One Touch | Charlie Gillespie

T W E N T Y - T H R E E

"I have to know."

"So you're telling me that this man killed Sarah because Sarah found out that Charlie was... obsessed with her?"

The freckled girl next to me simply nods, as if this kind of stuff happens all the time. But I can't believe what I've just heard. "Well, I don't think you can call it an obsession," Leah casually goes on. "I mean, he wasn't like Joe Goldberg or something, more like Edward—"

"Leah," I interrupt, noticing her falling off trail. I wipe my sweaty hands on my pants as I can't think clearly anymore.

"No, just listen," she snaps, exhaling a sigh. Jesus Christ, how can Leah be so often irritated so fast? I raise my brows, gesturing her to continue as I don't want to break into an argument with her. "What I meant to say, is that his obsession wasn't exactly dangerous. It's not like he killed her," she assures, and I look at her confused.

"Of course it was dangerous. The woman is dead, Leah. And it was his fault!" I voice, the realization hitting me. This doesn't sound like the Charlie I know at all. It doesn't sound like the boy I dated, kissed and even slept with only a few days ago... and it doesn't sound at all like the happy, enthusiastic boy full of positive energy and kindness.

Now it just feels like I lost that boy.

Leah doesn't reply, she just looks at the ground and plays with her fingernails. I can tell she is uncomfortable by telling me this. "So, do you..." I begin in a softer tone, not sure if I want to finish my sentence. But I have to. "Do you think he was or is obsessed with me?"

She looks aside and tilts her head a little, her brown-colored eyes full of questions. "I don't know," she mumbles as she lowers her eyes again.

"I have to know," I state, even though the feeling in my stomach says I should just forget about it. But how, for god sake's, could I?
Leah looks at me disapprovingly, so I say, "I know what you're thinking, Lee, but I have to. Do you know where he is?"

C H A R L I E

"No, no. Stop!" Tori, our fanatical dance choreographer, yells. I sigh and let go of Madi, who rolls her eyes. The middle-aged woman walks up to me, her hands on her hips and her dark eyes darting into mine. "What's up with you today, Gillespie?" she asks as she tilts her head.
When I don't answer, she frustratingly sighs and grabs my arm to drag me away from the coaches, teachers, assistant choreographers and Madi.

"Madi, take five," she calls to my dance partner. We are rehearsing the Perfect Harmony dance to the song Madi and I have written a couple of days ago. Kenny loves the song, and he wants it on the show. He told us that the song would fit perfectly with the moment on the show where Nick falls for Julie, but Julie falls for Luke. Which is June's idea.

And although we have barely finished filming episode one, we already have to prepare for the following episodes. Today is our first day learning the dance. Our choreographers have put so much effort in this dance, so I hate that I fuck up several times—even the daily dance warm-up and workout went totally wrong—and now I pissed off Tori. But luckily, Kenny isn't watching us today. He has to direct some other scenes where Madison and I don't play in. And believe me, Kenny could be much more worse than Tori if he'd notice me not paying attention to the dance practice.

After Tori demands me to sit on a folding chair, she squats in front of me. "Can you explain what's happening?" Her voice is calmer than before, so that reassures me. Tori is a real sweetheart and we've become great friends since we met, but when it comes to dancing, she can turn into an absolute animal. "I can't work with you at this point, do you understand that?" she continues, not giving me a chance to explain anything. Not that I'm planning on doing so, though.