Your Royal Highness

Chapter 7: Lizzy

Lost in the pages of my book, I was abruptly interrupted by a voice calling out from outside the shed. "Charlie!" a woman's voice echoed.
Hoping she would leave, I remained silent, trying not to make any noise. Quietly, I rose from the comfort of the couch and tiptoed over to the desk. As I clumsily attempted to place my book down, a cup of pens crashed to the floor, shattering the silence. "Charlie, are you in the shed?" she yelled, swinging the door open.
I stood frozen, meeting her gaze. Confusion etched across her face, she whispered, "You're not Charlie." Slowly, she approached me, her eyes scanning me from head to toe. "Who are you?" she inquired. Panic surged through me as I struggled to find the right words. "I'm James," I stammered, uncertain of what to say next. 
"I'm Elizabeth, but you can call me Lizzy," she introduced herself, extending her hand. I shook it, but before I could utter a word, she questioned, "Why are you in Charlie's shed?" Her eyes darted back to the desk cluttered with books and the bed with my old clothes. "Are you living here?"Her voice grew louder, causing me to hush her urgently.
"His parents don't know, and they can't find out!" I asserted firmly. Lizzy grinned mischievously. "Ah, so you two have a little secret 'thing' going on," she teased, leaving me confused. "What?" I asked, my confusion evident. "Well, you're staying at his house, and no one knows. It's quite scandalous," she explained, only to be interrupted by my raised hands. "No, it's not like that," I interjected. "Okay, whatever you say," Lizzy replied, flashing a knowing smile as she settled onto the couch. Curious, I inquired, "What are you doing?" Joining her on the couch, she replied cheerfully, "I'm waiting for Charlie to come back. He'll be here any minute now." Nodding in understanding, I picked up my book and resumed reading, the shed now filled with an air of anticipation. I sat there panicking waiting for Charlie to get home. I've never been this inpatient.
The doors swung open, revealing Charlie engrossed in his book. Oblivious to his surroundings, he strolled in, only to halt abruptly in the middle of a sentence as his gaze locked onto me and Lizzy. A mixture of surprise and unease washed over his face, and he mustered a nervous smile. "Oh, um, Lizzy," he stammered, his voice tinged with uncertainty. "Hi, Charlie," Lizzy greeted him, her tone laced with a hint of mischief. "I was just getting acquainted with your 'friend' James here," she added, playfully emphasizing the word 'friend' with air quotes.
I rose from my seat and made my way towards Charlie, leaning in close to him. "I haven't uttered a word," I whispered, ensuring that only he could hear. "All she knows is that I'm staying here and my name is James." A smile crept across my face as I turned my attention to Lizzy. "Well, James and I have some matters to attend to, so you should probably leave," Charlie suggested, placing his backpack gently on my bed. Concern filled Lizzy's voice as Lizzy asked, "What will he do when you're at school?" Slowly, I shifted my gaze towards Charlie, a smile playing on my lips. "It would be nice to have some company," I said, hoping to sway him. Charlie's eyes sparkled with excitement.
"Well, I could skip school," he proposed eagerly. I shook my head vigorously, determined not to let him sacrifice his education. "No, I absolutely refuse to interfere with your learning," I insisted, trying to dissuade him.
Charlie's Concern and a Misunderstanding  Charlie's voice was filled with deep concern as he asked, "But what will you do?" I let out a sigh and replied, "Lizzy can stay with me." Lizzy's smile widened as she confirmed, "Of course, I'll stay with James!" She walked towards the door and added, "I'll see you tomorrow at 8."  As soon as Lizzy left, Charlie turned to me and asked, "Why'd you let her in?" He plopped down onto the couch and I sat next to him, shaking my head. "I didn't," I explained, "I accidentally knocked over the cup of pens on the desk and she heard it and let herself think it was you." Charlie quickly sat up and said, "Oh well, okay" Charlie said. Charlie quickly sat up "I should get going it's late" he smiled as I nodded "yeah, okay I probably won't see you till tomorrow so goodnight" Charlie smiled "goodnight" he said as he left.
