We Don't Belong

I sit down in the back row of the plane with my headphones. I ignore the over happy flight attendant and her safety instructions. I close my eyes and lean against the window.

I'm gonna miss Maxy and Brett so much. Like I'm pretty sure they were the best friends I ever had. We got so close so fast. I feel like I'm a whole different person.

What is everyone in LA gonna think? I start to think about Aaron. I smile to myself at the thought of him. I can't wait to see him. And my dad. I hope he accepts who I am now.
I get lost in my thoughts and end up falling asleep.

What seems like only minutes later I'm woken up by a flight attendant saying we will be landing soon and I need to buckle my seatbelt. I nod and rub my eyes yawning. I buckle my seatbelt and check the time. 10 PM.

I look out the window as we slowly decline. The Pacific Ocean in the distance and the lit up city skyline.

Moments later I feel the plane hit the runway. Once the plane is stopped, I stand up and grab my backpack from the overhead.

I leave my headphones in and blare Asking Alexandria. I walk slowly down the ramp, pushing my way through the crowd.

I reach the end and start walking faster, knowing two of the people I love most are waiting at the gate.

I see Aaron and my dad standing together as close to the terminal as they could get. They see me and I start running full speed towards them.

Tears fill my eyes as I look into those of my father. I drop my backpack and throw myself into
his arms.

"Daddy!! I missed you so much!!"

"I know sweetheart. I missed you too. I missed my little Charlotte Rose."

After a long, warm embrace, I back away and throw my arms around Aaron's neck.

He wraps me in his arms and squeezes me so tight I can barely breathe. I look straight into his emerald green eyes and say,"I missed you so much Aaron. Oh my god I have so much to tell you!!"

"I know babe!! You seem different..." he pauses," what even happened in Ohio?"

I say," We will talk later about it. It's a really long story I promise I'm the same old Charlotte you loved."

He softly kisses my cheek and wraps his arm around my waist.

I turn to my dad and say,"I'm so glad I'm back in LA."

"I'm so glad too sweetie. Why don't you and Aaron go get something to eat and catch up with each other. I have to go into work for a special dinner event. Oh and I won't be home until late so you can stay the night at Aaron's house."

"Okay dad!! I'll see you tomorrow! Love you!"

He kisses my head and says, " have fun Charlotte Rose. I'll see you tomorrow. Be safe. Love you."

He starts walking to the escalator. I grab Aaron's hand and smile We start walking towards the luggage claim.
Aaron swings our hands back and forth and makes jokes like he always does.

God I missed this.. I just hope Aaron understands that I'm not the same person anymore.

I see my two suitcases and duffle bag and point them out to Aaron. We both take a suitcase and he takes my duffle bag.

"Come on babe. Let's go put your stuff in my car and then I'm taking you to a nice dinner where we can catch up and spend time together."

We get close to the car and he stops me.

"I have a surprise for you baby. Stay right there and close your eyes. No peeking!!!"

He takes my stuff and puts it in the car. And I stand there wondering what the surprise is.

A minute later he says," alright baby. Open your eyes."

I open my eyes and see him holding a box with a red bow on it. He hands it to me and smiles, watching me pull at the end of the bow.

I get the bow untied and smile as I open the box to find a Pandora bracelet.

I throw my arms around Aaron," baby its beautiful. You didn't have to do this!"

He hugs me tight and says," babe I know I didn't have to, but I wanted to. You deserve this... you have been through a lot lately.."

"Wait.. you know what happened with my mom? "

"Uh yeah babe... your dad told me everything.. I’m sorry that you and your mom got in so many fights. I know how much you always wanted to make her happy.”

“Oh.. I wanted to be able to tell you that before my dad did. I need to explain what happened.. but I don’t really want to talk about it right now..”

“We don’t have to talk right now, it can wait until later at my house. Why don’t we listen to some Taylor Swift while we drive to dinner. I know how much you love her.”

He plugs his phone into the aux cord and turns up her music. I feel myself rolling my eyes and just wanting to listen to some stuff from bands.. How am I supposed to tell him that?

I put a fake smile on my face and try not to think too much about you know.. I look down at my phone to find my phone blown up with texts from Andy.

Fuck. Why can’t he just leave me alone? I open them and scroll through. The smile on my face slowly fades as I see messages like ,” Charlotte babe please call me..” and “I love you Charlotte.. let me explain.”

