Chapter Two

A warm summer breeze blows gently across the long green grass of the field illuminated by the sun set high within the sky that is a blue with no sign of a cloud in sight. Charlie smiles as she stretches her arms, the strong sun hitting her back warming her body. Her white dress that comes just up to mid thigh sways softly in the wind causing an effect you would see in a fashion magazine. But we're in her dream. The dream Charlie has come to since she can remember, a way to leave behind the troubles of her life and enjoy herself while her body rests. But she is not alone.

The smile of this young man is dazzling - the million dollar smile she calls it. His voice like velvet that every time he says her name it rolls off his tongue so easily and the words wrap around Charlie giving her a warm loving embrace. He arrived within her dreams since she was sixteen, just after she lost her mother, they sit within the field picking flowers, make daisy chains, laugh at jokes, and talk about anything on Charlie's mind she feels much as ease around this beautiful stranger.

She smiles and walks towards him, her feet moving with grace like she does when she dances ballet, he is standing on top of a hill in his usual white linen shirt and dark washed jeans, his brown hair is messy with a side fringe that sweeps over his left eye. When Charlie arrives in front of him, his arms find their ways around her waist pulling her close to him, hers around his neck as they embrace. They finally pull away and his hands find their way to her face his thumb gently brushing her left cheek as he looks into her icy blue eyes seeing the emotion within them.

"Please don't hide your pain Charlie, what is it?" He asks gently. She leans into his touch before sighing.

"You know it's coming up again soon." Her voice small and timid.

"I had a vague idea it would be, how do you feel?" Tears threaten as they fill her eyes causing a warm sting but she blinks them away.

"I don't know if I am completely honest." She shrugs. He pulls her closer stroking her blonde hair and plant a soft kiss on her forehead.

"She'll be so proud of you Charlie, you've come so far."

"I've made mistakes."

"Hasn't everybody?"

"I gave up my dream. Dancing was everything to me and I gave it up."

"Yes you did, but you got into university and have a fantastic opportunity approaching just after the new year."

"Only because of where I have come from, the status I am."

"Status means nothing, you are the smartest, kindest, loving, and most beautiful girl I have ever laid eyes on. That is why you have come so far." A brief pause between the two is easy, they stand there with their arms around each other in silence. "I miss seeing you dance, so elegant. Would you do me the honor?" He asks reaching his hand out to her and bowing slightly. Charlie giggles and takes his hand as they start to slowly waltz.

*

The loud knock from her bedroom door causes Charlie to sit bolt upright in her small bed, she swings her legs over the side and push herself up with her arms before walking over towards the door, clasping the cold metal handle she slowly pulls the door open to reveal her flatmate and friend Lauren Costa, she moved into Charlie's flat when she first arrived in London at the beginning of the academic year. Lauren's short black hair is straight but tucked under her chin her brown eyes shining complimenting her blue t-shirt and jeans with a fur coat.

"Morning." She chirps. Charlie returns a smile and leans against the frame of her door.

"Good morning, and how can I help you?" She laughs.

"You did not seriously forget?"

"No I did not forget, I've just woken up. Oxford Street, Christmas shopping, dinner, yes I remember. Give me a few minutes to get dressed and I'll meet you in the kitchen."

"Okay. You are wasting valuable shopping time." Lauren smiles and walks towards the kitchen. Charlie groans and closes the door behind her, scooping her hair up into a ponytail she jumps into the hot shower letting is cascade down her body warming her body. After she is done she dresses casually and comfortably for the long day of shopping, she locks her door behind her but the slam of a closing door makes her jump and scream in shock as she whips around to come face to face with Dean, Lauren's squeeze. Breathing in heavily Charlie chuckles softly.

"Dean you scared me."

"Sorry." He mutters not making eye contact with her because of his embarrassment of doing the walk of shame from Lauren's room. "Can you let Lauren know I had to go please?" He asks and she nods. He makes his quick depart and Charlie cannot help but feel sorry for him he is a good person and Lauren just uses him for one thing. She turns on her heels and walks towards the kitchen. Lauren is sitting by the table opposite the big window that over looks the London skyline and their crescent courtyard. Next to her is their other friend Nancy Biggings who lives in room number 1 just by the front door. They both have their mugs filled with coffee, the heating on, and talking amongst themselves, they smile at Charlie before getting back to their conversation. She pours herself coffee into her Disney Princess mug and takes a seat next to Lauren trying to tune in with their conversation.

"I saw Dean." Charlie speaks up looking at Lauren who almost chokes on her coffee, a blush creeps on her face as she looks down to her cup.

"When are you two actually going to go exclusive?" Nancy asks.

"Never." She replies bluntly and truthfully. Charlie and Nancy look at her with sympathy because of how much Dean likes Lauren. "It won't work, after this year I'll be back in Seattle and he'll be here."

"I understand you do not want to hurt him-" Charlie starts but Lauren starts getting agitated and snaps.

"It's not about hurting him Charlie, it's more about hurting myself."

