Work Text:
The Emily household had gone dark hours ago. Charlotte was sound asleep, for once. Typically, it took an hour or two before properly falling asleep, but she didn't have so much trouble tonight. The soft hum of the A/C filled the room, and the rain outside made everything all the more comfortable. The only other sounds were Charlie's soft breathing and her twisting and turning every once in a while.
CRACK!
The thunder struck nearby, close enough for it to feel like it was right next to the house. It didn't wake Charlie up immediately; she stirred softly and rubbed her eyes. She sat up as her eyes slowly adjusted to the surrounding darkness. Ugh…she complained.
Now there was no going back, unfortunately. It was nice while it lasted, but she definitely wasn't getting any more sleep than that tonight. It wasn't the worst place to be, at least the rain was still somewhat comforting.
Rubbing her eyes again, Charlie let her mind wander again. She imagined she may get to hang out with her friends sometime soon. She missed them already again. In fact, she hadn't heard from Elizabeth or Dave in days. That made her feel…somewhat worried.
It wasn't that long ago that Elizabeth had come over to Charlie's house, right after relapsing. It made Charlie feel terrible, terrible that she might not be doing enough, she wasn't being good enough. But she had to be strong for Elizabeth and for everyone else. So, it didn't matter to her that much either.
CRACK!
The thunder startled Charlie this time, but then she giggled at herself immediately afterwards. She was bored out of her mind, but there wasn't much she could do to entertain herself right now. So, she laid back down on her bed, hoping that by some miracle she'd fall back asleep.
Knock, knock.
Charlie's eyes opened wide in fear. She tried to calm herself down, sitting back upright in the bed. There was a knock on the window. Someone had knocked on her window.
Although she'd never been in this situation before, her father, Henry, had prepared her for what to do in situations like these. Don't react, and call for him.
But Charlie didn't do that. She was…too scared. Maybe, just maybe, she could try and reason with whoever was out there. For some reason, her brain told her this was the best course of action.
She mustered up all the courage in her body and pulled her curtains to the side, not knowing who to expect on the other side of the window. But whatever she imagined, it was far from who was actually there.
Out in the cold, pouring rain, stood Elizabeth Afton, Charlie's best friend.
Charlie's heart dropped instantly. Elizabeth looked absolute disheveled. She wore an old, tattered shirt that clung to her skin, pijama pants, and she was barefoot. For once, her arms were…uncovered, and they looked like they were bleeding. Her hair was messy and unkept, and she looked like she had been crying, heavily. She had the saddest, most miserable expression on her face that Charlotte had ever seen.
Charlie put a hand over her mouth to cover her gasp, tears welling in her eyes. After a second, she regained her composure and opened her window. Elizabeth slowly walked towards it as Charlie helped her inside.
Once Elizabeth stepped inside Charlie's room, Charlie wrapped her arms around her, hugging tightly. Elizabeth had a blank, expressionless look on her face. Her arms were too tired to hug back, so they hung limply at her sides. Charlie saw blood dripping from them.
Charlie pulled softly at Elizabeth's hair, crying into it as she held on tight. She stroked Elizabeth's curls gently as she tried to calm herself down.
As Charlie swallowed up her cries and took a deep breath, she looked deeply at Elizabeth. She looked sick, tired, and in pain. So much pain. The sight was heartbreaking.
Charlie quickly closed the window and pulled Elizabeth to sit on the bed with her. She treated her wounds as best as she could, finally bandaging them with little resistance from Elizabeth. She didn't care to say much at all anyways.
Charlie looked at Elizabeth again, and Elizabeth looked back at her. She took a breath, then finally spoke to Charlie.
"I'm sorry," she muttered under her breath.
Charlie sniffled again softly, but tried her best to maintain her composure.
"Lizzie, don't say that…" she whispered back. "Please, don't say that…"
Elizabeth simply stared at her blankly.
Charlie grabbed her blankets, wrapping them around Elizabeth to try to warm her up. They scooted closer in bed together, and Charlie placed a pillow behind Elizabeth's head.
"I'm sorry," Elizabeth repeated, sounding like a broken, out-of-tune machine.
Charlie felt a tightening in her chest, an ache inside her heart. "I know, I know. It's fine. It's fine. We're fine," She reassured—not just to Elizabeth, but to herself—and wrapped her arms around Elizabeth in another comforting hug. Elizabeth pushed her hands just enough so they could slightly hold onto Charlie.
