Ask about Harry

“Wanna talk about it?” Ethan shrugs, trying the soft approach.

“No,” Charlie pouts slightly. “But you might as well hear the truth rather than some second-hand rumor.”

Settling in, Ethan can tell he’s about to be served some tea.

“Back when he hung out, I wasn't into boys. I wasn't into girls either. Yet. But I definitely wasn't into boys. Harry was… well, we were friends. I wasn't closer to him than Aaron, or Bobby, or Michael…”

“Whose Michael?” Ethan frowns.

“Kid from school. Huge forehead. Real looker. Anyways, Harry wasn't anybody special. Then, slowly… I started to think about him more.” Charlie bobs her head back and forth, eyes wide. “Sixteen year old me didn't know how to communicate, so I came on a little strong, and he turned me down.”

“He broke your heart by turning you down?”

“No asshat.” Charlie shakes her head in disgust. “He turned me down, then turned around and asked me out like three weeks later. Walked right up to me and told me we were going out on a date.”

“Oh.”

“Yeah.Turns out he could grow a pair when he wanted to. We spent the next, like, year and change dating. Things got kinda serious.” Charlie shifts. “Lotta firsts with him, you know? And with our history until then…” she shrugs. “I kinda fell in love.”

Ethan nods along, understanding that feelings during youth can get overwhelmingly strong.

“He went away to school. My grades, well, let’s just say I’m lucky they trust me with sharp objects. We did the long-distance thing. I went to visit, he came home when he could… Worked out for a while, but…” she pauses her brown eyes looking up towards the ceiling.

If it was any other girl in the world, Ethan would reach across the table to hold her hand. Trying it with Charlie would likely net a black eye.

“He cheated on me… A lot…” Charlie sighs. “I had heard rumors… Never to my face, but… I’d heard ‘em. I caused a fight or two over them too. But hearing it is one thing, seeing it…” she wipes her eye with her thumb. “I, uh, went to visit him at school. Surprise him. Found balls deep in some co-ed.”

“Charlie…” Ethan seethes slightly. “That’s-”

“It was the maddest I’d ever been. So mad I almost…” Charlie shakes her head. “I wanted to kick his ass so bad. I almost did, but half the dorm came out when the yelling started. He’s, uh, well, he hasn't been around much since then. His parents still live here, but he’s maybe in town once or twice a year.”

“I’d assume any more appearance would be a risk to his health.” Ethan jests, trying to lighten the mood.

“Nah,” Charlie shakes her head. “I’d just key his car or something.”

“That’s… not the worst.” Ethan shrugs.

Charlie smirks. “I fucked his cousin. That was okay ****. Guy was kind of a pussy though. Can’t stand guys like that. Just folded so easy and never fucking fought.”

Ethan takes note: She doesn't like whimpy guys who don’t stand up for themselves. Funny, though, from what Ethan remembered about Harry, he fit the wimpy bill to a ‘T’. There had to be more to it than that. Something a little bit more nuanced. Ethan’s tempted to ask into it more, but doesn't know how to phrase it.

“Anyway,” Charlie sighs, shaking off her blues. “I loved him. He cheated on me. Fuck him.”