𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐋𝐋𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒 , anthony larusso

ix. kind heart

CHAPTER NINE —
kind heart

"LOTTIE, HEY I HAVE a question." the blonde girl turned around, seeing lia walk up to her with a huge smile on her face. "there's this fair tonight that's supposed to be really, really fun. i looked up the rides online and they look sick! i sent you a text about it but you didn't respond last night."

charlotte pressed her lips into a thin line, shrugging her shoulders. "i was at karate getting some training in before the all valley. i gotta learn fast since it's coming up soon, sorry."

lia immediately shrugs it off. "it's okay. as i was saying, i invited a bunch of people from our grade to go to the fair tonight and i wanted you to come as well."

the plan sounded fun but lia is friends with everyone and charlotte only had one friend which was devon, who is a year older than her so there was no way lia knew her. but then again, he dad always told her to branch out.

"who's going?" she played it safe, wanting to know who was going first. hiding her hand behind her back as she crosses her fingers that kenny or anthony weren't going—

"well i invited kenny and anthony, then jane and.."

charlotte mentally groaned at the mention of the two boys. lia continues to list the people she invited but charlotte quickly cuts her off. "um, well i don't know. i have this really important dinner tonight with my dad's new girlfriend so.."

lia's face changes into disappointment but gave her a small smile. "that's okay, have fun at the dinner! we can always go next time." the brunette patted her shoulder, walking away. charlotte turns around to watch her talk to anthony and again she had the weird feeling in her stomach.

she decides to shrug it off for now before going to her locker to get her books. she overhead some of their conversation, of course not intentionally listening in..

"i asked lottie but she's busy tonight." lia says disappointedly. anthony turned around to glance at the girl who was focused on getting all her books in her backpack and frowned. "she said she'll come next time thought, ant."

"yeah." he mumbled before lia walked away to talk to jane. his friends went up to him and they all started talking. charlotte sighed and closed her locker, turning to see anthony and kenny talking.

immediately she watched carefully, making sure nothing happens. "i got nothing to say to you..lapusso." kenny spat, ticking off anthony. he tries to push kenny but he ran away as quick as he can.

charlotte scrunched her face up, stuck in between whethere to follow them or just leave it be. but even though her and kenny weren't friends anymore..she still had that protective instinct so she ran after them.

they were fast, the library already had it's lights off. charlotte slowly walks into the room, looking around but it was hard to see since it was so dark. she carefully hid behind some book shelves jumping when she heard kicking sounds. she followed the sounds to see kenny beating up anthony's friends.

crouching down when he turned around to find the only boy he really wanted to hurt. anthony. 

charlotte follows him, watching as anthony bumps into a small cart of books and fell to the ground. kenny runs after him after seeing him vulnerable but before he reached him, charlotte stepped in.

she sent a kick to his side, kenny falling back for a moment. he turned to face the girl with a glare on his face. "you're seriously taking his side?" he asked, putting his arms up in a fighting stance.

charlotte stood there but she was ready for anything he sent her way. she glanced at anthony on the floor. was she taking his side? "i'm not taking anyone's side, i'm just doing what is right which is stopping you from something you might regret."

"i don't regret anything!" kenny exclaims, pure anger on his face. "you saw everything that went down lottie, so why are you protecting him?"

"because—" she started but he cuts her off with a chuckle.

"oh i know why.." he trails off, nodding his head. "it's because you two like each other!"

charlotte furrowed her eyebrows in confusion but even though she was confused, she couldn't help but feel her cheeks heat up. anthony snapped his head towards kenny, scared that he finally saw through him.

"what are you talking about kenny?" charlotte breathes out, shaking her head. "you know that's not the case."

"no but it is. i saw you two at the drive-in movie, all together up and close. you two seemed pretty comfortable with each other." his voice was laced with jealousy and anthony noticed that but charlotte didn't. "you know, going on a date with your best friends bully is one hell of a move charlotte. i just never thought it'd be you. i really liked you."

her heart dropped at his words, that's why he was acting the way he was. she clenched her fists. "kenny i—" before she could say anything he moves forward to kick her but charlotte blocks it. why couldn't they just talk like normal people?

kenny swung his fist to punch her but then again she blocks it, using her other hand to punch him in the stomach. her face scrunches up in regret hearing him grunt in pain. before anymore damage was done, the librarian walked into the room turning on all the lights.

"hey! what's going on in here?" the three teenagers looked at her, scared that they got caught. her face changes when she connects the dots, tilting her head to the side in disappointment.

anthony, charlotte and kenny sat in the office, all of them had frowns on their faces since they were caught. the blonde girl bit the inside of her cheek while her leg bounces with anxiety. the door opens, her head turning to see her sister walk inside in a hurry and concerned expression. adeline noticed her little sister sitting in between the two boys, kneeling down and putting a hand on her cheek.

"lottie, are you okay?" she asked. clearly her dad was too busy to go over so adeline was excused to pick up her sister. charlotte nodded her head with a small smile. adeline sighs, standing up and ruffling her hair. 

daniel and amanda walk in, concerned for their son but little do they know. "anthony, are you okay?" charlotte glances over to see kenny put his head down in embarrasment. she pursed her lips and looks at adeline. 

the principal calls all three of them in, kenny's mom not being able to get off work to see what was going on. the three teenagers sat in silence while glancing up to see what was happening every minute or so. 

whatever the principal says to adeline, if it was bad she wouldn't tell their dad but it was fine then she would have to. charlotte leans her arm on the arm rest of the chair, her arm brushing against anthony and she quickly pulls her arm away.

charlotte looks into the window from where she was sitting, mr. larusso turning back with a face full of anger and disappointment targetted to his son. she glances at anthony with a frown. kenny saw the whole thing as well, grinning ear to ear as he leaned over slightly to whisper something.

"i got you." he teased, charlotte rolling her eyes annoyed with him already. adeline looked back at her sister with a proud smile which made a small smile appear on her face. eventually they were dismissed, adeline putting her hand out.

"let's go lottie." the two sisters walk away, hand in hand. charlotte left but not without glancing back at anthony who also stared at her.

ROAN SPEAKS ! 🎀
okayy charlotte kicking some ass i see.. adeline is such a proud sister. also hello?? kenny confessing in the heat of everything omg yk ur girl loves angry confessions sometimes. too bad he's not end game :(