Just Looking

      “Wait up, Charlotte! I can’t keep up with you like this,” Kiki yelled. Her breath was uneven due to chasing after her friend. Where does she get the energy to run like that, the poor girl would never know.

      Charlotte turned around and jogged impatiently in place. “We won’t make it in time if you don’t hurry up! Let’s go already,” she whined. “It’s Henry’s debut. Can’t let the tickets go to waste, now can we?”

      Kiki stared at Charlotte for a moment before giving in. She forced a light jog in order to catch up with the all too eager brunette.

      “Yeah yeah, I’m coming.”

      “It’s going to start soon~!”

      “Mhm- wait no. Doesn’t the performance start in three hours?”

      “...”

      “CHARLOTTE, I’M GOING TO KILL YOU ONE DAY, I SWEAR.”

---

      It was dark out by the time the two friends finally stepped out of the theater. Charlotte stretched out her arms and inhaled the crisp air.

      Exhaling, the girl exclaimed, “Fresh air- oh, how I’ve missed you so!” She hopped onto the edge of the fountain and started to encircle it.

      Kiki stood nearby just in case the clutz was to fall. “It was really stuffy in there, wasn’t it? Everyone was screaming so loudly over the music as well. But, Henry was really good. It’s no wonder he was scouted all those years back.”

      Charlotte stopped in her tracks. “Yeah, he really was amazing... Hard to believe we used to play hide-n-seek together as children. Henry used to be the quietest child ever. Now, look at him singing onstage,” she softly murmured. Her chest tightened and lightly quivered. Her eyes began to water as a wave of nostalgia washed over her.

      “Oh.” Kiki immediately noticed her mistake. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to-”

      “Don’t worry about it. The past is the past. He’s probably forgotten all about us now,” Charlotte insisted. “It’s sad, but we have to support Henry. We promised him.”

      “You know,” Kiki began, “you don’t have to do this, right? If it hurts too much, we can just stop this now.” It pained her to see her best friend suffering. She knew it wasn’t his fault for leaving them so suddenly, but at the same time, she couldn’t help but feel a little bitter towards the man. He didn’t even have the guts to tell them in person about his departure.

      Charlotte forced a smile to reassure Kiki she was okay. She knew how much the girl could torment herself over her own well being.

      “I may have loved him in the past- I may love him even now-, but these feelings won’t change what’s already set in stone. He’s gone down one path, and us, another. We practically live in different worlds at this point, with him being an idol and all,” the brunette explained. “All I can do now is look from afar as I drown in this unrequited love. He’s in some far away place that I can’t reach.” She hopped down from the ledge and started hopping from brick to brick. Being clumsy as she was, Charlotte soon found the ground rushing to meet her as she tripped.

      Suddenly, an arm wrapped around her waist and a hand caught her own.

      Kiki gasped. “H-Henry? What are you doing here?”

      The raven haired boy lifted Charlotte back onto her feet and placed a finger to his lips. He whispered, “Please don’t tell anyone that I’ve snuck out. I just wanted to take a breather before the autograph session began.”

      Charlotte could feel her heart beating fast, almost too fast for her liking. Had the man overheard what she’d said? He must’ve, she concluded. Oh how she wished to crawl into a hole and die from embarrassment.

      “Anyways, I think I’ve taken long enough. Any longer, and I’ll be in big trouble.” Henry smiled at the two girls before turning to head back. A hand scratched his head as he shly noted, “Thanks... For coming to see me.”

      Kiki walked up to him and gave him a slap on the back. “Anytime, bud,” she replied.

      “Ow. Still as forceful as ever, Kiki.” Henry started walking back to the dressing room. But just before he was out of range, he turned to the brunette and stared her directly in the eyes. “Oh, and Charlotte? You never know until you try.”

      The girl in subject could only turn a shade of red that would shame any tomato in response as her knees slowly turned to jell-o.

      “Charlotte? Hey Charlotte, you oka- DAMNIT WOMAN! DON’T COLLAPSE ON ME!”