Aleksei & Liam

42. Charlie the ally

(Aleksei's PoV)

"You should have seen the look on his face." Alfie threw a gravy chip in his mouth, "quality, man."

I could never confide in him, but did I have another option?

Well, there was Jamie who I think we all know didn't really like me all that much. Alfie and Jamie had gotten thick as thieves after I had ditched Alfie to hang out with Liam, and somehow Jamie felt I was the one who intruded on his friendship with Alfie.

Richie simply wasn't an option, he'd call me out on everything and would tell me to shut up and focus on school and practice.

Charlie...Charlie actually seemed like a good option, we got closer when Liam and I became mates and I'm sure he wasn't homophobic.

That's settled.

It was almost over a week since we were introduced to Alex's stupid face and he had graced us with his presence a little more than was necessary, like this once, a few days ago he showed up to school in his white Bentley (or whatever, I couldn't tell! I always took the bus.) and kissed Liam by the gates! In front of everyone, not that anyone cared but I did! A little too much.

That's when I realised, I really needed someone to talk to.

I waited until after school when we were all at Jamie's garage, except it was just Charlie, Richie and me.

Richie was on his phone texting away and Charlie was...also on his phone but in another corner of the room.

Perfect.

"Hiya, Charlie!" I plopped down next to him.

"Hi." He mumbled dryly, his eyes still glued to his phone as he played some mobile game.

Deep breaths, Aleksei.
You can do this.

"You know how you're my closest friend in the band, right?"

"I am?"

I chuckled nervously, "of course, mate!"

"I'm pretty sure you're looking for Alfie." He said as he sniped another player on the phone.

"Nah, I'm pretty sure it's you!" Another awkward chuckle.

"Alright, I'm flattered and all but is there something else?" He looked at me for the first time that afternoon.

"Uh, yeah...I wanted to talk to you about something."

"Go on." He turned his phone off and placed it on the table.

"You know how I'm with Cheryl, right," he nodded, "well, the thing is...I like someone else,"

"And you don't like Cheryl anymore?" He cut me off.

"That's the thing, I don't really no. It's just that, when I'm with this other person I totally forget she exists!"

Charlie chuckled, "Man, that's messed up."

"Not helping."

"I'm sorry, do continue."

"And this other person isn't exactly single either."

"Maybe you should tell them, to get some closure." 

"I think he knows."

Charlie's eyebrow quirked up and a hand went up to my mouth. Wow had I just outed myself?

"Well, I think you should tell Cheryl then." He shrugged.

He didn't seem to react to the fact that I liked a boy, "I'm not gay or anything." I chuckled dismissively.

"I didn't say you were."

Wow, someone had a way with words.

"It's just this one person, I don't like guys. Like, when I look at you I wanna be sick."

"Okay, that's enough." Charlie laughed.

"You like who you like." He shrugged, "and you don't need a label to love the person you love. Take all the time you need but don't push people away."

He probably didn't know just how much his support meant to me, I still couldn't come in terms with who I was but it was nice to have a friend who stood by me.

I sniffled, containing a sob that I didn't want to let out, I think it was due to all the pent up rage (on seeing Liam with someone else.) and the hopelessness.

"Come here." Charlie said and pulled me into a hug, "it takes a lot of courage to admit something like that." He pat my back, "I'm happy you felt like you could share something like this with me and I'm happy to let you know that I'm here for you."

That was enough to let a few tears run down my cheek, I aggressively wiped them off and pulled myself out of his embrace.

"Are you alright?" Richie voiced his concern from the other end of the room. This must have looked pretty weird from his point of you.

"All good, mate." Charlie called out before looking back and me and giving me a reassuring smile.

"Thanks, Charlie. I knew you were all 'ally' when Liam first came out and I was sure you'd be cool with me as well." I chuckled.

"He told you about that?"

"Uh, yeah."

"Wow, you lot are that close?"

I blushed and hoped he couldn't see how fluttered I got, "well, yeah I mean not really haha. I mean, yeah he told me but no that's about it. We don't talk about it."

"You could have just told him instead of me, get a better perspective." He had a teasing tone in his voice and maybe he wasn't as oblivious as I thought.

"I'm sure you've figured out by now..."

"It's Liam, isn't it?

I ran both hands down my face, "Yes." I sounded so pathetically whipped.

Charlie laughed heartily, "About time." He scoffed, "it's painful watching you two."

"He's with Alex." I said in a sad hushed tone as I pictured the two of them kissing and smiling at each other.

"It's not my place to say but he really wishes he wasn't."

I looked at him in confusion, "Not that he told me that, he doesn't tell me anything anymore." I could sense some pain in Charlie's voice and I think it was safe to assume they were having a little Alfie and I situation.

"Besides, you can clearly see Liam has a type." He chuckled.

I snorted in disagreement and rolled my eyes, Alex and I were nothing alike.

"He's a hotter and richer version of you."

"Right! Thanks mate." I laughed

"But you can see it, he's not himself. When he's with Alex he looks lost and tensed, like he has this facade," Charlie tried explaining with hand gestures.

The door swung open to reveal Alfie with his guitar and a half empty bottle of Smirnoff, his eyes met mine and he looked away before making his way to Richie.

That much for friendship.