One Touch | Charlie Gillespie

S I X T E E N

"What's wrong?"

Charlie's snoring and the sound of his heartbeat pounding through his chest makes me wake up.

As I look across the living room with my eyes ajar to see if anyone is there, I yawn and stretch myself. I lay comfortable against Charlie's chest. A blanket was thrown over us when we fell asleep on the couch last night, but Charlie had taken most of it in his sleep so I was only covered with a small piece of blanket. Without making any sound, I slip under Charlie's arm, breaking free from his grip, and head to my own room to put on something warm.

Since the ticking sound of the clock tells me it is 6:30, I decide I probably can't sleep anymore and my alarm clock goes at 7:00, so I make a cup of coffee after putting on a hoodie. While I wait for the coffee machine to get ready, I think back of yesterday night.

At first, I loved the location, the weather, the whole setting. But now I think of it, it was the person that sat next to me what made it so perfect.

I know he's "in love" with me, although I think it's prodigious rapidly that he has already confessed it after just one week. Anyway, ever since he told me, there has been some tension between us, especially after last night. I have not figured out what I want yet, because I'm still not ready to get serious with him. And not just with him, with no one. I think I just have to be honest with him about my feelings.

"Hi." Madi's husky morning voice interrupts my thoughts. She yawns as she sits across from me on the barstool, rubbing her eyes and pulling her curly, tangled hair into a bun. "Morning, what's up with you so early?" I ask while the beeping sound of the coffee machine echoes through the apartment. Madison covers her ears with her hands, groaning and complaining about the noise. "I woke up before my alarm," she sighs irritably. "And I have to be on set in two hours, so I could've slept till eight."

"Then go back to bed," I say as I pour the coffee in two mugs, one for Madi and one for myself because I know she won't listen and go back to bed. "Nah, I'm already awake now." Her elbows lean sluggish on the counter and she latches her hands around the mug as she starts whiffling her coffee. Then realization hit her. "Oh my God, I forgot to ask. How was your date?" She signals with her head to the couch Charlie is still sleeping on, wiggling her eyebrows and winking teasingly.

"It was perfect," I smile and feel my cheeks getting warmer as I think back of last night again. I explain and describe everything, from the ride to all the food in the picnic basket. I also tell her about the kiss, but I innocently leave the details out. I want to keep the memory for him and myself.

"And then we drove back home and fell asleep on the couch," I finish. She raises her brows, kissing her teeth obediently and nodding her head as she's impressed by the date Charlie had planned. Greedy, she tries to think of another excuse to let me tell everything about the kiss, but I notice it and refuse it immediately. "Don't even ask," I warn as I drink the last sip of my coffee.

"Fine," she voices, rolling her eyes perky.
"So nothing else happened or...?"

Sighing, I look up at her and just as I am about to refute her question, someone else answers for me. "Unfortunately not."
Charlie walks into the kitchen with his hair all tousled and his bare chest full of goosebumps. "Excuse me?" I reply sarcastically, knowing he's only joking, though I doubted it at first. Madi's eyes grow wider and she can't contain her giggles. Charlie winks at me on his way to the fridge, dropping a kiss on my cheek as he passes me at the counter I'm leaning against.

"Cute," Madi mumbles, still giggling. I roll my eyes but can't resist a slight smile as I put the empty mug in the dishwasher. "I'm gonna take a shower," I say and head to the bathroom.