The start of tears come to my eyes and I try to blink them away before Aaron notices. Luckily, we pull into the restaurant and I take a shaky deep breath.

“You OK babe? You look upset.”

“Just fine.”

He looks suspicious but shakes the thought out of his head.

We go into the almost empty restaurant and sit down at a booth in the back.

I put my phone on the table and try to forget about everything in Ohio.
We order and sit there talking. In the middle of a conversation about things I missed while I was gone, my phone starts ringing.

I glance over at the caller ID, annoyed when I see its the person I never want to talk to again.
I mean.. he is never gonna leave me alone unless I just answer..

I look up at Aaron to see a look of confusion and shock on his face. The only picture Andy and I ever took together comes up on the screen.

“Who the fuck is that?”

I shake my head as I feel a lump in my throat.

“Charlotte. You better tell me right now. Who is that guy in the picture and why is he calling you?”

“Don’t worry about it.. its a long story. My mom isn’t the only reason that I left..”

Before I get a chance to pick it up, he grabs it and answers.

The color fades out of my cheeks as he says,” who the hell is this?”

I look away from Aaron and try not to cry.

“Andy? And who the fuck do you think you are to call my girlfriend.”

“Um.. actually.. she was my girlfriend….”

“Your girlfriend? YOUR GIRLFRIEND???” his voice gets louder and louder, causing a scene.

I get up and run outside to the car. I see him following still on the phone. He comes outside yelling and I grab for my phone. `

He pushes me away, still talking.

I bury my face in my hands as tears flow freely from my eyes.

He gets furious and hangs up on Andy in the middle of his explanation.

He shoves my phone back in my hands and yells,” get in the fucking car. Now Charlotte.”

I get in and lean against the window silent as he screams at me.

“WHY THE HELL WOULD YOU DATE SOMEONE ELSE? WHAT THE FUCK CHARLOTTE??”

“ I thought for sure you would move on.. and I made new friends and changed.. I’m not the popular preppy girl i used to be, and you're just gonna have to accept that."

“What the fuck happened to her?? You’re a totally different person now.. I mean look at you.. you’re wearing all black and you make friends that look like that Andy guy. Why would you ever want to date him anyway?”

“FUCKING STOP! Don’t talk about Andy and my other friends like that! You asshole! I love them and they treated me better than you ever could. Just leave me the fuck alone Aaron, \

He pulls out of the restaurant and says," does your dad know about this?? I'm sure he would love to know you were hanging out with creepy ass guys like him?"

"No. He doesn't know. But when I tell him, he's not gonna scream at me like you. He will accept the way I have changed and embrace it."

"Whatever Charlotte."

"Take me home, now Aaron."

"No. You're staying at my house for the night, your dad doesn't want you home alone."

"Aaron , I don't want to stay the night with you. Do you not understand that?"

"Oh, I understand perfectly. Look.. I'm sorry Charlotte," he says, putting his hand on my thigh.

"What the fuck?!," I smack his hand away," don't touch me."

"Woah woah babe chill.. You used to love it when I would--"

"Not anymore Aaron. We are done. I never should have come back. Give me my stuff and let me out of the car," I say with tears running down my face.

"No, we're not done Charlotte! You're mine and you always will be. I love you!"

"Stop! I don't love you anymore...I love.. A-Andy.."

All of a sudden he brings up his right hand and smacks me across my face, making me cry even more from the pain of everything.

I scream at him," LET ME OUT OF THE FUCKING CAR NOW AARON!"

He speeds up and says," No. Charlotte I love you so much.. I didn't mean to do that... it just happened."

"Well, you did. And that only made things worse. Pull the fuck over right now."

He gets into the right lane and takes the next exit. We pull into a Target parking lot and he stops the car.

I open my door hurriedly and go to the back to get my stuff. Aaron follows me. I pull it all out and set it down.

"I'm not leaving you here, no matter what."

"Oh.. Really? I never want to see you ever again. Leave me alone you jerk!"

I smack him across the face as hard as I can.

God that felt good. I decide to do it again even harder, bringing tears to his eyes.

I bend down and pick up my stuff and start walking away.

"Baby..."

"It's over."

Notes

Hey you guys! I'm sorry I haven't updated in forever. I have been super busy with our school play, but it just ended. I'm gonna try to update way more. Some big things are coming up. Tell me what you think. As always I'm open to any feedback or comments you may have. I love you guys!