Chapter Sixteen:

Lunch was beyond awkward.

After Liza and I came back inside, Vasha refused to make eye contact with me as she quietly ate. Char tried keeping everyone’s spirits up by sharing a funny anecdote from work, but since my girlfriend couldn't understand it I was stuck translating. Have you ever tried talking with someone who didn't seem to want anything to do with you in the moment? You say something, they don't even acknowledge it? That's what was happening here, and it crushed me. Finally, I deflated completely and looked down at my lap blinking back tears.

“Hey girl, are you ok?”

Charlotte touched my arm supportively and tried to look me in the eye. I hate crying, especially in front of other people. My dad called it weak, and that was the last thing I wanted to be as a child. This resulted with me carrying on in private whenever possible. I swallowed the painful lump in my throat and nodded, afraid that if I spoke a tsunami of tears would break f