friends in low places

Chapter Thirteen

tw: mentions of domestic abuse later in the chapter 

After about 2 hours of pleading Charlie to try different stuff on, they were on their way home again. Charlie was in the backseat once again, but this time he was on aux. He was so excited with his new phone, he wanted to show it off. It was a iPhone, an older model, but he missed having one. Julien was kind enough to let him use her Spotify account, so he begged Lucy to let him play the music. She was going to let him anyway, but she enjoyed putting up a little bit of a fight. It was funny to see Charlie try to argue his way in and out of things. 

He put on an old favorite album of his that he hadn't been able to listen to in a very long time. He slouched in the back seat, resting his head and closing his eyes; letting himself take in the music once again. It had been so long since he was able to just listen to music. It was his way of relaxing, of thinking, of surviving, and he hadn't been able to do it in far too long. 

They spent the drive home in comfortable silence, taking in each other's presence, letting their worries dissolve for the 30 minutes it took to get home. 

*****

As soon as they walked through the door of their home, Phoebe immediately ordered Charlie to give them all a fashion show. Her request was met with groans from both Charlie and Julien.

"Woah wait okay, I know why Charlie is complaining, but JB why don't you want him to? You don't have to watch, but I wanna see what he got." Phoebe said, jokingly.

Julien slumped her shoulders, showing her disappointment. 

"I wanted to jam with Charlie, we haven't played together in sooooo long" Julien said, looking at Charlie like a little kid.

"Oh fuck dude we really haven't. Phoebe I promise I will give you a super private super sexy fashion show later, would you mind if I went to play with Julien for a little bit?" Charlie asked Phoebe, giving her puppy dog eyes. He hadn't been able to play any instrument, let alone a guitar, in so long. He didn't even know if he could still play at all. He also wondered if they still had his guitar, the one his grandparents got him when he graduated high school. He let himself think about them for a split second, then shut it off. It hurt way too much. 

"God Charlie you know I can't say no to you when you look at me like that." Phoebe said, shielding her eyes.

Charlie smirked.

"I know that's why I do it." 

Phoebe rolled her eyes at him.

"Whatever. I do expect a private and sexy fashion show tonight. 8 pm sharp. Don't be a minute late." She said as she walked out of the living room. 

"Helllll yeah man let's go to the studio!" Julien said very excitedly. 

Charlie followed Julien to the basement of the house. 

"Woah wait, do you guys have a studio here?" 

Julien smirked at him, seeming very proud.

"Fuckin right we do. We built it ourselves." Julien said as she descended down the stairs.

"That is so fucking sick." Charlie said as he followed her, "Also, I've been meaning to ask, do you guys still have my guitar?" He tried to prepare himself for the answer. He didn't expect them to keep it all these years, especially after what he did. But he did have hope that they kept it for him. 

Julien went over to a closet and pulled his guitar out. 

"You mean this one?" She asked, smiling ear to ear. Charlie rushed over to grab it, and then hugged Julien very hard.