They stayed in that position for a few more minutes, holding each other in the dark, wrapped in Charlotte's blankets.
Eventually, Elizabeth pulled back, hugging her knees to her chest with slow movements.
"I'm sorry," she murmured.
"Liz," Charlie cut her off, "you can tell me what happened, you know? I'm not…going to be mad at you, or—"
Elizabeth shook her head with frightened motions.
Charlie placed her hands on Elizabeth's, touching gently with her thumbs. She sighed.
"You don't…have to tell me, if you don't want. But…it's me, Elizabeth. It's Charlie…it's just me."
Elizabeth's breaths were heavy, as she almost tried to 'prepare'.
"I didn't mean to," she whispered. "I shouldn't be here."
Charlie held her hands tighter. "Liz, it's okay. I promise." Elizabeth leaned into her touch, squeezing her hands back in hers.
Elizabeth sighed. She had to stop herself from mindlessly repeating apologies, but then she began to speak again. "I didn't know where to go, I didn't even know if you were awake…"
Charlie couldn't help but let out a small giggle, but she stopped herself. "I'm just happy you're here…with me, Liz."
Elizabeth, for a second, smiled. There you are, Charlie thought.
"It's all wrong, Charlie," Elizabeth said softly. "I messed up. I can't go back…"
Charlie looked at her, tilting her head with a puzzled expression. "You mean…"
"It's not about the cuts," Elizabeth interrupted.
Charlie, even more confused and worried now, looked at Elizabeth. "What?"
"I did something bad," Elizabeth replied, as her voice began to break.
A million thoughts ran through Charlie's head. But before she could muster up a response, Elizabeth spoke again. There were tears welling in her eyes.
She spoke quickly, and she was done talking as soon as she had started.
"I tried to kill myself, Charlie."
Charlie's eyes widened in shock, and truthfully, in fear. She didn't know what to say. She hadn't thought this far ahead. Elizabeth put her head down and began to sob.
Charlie, once more, put her arms around Elizabeth, tighter than she ever had before. She was afraid to let go. Elizabeth hugged back weakly. Charlie was stunned.
"I'm sorry," Charlie said. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry…"
Elizabeth shook her head. "Shh…" she murmured. "Don't say that…
Charlie pulled back, and began to wipe tears from Elizabeth's face, then wiping away her own.
"When?" Charlie asked. Her voice was…stern.
"Huh?"
"When…did you try."
Elizabeth sniffled. "It was…two…days ago, I think."
Charlie didn't say anything. She didn't want to admit what she was thinking. A part of her felt…angry. How could this happen? But she refused to make the situation worse. So, she tried to push those feelings to the side as best as she could.
"Are you mad at me?" Elizabeth's voice was small, and fragile.
Charlie looked down in defeat. "No," she replied lowly. "I'm not mad, Elizabeth." She reached out, holding Elizabeth's hands again for comfort.
Elizabeth smiled softly.
"Elizabeth…"
Elizabeth looked up at Charlie. She had no idea what to expect.
"I'm so…so happy that you're alive. And you're here. How…how could…" Charlie paused, seeing the scared look on Elizabeth's face.
"I love you, Elizabeth!" She blurted out without a second thought. Elizabeth looked at her in surprise.
"I love you, so much! And you matter, you mean so much to me!" Charlie said, her breathing uneven.
"Please…please don't ever do that again." She squeezed Elizabeth's hand even tighter.
"Please."
Elizabeth paused, then nodded slowly, squeezing back.
Elizabeth leaned in, hugging Charlie gently. Charlie hugged back tightly.
"I love you," Charlie repeated. "Okay? I'm not letting you go. You're safe."
"Mhm," Elizabeth responded. "I love you too."
Charlie did circles in a slow, comforting rhythm on Elizabeth's back with her fingers. Meanwhile, Elizabeth played with Charlie's hair idly.
"Lizzie?"
"Hm?"
"Are you…going to stay here tonight?"
Elizabeth paused, pulling back to look at Charlie.
"Um…yes, I mean…I actually hadn't…thought about it."
"You should," Charlie said softly. "You should stay. Please."
"Are you…afraid I'll do something to myself?"
Charlie paused. She didn't really think Elizabeth would do anything tonight, but they were at a point where they couldn't take those risks anymore.
"Would you be mad if I said yes?"
