𝐜𝐫𝐮𝐞𝐥 𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫

[ 007 ] I Trust You.

FOURTH of July. A hectic holiday and the three boys have to work, having a whole event going on for it held by Margo, the manager of Scoops Ahoy. She goes back to enjoying her summer break right after. But at least the three boys get to go to the barbecue party held at the Byers home right after, Hopper working the grill with Jonathan and Argyle's help, Steve, Eddie, Nancy and Robin are also there, so are their friends, Lucas, Mike, Max and El, along with their parents and such.

But there's someone new, talking to Lucas and laughing with him. Curiosity got the best of Charles who's looking for an excuse to leave Gareth and Will's side who are being all lovey dovey now that they've confirmed their relationship all of the sudden, so he walks over. "Hi!" He smiles kindly and Lucas turns to him. "Charles!" He pulls him into a hug and Charles hugged back just as tight.

The boy standing by, he recognizes now as Patrick McKinney, who is the basketball team's captain ever since Jason Carver graduated from high school. "Hey Patrick." He smiles at him and Patrick smiles, nodding at him. "Happy Fourth, Dumont." He says and Charles just glanced up and down before looking at Lucas. "Did you at least remember to say happy three years to Mike?" He asked and Lucas quickly looks over at his boyfriend who's sitting and moping at the other side of the yard.

"I did. He's just usually like that." He says and Charles chuckles, knowing exactly what he meant. "I'm gonna go convince him to swim with me." He pats his friend's arm and walked away as Charles looks at the older, smiling softly. "Wanna swim?" He asked and Patrick looks over at the pool. "I don't swim..." He says and Charles glances at the pool.

"Then... we can go steal beer and have some in the kitchen?" He offers, whispering and Patrick chuckles. "Alright. If you think we won't get caught." He says before following after Charles into the house. "See. I'm invisible." The Dumont says as the McKinney chuckles.

"Nah. You're not invisible." He says and Charles glanced at him, smiling softer as he approached the fridge, grabbing the two beer bottles. "To be safe, we should drink them on the front porch." He hands over one of them to Patrick and the older pops his open. "Can... you open mine?" He held out his and Patrick chuckled, but opens the beer for him anyway.

"So... why aren't you with family today?" Charles asked curiously as they sip their beers. "Oh, my dad... he's kind of a nut. They left on a cruise without me so I spend most of my time with Lucas and Mike, they keep trying to get me a girl... or guy, so I can double date with them or something." He shrugs and Charles chuckles. "That's what Will and Gareth keep doing with me." He looked down. He stayed quiet, glancing at Patrick for his reaction, the older just taking another sip of beer.

"Do you wanna go out on a date then?" He finally looks at Charles again who just sat up straight. "What? Me? Um, why...?" He says quietly and Patrick chuckles. "Well, you're cute. And I like your eyes." He smirks and Charles smiles coyly. "That's all? You only like my eyes?" He asked and Patrick chuckles, sipping his beer again as he glanced away.

"You also have nice hair. And a cute smile." He says and Charles blushes, glancing away as he smiles even wider. "Thanks..." He says quietly, grinning before taking another sip. "And what about me?" Patrick asks, sipping his beer again and Charles looks at him, smiling. "I like the way you play basketball... you're really good at it." He says and Patrick chuckles, nodding as he glanced away. "That sounded, like, totally creepy, didn't it?" Charles made a grimace at himself and Patrick shakes his head. "No, not at all..." He tells him.

Charles smiles more at that, staring at him before glancing away to sip the beer again when the front door burst open, making him spit it out and toss into a bush nearby as Patrick hid his behind his back rather smoothly. "Charleston James Dumont." Hopper scolds him and Charles grimaces at the use of his full name. "What? I wasn't doing anything!" He exclaims and Hopper points inside.