And here is Mike's~~!
"That wasn't his cat." -Harvey
I smiled as I got Charlie's usual school text. I knew she was going to see me after school, or at least call me. I looked forward to it every day from her. It was something that made my day. I got to hear from my girlfriend, and I was one more day in love with her. I just couldn't tell my boss about it. Doing that was nearly as dangerous as my secret. Looking at the calendar, I knew what day it was. Charlie dreaded the day as it approached. I knew I should have asked what was going on and what she had planned, but I didn't. I didn't think of it until after she was already on her way to school.
GOOD LUCK. SEE YOU AFTER. –MIKE
It wasn't much, but I hoped it pushed her in the direction of not pissing off Harvey. I knew it was a feeble attempt without really telling her to stay in school. It was just as hard to not tell her I loved her after every text I sent to her. I couldn't be sure if Harvey was watching either her or me. I couldn't seem suspicious. Harvey got too close to figuring out everything. I couldn't let it happen again. Charlie's happiness was riding on it.
I got to work for Harvey, going through my usual routine, which also included what Charlie was up to. It had become second nature to me to wonder what Charlie was experiencing, what she was doing and how she liked everything. Part of me wanted to go with her, while another part of me didn't want to smother her with my presence. Occasionally checking my phone for some sign of communication from Charlie became what I did best between paragraphs, sips of coffee, and even between paperwork.
I was in the middle of one of my mini-breaks when I finally heard from Charlie. I felt my phone go off in my pocket, nearly startling me from my trance of what Harvey wanted to get done, and what needed to get done yesterday.
HEY, CAN YOU TALK? –CHARLIE
After reading the message a few times, making sure the words on the screen of my phone were indeed English and what the words meant that Charlie sent, my mind started playing through of what she needed to talk to me about. Perhaps there was something at school, or perhaps it was something worse like she landed herself in the hospital again. Almost frantically, I text her back.
SOON. WHAT'S GOING ON? –MIKE
By then, I was thinking something was going on at school and she needed an escape. To stay clear of Harvey's suspicious eyes and the prying eyes of almost everyone else at the firm, I started for the elevator, heading toward a quiet spot outside the firm and outside. I needed to get my head straight. It was nearly thinking clearly when I stepped outside the building when she text me back.
LONG STORY. WILL TELL YOU WHEN YOU CALL. –CHARLIE
After reading that, I freaked out internally, quickly heading toward a small park that was near the office building. Quickly, I typed my response, wondering what kind of trouble Charlie had gotten herself into. I just hoped I could get her out of it.
CHARLIE, WHAT DO YOU MEAN, WHEN I CALL? –MIKE
There was a near-instant reply.
I WILL TELL YOU WHEN YOU CALL. I PROMISE. –CHARLIE
After taking a deep breath when I got to the park, I dialed her number from memory, getting jittery with anticipation of what she was going to tell me. I didn't calm down until I heard her voice.
"Hello?" her voice was small, worried, against whatever noise was behind her. It didn't sound like something from a school, or a school event. I didn't know whether or not I wanted to worry more that I was losing her or what.
"Charlie, where the hell are you?" I asked, coming off more worried and ticked off that I knew nothing of what my girlfriend was doing or where she was.
She hesitated for a moment before saying shyly and like she was in trouble. "On a train."
I gave a weird look, making sure I heard plain English right before letting out a frustrated breath. "A train? Why are you on one of those?"
"Because it's the only means of transportation I could get," she said, trying to keep her tone even. I knew she was feeling pretty bad about this. Now it was up to me to keep calm and not freak her out.
"Charlie," I started, trying to keep all frustration from my voice, "what is going on? You can tell me, I am outside alone."
In a park, I thought to myself.
"I skipped school today," she said, letting out a tensed up breath she would give when she was trying to calm down from Harvey.
"I managed to get that much," I said, trying to be understanding of why she wasn't in school. "Where are you going?"
"Home," she said simply.
I sighed, trying to think of where her "home" would be. I knew it wasn't going to be Harvey's. She hasn't considered that home yet. Not that Harvey has made too much of an attempt to make it feel like it.
"Charlie, define home."
"Where my mom is," she said, her voice cracking from the thought.
I felt the pang, knowing exactly what she was going to do. I just wished I could have gone with her just so she wasn't alone. It seems to hurt more when you go and do something like that alone. I let out a sigh of relief knowing where she was going and what she was going to do. It was all I wanted.
"Charlie, why didn't you tell me this morning?" I asked, feeling slightly hurt I wasn't trusted with it.
"How was I supposed to know if Harvey wasn't around you?" she asked, bringing up a good point.
"Good point," I said. Then thought of something. "But did you at least tell Donna?"
There was no answer from Charlie. She wasn't planning on telling anyone. I should've seen it coming. If she wasn't going to tell me, I should have known she wasn't going to tell Donna. Donna was too close to Harvey and I knew she wouldn't want anything to slip.
