This story contains mature themes including emotional trauma, mental health struggles, and strong language. Reader discretion is advised

CHAPTER 17 (Charlie's POV)

The doorbell rings. 

Once. 
Twice. 
Then over and over like whoever’s on the other side is desperate. 

I groan and get up, dragging myself to the door. 

When I open it, Kara’s standing there, flushed and out of breath. 

“What the fuck, Kara?” I snap, already irritated. 

“Charlie—” Her voice is shaky, like she’s been running or crying. Maybe both. 

“What?” 

She hesitates. Her face is pale. She looks like she’s about to break in half. 

“It’s Gwen,” she says, pushing past me and stepping inside. 

“I just saw her—” Her voice breaks. 

“So?” I blink, confused.  

I’m already on edge, but nothing prepares me for what she says next. 

“She was kissing someone. And it wasn’t you.” 

The words hit like a slap. My hands curl into fists at my sides. My throat tightens. 

What? 

She’s lying. She has to be. Gwen wouldn’t… she wouldn’t do that.She loves me. 

“You know what?” I say, heat flooding my face. “Just because you can’t find happiness being alone doesn’t mean you get to ruin what I have.” 

My voice is rising, sharp. I can’t stop it. 

“Gwen means everything to me, and for you to lie—lie—and say she’s cheating? That’s sick.” 

I step back, my chest heaving. It’s like I don’t even recognise my own sister. 

“I can’t believe you. What kind of sister says something like that?” 

She looks like I just punched her in the gut. But I don’t care. I can’t care. 

“I’m not lyi—” 

“Get out of my sight.” 

“but—” 

“GET OUT!” 

I slam the door after her without another word. My chest is burning. I don’t even realise how fast I’m breathing until I stop and lean back against the door. 

I stare at the floor. 

She’s lying. She has to be lying. 

Gwen wouldn’t do that. 

She wouldn’t. 

Right?  

My phone buzzes. 

GWEN: wanna meet at costa? x 

I blink at the screen. Two hours ago, I was yelling at my sister. Now Gwen wants coffee, like nothing happened. 

I stare at the message for a while before typing back: 

ME: sure. be there in 10 

I don’t ask why. I don’t ask if Kara will be there. I’m trying not to think about her at all. 

Gwen’s already there when I arrive. She’s sitting in the corner by the window, picking at the sleeve of her hoodie. Her smile flickers when she sees me. 

“Hey,” she says. 

“Hey.” 

I sit across from her. She already ordered. I haven’t. 

“You okay?” she asks. 

“tired.” 

She laughs nervously. “You sound it.” 

I lean back in the chair and cross my arms. “You wanted to talk?” 

She nods. “Yeah. I just… felt like we needed to.” 

I wait. 

But she doesn’t say anything right away. Just looks down at her cup, stirring the straw in the ice. 

Finally, she says, “You’ve seemed distant lately.” 

I look at her. “You texted me to meet because I’m distant?” 

“Well. Yeah. And because I missed you.” 

I nod slowly. “Okay.” 

She hesitates. “I know things haven’t been perfect lately, but I really care about you. You know that, right?” 

My chest tightens, thinking of what Kara said. Thinking of her face when I told her to leave. How sure she looked when she said it. The panic in her voice. 

I say, “I don’t know anything anymore.” 

Gwen’s eyes flick up to mine. “What’s that supposed to mean?” 

I study her. 

“Someone told me they saw you with another guy.” 

Her whole body stiffens. 

“What?” 

I don’t blink.  

She freezes. One second. Two. Too long. 

“I— Charlie, I don’t know what—” 

“Gwen.” 

She exhales sharply. “Okay. Look. It— It wasn’t what it looked like.” 

“Then what was it?” 

She’s quiet. 

“I didn’t sleep with him,” she blurts. 

It hits me like a slap. “So there was a him.” 

Her mouth opens, then shuts again. 

“I let you in,” I say quietly. “You’re the only person who’s seen my scars in over 2 years. You know why. I let you touch the parts of me I usually cover up in shame. And this is what I get?” 

“Charlie, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for it to happen—” 

I laugh — bitter, hollow. “You didn’t mean to kiss someone?” 

Her voice shakes. “I just… you’re always so far away. Sometimes I feel like I’m dating your shadow. I didn’t know how to reach you anymore.” 

“So you cheated.” 

“I was lonely.” 

I shake my head. “You could’ve talked to me. You could’ve asked. I would’ve tried. I was trying.” 

She’s crying now, but I don’t care. 

I push my chair back and stand. 

“You didn’t just cheat on me, Gwen. You betrayed every bit of trust I gave you.” 

“Charlie, please—” 

I get up and turn for the door. 

There stands Kara. 

She’s standing just outside the door — frozen like she’s not sure if she should come in or turn and bolt. 

My stomach sinks. Guilt hits me all at once, sharp and heavy. 

“Kara…” My voice is quiet. Too quiet. 

She looks at me, eyes red. She doesn’t say anything. 

I step toward her. 

“I shouldn’t have said what I said,” I start. “Back at the flat. I was angry and… scared, I guess. And I took it out on you.” 

Nothing. 

I keep going. 

“You were trying to tell me the truth. You were trying to help me. I didn’t want to believe it, and I treated you like shit for it. That’s on me.” 

Kara blinks. Her voice, when it comes, is hoarse. “You really hurt me, Charlie.” 

“I know,” I say. “And I’m sorry. I mean it. I… I trusted someone who didn’t deserve it. And I threw away the one person who actually had my back.” 

She exhales, slowly. “I didn’t tell you because I wanted to ruin anything. I told you because I love you. Because you’re my brother.” 

I nod, and it’s like my chest cracks open just a little. “I should’ve listened.” 

Kara’s eyes search mine. Then, finally, she says, “You should’ve. But I’m glad you are now.” 

I nod again, and we just stand there for a moment — in the awkward quiet of too many unspoken things. Then I step forward, and she steps into me, and I wrap my arms around her. 

“I don’t hate you,” she whispers into my shoulder. 

“I don’t deserve that,” I whisper back. 

She pulls away enough to look me in the eye. “Yeah. You do.” 

And for the first time in a while, I almost believe her