Chapter 5 : The Girl Who Didn't Care
900 Words
Charles' POV
Paul was talking i wasn't listening not because I didn't want to.
Because my attention was somewhere else.
Specifically...
On the girl sitting across from him.The balcony lights cast a soft glow across her face.
The city stretched behind her. Cars moved below.
Music from the party drifted through the open door yet somehow...
She seemed completely detached from all of it.
Like she didn't belong in the chaos.
Like she was only here because someone had forced her to come.
Which, knowing Julia...
Was probably exactly what happened Paul laughed at something.
Juliet smiled.
A small smile.
The kind you could easily miss if you weren't paying attention.
Unfortunately...
I was paying attention.
I hated that.
The moment Paul noticed me standing there, his grin widened immediately.
I knew trouble was coming.
"Look who finally escaped."
I rolled my eyes.
"You're one to talk."
Paul pointed toward the party."The captain has abandoned his responsibilities."
"My responsibilities are basketball."
"Tell that to the sponsors."
I groaned Wrong topic, Very wrong topic at the wrong time.
Paul looked far too pleased with himself.
Then he gestured toward the empty seat.
"Sit."
I should have left Instead...
I sat.
Juliet looked at me not nervously not excitedly.
Just looked at me.The reaction caught me off guard.
Most people either stared too much...
Or tried too hard not to stare she did neither.
For some reason...
That made me uncomfortable.
"Juliet, right?" I asked.
She nodded.
"Charles."
"I know."
Something about her answer made me pause.
"At least somebody does."
Paul almost choked trying not to laugh
I shot him a look.
Traitor.
Juliet tilted her head slightly "You seem disappointed."
"I'm not."
"You are."
I stared.
Paul laughed.
Again.
I was beginning to regret this friendship Juliet leaned back in her chair.
The cool night breeze moved a few loose strands of her hair.
"You get recognised everywhere."
"That's usually how fame works."
She shrugged.
"I guess."
I blinked.
That was it?
No fangirling?
No excitement?
No endless basketball questions?
Nothing?"You're not a fan?"
Paul immediately looked interested.Juliet considered the question.
Then answered honestly.
"No."
Silence.
I stared at her.
She stared back.
The woman had just casually shattered my ego.
Paul was enjoying every second of it."I like medicine," she continued.
"Medicine?"
She nodded.
"I'm studying to become a doctor."Suddenly everything made sense.The books.
The quietness.
The complete lack of interest in basketball.I found myself smiling.
"That explains a lot."
"What does?"
"Why you look like you'd rather be anywhere else."
A laugh escaped her before she could stop it.
The sound surprised both of us.For some reason...
I liked it.
Dangerous.
Very dangerous.
The balcony door opened.
The moment I heard the voice, I knew exactly who it was.
"Charles!"
Julia.
Of course.
She stepped onto the balcony with Sophia behind her.
The smile on her face appeared instantly.
Bright.
Confident.
Hopeful.
Then she noticed where I was sitting.Who I was talking to.
The smile flickered.
Only for a second.
But I saw it.
Paul saw it too.
Sophia definitely saw it.
Juliet didn't.
She was completely oblivious.
"Hey," Julia said.
"Hey."
An awkward silence followed.
The kind that made you suddenly interested in the weather.
Julia moved closer.
Naturally positioning herself beside me.Paul raised an eyebrow.
I ignored him.
Sophia looked like she wanted popcorn.Juliet looked confused.The atmosphere shifted.
Subtle.
But noticeable.
Then thankfully...
The balcony door opened again.A sponsor called my name.
Saved.
For now.
"Charles, can we talk?"
I stood immediately.
"Looks like duty calls."
Paul smirked.
I hated that smirk.
The sponsor guided me back inside.
Away from the balcony.
Away from the twins.
Away from whatever weird situation I had accidentally walked into.
Unfortunately...
The conversation that followed was worse.
Much worse.
The sponsor didn't waste time.
"Your image problem is becoming a concern."
There it was again.
Image.
I was starting to hate that word.
"I thought we already discussed this."
"We did."
"Then why are we discussing it again?"
The man sighed.
Because apparently he enjoyed ruining my evenings.
"Charles, you're one of the most marketable athletes in the country."
Not a great start."We need stability."
I rubbed my temples.
"No."
"We aren't asking."
My stomach tightened.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
The sponsor folded his arms.
"Your endorsement deal will be reviewed next month."
That got my attention.
Completely.
Millions were attached to that contract. Scholarship programmes,Community projects.Future opportunities.
Everything.
"You can't be serious."
"I'm completely serious."
For several seconds, neither of us spoke.
The music continued around us.People laughed.
Celebrated.
Enjoyed themselves.Meanwhile...
My night was falling apart.The sponsor stepped closer.
"You have a reputation."
"I know."
"You have influence."
"I know."
"You need a girlfriend."
There it was.
Again.
The same ridiculous conversation.The same ridiculous solution.
Except this time...
Nobody was laughing.
The sponsor handed me a business card.
Then turned to leave.I looked down.
Confused.
"What is this?"
He stopped.
Then looked over his shoulder.
His answer made my stomach drop.
"A deadline."
The room suddenly felt smaller.
"What?"
"You have seventy-two hours."
I stared.
"For what?"
The sponsor's expression never changed.
"Find a girlfriend."
Then he walked away.
Leaving me standing alone.
Holding the card.
Listening to the music.
And thinking about a girl on a balcony who didn't care who I was.
For the first time in a long time...
I had absolutely no idea what to do.
- Writer