"Charlie," I said firmly, trying to get her to talk.
"No."
"Why not?"
I sighed in frustration, hating that I was right. "Damn it, Charlie," I started, running a frustrated hand through my hair. I managed to get my voice down to a calmer tone. "You should have told someone you were doing this. At least then, if something happened, we could help."
Charlie's guilty voice rang over mine. "I am telling you."
I looked to my phone in disbelief. "Charlie, that isn't what I meant and you know it."
"Would it help to tell you that I thought about it?"
I shook my head. Thinking and doing were two different things, Harvey taught me that from day one. "Not too much."
"Well, I did," she said. I could tell she wasn't too happy with herself either.
I was quiet, trying to hold down my frustration as well as trying to figure out what I wanted to say to her. I was worried as hell for her. She didn't have to go alone. I could have talked to Donna to get the day off while I went with her. Something so she wasn't alone.
"Mike?" she asked shyly, like she knew something was wrong.
"Yes?"
"I'm okay, I promise I am," she assured me, lifting some of the worry from me.
"Good," I said, with a small smile. "I guess that is all that matters."
"I'll be home tonight," she said, her voice lifting a little.
"Okay. By the time you are home from school?"
"Maybe later."
"Alright," I said with a nod. "By the way, I will be telling Donna. She can keep this a secret."
"Okay," Charlie said with a small sniff like she was trying to keep down tears.
God, she really shouldn't have gone alone. I should have gone with her. I know what it's like.
"Charlie, it will be okay. He won't find out," I assured her in an easy tone, knowing she was worried about Harvey finding out about what she was doing.
"Okay," she answered. She paused for a moment before saying, "And Mike?"
"Yeah?"
"I love you."
I smiled instantly when I heard those words from her. Looking around, I knew I was in public with the possibility of someone listening in on me. I had to be careful about it.
"You too, sweetheart. I have to go. Keep me updated, okay?"
I could tell she smiled, making me feel better.
"I will, I promise."
I smiled more. "Good, have a good time seeing town. Call me when you're heading back or if you need anything."
"Thanks, Mikey."
I smiled, almost feeling a blush rise to my cheeks. "You're welcome."
I knew where Donna was going to be like clockwork. She was going to be in the break room getting a small handful of chocolate chips and getting her coffee. I knew Donna. She was predictable, which is why I walked to her in the break room.
"Donna?"
"Yes, puppy?" she asked.
I sighed, trying to get over the puppy comment. Yes, I get it; I am still learning the ropes of law because of the whole law school thing, but puppy doesn't fit me.
"I need to tell you something."
"So speak," she said, turning around to face me.
"I can't exactly."
Donna raised an amused eyebrow. "Troubles with being a puppy."
"More like troubles I can't say out loud per say."
Donna's amused look disappeared as she mouthed one word. "Charlie?"
I nodded. "Yeah."
"We need a private place without Harvey's eyes and ears."
I nodded. "I am not texting you either."
Donna shook her head, the ruby locks shifting with the movement of her head. "Oh hell no. Risky. Meet me in the file room in five minutes. Bring the chocolate."
I nodded, letting her leave before I grabbed her stash of chocolate chips and started for the file room. My papers and work could wait. Donna needed to know everything going on with Charlie. It wasn't long before I could. After she walked to me with the file room door locked and silently demanding her chocolate chip bag, I started to tell her.
"Charlie didn't go to school today. Relay for Life," I said, letting her process everything.
Donna didn't look surprised. "Where did she go."
"Home," I said.
"Home? Like as in Harvey's condo or...?"
I gave her a look. "We both know she doesn't consider his condo a home."
Donna sighed as she uttered, "Shit. That girl's going to see her mom."
I nodded. "Yeah, alone."
"Oh shit, Mike. We have to stop her."
"How? She's already on a train getting there. I just talked to her not too long ago."
"Damn that girl is good. She covered her ass."
"No, she didn't tell anyone."
"I know, which makes me worried for when the school calls Harvey about it."
I never paled so fast in my life. "What?"
Donna nods. "Harvey had the school call him when Charlie isn't in school to make sure she was going and not just skipping."
I sighed, tossing my weight to one side and spinning a little. I leaned against a box for a case the firm was working on, hiding my eyes in my arm. "Fuck."
"No shit," she said. "I hope I get to bypass it. Harvey has a meeting soon with an old friend and client. I am hoping he gave the school office his office number and not his cell phone. If it was his cell phone, then she's screwed. She knew how Harvey felt about her missing his Relay."
I nodded. "I know and I was stupid enough to suggest she skip it. I didn't think she would follow through this badly."
Donna nods. "In the meantime, we need to keep contact with her. Just to make sure. As for Harvey, we just pray that the school doesn't call, and if they do, they call his office phone."
"Praying might not be enough."