Chapter 18

Charlotte's POV

"Even though I know what's wrong"

"How could I be so sure"

"If you never say what you feel"

"I must have held your hand so tight"

"You didn't have the will to fight"

"I guess you needed more time to heal"

"Baby, I just ran out of band-aids"

"I don't even know where to start"

"Cause you can bandage the damage"

"You never really can fix a heart"

"Your voice is getting stronger" I hear someone comment from behind me I turn away from my view of the mountains to face my mom.

I give her a small smile as I make my way over to her.

"Sorry, I just got distracted" I say hoping that we're not late to the press conference "Why are you apologizing?" My mom asks with confusion evident in her facial features I shrug my shoulders as I cross my arms.

She doesn't respond as she looks down at her phone.

"Come one, Bella sent a car for us" my mom informs me I adjust my short black dress before following my mom out of my bedroom.

I can take a guess on what some the questions are going to be about.

The real question is if I'm going to answer them truthfully.

-

"Whenever they ask you a question, I'll tell you how to reply" Bella quietly says to me as we enter the press room I give her a slight nod as we make our way towards the front of the room where our vacant, labeled seats are waiting.

I feel my nerves start to hit me full force as we take our seats.

"Let’s get started" Bella says which begins the conference A few reporters immediately raise their hands in the air.

Jesus Christ.

That was fast.

Bella points at a reporter with a dark purple blouse.

"Would you date a fan?" The lady asks Oh wow.

That was quick.

I can't say that I'm surprised though.

"Just answer the question honestly but make sure to place a joke in the sentence" Bella whispers into my ear quickly I nod my head before focusing on the woman.

"I wouldn't want my significant other to hate me" I reply jokingly with a smile A few of the reporters perk up and shoot their hands up at rocket speed.

I point to a random woman that's wearing a red shirt.

"Do you get used to being a celebrity?" She quickly asks "Reply with a short sentence" Bella whispers "I don't think anyone really 'gets used' to being a celebrity" I reply with small air quotes As soon as I'm finished answering the question Bella is already picking another reporter.

This time it's a guy that's wearing a green shirt.

"What's your biggest pet peeve?" He asks "Reply honestly" I hear Bella whispers "When I'm rushing somewhere but there's a person moving slow in front of me that I cannot get around" I reply hoping that it makes sense Bella points to a man in a suit.

Oh god.

I have a feeling I'm not going to like his question.

"What's the most useless talent you have?" He asks with a slight edge to his tone What is his problem?

"I can do tongue tricks" I reply nonchalantly as I stare him dead in the eyes I haven't had a scenario where my tongue tricks came in handy.

Therefore, I'm currently labeling it a useless talent until it comes in handy.

The man is visibly shocked and chooses to avoid my gaze.

I point to a lady with a blue top.

"Who is your inspiration?" The woman asks My girlfriend, Aspen.

But I can't say that Aspen is my girlfriend.

I can't even mention that I have a girlfriend.

"Say that it's your mom" Bella whispers since she understands that I cannot say or mention Aspen's name "My mom, she's done so much for me" I reply with a smile Don't get me wrong.

My mother is my inspiration.

She's just half of it though.

Bella points to the lady with the purple blouse, again.

"Who would you like to collaborate with musically?" She asks My eyes slightly widen.

Seriously?

I can't answer this question honestly because the answer is Aspen.

She may not agree with me, but Aspen has an amazing singing voice.

She's just slightly less informed than me with musical notes but I can easily teach her if she allows me to.

"Answer it with a joke" Bella says quickly "Shark boy from the movie 'Shark boy and lava girl'" I reply with a smile My answer isn't entirely false.

But it's also not entirely true.

Bella points to a man with an orange shirt that's standing off to the side.

"Are you dating the brunette-haired girl that you were photographed with a month ago?" He quickly asks That question right there has everyone staring at me with equal amounts of eagerness.

Not one person in this conference room is staring at anything else.

All of their eyes are watching my every move with intense eyes.

I begin to feel slightly nervous as my eyes scan the room.