Elizabeth let out a soft giggle. "Okay. I'll stay."
Charlie let out a sigh of relief. "Okay well…you can't sleep in this, it's all wet." She tugged softly at the neck of Elizabeth's shirt.
Charlie stood up and walked towards her closet.
"Well, y'know, I have sweaters, or pijamas, or just…normal clothes? Nightgowns, too, do you…"
She turned to look at Elizabeth, who was just looking back at her with a smile.
"I could wear a nightgown. You've always got the prettiest ones."
Charlie laughed softly. "Thanks," she replied. She was a bit surprised at Elizabeth's pick, assuming she may have wanted something that would…cover her scars better. But it seems like Elizabeth didn't pay any attention to them right now, and that made Charlie feel even happier. She grabbed the soft pink nightgown and brought it over to Elizabeth.
Charlie sat on the bed, turning around to face the wall. "Just tell me when I can look, okay?"
Elizabeth laughed softly. "Silly…okay, fine."
While Elizabeth changed out of her drenched, rained-on clothes, a part of Charlie did want to turn. And a part of Elizabeth kept watching Charlie, seeing if she would sneak a peek. But in the end, Charlie decided against it, and never turned around.
"Okay. You can look now."
Charlie turned around to find Elizabeth wearing the nightgown, looking happier than she had all night.
"How do I look?"
"So pretty, obviously."
Elizabeth giggled at Charlie's response, climbing back into bed with her.
Elizabeth rested her head on Charlie's shoulder. Her hand slowly crept up to Charlie's own, and they intertwined fingers as Elizabeth spoke.
"I don't know what I would do without you, Charlotte. You're…so amazing. You're the strongest person I know."
"Seriously? You're the strongest person I know, Elizabeth."
"Oh please…I'm not strong at all, and we both know that."
Charlie turned to face Elizabeth properly, holding her hands in her own.
"Liz…don't say that. Okay? You are strong, and beautiful, and loved. Even if…even if the entire world was against you, I'd be with you. I'll always be with you."
Elizabeth blushed with a smile. "So would I for you, Charlie."
"Always?"
They leaned in closer to each other, their foreheads gently resting against each other's.
"Always."
They smiled at each other, then slowly, they leaned in close to share a short, inexplicable kiss. They let go of all their worries, all their pains, just to hold each other in the purest way they knew, regardless of how fickle or troublesome it may be.
After pulling back, they both turned to face opposite sides, blushing hard in embarassment. Deep inside, they both knew it's what they always wanted. They both couldn't deny how this moment had made them feel. It felt like a new 'home' they didn't even know they lacked.
They finally looked at each other again, and couldn't help but laugh.
"You know, Charlotte…in a way, the world is against us."
"Yeah…I wish…it was different. But it doesn't matter. Like I said, I'm always going to be with you."
"Mhm," Elizabeth nodded, "and I'll always be with you."
"Um, but…we should really sleep now, Liz."
"We should…"
They laid down on the bed, looking at each other.
"Charlie?"
"Mhm?"
"Just…just for tonight. Could you kiss me again?"
Charlie giggled quietly. "You want a goodnight kiss, Lizzie?"
"Shush…please?"
"Of course," Charlie said, kissing gently on Elizabeth's lips before pulling back.
Elizabeth smiled happily. "Okay…goodnight, Charlie."
"Goodnight, Lizzie."
The following day, Elizabeth didn't want to leave. No, she wanted to stay, stay with Charlie. But unfortunately, she couldn't do that. She'd put on her own clothes again, which were mostly dry by now, but still felt like they clung to her skin uncomfortably. When she got home, she expected to maybe be greeted by her upset, disappointed father. Maybe he'd be drinking or something.
Instead, she was greeted by her older brother, Michael.
"Welcome home," he said in a slightly annoying, mocking tone.
"Mikey?"
"You're lucky I decided to cover your ass. Running away to sleep with your little girlfriend? You're insane."
"Huh? Hey, no! That's not—"
"Whatever. I don't care. I was simply doing my duties as your older brother. But if you're going to sneak off to do stupid things, at least tell me beforehand so I don't have to deal with Father's nonsense without a back-up plan."
"Wait, what?"
"You think I didn't pull the same stunts at your age? I know my way around, Elizabeth. Just be good at it."
"Ugh…fine. Thank you, Mikey."
"You're very welcome."