breathe

chapter 24 | charlotte

Chapter Twenty-Four

Charlotte

"LIZZIE!" I pounded on my door of our bathroom that linked our two rooms together. She had locked both doors, and I needed to get ready for school. I was already running late because I overslept.

"GET YOUR ASS OUT OF THE SHOWER!" I shouted, hoping she would hurry up. She and Henry had come home for the summer since Lizzie graduated and her lease with her roommate was up, and they needed to find a new place to live.

Also, they got engaged. Which was completely unexpected. They already planned on having the ceremony the next year, but Mom and Lizzie had been diving deep into wedding planning when Lizzie wasn't working night shift at the hospital in Ann Arbor.

"OH MY GOD, LIZZIE!" I yelled again. I was going to be so much more pissed off if I couldn't brush my teeth before school.

"Use Mom's shower!" she called back.

"I need my fucking toothbrush!" I shouted.

"It's hair washing day! I've still got another ten minutes!" she exclaimed. I groaned, completely frustrated with her. I had seriously taken for granted having my own bathroom.

I picked my cellphone up off my desk and called Ben, and he answered on the first ring.

"Charmander, how's it going?" he greeted me warmly.

"Have you left for school yet?" I asked.

"'Hi, my amazingly handsome boyfriend, how are you today?'" he said in a high-pitched voice, seemingly mimicking me. Or at least what he thought I sounded like. Or probably the best he could do.

"Ben," I protested, my frustration with the morning only growing.

"Say it," he urged. I could hear him grinning, entirely pleased with himself, over the phone. "You have to be nice on the phone or I won't help you."

"It takes too much time," I complained. "I just need a clean toothbrush."

"I'm sorry, I didn't hear you," he teased.

"Benjamin."

"Charlotte." He used the same exasperated tone I had used.

I sighed dramatically. "Hi, you wonderfully annoying dork," I grumbled into the phone. "HOw are you not tired of your own face yet today?"

Ben chuckled. "Aw, don't be like that Charmander. I know mornings are rough. What can I do to help?"

"If you could magic my toothbrush out of this bathroom I'd be forever grateful. Lizzie's still in there washing her damn hair for the fifth time."

"I'm on it," he assured me. "I'll bring a toothbrush to school. In the meantime..." His voice took on a teasing lilt. "Say something nice?"

"Benjamin, I swear to God..." My threat faded into a reluctant smile. He knew just how to push my buttons in the best way. "Thank you, you big goof."

"Anything for my favorite, albeit grumpy, girl," he teased. "I'll see you at school, love. And for the record, I always enjoy my own handsome face."

His grin was audible through my groan. I ended the call, grabbed my backpack, and ran downstairs, hoping I could still make it to school on time.

"Lottie, breakfast!" Mom shouted as I opened the door. I groaned and ran to the kitchen, grabbing a bagel she left out for me.

"Thanks, Mom!" I called before running out the door to my car. I quickly plugged my phone in, playing Taylor Swift on shuffle.