Seven Dates [Completed]

D A T E 3

Charlie's sprawled out on the floor of her room, barely awake. Her comfy sweatpants and oversized Old Navy hoodie are too comfy as she tries to focus on the scribbled pages of her notebook. She longs for a cup of hot coffee, but decides she doesn't have the energy to walk downtown and grab one.

Her roommate didn't come back the previous night, leaving her to occupy the lonely space as she wished. Charlie played music, the kind that her roommate hates. The kind that she can dance to without anyone judging her. She ate a few of her snacks, but decided that she wouldn't notice or mind.

Charlie wishes for her roommate to return, just maybe to have someone to distract her for a while. Someone to take her mind off of the words that were starting to blur together. With her head on the floor, she dozes off into a dreamless sleep.

With no sense of the time, Charlie is startled by a knock at the door. She pulls her head up quickly, wiping at her eyes. Without even adjusting the hoodie laying awkwardly on her shoulders, she opens the door.

Her eyes go wide and she inhales a painful breath. "Peyton!" She exclaims, eyes wide.

He's standing in the doorway, smirking as he leans against the frame of the door. In one hand is his backpack, and the other holds a plastic takeout bag. "Can I come in?" He asks.

"Umm, I guess. I didn't know you were coming over," Charlie steps back, becoming aware of how messy her appearance is.

Peyton walks in, setting his things on the floor beside her books and scattered papers. "Of course! This is the perfect time for a study date. I brought Chinese takeout!"

"If I knew you were coming I would have cleaned up a bit," Charlie says embarrassed, holding her arm that is covered with the oversized sleeve. She quickly grabs a hairbrush, running it through her hair.

"Oh please, don't change a thing. You look so comfortable! But I'm sure you're starving."

Charlie tries to smoothen out the wrinkles in her clothes and takes a seat on the floor, where Peyton has already made himself comfortable. Taking the containers out of the plastic bag, Charlie realizes how hungry she is.

They lay the food out, opening the containers and grabbing plastic forks. They pick at the food, just enjoying comfortable silence with an occasion joke thrown in.

Once there are empty containers and no room in their stomachs for more, Peyton moves the food out of the way. He brings his backpack in front of him, unzipping it. He plops the Astrology book onto the floor, right next to Charlie's notes. "Ready to get back at it?"

"Never," she groans, stretching her arms out in a tired yawn. She closes her eyes as her muscles return to a normal rest.

Peyton pulls out a stack of flash cards, written in a way that Charlie can't read any of its content. She knows he's a sloppy writer, but this is illegible!

They sit opposite each other, taking turns reading off questions and replying with their best attempt at an answer. Charlie's eyes are fluttering with tired wishes. Her insecurities about her looks and room are dying off the longer Peyton sits in front of her, still looking at her like she's gold. "Come here," Peyton offers, extending his arms.

His back is against the outside wall. His eyes are glued to her. She moves over to him, dragging the text book with her. He pulls her in between his legs, so her back is resting against his chest and his arms are around her, holding on to the book.

Charlie relaxes into his arms, slouching so she can lean her head on his arm. She breaths deeply, that hint of vanilla driving her insane. She feels safe, like she can trust this boy with her life.

Charlie tries to say that's she's going to fall asleep, but it just comes out in illegible mumbles. Her eyes close and she falls asleep.

***

Charlie startles awake, gasping for air as she sits up. As she blinks the nightmare seems to continue, playing out more of the disastrous dream on her eyelids. As her eyes focus, she can start to make sense of objects in the room.

She's startled when an arm wraps around her, and another pulls her hair over her shoulder. "Charlie?" A sleepy voice asks.

She turns to face Peyton, almost forgetting she fell asleep in his arms. "Sorry to wake you."

"No no no, don't be sorry. What happened?" He is running his fingers lightly through her dark stands of hair.

She takes a deep, shaky breath. "Just a nightmare," she exhales.

"Wanna talk about it?" He wraps his arms around her in a tight embrace.

Burying her head in his t-shirt, she mumbles a 'no'. She doesn't let him see her watering eyes and fragile heart.

She doesn't tell him about her reoccurring nightmares. She doesn't tell him that she wakes up terrified almost every night. She doesn't tell him how terrified she is to grow close to anyone and chance watching them melt away in front of her.

She just tells him to go back to sleep.