Nightcrawler (A Slimecicle FF)

TEN

"Charlie? Charlie! Charlie, get up!"

Charlie's eyes slowly opened and he groaned, looking over at Schlatt, whose eyes were wide with panic.

Schlatt looked down at him. "What the fuck did she do to you?"

"I...what?"

Charlie sat up, rubbing his eyes. He was a bit cold without a shirt on, but as that thought came to mind, he realized that his bruises were surely showing.

"You sent a text to the group chat," Schlatt was frantically breathing in and out. "You said it was an emergency. Next thing we know, she answers the door and you're in here, shirtless, all beat up and—"

Charlie narrowed his eyes, but they widened and he shot to his feet. "She didn't do anything, she helped me. What...where is she? Is she alright?"

"They've got her in the living room—"

"What the hell?! I saved him! You should be grateful! Let go of me!"

Charlie cursed, pushing past Schlatt and rushing into the living room, where Ted had his arms wrapped around a struggling Santana. She was clawing at him and trying to escape, but Charlie noticed she was holding back her punches and he was grateful.

"Charlie, tell this asshole to let go of me!"

"Let go of her, Ted," Charlie mumbled, once again rubbing his eyes. He was still sore, and he was exhausted.

She broke out of his grasp and shot a glare in Charlie's direction. "'Don't run away', yeah? When this is what I get when I stay?"

"Hey hey hey," Schlatt stood next to Charlie and glared down at Santana. "Whether you did anything or not, it's still your fault."

"Schlatt—" Travis stood from his spot on the couch, but Santana's mouth dropped open and she spoke.

"How is it my fault?"
"This never would've happened to him if you hadn't come around in the first place!" Schlatt shouted. Charlie opened his mouth to interject, but was stopped when she interrupted him with a very sarcastic laugh.

"Oh, you know what? That's hilarious," She went over to the couch and grabbed her jacket. "Because last I checked, he was the one that went looking for me."

Charlie turned red at that, looking over at her. She glared at everyone and nodded, pointing a shaking finger at Charlie with pure anger written on her face. "Yeah, that's right. I was there that night. When you and him were staring into the alleyway."

She nodded over at Ted before sliding on her jacket, and Charlie's heart was crushed. He didn't want her to leave.

"I warned you, Glasses," She clenched her fists and turned away from him. "From the very beginning. I told you what it meant to get involved with me. But you went and did it anyway, and that's on you."

"Santana, wait—" Charlie took a step towards her, but she held up her hand.

"Don't," She brought her eyes over to him, looking at his bruised ribs and face before shaking her head, speaking softly. "Don't. It's better if you just forget. It's never going to end, Charlie, can't you see that? Not for me, anyway. But it can for you if you just forget about me and—"

"I don't want to forget," Charlie ran a hand through his hair, looking around at all of the guys before cursing. "I can't forget."

Her hard gaze softened slightly as he said those words, and he watched as her fists unclenched.