UNKNOWN [Lestappen]

Charles' POV:

The wind tugged at my jacket as I walked the familiar path, my steps heavier than they'd ever felt before. I was finally back from the shitty camp, although it was just as cold in the city as it had been in the center of the forest. The gravel crunched beneath my feet, the sound grating, but it didn't matter. 

Nothing mattered.

I wasn't sure why I felt compelled to visit my dad today, it hadn't been that long since the last time. But to me, it felt like an eternity.

The steel bridge loomed ahead, stretching across the narrow river. As I stepped onto the worn metal, I heard the distant rumble of an approaching train. I stopped halfway across, leaning over the railing to watch as it passed. 

The train's metallic roar filled the air, the steady clatter of wheels on tracks somehow soothing in its predictability. Cart after cart rushed by, their graffiti-streaked exteriors a blur of color against the grey landscape. 

For a moment, I let myself get lost in the rhythm, the sound, the movement. Its noise filled the emptiness in my head.

Max's face flickered in my mind. His smile, the way he looked at me like I mattered. But that was a lie, I shook my head sharply, pushing him away. He didn't care. Daniel was right. I was nothing to him.

As I continued down the path, the feeling crept in, paranoia, cold and sharp. Every rustle of leaves, every snap of a twig felt like footsteps trailing too close behind. I glanced over my shoulder, heart racing, but the path was empty. The wind stirred the trees, their bare branches swaying like skeletal arms.

I tried to shake off the unease, telling myself it was just my mind playing tricks on me.

The small graveyard came into view. I knelt in front of my father's gravestone, pulling a wild rose from a nearby bush. The thorns bit into my skin, but I didn't care. I placed the rose on the dirt, sat down, and stared at the name etched into the stone.

"I don't even know why I'm here," I said, my voice flat. "You're not listening. You probably never do. You're gone, and I'm talking to a rock like it's gonna fix anything."

I took a deep breath, my chest tight.

"I'm tired, Dad. Really tired... Not like sleep-deprived tired... The kind that makes you wonder why you even bother getting out of bed tired. I keep thinking about how easy it would be to just stop. To let go. And every time, it feels a little closer."

I ran a hand through my hair, my fingers trembling.

"And Max? He doesn't matter. He's like everyone else, pretends to care, but when it comes down to it, I'm just another obligation. Another thing people feel sorry for until they get bored and move on. That's what I am, isn't it? A burden."

The words tasted bitter, but they were true. I'd known it for a long time. "I really did love him, but now I just want to forget him," My voice was hoarse as tears began to swell in my eyes.

"I've tried, okay? I've really fucking tried to keep going. To find a reason to stay. But every time I think I'm getting somewhere, everything fucking fails. I'm so sick of pretending like things are gonna get better. They're not."

I stared at the grave, my hands curling into fists.

"I keep wishing that you were still here. But you're not, and I'm done waiting for a miracle that's never coming. I'm done with this shit."

The wind picked up, carrying my words away like they were nothing. 

Just like me... Nothing.

I continued to sit in front of the grave in silence, the cold seeping into my legs through the damp earth. My head hung low, the weight of everything I'd just said settling deep in my chest. I didn't even feel like crying anymore, I felt empty, hollow.

That's when I heard low voices, escalating into sharp bickering behind me. My body stiffened. I slowly turned around, my stomach sinking as I saw Daniel and Checo standing at the edge of the graveyard.

However, there was no sight of Max. Strange.

Daniel caught my eye and smirked, nudging Checo before strutting over, his hands shoved into his hoodie pockets. Checo followed, chuckling under his breath, the kind of laugh that made your skin crawl.

"Hey Leclerc," Daniel's voice was thick with mockery as he stopped in front of me, towering over where I sat. "Having a little heart-to-heart with dear old Dad, eh?"

I said nothing, my throat closing up.

Daniel crouched down, leaning in close, his breath hot against my face. "You know," he said, his tone dripping with malice, "We followed you here, and I couldn't help but overhear you talking to yourself like a fucking lunatic. Something about Max, right? How you're in love with him?"

Checo snorted, crossing his arms. "What a joke."

Daniel sneered, his eyes narrowing. "Fuck it, I knew you were a faggot. You're pathetic. Sitting here, pouring your little gay heart out to a fucking privileged rock. You really think he'd ever want you? Max? Oh Please."

I clenched my fists, nails digging into my palms. "Shut u-up," I muttered, barely audible.

"Oh, what's that? Speak up sweetheart." Daniel grabbed my chin roughly, forcing me to look at him. "You think you're some kind of broken little toy Max is gonna swoop in and fix?  He doesn't give a shit about you. He never did. You're nothing to him. Just like you're nothing to anyone else. How many times do I have to tell you, fuck."

Checo laughed. "Even your dad wouldn't stick around for your sorry ass."

The words hit hard, harder than any punch ever could. The mention of my dad coming out of their mouths was always sickening.

Daniel released my chin, only to shove me back so I landed on my hands. "What's worse is you're too much of a shitty coward to even admit it. Instead, you come out here to cry and beg to a dead man like it's gonna change anything. Just face it leclerc, you're a fucking faggot."

I bit down on my lip hard enough to taste blood, my vision blurring as tears welled up.

Daniel circled me like a predator, his voice venomous. "What do you think Max would say if he found out? eh? Maybe he'd finally start treating you like the disgusting little fag you are. Might even enjoy it,"

I couldn't hold back anymore. The tears spilled over, hot and relentless.

"Look at him," Daniel sneered, turning to Checo. "Crying like a little bitch."

Checo smirked, but didn't say anything.

Daniel crouched again, getting in my face. "You're so goddamn pathetic, it's almost sad. But hey, maybe I'll do you a favor. Maybe I'll tell Max what I overheard. Let him know exactly what kind of sick little freak you are. Maybe I'll let the whole school know too."

He stood up, laughing as he brushed his hands together. "Fuck this fag,"

With that, they turned and walked away, their laughter echoing behind them. I stayed on the ground, my body shaking as sobs wracked through me. I couldn't stop.

They were right. Every word. And I didn't know how much longer I could keep pretending otherwise. Then the thought came to mind.

Max would find out that I liked him.

A/N:

Thank you for reading!

I'm so sorry that this chapter is on the shorter side, I hope for the next ones to be longer! ^_^

I also wanted to say, thank you so much for just about 1K favorites! That is absolutely insane, I am so thankful, I can't even express my thankfulness in words, thank you all so much <33

Thank you all again for supporting me! 🫶🫶

- amelia