Chocolate Cosmos

Chapter 12

His eyes never left mine. I could see the fire going ablaze in them but his face showed nothing. And just as quickly as he came, he turned around and left.

Something panged in my heart. Something I never felt before and I didn't like it. Guilt perhaps. I didn't understand it and I didn't even know why I'd be feeling this way.

"Excuse me for a second Dan." I pulled my hand away. For some reason, Dan's hand left an unpleasant feel on my skin.

Dan nodded with a king smile and I left my place to run after Karl.

Going out the cozy main house, I saw Karl marching up towards his lodge.

"Karl!" I called out but he refused to reply.

"Karl wait!" I called again, this time catching up to him and placing a hand on his shoulder just as he took a step on the single step by his door.

"What?" His voice was a notch higher and his ears red. I was taken slightly aback.

"What's the matter with you? You've been all moody and weird ever since Dan found us! What was so bad about coming here?"

"What's going on with me has nothing to do with you Charis. I see you've found your new place in life so don't bother with me anymore."

I furrowed my eyebrows. "What in God's name are you talking about?"

"Don't play dumb Charis. I heard you telling him that you're thinking about staying here for good. We had a God damn promise."

My heart sank to the pit of my stomach. I didn't even think that he heard us. I thought he was in his room when I said those words to Dan as a joke.

"Well, good for you Charis." Karl continued when I remained quite. "You stay here with your new boyfriend and to hell with the bucket list. I'm going back alone."

"You're being a little dramatic Karl don't you think?" I raised a stubborn eyebrow. I was starting to get frustrated as well by his attitude of playing the victim. "You can't hold me accountable for words I said that you don't know the context of. You didn't even try to come and sort this out with me!"

"What are you, my mother?" He sneered. "I heard what I heard and if that's your decision then fine I won't stop you."

With a dramatic grim he opened the door and slid inside, shutting it back in my face like a whiny kid.

I rolled my eyes. "Karl you stupid dumbass!" With a growing headache and a fist slamming against the door. "Open this door right now you dramatic brat!"

Everyone was starting to look at us but it's not like it was something I'm not used to. At least now it's for a different reason than the usual scandalous staring.

"Open this door Karl! Right now or I swear to God I'll do everything I can to break it!" I attacked the door.

Thankfully, my loud slamming and yells got him to snatch the door open, his ears now fuming smoke from the redness.

"You crazy...." he trailed out in search for the right word. "What the flap is the matter with you?" He asked in frustration.

"We talk about this in a civilized way." I held out a finger at him as if scolding a child.

Karl's eyebrows joined. "You call this civilized? The whole camp is looking at us!"

"You're the one who ran away inside like a kid." I argued with crossed arms.

I can see Karl holding back an animalistic growl. He closed his eyes and took a deep calming breath before opening them back again. He pulled me into his room and s**t the door behind us.

"And what is exactly that you want Miss Cardone?" He asked calmly once we were alone inside, it was scary.

I let out a breath. I knew what I wanted. We both did. But I had a promise to keep even though it would be the stupidest decision the two of would take.

"Let's go back home. We have a bucket list to finish." I stated calmly and for a second there I saw something spark in Karl's eyes before fading away.

"Don't you seem to like it here?" He asked with a sarcastic. His face had calmed down, his ears getting their normal color back.

I nodded my head. "Dreams don't last Karl. You have to wake up sometimes. And I know all too well than to get lost in fairytale."

We stayed a moment in silence, each of us trying to read the other. I smiled half way. "I'll go pack my things. Dan already had the car fueled and parked here."

I turned around but was twirled back by Karl's hand around my arm. He had taken the step down, now only a mere inch away from me.

"This doesn't have to be a dream to wake up from Charis. I can't be this greedy and ask you to come with me to die. You can live here." His voice was the softest I've ever heard. His eyes gentle and his lips dripped with sincerity. "I guess I was just afraid to go alone but I was going to that either ways right?"

"I already made up my mind since that night by the bridge Karl. And that promise entail that none of us had to do this alone. Not the bucket list and not going into the water." I whispered. "And it's only a matter of time before Dan found out about Nila. My dream might come crumbling down again when he decides that he doesn't want a murderer amongst his guests."

I don't know why he did it. Maybe he pitied me or maybe he knew just how much I needed it. Perhaps he needed it too but I didn't want to give it much thought and decided to breath in the warmth of his body against mine as our arms wrapped around one another in a calming hug. Ture, he took me by surprise and a second into the hug I accepted it.

I buried my face into his chest, holding back a tear. I guess I really did want to live this dream for a while but reality always comes slapping you across the face.

Karl didn't hold back either, his face in my shoulder. For the first time a hug felt this good. It lifted all the negativity inside me bit by bit. I was ready again for my reality.

We pulled back with a deep, readying breath. "I'm saying this again and again Charis. You're not a murderer and to hell with everyone who thinks that."

I smiled up at him, our arms still wrapped around one another. "Let's leave in the morning. Did you sleep well?" Karl patted my hair with a nod.

"You didn't though." He stated and I nodded.

"Okay. Let's leave first thing in the morning then."

****

"Do you really have to go? You were just here yesterday!"

"I know Dan, I'm sorry. I really wanted to stay here a bit more but we've got work to do." I replied with gentle smile and a shrug.

"Are you sure it's not because of that Karl person?" Karl narrowed his eyes and I laughed.

"No. We really do have things back home that need to be attended."

"Then you promise to come back."

A breath got caught in my throat. How will I promise him something I know I won't keep.

I grinned widely and put up two twisted fingers. "Fingers crossed."

"You ready Charis?" I heard Karl asking by the car.

"Coming!" I called back.

I placed a hand on Dan's arm. "Thank you for everything Dan. I had a wonderful time."

Dan grinned proudly. "It was my pleasure Charis. It's not everyday that you get your celebrity crush as a guest out here in the woods." He winked.

I laughed at his remark. "Goodbye Dan." I waved at him as I started heading towards the car. Karl helped me put my bag in the trunk then the two of us headed to our respective seats.

I waved to Dan one last time from the car before Karl woke the engine up, finally heading back home.

"There's still time to change your mind Charis." Karl spoke from beside me.

My eyes darted away from the window to him.

"I'm more logical than that Karl. I replied. "Dan might be still in oblivion to what has happened but he won't stay for long."

"I don't believe that he doesn't know Charis. I mean, it was all over the news and everything. I'm sure he saw it on one of his trips to the city." Karl reasoned.

"It doesn't matter Karl. I don't want any of it anymore. If it wasn't for you and the bucket list, I wouldn't have lived to even meet the guy or come to this place."

"In all fairness," Karl replied, "it really is a great place."

I chuckled. "Yeah it really is."

Karl didn't say anything again and only kept his focus on the bumpy road ahead. It gave the both of us upset stomachs that only calmed down when we reached the smooth asphalt.

Being a gentleman, Karl took the route to my house first, either of us expecting to find its outside in a complete mess.

The whole exterior was painted with smacked eggs, balls of paint, tomatoes and had finished touches of dangling toilet paper giving it a final halloween look. But that all was hidden behind the several police cars parked in front of it, the front door opened wide.

"What the hell happened here!"