𝟎𝟓

☆═━ 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐅𝐈𝐕𝐄 ━═☆

So what was it about evenings that made you pensive and thoughtful? Was it the slightly wafting cold breeze that beckoned you on a journey of soulful serenity? A cornucopia of feelings, emotions and nostalgic charm that reverberated into the mystic beats of a faraway drum.

It was a cold night in Mystic Falls and Charlotte had a hot cup of chocolate in her hand as she looked up at the stars from the Bernard's veranda, wrapped up in a blanket.

Last time it was that cold, she wasn't wrapped in a blanket rather in the arms of the man who broke her heart days ago, they were enjoying the cold breeze in each other's embrace like no other.

"You think that when the comet Jonathan keeps talking about comes, we would be still here? And you know...together?" Charlotte asked Stefan, as he rested his chin on her shoulder.

Stefan furrowed his eyebrows, rubbing her arm gently, "Where else would we be?"

"I don't know....with other people?" Charlotte shrugged her shoulders as Stefan frowned and turned her around to face him.

"Here, I will promise to never leave you because I will always love you, forever," He held up his shortest finger for a pinky promise as Charlotte giggled before holding up hers.

"I would never want to spend any night without you. Ever. I can't stand the thought of something happening to you. I can't stand the thought of us fighting. I can't stand the thought of you being anything other than eternally happy. With me," Stefan smiled at her as she mirrored his smile and hid her rosy cheeks in his shoulder, leaning in to embrace him before he planted a passionate kiss on her pink lips.

Tears filled her eyes, as the memories hit her harder than the heartbreak itself, broken vows and promises. Was this how her epic love was bound to end?

Charlotte's mother always believed that there were no happy endings, she would tell her children no matter how happy it ends; you will always think back to it and break inside because it is no longer there.

However, Charlotte would always say No. Happy endings exist, peace exists. Good people who do good things, deserve the happiest of endings, but what bad thing had she ever done to deserve such end?

Her mind took her to another moment, a picnic with him, one of her favourite, such a dreamy perfect day it was.

The sun danced through the small leaves of the oak, turning them saffron and dappling the blankets with the ghosts of baby leaves. Charlotte very seriously filled all the glasses with orange juice, so the picnic turned from a very formal affair, all heavy silver, and starched linen, to a child's tea party.

At some point, Stefan had taken off his jacket and rolled up his sleeves. His forearms were bulging with muscle, and his shoulders appeared likely to rip through the thin linen of his shirt. Charlotte swallowed, her cheeks reddening.

"Where do you get all these muscles?" She chuckled, building up some confidence to ask.

"Lifting damsels in distress." He grinned at her, winking as she frowned chuckling, "I am sorry, that was a bad line. I should stop listening to Damon."

She'd always thought that a broken heart sounded rather hopelessly romantic. But in truth it was physical. Her whole chest ached as if she'd been struck with a knife. There was no mistaking the look in his eyes when he said that he no longer loves her. Pain wrenched her heart.

What hurt the most was how she couldn't hate him. He stepped over her heart, he had broken her with the full intention of doing so, yet if any harm would come to the green-eyed Salvatore, she would be the first to run to his aid.

No one could blame the Bernard girl. He gave her memories to last a lifetime, being stepped over was the most significant and emotional of them all.

Deep heartache sometimes is almost like a specific location, a coordinate on a map of time. When you are standing in that forest of sorrow, you cannot imagine that you could ever find your way to a better place. But if someone can assure you that they themselves have stood in that same place, and now have moved on, sometimes that will bring hope.

It was what Charlotte always did for others, helped them move on, saying that she'd been through it but no one was ever there to tell her that what she was going through will pass that she will hurt but heal.

So, the young brunette stared at the deep dark blue skies with dried tears on her cheeks, praying that someday it won't be as painful. That everything will be fine.

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"I have been feeling better, your methods worked...He came to me in a dream last night...," Angelina sighed, smiling weakly. Ever since she started visiting Henry's grave, talking to him, and getting him flowers, she had started to feel better. Not amazing but she stopped crying to death, and her gloomy smile graced the residents of Mystic Falls again.

Charlotte was quite proud of her friend, within weeks of her lover's death. She had found peace in his death by bringing him flowers and remembering all of the good things he had done to her and with her.

"How's everything between you and Stefan, Char?" Angelina asked, sipping on some of her tea.

Neither Paulina nor Charlotte told the grieving Forbes about the incident between Stefan and Charlotte. They chose to subdue some of the sadness, since Angelina, too, was selfless and would care about Charlotte's heartbreak much more than her loss.

Charlotte stuttered nervously, "Angie...Stefan and I are no more."

She found no way but to state out simply, as Angelina shrieked, spitting some of the tea on the table, "What in hell...Charlotte, what happened? And how could you have not told me about this?"

Angelina reached for a napkin as the brunette sighed, crossing her arms, "I didn't want you to be sadder, Angie...It's not important."

"Not important? Char, you are my best friend...your pain is important and I need to help you...I can talk to Stefan if you want?" Angelina offered, smiling hopefully.

Charlotte shook her head, "There's no need. He made his choice, he is in love with another...," She trailed off, putting down her cup of tea before she excused herself and decided to leave.

"Char, wait...I am sorry...I didn't know and I just wanted to help," Angelina stood up and followed her out.

Charlotte didn't stop walking though. The talk of Stefan's change of heart made her sick and teary-eyed, it made her feel worthless by the boy who was meant to make her feel like she is the only girl to ever live.

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