𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝 | 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐨𝐧

𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚎𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝

The next morning started with me being jolted awake. "Shit, wake up." It was Charlie, and he was clearly in panic mode. "Y/n." He noticed I was awake and ran his hands through his messy hair. "You need to leave now." I couldn't help but notice how cute he looked with bed head. God, what was I thinking?!

"What?" I sat up, looking around the room. It was extremely disorienting. I was in Dalton's bed. His roommate's bed was nice and tidy, and it seemed like Charlie had just woken up. Did Charlie sleep with me?! That question was quickly solved by the mess of my sleeping bag, blankets, and pillows on the floor. "What's wrong?"

Charlie handed me my bag full of things and glanced to the sleeping bag. "I'll get you that later. You just need to go." He paused a moment, looking me in the eyes. For someone who sounded so panicked, there was a hint of something else deep within him; like he was loving this. "Y/n. Nolan found out."

Now I understood the panic, and I quickly took the bag from Charlie. "Shit. Dammit." I cursed, standing up and moving my hair out of my face. "Fuck." Charlie was laughing a bit at my attitude as I slipped into my shoes. "Charlie quit laughing! It's not funny!"

"Well, it is a little funny." He said quietly, watching me panic.

"No. It's not! If my parents find out I'm not gonna be able to hang out with Carla! I won't be able to come back here! I'll probably be fucking homeschooled because they're dramatic like that-"

"Seems like you are too." Charlie said, grabbing my arm in order for me to pay attention to him. "You have no reason to worry. Just go out the back exit and wait in the woods for a bit, then leave. Easy."

I stared at him a moment, completely in shock with the words that came out of his mouth. "Easy? It's not easy!"

"You've just never done it before." He said as if this had happened to him more than once. He let go of my arm, realizing how long he had been holding it. "C'mon, take a few breaths. You're fine."

I did as he told me, nodding to him when I was done. I didn't feel fine, but I supposed a lot worse could happen. This was nothing in comparison. I picked up my bag again, slinking it over my back. "Alright, I guess I'll see you later."

Charlie opened the door for me to be met with Mr. Nolan. To that, Charlie quickly stepped outside and closed the door behind him. I could only hear a little bit of their conversation. "Mr. Nolan! Good morning, sir!" If I wasn't so freaked out, I'd be laughing at Charlie.

The door quickly opened, and I was met with an old prick. He looked at me, didn't say a word, but motioned for me to follow him. Charlie watched. He looked guilty, but that damn smile on his face wouldn't go away.

I followed Mr. Nolan, and it was stupid for him to keep his back to me because I made a break for it out the back door. "Woo! Go l/n!" I heard Charlie cheer, and Mr. Nolan turned around to watch me fly down the stairs and out the door. "Atta girl!"

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It didn't take them long to figure out who I was. After all, Charlie yelled out my last name when I was running away, and whoever turned me in knew my first name. Additionally, they knew I went to the high school nearby. It was a shitshow. I wasn't sure why Carla wasn't caught, but I was. I couldn't picture Meeks doing that—even as a joke. Charlie wouldn't risk that either, would he?

We had a meeting once my parents got back from their trip. It would be an understatement to say they were pissed at me... but somehow, they were more pissed at Charlie. They didn't punish me, at least not yet, because they wanted to hear all sides of the story.

When we went into the meeting room at Welton, I glanced over to see Charlie with his own parents. He looked at me, smiling like always, and waved. I shyly waved back, knowing my parents were watching my every move.