Finally Free - Charlie Gillespie

Chapter Eleven

Kenedi
I finish getting dressed and look at my makeup then look at myself in the mirror.

I wish you could see yourself the way I see you, Sunshine.

I smile lightly pushing my makeup away and grab my chapstick. Everyone here loves me for who I am. I don't need to try to impress them.

I walk out into the room smiling at Charlie. He whistles looking me up and down.

"Damn girl! You look amazing." I laugh walking into his arms. "And I see you decided to go natural."

"I did. A special someone told me I look beautiful without makeup so I thought I'd try it out."

"You look beyond beautiful, Kenedi. Words can't describe how amazing you look." I giggle blushing deeply.

"Alright lovebirds, knock it off. Guests will be here any minute." I flick Owen off kissing Charlie's cheek and sit on the couch.

"Kenz, you look amazing! Seriously you have to teach me your ways." I giggle at Savannah already loving how this feels.

"Says the queen."

"We're both queens!" I laugh jokingly shoving her. She leans closer to me smirking and whispers. "Are you going to kiss Charlie when the ball drops?" My eyes widen as my stomach drops.

"W-what?"

"Oh come on. It's so obvious you both like each other, but neither one of you will make a move!" I look over at him watching him eat some of the snacks laid out. It's kinda scary how much I love him.

"I-I don't know, Sav."

"He has to kiss someone when the ball drops because of Owen's dare. Who would be better than you?" I bite my lip looking at her then look back to him.

"Maybe. We'll see. I'm staying sober just in case something does happen. I wanna be able to actually enjoy it." She squeals quietly.

"My ship is sailing!"

"Oh my god. You, Sofia, and Madi are gonna be like that all night aren't you?"

"Probably." She giggles. I roll my eyes as Charlie sits in my lap making me groan.

"What do you want?" He laughs kissing my cheek.

"I missed my sunshine."

"So you had to sit on me?" I giggle shoving him off of me then sit in his lap. He wraps his arms around me holding me as close as possible to him.

"Eh. From now on I'm making you sit on me though."

"Yeah okay, baby. Whatever you say." He leans down and whispers into my ear, nose gently touching the back of my neck.

"There's a lot more I could make you do." I let out a shaky breath, eyes wide. I swallow hard feeling like I can't breathe until he slowly pulls back.

What the fuck was that?

******

I can't believe everyone is actually here. This is so weird. My closest friends as well as my idols all in one room. I love it.

I walk over to Anna and Sofia giggling. It's 11:45 so I need advice and quick.

"Hey, Kenz!" I smile nervously leaning onto Sofia's shoulder.

"I need advice."

"On?" I look around nervously trying to make sure no one hears.

"I...I think I want to kiss Charlie when the ball drops." Sofia screams so loud that people start to look over and I cover her mouth annoyed. "Seriously?"

"I'm sorry, but yes! Do it!"

"Yeah girl! You deserve to be happy!" I bite my lip looking over at him watching him have a pillow fight with Owen and Madi.

"Okay." I shake my arms out nervously and walk over to him.

"Hey sunshine!" I laugh taking the pillow from him and hit him in the head. "Hey!"

"It's almost midnight so cmon you idiots!" Madi and Charlie go start pouring the champagne and sparkling grape juice leaving me with Owen. He raises an eyebrow at me making me bite my lip.

"So?" I sigh nervously nodding.

"I'm gonna do it."

"I'm gonna record it!"

"What?! No!"

"Don't you want to be able to play your first kiss at your wedding." I sigh shakily hesitantly nodding.

"What if he pushes me away?" He rolls his eyes.

"He won't. Trust me. Now go on!" He pushes me over to Charlie.

"Here you go." He hands me a small glass of champagne making me laugh.

"You do realize I should be drinking sparkling grape juice like everyone else right?" He shrugs.

"You're not like everyone else." I shake my head blushing. "Do you have any goals for this year?"

"My only goal is to try to be as happy as I can and not let my mom get in the way of it. I've let her do that for far too long. What about you?" He smiles down at me proudly pulling me into his side.

"I'm a risk taker when it comes to adventures, but I never really risk anything with people. I kinda wanna make it a point in my life where I try to do that this year."

"Does that mean finally making a move on your crush?" I wiggle my eyebrows. He bites his lip looking down at my lips for a second.

"Maybe." Everyone starts counting down from ten and I feel like I'm going to burst from anxiety. This is it.

"Charlie?"

"Yeah?" How do I ask him to kiss me? Should I just do it? I'm not prepared for this. No amount of romantic movies have prepared me for this.

I look down at his lips battling myself internally. He looks down at my lips hesitantly tilting my chin up. I look into his eyes breathing shakily.

"Kiss me."

"TWO. ONE." He immediately kisses me making my eyes flutter closed.

All the noise fades and it's just him and I. No one else is around us.

He slowly moves his arms around my waist holding me as close as possible. I wrap my arms around his neck as the kiss slowly deepens.

My whole body is on fire.

I've never felt so alive before. I've never felt so special or loved before. I slowly pull back out of breath, but don't open my eyes scared to look at him.

"Woah." He says in a deep voice that I've never heard before. It's deeper than his morning voice. I giggle hesitantly looking up to him.

"Yeah. Woah." He hesitantly looks down at my lips then back to my eyes. I reach up on my tippy toes pecking his lips wanting to savor this moment for as long as I can.

He laughs leaning down and kisses me again. People are full of bullshit when they say they feel sparks when kissing the love of their life.

I don't feel sparks. It's a whole goddamn fire. We only pull apart when we hear Kenny screaming.

"IT HAPPENED!" I look around confused. Madi, Savannah, and Carolynn are in tears. Jeremy and Owen are looking at each other shocked.

I look up to Charlie confused and he looks down at me concerned.

"JULIE AND THE PHANTOMS IS RENEWED FOR A SEASON TWO!"