him stood there. My legs just froze. I'm sorry if it put you in an awkward situation. I know this wasn't really the best night ever. I'm sure it was not what you were expecting...and I wouldn't be surprised if you never want to see me again-"

"Charlie". I tried to stop her mid sentence. She had it all wrong. But she continued.

"In fact, you don't have to walk me home if you don't want to". Her voice was beginning to sound like she was unsuccessfully fighting back the tears. Not once did she look at me through her rant, which made me even sure that she was crying. I walk in front of her and hold her shoulders to stop her. I really need her to look at me. I place my hands carefully on either side of her face and tilt her head so I can see her. I was right, she was crying. I brush her tears that are flowing freely away with my thumb.

"Stop Charlie and listen to me will you". She seems a bit shocked at my forceful tone. I soften my voice and say "I have had a great night with you, even with that dickhead turning up". She laughs a little at my insult. "Now I don't know what he Jack has done to you, and I'm not sure if I want to know, cause it will only make me more angry with him. But you need to let it go. I don't like seeing anyone this upset, especially over some guy. And as for me never wanting to see you again, well that's ridiculous! How could I stay away?" I feel myself blush a little, feeling like I may have said too much. Charlie's face goes completely blank and I instantly begin to regret saying that last part. I wait, hoping that she will say something. I try to prompt her by saying "Charlie, please say something. Tell me to piss off, if you want but say something".

She smiled sweetly and threw her arms around my neck. I breathe a sigh of relief and pull her in closer. All I wanted to do in that moment was kiss her, but after what I saw tonight with Jack, I knew that it wouldn't be a good idea. No matter how much I wanted to.

I reluctantly pull away from her, afraid that if I don't, I would do something that she might regret. I loved spending time with her and I didn't want that to change by a stupid mistake.

"Let's get you home". I say softly. I think I see a glance of disappointment but I couldn't be sure that I was seeing what I wanted to see and not what was really there. We get to her door five minutes later and after a quick hug I walk away. It was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do.