—✮—

Lotte couldn’t decide what to do. With each step she made home, something in her chest nagged her. As if her heart already knew the answer, but then, fear.

Standing before the door, the feeling grew worse. 

She wasn’t afraid to see her parents, but couldn’t deny how uncomfortable she felt around them sometimes. 

Noticing the smell of her father’s cooking didn’t help to ease those tensions—though maybe a little. 

“Back home already, sweety?” Her father stepped out into the living room when he heard Lotte.

He wiped his hands off on his apron. Wiping his hands off on his apron, he styled his blond hair back neatly. He hugged his daughter, and his blond circle beard scratched her forehead. 

His stormy grey eyes locked with hers, and he sensed her worry. “Tough day?”

He always looked so different from her and her mother. It caused him so many weird and unnecessary moments with the school, other parents, or even the police—particularly with them.

Whenever Lotte was little and alone with her father outside, someone would ask if she really was his child. 

Lotte’s mother loved those moments when she heard about it. She often explained to Lotte how he even was a lady killer back then. A term Lotte always hated whenever she used it.

Everyone knew they liked each other a lot, to Lotte’s dismay, who had to watch it daily. She was happy for them, but there were limits if you asked her.

“Your mother will be home in half an hour. Go up and-” 

Right on cue, the front door opened. Not noticing her taller daughter, Lotte’s mother almost walked into her, her head bumping lightly against Lotte’s chin. 

For Lotte, her mother looked as stunning as always in her grey work suit. Except for her height, the two of them looked almost identical—minus the glasses she now wore and the few wrinkles and eye colour. 

You would have a hard time telling them apart.

“Charlotte? Didn’t you say you planned to stay till the library closed?” Her mother checked the watch on her wrist, tapping it lightly to check if it was working before giving her usual criticising look. “Are you slacking off again? Don’t forget that next week you have-”

“Does it matter? Since you both came back early, we can eat together,” interjected the only man in the house, taking off his wife’s jacket. “Go up and get dressed. I don’t want my efforts in the kitchen to go to waste for either of your tardiness.” 

Usually, Lotte loved her parents as any other child would, but on many other days, they were a handful. 

Her mother always expected her daughter to give her best and excel in anything, criticising her on every small occasion. 

Her father, though, was a stay-in parent. He was more mindful of her freedom, but he also was terribly biased, caring a lot about how she presented herself outside or at home.

“Charlotte, sweety, change your clothes. You’re not going downstairs like that or anywhere near where the light is touching,” he told her with a look much like her mother had minutes ago. 

Because Lotte came down in shorts, a tank top and a ponytail. 

Summer was coming, and Lotte was exhausted. 

Begrudgingly, she spent an additional fifteen minutes changing herself into something he would deem “appropriate for the public eye”. 

Meaning a dress with leggings and a thin jacket and, of course, tidying up her hair with a brush.

“Now look who is coming downstairs. Doesn’t she look beautiful?” asked her father with a proud look on his face.

“She does, but I think she could have worn less. After all, it is pretty hot today.” Lotte’s mother sat there with her sleeves rolled up and waving her face for air. She didn’t change her outfit after coming home from work. “Take off your jacket. I can’t imagine you feel comfortable in it.” 

For anyone else, it was clear she wasn’t comfortable, but she didn’t want to look that part, so Lotte mustered up her acting smile and sat down for dinner.

“Did you hear that Charlotte’s former nursery teacher got fired?”

“Really?” Lotte’s mother gave a surprised reaction. “I must admit, I’ve found him awkward since he never married and hung around so much with the single fathers. What did he do?” 

“He was about to get married,” Lotte’s father finished chewing his food for an unnecessary dramatic pause, “but to a man! I am glad you took Charlotte out of the nursery school when you did.” 

“Ergh, I feel terrible,” her mother groaned in response, and Lotte’s eyebrows rose in anticipation. “We should have got her out of there sooner. Can’t believe we left our daughter there with an f-”

“AH,” Lotte yelped and drenched her dress with a bowl of hot supper. 

“Are you alright, are you burned?” Her father was the first to rise from his seat.

Thankfully, she wasn’t scalded. “It’s nothing. I will go change myself. May I use the big bathtub upstairs?”

“Of course, but are you sure you are alright?” Her mother inquired. “Do you need help? I can go with and-”

“I’m fine; please, keep up the talk. I will take a bath and review my notes before school on Saturday. Good night.” Lotte needed an excuse to leave early. She couldn’t hear them talk any longer about someone getting wronged for being who he was. 

Any excuse would have worked, but when her hand slipped, and she knew she could have caught the bowl, she simply let it happen. 

It was so easy, yet so hard, as she bit her lip in pain.

—✮—

“Missy, are you sure your friend is coming? It’s four in the morning.” 

“I didn’t ask for your opinion,” Liara barked at the boatman. A sigh left her lips, wondering whether Lotte would come or not.

The sun wasn’t up yet, and the night was cold. 

Liara had been here for the past two days, even though she only got to tell Lotte about her plans half a day ago. It should have been earlier, but it was too hard to convey. 

“She won’t come. Give it up. No sane girl would agree to this crazy trip,” the boatman tried to pick up a drink, but Liara’s glare from the side was there to remind him he was on duty and he put it back. “What makes you think she would come, anyway?” 

“I don’t, I just know she will,” responded Liara with a bright grin but with uncertainty in her eyes. “This is how it is between us. We’re friends who can count on one another.”

“What kind of friend refuses to tell the real reason for this trip?” 

“This one,” thought Liara. She already felt horrible about keeping it secret, but she swore to tell her once she- 

“I can’t believe it. You are here! What was it about meeting up at 5 am?”

“No way, you came!” Liara rushed up the stairs to run herself into Lotte. It was too dark to see with sunglasses. “You are earlier than expected. Were you excited about the trip?” 

“Watch this.” Lotte tried to bring her lips up with her fingers, grinning forcefully, but Liara noticed it right away. Something wasn’t right. It must have been her parents again—she was sure of it. 

“I’ve gotta say,” Liara helped Lotte to get her things on the boat. “I love your outfit choice. It’s bold. Shorts with tights and a leather jacket. Someone is in for fun.” 

“You bet I am.” Lotte undid her hair to let her hair open. “Let’s go, boatman, drive us!” 

“I’m not the damn chauffeur!” 

“Yes, you are!” the two responded even louder, settling in on the boat and riding through the channel. There was not a single star out in the sky. The big city blocked it all with artificial lights, but it didn’t bother them. 

Falling on their bags and shoulders touching, they talked and talked. Imagining where the trip would lead them. 

They didn’t spend a single thought on parents, school or responsibility. 

They simply enjoyed the ride and what came alongside it, and eventually, both hoped to share their biggest secret. 

Character Profile

Name: Liara C. Shepard II

Age: 16; Height: 164 cm; Gender: Female

Friends: Charlotte “Lotte” Mae 

Liara is the best friend of Lotte who she met when she first moved to their new place. They got along quickly during their club activities and spent a lot of time together afterwards. 

Has a big secret she wants to share with Lotte but doesn’t know how. 

Hobbies: Track, Swimming, Archery, Sightseeing, Fashion

Likes: Sugary and spicy food, hanging out, Lotte, club activities, making bets with Lotte, 

Drinks milk first before eating the cereal

Dislikes: School, assignments 

Ethnicity: French, Greek