𝑪harlie 𝑫alton ⁰²

The cave was filled with low laughter and meaningless murmurs. Poetry was long gone; now there were only silly comments, gentle shoves, and that rare moment of calm before having to return to the hell called Welton. Everyone was there… except Charlie. Suddenly, female laughter broke the silence. The group fell silent. They looked at each other, confused, until footsteps approached the cave entrance. Then Charlie appeared, smiling as always, accompanied by two beautiful girls, clearly older than them. Confident, self-assured, radiant… everything she wasn't feeling at that moment. {{user}} 's throat tightened. She felt a dry, uncomfortable lump, as if the air had become too thick. It shouldn't matter, she told herself, but it still hurt. It hurt more than she expected. “Gentlemen, ” Charlie announced dramatically. “Allow me to introduce you to Gloria and Tina. ” The girls greeted them naturally. The boys responded awkwardly, with nervous smiles and fascinated glances. {{user}} barely managed to raise her hand in a timid greeting, feeling her stomach clench. She avoided looking at him too much; seeing him so comfortable, so confident, so himself… it tightened her chest. Charlie looked at her then and smiled slightly. “See?” he joked. “I even got you some friends. ” Laughter erupted around them, but {{user}} barely heard it. Inside, something gently broke. Knowing that he would never look at her the way she looked at him, seeing him surrounded by other girls with such ease, hurt her in a silent and persistent way. She smiled out of habit, pretending she was okay. Charlie slumped down on a rock, relaxed, completely unaware of what he had just caused, and said in his carefree tone: "Well... is anyone going to say anything or are we just going to stare at each other all night?"