"Be careful how you word your answer" Bella tells me She's right.

If I don't thoroughly word my answer then someone will take it and twist it out of context which will then result in me having to be on 'house arrest' for weeks.

I clear my throat before sitting up straighter.

I would reply honestly with a yes but I choose not to.

I want to wait until Aspen is conscious so that she can verbally give me her thoughts and opinions on whether she wants to make our relationship public or wait a while.

I don't want to be that girlfriend who pressures the other into doing something that they don't want to do.

That just isn't me.

"The word 'dating' has various meanings and aspects. Please elaborate." I reply with a void facial expression so that I don't accidentally give anything away "Are the both of you a couple, as in girlfriend and boyfriend?" The man elaborates with an impatient facial expression I shake my head which causes everyone's eagerness to visibly deflate.

"No, her and I do not have that type of relationship" I reply calmly Technically I'm not lying to them.

Aspen and I's relationship isn't girlfriend and boyfriend.

It's girlfriend and girlfriend.

"We're leaving in two minutes" Bella says as she glances down at her watch I nod as I turn to the crowd of reporters.

"I would like to personally thank you all for coming to this press conference, I hope to do another one soon" I reply with a smile I quickly stand up only to be escorted out by a security guard.

I wonder how Aspen is doing.

-

Aspen's POV

I open my eyes only to be met with the sun shining bright above me.

I groan as I feel my head begin to pound.

This is not a good feeling.

I slowly sit up and furrow my brows.

I'm laying underneath an apple tree while a patch of sunflowers stands proudly in front of me.

Where am I?

"Hello?" I call out, hoping that anyone will answer I end up getting no response.

So, I'm in the middle of nowhere with no one.

This is great!

Can you sense my sarcasm?

"Aspen Bailey, I have been expecting you" a gentle voice says from behind me I jump from fright as I turn to face the direction that the voice came from.

In front of me stands a literal goddess.

She was wearing a long white dress with a high slit on the side. Her long blonde hair has a curl pattern similar to crinkle fries as it flows effortlessly in the gentle wind. She's voids of any shoes which enhances her natural nature goddess inspired look.

"Charlotte?" I ask with a tone of confusion She shakes her head as the smile never falls from her face.

"No, my name is Isabel," she says sweetly which causes me to become even more confused "I've taken the physical aspect of your friend so that you would be more at ease" she explains thoroughly Woah.

This is crazy.

She looks exactly like Charlotte.

"Are you real?" I ask her "As real as you are" she replies with a smirk I reach my finger out and bring it towards her arm.

My breath hitches as it comes in contact with her bare arm.

She's real.

She softly chuckles at my reaction as she gestures for us to take a seat under the apple tree.

I follow her lead and sit on the grass under the tree. When she expertly sits down in her beautiful white gown my eyes widen.

"Aren't you going to ruin your dress?" I ask her She shakes her head as she looks out at the sunflower patch.

"It's stain proof" is all she replies, I nod my head not wanting to upset this so-called Isabel’s chick.

"Do you know why you are here?" She asks me as if she already knows the answer "Nope" I say as I also lean back against the tree "You're in the middle" she replies with a small smile "The middle?" I question with a raised brow Please don't tell me she means what I think she means.

"The middle of heaven and hell" she says as she stands up and holds her hand out for me to grab I take ahold of her hand and quickly pull myself up, not missing the fact that her dress is still purely white.

She wasn't kidding about it being stainless.

"Is there a reason why I'm here?" I ask her as she continues to hold my hand while leading us towards the sunflower patch "Of course, they wouldn't send you here for no reason" she replies with a light laugh As we arrive in front of the sunflower patch, she releases my hand and runs into the patch.

I choose to silently observe her.

She's beautiful, without a doubt.

But she also has the face of my best friend so it's only normal for me to think that.

"Are you coming?" She asks with a wide smile I smile back as I slowly walk towards her, the sunflowers rubbing against my hips.

As I reach her, she hands me a sunflower.

I give her a look of confusion as I accept it.