In the morning I woke up to Charlie as he ran in "I'm almost late to school but I wanted to say bye before I left" he said out of breath "oh okay bye" I said as he hugged me then left.
After that I was wide awake so I got up and grabbed my book then sat on the couch until Lizzy came.
Lizzy burst through the doors "im here, sorry to keep you waiting my car broke down" I sighed as I put my book down "it's a 5 minute walk" I laughed but Lizzy didn't think it was funny. "Okay but like i just got it and I want to use it" she tried to defend herself. "Whatever can we do math today I did too much reading" I said as I walked over to my desk and grabbed my notebook and pen. Lizzy came and sat by me "sure, is division okay?" She asked, I nodded. "Sure sounds good" I said as I opened my notebook "okay so we are going to start on this equation today"she said as she placed the piece  of paper down.
After we finished math I was reading my book when I looked at the time.
"Its 2!" I said as I jumped up from my chair "I know you're counting down the time for when I leave and Charlie comes back but can you please pretend to be sad" Lizzy said from the couch "sorry, oh no please don't go I'm going to miss you!" I said sarcastically. Lizzy stuck up the middle finger "haha real funny" I said as I walked over and sat by her.
I was lost in my book when I head the creak of the door open I jumped up from my seat as Charlie walked in "I'm back, Lizzy you can leave" Lizzy nodded "we did math today so he won't have to tomorrow because he's already ahead with literacy" lizzy said on her way out. "Sounds like you had a very productive day," Charlie laughed. "Yeah, I don't think she notest how I had a calculator in my pocket but whatever" Charlie rolled his eyes "you know having Lizzy come and teach you, you're supposed to learn, not cheat" I nodded. "I know but I'm just exhausted today, I can't focus very well, plus I'm starving" Charlie smiled. "Good I brought you some food" he said as he grabbed a bag of food from the desk "here I brought you some tacos, I hope you like tacos" I nodded "I like anything as long as it's food, actually I hate tomatoes but other than that love food" charlie laughed as I sat down to eat.
"Were your parents always away growing up?" I asked as I took a bite of my taco.
"No, my mom was around more, we used to always have family dinners and go out to the park or whatever" charlie said with a sigh "oh, what about your dad?" Charlie went silent.
"We'll my dad was always away one time he was gone for months at a time" he said quietly "im sorry" I said softly "it's alright we never had a close enough bond for me to be upset over" charlie said as he finished his taco. "Oh, okay" it went silent for a moment "so how long have you known Lizzy?" I asked to try to break the silence. "Oh well I met her when I was 15 so she was 17 at the time, she went to my school and her parents where close with mine so we became friends" he explained "oh that's nice, she's really fun to be around" I said as charlie moved the other ways so his legs were resting on mine.
"Yeah she's really cool, oh and also how's school going so far?" He asked as he glanced at me, I was still eating my taco. "Oh like she said it's going good I'd just rather read that's all" charlie chuckled. "yeah well I don't want you to be stupid when you're older, do you?" I laughed as I shook my head. "No, probably not," I said with a small laugh.
I looked down at my watch to check the time, it's 9 already. Charlie never stays with me past 9.
"Charlie it's 9 you should probably go" I suggested as I sat up, I looked at Charlie who was on the other side of the couch. Charlie moved his legs that were resting on mine.
"You know I don't really feel like leaving" he said as I turned to face him "you don't?" I asked with a confused expression on my face. "You don't mind if I stay here with you tonight, do you?" He asked.
I instantly shook my head "no! Of course not" he smiled as he got up from the couch "well since you live here where should I sleep?" He asked "well, you could sleep on the couch? Or I could make you a bed on the hard floor" Charlie made a face. "Or...since the bed is queen sized we could share?" I said as Charlie smiled "thanks, will do" he said as he plopped down on the bed.
"You're not a crazy sleeper are you?" I asked as I turned off the lights "I guess we'll have to find out" Charlie said as I laid down next to him "alright well Goodnight" I said as I took off my watch and put it on the side table. "Goodnight James," Charlie said as I dozed off to sleep.