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I don’t answer, I just wait for him to continue. “He’ll be going away again soon and then what will happen? You’ll be left on your own again.” His face fills with triumph, thinking that he’s just made a valid point but I can also see the worry reflected in his eyes that he’s trying to cover up.

He’s right, Corey will be going away again soon. Am I nervous for when he goes away? Of course I am but that doesn’t mean I can’t be with him just because of his job.

I’ll worry about him like mad but I know he’ll be able to keep in contact more, it won’t be like last time.

“So because he’s going away, I shouldn’t be with him?” I ask in a sweet voice, even though my heart starts to speed up in annoyance.

“He’s gonna leave you again, Ava. Look what happened last time.”

I stare at him, not able to believe what was coming out of his mouth. Me and Charlie are close, he’s the one that I can call at any time and know he’ll be there for me no matter what.

When I first moved to college, I’d called him so many times and each and every time he came. No matter how small. Seeing him now, trying to tell me that Corey is no good for me it, lights a fire in my belly.

“You realize how ridiculous you sound right?” I ask, gritting my teeth.

“I’m-”

“No,” I say and hold my hand up for him to stop. “I respect you, Charlie, I really do, and I listen to you about most things but you have no say in this.”

He puts his hand on his hips, blowing out a breath and looking off to where I know Corey is sitting with Kay. “He’ll break your heart.”

I shrug. “Even if he does, then at least I know I fell in love and that I got to experience the all-consuming feeling that I have with him.”

“I don’t like this, not one fuckin’ bit.” He brings his eyes back to mine, a fire burning in them. The clenching of his jaw tells me that he’s holding back, he always does this with me and for once I wish he would let it all out and then we can move past it.

“Just say it,” I roll my eyes, cocking my hip out as I cross my arms over my chest, waiting for him to tell me what he really thinks.

“You want me to tell you all the reasons why I think it won’t work?” His eyes flick to Corey and then back to me, squinting as he steps forward. I lean my head back so I can see him better, and wait.

“He’s too old to start with. You’ll never have a real relationship because he won’t be there half the time. He’s not into commitment-”

“That’s enough,” I say stepping back, shocked at how he’s talking. I stare at him, wondering what happened to the Charlie who has been there for me through everything. Why won’t he just support this decision?

The thing is, I can’t stop the little voice in my head that tells me he could be right.

Shaking my head, I spin around, trying to walk away from what he’s just said.

“Ava,” he growls, gripping my arm and spinning me back around. “You’re going to get hurt.”

I swallow at him and really look into his eyes. He’s not doing this to be mean. He’s doing it because he’s looking out for me. I get it, I really do, but he needs to let me make my own mistakes.

“Charlie,” I say bringing my hand up to his face. “You need to back off on this one.”

Neither of us move our eyes as we stare at each other, I let him see how serious I am and he shows me that he’ll be there for me, no matter what. “If he hurts you...” he grits out.

“I know.” I smile and tap his chest with my palm. “You’ll get him, blah blah blah...” I say, rolling my eyes.

His hand moves from my arm and he steps back chuckling. “Do Ma and Dad know?” he asks, throwing his arm over my shoulders as he steers me to everyone else and I breathe a sigh of relief that he’s letting it go... for now.

“Yeah.” I nod and smile thinking about when I told Elena.

After Corey had bandaged my hand up, there was no way I couldn’t tell her what happened. She said that she suspected it would happen at some stage. When I asked her what she meant by that, she shook her head and winked, telling me that I’d realize one day.

“I’m guessing Ma’s happy?” he grunts with displeasure.

“Yep,” I say, pooping the p and smirking up at him. He rolls his eyes and pushes me in a brotherly way when we get back to the guys and he goes and sits down next to Evan and starts talking to him.

My eyes automatically find Corey’s, he’s staring at me with so much intensity that it’s unnerving, I shuffle on the spot, wanting to look away from him but not being able to.