"It will answer all your questions about the day that Charlotte left" she says with a closed lip smile as she walks up beside me Really?

I look down at the flower only to quickly notice that the middle of it serves as a small screen.

Wow.

This is cool.

The flashback starts with Charlotte and I walking up to Megan's house.

Wow, we were fetuses.

Charlotte's blonde hair was long for our age division while her green eyes were just as bright as they are now.

My brunette hair was visibly darker than it currently is now while my brown eyes remained the same.

"I still don't see why we have to attend her sleepover" Charlotte complains as younger me knocks on the door "She's our friend" I replied "She's your friend, she hates me" Charlotte states It appears as if I was going to say something but got cutoff by the door swinging open.

"Aspen," a younger Megan says with an overjoyed tone of voice Her eyes drift over to Charlotte where they visibly become filled with hatred.

"And Charlotte" Megan says with a fake smile So, she's always been like this towards her.

Wow, how could I have been so blind?

"Come in, there are pancakes in the kitchen" Megan says as she holds the door open for us Younger me thanks her before entering her home.

Just as Charlotte's about to walk through the door Megan stops her.

"If you try any funny business in my house, I won't hesitate to throw you out, Wilder" Megan states with a glare Charlotte doesn't respond as she walks past her and seemingly in the direction that I went.

The video suddenly cuts to Avery and I sitting on the coach while eating a stack of pancakes.

Charlotte walks in and smiles at my stuffed face which causes fourteen-year-old me to blush and look away from her.

"You guys just got here, save the lovey dove stuff for later" Avery comments jokingly as she looks between us "Hi, Avery. How have you been?" Charlotte asks with a laugh as she sits beside younger me I notice that I offer her a pancake which she politely declines.

"I was incredibly bored then Megan called and mentioned a sleepover, an offer I couldn't refuse" Avery says dramatically as Megan enters the room Charlotte and I laugh at Avery's dramatic interpretation of what actually happened which visibly makes Megan irritated.

"What's so funny?" She asks with a clipped tone "Oh, it's nothing" younger me brushes off as Charlotte continues to laugh lightly Younger me looks over to the television where a random Disney movie is playing.

I'm currently to invested with this story to care what Disney movie it is.

Megan glares at Charlotte before she stomps out of the living room.

Younger me leans her head on Charlotte's shoulder which she doesn't seem to have a problem with.

Aww.

Isabel suddenly presses her finger firmly on the video which causes it to speed up.

I glance over to her only for her to smile innocently at me.

"Sorry, you guys don't really do anything important for around an hour" Isabel says with an unapologetic tone I just laugh at her as I look back down at the video.

She removes her finger from the flower when Charlotte looks down at her phone.

"I'll be back, I have to take this call" young Charlotte says as she gently nudges my head off her shoulder "Take your time" younger me replies with a small smile Charlotte smiles at me before standing up and walking out of the living room.

Avery and I silently watch the rest of the movie.

I guess it was a good movie since Avery always has to talk during movies.

Charlotte comes back into the living room just as the movie ends but she seems to be wearing a sad facial expression.

"What's wrong?" Younger me asks her as I sit up from my spot on the couch "Can we take a walk; I think better when I'm moving" Charlotte asks I look over at a young Avery and notice that she has a knowing look on her face.

Wait, she knew?!

How didn't I notice this the first time around?!

"Yeah, sure" Younger me replies to her as I stand up and quickly slip on a pair of shoes Isabel places her finger on the video which speeds it up, again.

I assume that I'm not missing anything important since Charlotte and I's mouths aren't even moving.

She removes her finger from it when Charlotte and I sit on a bench. The bench is located in the park where Charlotte and I first met.

"I'm leaving in an hour" Younger Charlotte starts with Wow.

What a great way to tell your best friend that you're leaving.

"I thought you weren't supposed to leave until next week" Younger me questions her "I wasn't, but the director just called my mom and said that he wants us there as soon as possible" she informs younger me "Oh" Younger me says as she looks down at her hands nervously Charlotte nervously bites her before reaching behind her neck and unclasping her locket.

