Chapitre 46: The rift hour
The tension in the room was palpable as Steve quickly knelt down to help Mrs. Harley pick up the shattered pieces of glass. With each shard he placed on the tray, Mrs. Harley's incredulous gaze softened slightly, a mixture of shock and tentative hope in her eyes. Steve's unexpected act of kindness created a ripple of curiosity and disbelief among the others.
"Where do I throw this?" Steve asked after carefully collecting the broken glass.
"There is a bin by the corridor to your left," Mrs. Harley replied, her voice tinged with surprise.
As Steve made his way to the bin, Chloe leaned close to Charlie and whispered, "It's quite surprising how fast some people change. What did you do, Charlie?" She gave him a suspicious look.
Charlie leaned back and whispered, "I didn't do anything. He might have had some kind of awakening. Maybe he had a dream where he was admonished to change his ways." They both laughed quietly.
"Charlie, are you sure you didn't pull any strings behind my back lately?" Chloe's eyes narrowed playfully.
Charlie smiled and nodded. "No, well, that's change for you," he sighed. "I just hope Madam Gizel would do the same.
"Chloe wondered about Madam Gizel's potential for change, while Charlie let out an unknowing smile, his mind wandering to the possibilities.
Steve re-entered the room, greeted by a surprising applause from Mr. Chad. "Come on over, boy. I'm glad you finally made the right call," Mr. Chad said, his stern demeanor softening slightly.
Steve smiled, clearly taken aback by the unexpected praise. This was not the reception he had anticipated. As they all settled down at the dining table for breakfast, the atmosphere began to lighten. Conversations flowed more easily, and for a moment, it seemed like the past animosities were being left behind.
After finishing breakfast, Chloe excused herself and headed to her room to change. She chose her favorite outfit, a blend of comfort and style, perfect for the day's adventure. Once dressed, she hurried back downstairs to join Charlie and Steve.
"Ready for another tour around?" she asked, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
"Absolutely," Charlie replied, his enthusiasm matching hers. Steve nodded, a hesitant but genuine smile on his face.
The three of them set out, the morning sun casting a warm glow over their surroundings. They decided to explore the nearby park, a place filled with childhood memories for Charlie and Chloe. As they walked, the conversation flowed naturally, laughter and shared stories filling the air.
"I remember when we used to come here with our Moms ," Charlie reminisced, pointing to a large oak tree. "We'd have picnics under that tree.
"Chloe smiled fondly. "Yeah, and you always insisted on climbing it, even though you were scared of heights.
Chloe turned to Charlie with a playful grin. "You were such a rascal back then," she said, recalling their childhood antics.
"Me? A rascal?" Charlie replied, feigning innocence. "Are you sure it's not the other way around? You were the rascal, and I was the cool kid, cool in every way."
"Oh yeah?" Chloe shot back. "How about that time when we were all freaked out searching for you all over?"
"That was the day I finally reached the top of the oak tree, and if you remember correctly, we were up there together. You climbed first. You're just making things up," Charlie countered.
"But your mom was always the one to cry about severe headaches, which I strongly conclude were mostly caused by you," Chloe teased.
Charlie chuckled. "You know what? Let's just say we were both wild for our age.""Agreed," Chloe said with a laugh.
"Steve listened, a wistful expression on his face. "I wish I had memories like that," he admitted quietly.
Chloe and Charlie exchanged a glance, understanding the depth of Steve's statement. "Well," Chloe said, determination in her voice, "we can make new memories now."
They spent the day exploring the park, from the serene lake to the winding trails. As the day wore on, the initial awkwardness faded, replaced by a sense of camaraderie and shared purpose.
As the sun began to set, they made their way back home, tired but happy. The day's adventures had brought them closer, creating a foundation for a new, more positive chapter in their lives.
They walked back to Chloe's house and were greeted by the comforting aroma of Mrs. Harley's cooking. She had prepared a special dinner, a gesture that did not go unnoticed. "I thought we could have a nice dinner before you head home" she said, smiling warmly at Steve and Charlie.
Steve felt a lump in his throat, overwhelmed by the kindness and acceptance he was starting to receive. "Thank you, Mrs. Harley," he said sincerely.
Dinner was a lively affair, filled with a sweet melody, one of Charlie's. Even Mr. Chad relaxed, his kind facade showing as he contributed to the excited chatter.
Later that evening, Charlie and Steve said goodbye and walked up to their house.
As they walked in, they saw Madam Gizel emerging from her room. "And where exactly are you coming from?"
Steve hesitated, glancing nervously at Charlie before opening his mouth. "We—"
But before he could finish, Madam Gizel cut him off. "Not you, him." She jabbed a finger at Charlie, her eyes blazing with challenge.
Charlie stood rooted to the spot, an expression of pure disdain on his face. He knew the question was just another of Madam Gizel's attempts to incite conflict. Choosing silence over confrontation, he met her gaze defiantly.
The room fell into a tense silence, a silent battle of wills between Madam Gizel and Charlie. The air crackled with unspoken tension until Steve finally broke it.
"We were at Mr. Chad's," Steve said, his voice trembling slightly.
Madam Gizel's face contorted in a sneer. "What?"
"We were there, and we had a great time. He's a really good person. I don't understand why you despise him so much, and Ch—"
"Shut up!" Madam Gizel's voice cut through the air like a knife. She raised her hand and delivered a sharp slap to Steve's jaw.
Charlie's heart pounded as he witnessed the violence. Unable to bear the sight, he turned and fled to his room, slamming the door behind him.
Steve's eyes filled with tears, but he held his gaze steady. "I don't blame you Mom. Hurt people hurt people," he said quietly before retreating to his own room.
Madam Gizel's rage flared as Steve's door slammed shut. "Get back here!" she shouted, but Steve did not return. The silence that followed was thick with the weight of unresolved anger and hurt.
Left alone, Madam Gizel stood in the middle of the room, grappling with the realization that she might have lost her son to Charlie's influence. "You've finally succeeded in turning him against me!" she screamed at the closed door of Charlie's room. "Fine, I'm alone now, but it doesn't mean you've won. Charlie, beware."
In his room, Charlie sat beside his bed lamp, his heart heavy with guilt. He could still hear Madam Gizel's angry threats echoing in his mind. He felt a deep surge of empathy and self-reproach. "It's all my fault," he thought bitterly, pulling out his torn lyric book.
Charlie began to write, his emotions flowing onto the pages. The words he penned gradually took shape into a soothing melody, a quiet lament.
Steve sat on his bed, the earlier confrontation still fresh in his mind. Through the thin walls of their shared home, he could hear the soft strains of Charlie's music drifting intohis mind. The melody, delicate and haunting, seemed to weave through the silence of his room.
Steve lay back on his bed, closing his eyes, allowing the melody to envelop him. The guitar's soothing tones intertwined with Charlie's voice, creating a comforting cocoon that helped to dull the sting of the earlier conflict.
It was a stark contrast to the harshness of Madam Gizel's anger, a reminder of the fragile beauty that still existed amidst the chaos.
Charlie's song eventually faded into a soft murmur. Steve concluded that there was still hope, he was set to make things right.
And this time he was not alone, he had Charlie.
Charlie's mind raced with resolve he was ready to help Steve find his spark as he had found his in music.
They both lay in their beds at lest now they were united, as brothers.
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