The silence is awkward, Lauren has never lost her temper before and feels ashamed, the girls continue drinking their coffee making small talk about university and their plans over Christmas break. Nancy is returning home to Bristol for a few days then they are driving to Cardiff to visit her brother and his wife for Boxing Day, Lauren is staying in halls with the other abroad students and will skype her family on Christmas Day. Charlie is returning to Rosewater to spend the break with her fathers' and catching up with her best friend Oliver.

After their coffee has been consumed and they are wrapped up warm ready to battle the winter weather England has brought and attempt the busy underground filled with shoppers from all over the world visiting the big city, the girls make they're way to Oxford Street to buy their last minute presents for their families.

The high street is bursting with life with shoppers strolling casually or in a panic to buy any presents they may have left behind,the girls regret coming to Oxford Street three days before Christmas but stop to enjoy the carol singers that are standing just before the entrance of the tube station, Lauren even tries getting Nancy and Charlie to join along with the carolers to raise their Christmas spirit before heading towards the shops. Fake snow shoots out of a machine on a few buildings to give the effect of a white Christmas, it falls and sticks to their hair and clothing as they walk. In one shop Lauren fights off a woman who grabbed hold the same top as she did, normally Lauren would let it go but because it was one size left and was really pretty she was not taking any prisoners as Nancy and Charlie walked off leaving their friend to help herself.

Charlie brought a gift for both Christian and Phil, a Marc Jacobs slip on boots for Phil to go walking about town in, and a Louis Vuitton diary for Christian to keep important dates in. As for Oliver she brought him a leather jacket from River Island that she knew he wanted. Nancy found her shopping experience a little bit more daunting than her friends, finding presents for her dad, brother, his wife and sister was easy but her very picky up-tight mum was very difficult as Nancy always worry whatever she buys her mother will turn her nose up. Nancy's mum did not approve of her moving to London to study she had always hoped to keep the family close together as she worries about the world, but Nancy knows it's to keep her under the thumb, her brother had a lucky escape in Nancy's opinion when he got married and started a family of his own. Charlie feels lucky that her fathers' are not like that, they want her to embark on her dreams and desires even if it means moving away, but Charlie always kept close to Phil and Christian to remind her that home is where the heart is.

After the dreadful three hours of shopping, arguing with strangers, browsing for gifts, the girls finally decided to go for an early dinner to rest their achy legs. Charlie slides into the red seated booth next to Lauren and Nancy sitting opposite them, their different colored and branded bags placed on the floor under the table by their feet and they grab the menus to look at what to eat. After ordering their food and drinks the girls talk about how successful they have been today and start planning their New Years Eve party.

"So what are we doing?" Nancy asks after taking a sip of her pepsi.

"It's between seeing the fireworks on the bridge, or a party?" Lauren replies.

"I think Mike said something about a flat party round his." Charlie puts in. This is Lauren's first New Years Eve here in London and the girls want to make sure to celebrate together and properly.

"A party round Mikes! That's perfect the view from his kitchen is brilliant, looks right to the London Eye so we can watch the fireworks and take shots." Lauren beams getting excited over the idea.

"I'll ask him when we get back." She says while picking up her glass of white wine and taking a sip tasting the sweet crisp fruity flavor burst into her mouth. Her phone buzzes in her pocket but she chooses to ignore it. Lauren looks at her with sympathy as she knows who it is.

"Is that Tom?" Charlie just nods trying to block out the emotion that was threatening to overwhelm her. Tom Barney was Charlie's boyfriend of two years, they met during her first year and clicked, he was everything a girl could ask for in a guy, but that's never meant to last. 

Lauren remembers that day clear as if it was yesterday, she was outside having a cigarette when she saw Tom outside with a love bite on his neck, Lauren was furious and demanded to know how he got it, after denying it he finally admitted he had in fact cheated on Charlie, Lauren screamed loudly that her voice echoed throughout the courtyard and started to fight him. Charlie and Nancy heard the shouts from their kitchen and ran to Lauren's aid only to see her holding Tom by his throat threatening him, it took both girls to pull her away from him.

But now three months on he got the courage to start texting Charlie begging her to forgive him, asking her to go get a coffee with him and talk. In the end Charlie did end up going to meet him but it ended up in an argument where Charlie stormed out leaving him behind. Whenever she see's him in the courtyard she brushes past him and ignores his calls. Deep down she does still care about him but the wound is still fresh.

"Is that him again?" Lauren spits in disgust. Charlie just nods and drinks more of her wine. "Have you told him to stop texting you?"

"Yeah." She replies in a small tone feeling upset, she does miss him.

"A*****e." Lauren says, she met Tom two days ago and told him to never text or ring Charlie again. I guess the message did not get through.

"Enough of this, come on lets make a toast." Nancy interrupts and raises her glass, Lauren and Charlie lift theirs together. "To a Happy Christmas to my beautiful best friends and I can't wait to walk into the new year with you." She says and they clink their glasses before the waiter comes over with the food.

Author's Note

Please let me know what you think.