My locket.

I look down at my neck and use my fingers to remove the locket from my neck. I hold the locket up next to the video so that I can compare them.

They're completely identical.

"I want you to have this, to remember me" Charlotte says as she hands the locket to a younger me "Can you help me put it on?" Younger me asks younger her She nods her head.

Younger me turns around on the bench, so that my back is facing her, and lifts my brunette hair up so that she has better access to my neck.

Charlotte gently and gracefully wraps the locket around my neck before clasping it in place.

Younger me releases my hair and turns around only to realize that Charlotte hasn't moved.

We stare at each other for a couple of seconds, our eyes doing all the talking.

Charlotte begins to slowly lean in for a kiss which doesn't go unnoticed by younger me as I begin to slowly lean in too.

Oh, my goodness.

Did we really-?!

My thought is cut off when our lips connect in a slow yet meaningful first kiss.

Damn.

I had so much game back then.

What happened?

Charlotte and I slowly pull away from each other with dazed facial expressions.

"Whoa" Younger me replies "Same" Younger Charlotte replies which makes the both of us release a little laugh Charlotte's phone goes off again which causes her to sigh.

"When I come back, we'll finish what we started" Charlotte promises Younger me nods my head at her promise, silently agreeing.

Charlotte stands up and wishes me one last goodbye before leaving.

Isabel places her finger on the video for approximately two seconds before removing it.

Younger Megan walks up to younger me with a relieved facial expression.

"I've been looking for you everywhere" she states "Here I am" Younger me replies as I slowly look up at her "What's wrong?" She asks "Charlotte just left" I reply as I begin to stand up from the park bench Megan makes a disgusted face as I begin to walk in the bike lane since there are no sidewalks.

"Okay, so?" Younger Megan replies rudely Younger me turns around to face her with a confused facial expression.

"She was my best friend and first love" Younger me says She was my only love.

"Bullshit" Younger Megan replies as I hear a distant car driving down the street in the video It doesn't sound normal though.

Almost as if the driver is swerving.

"Excuse me?" Younger me replies as I cross my arms "You're too naive to know what love is" Megan replies just as the car begins to drive down the street "You would say that" I reply "I'm just protecting you from that blonde bitch" Younger Megan says Just hearing her say that five years later has my blood boiling.

Younger me has an appalled facial expression.

"I don't think that we should be friends anymore" Younger me replies to her as I begin to walk down the bike lane, again "You can't do that" Megan replies as she comes up behind Younger me She yanks me back by my hair before throwing me down onto the rough street, making sure to angle my head so that it gets most of the force.

Oh my god.

Younger me tries to push her off but I'm unable to since I'm significantly weaker.

"If I can't have you, no one can" Megan grits out as she continually bangs my head against the ground with so much force that Younger me becomes unconscious after the fifth blow When Megan notices that I'm unconscious she gets off of me and places a kiss on my bloody head before walking away from my body.

I look over to Isabel with a horrified expression.

I'm surprised that I didn't die.

"Look" is all she says as she points to the flower I look down at the video and notice that the car that I heard earlier is, in fact, not swerving but continuously pressing on the brake.

The large red truck stops next to my body, not long after that the driver steps out of the truck.

It seems to be a middle-aged woman.

"Honey, we need to help her" the woman says as a man appears beside her The woman begins to feel my neck while simultaneously pressing her ear against my chest.

"Is she still breathing?" He asks with a worried tone "Yes," the woman says as she removes her ear from my chest "Come on, put her in the back" the woman demands as she begins to dial a phone number She places the phone to her ear and waits a couple second before saying something.

"Hello, Georgia. I'm going to be a little late for our meeting" the woman says as the man lifts my younger body into the back seat of the truck The woman is quiet for a couple of seconds.

"My husband and I found a young girl unconscious on the side of the road, so we're helping her" the woman replies as her husband closes the back door and walks towards the passenger side door The woman is quiet for another couple of seconds.

"Thank you for understanding, we'll reschedule" the woman says with a grateful tone as she gets into the driver’s seat and speeds off.