Stranger Nights

Chapter 19

When Charlotte heard the first knock she was startled to say the least. She slowly lifted herself up from bed. When the second knock came she found that it did not come from her bedroom door, but instead from her window. Freddy Elliot was standing outside her window. His arms were wrapped around himself. He was still in his dance clothes signifying that he had not yet gone home.

Charlotte stared at him in confusion at first, but soon got up and opened the window. Her house, like most houses in Roanoke, was low and Freddy or anyone really could easily climb in. That is why most preferred to leave their windows closed. That and the biting cold that awaited them outside.

"What?" she snapped at him.

"Can I come in." he asked.

"No." she said dryly. She started to close the window, but Freddy caught it in his hands keeping it open.

"It's about Henry." Freddy said through gritted teeth. At the mention of her cousin's name she opened the window back up and grudgingly let Freddy climb inside, not offering any help.

She sat back down on her bed and he sat next to her.

"Why didn't you just use the front door?" Charlotte asked.

"I saw your Dad and I wanted to avoid what happened with Henry's mom." Charlotte raised an eyebrow at him, but decided to ignore the comment altogether.

"So what about Henry?" Charlotte asked venom in her voice. Freddy pursed his lips and bore holes into his lap, as if deep in thought. Charlotte noticed how the tips of his ears turned red.

"Has Henry ever....loved someone?" He finally asked. Charlotte crossed her arms. She seemed unaffected by the comment it took so long for Freddy to muster the courage to say.

"Answer my question first." she barked at him.

"Wha-" she cut him off quickly.

"Are you in love with Henry?"

And the atmosphere turned strange. Freddy turned into a flustered mess.

"What!" He yelled his voice high. "I don't......you can't just.....I'm not."

"It's obvious Freddy." Charlotte said unimpressed.

"I like him as a friend." Freddy said his neck turning red. "But I mean I like girls!"

"Then why did you ask me if he has loved anyone."

Freddy looked at her his eye's wide.

"This was mistake." he breathed and he got up and started to crawl out the window. When his feet were on the ground and he started to walk away he heard her whisper.

"You could be his first love."

And when he turned toward the window his face heating up again she wasn't there.

He ran the rest of the way home.