TNN ONESHOTS

we've got you- Char & C & AR

Carly stood in the staff room, looking at herself in the mirror. Originally, she went to check her hair, but the longer she stood there, the deeper she spiralled.

"My hair never looks right. My clothes don't look right, and my skin has too many imperfections. " carly mumbled, not noticing the tears that had rolled down her cheeks. She stood there, quietly tearing herself apart bit by bit. She started with her hair and was just slowly working her way down her reflection.

She must have gotten lost in her thoughts because before she knew it, Charlotte walked in. "Oh, Carly, there you are, Winter as -" Charlotte started before noticing the sadness in Carlys eyes. "Oh god, sorry, i will, i am..." she quickly tried to get a sentence together. She wiped her cheeks quickly. As she went to walk out of the staff room, Charlotte shook her head before guiding Carly back to the mirror, standing behind Carly. She placed her hands on the young girls shoulders. "Now listen, you are beautiful. I love the way your eyes light up when you smile and the way your cheeks turn slightly red when you are caught hiding and i love your hair. You can style it. it's not too long or too short. I love your personality. Carly, you are beautiful inside and out." The longer Charlotte spoke, the more tears rolled down her cheeks. "Come here."

Charlotte turned carly around and pulled her into her chest. "My dad would always remind me not to wear certain clothes because of my imperfections on my body and always reminded me to watch what i eat. This is why i stick to my hoodie. It covers everything that no one wants to see. Like my mum said,'If i dont keep covered, the parents would make complaints about me, and it would make more work for Marj. She's busy without complaints about me.' She would always always remind me that i should be doing my hair differently and be wearing makeup. Charlotte, i can't do it. I can't get it right. I look horrible no matter what." She sobbed into Charlotte's chest as months' worth of abuse finally came out.

Charlotte held Carly as she cried, gently swaying them both. "I've got you. We will work this out together." Charlotte whispered before softly humming. Thankfully, it didn't take long for Carlys sobs to subside to little sniffles. "Im s-sorry." She whispered before trying to move away, but Charlotte kept hold of her. "So this weekend the girls are at their dads so it would be perfect timing for us to go on a little shopping trip and i can get you a few bits and teach you how to do your hair and if you feel like you want to try it, we can try some make up as well." Charlotte offered, carly looked at her with her tear stained cheeks. "Thank you so much, Char. Oh, umm, would Mia be there?" She asked nervously. Charlotte gently wiped her cheeks with her thumb. "She will be there and she can come with us if you want her to if not she can stay at home while we head out. She will be at my house, but we can still go shopping, and i will just send her out the way while we do make-up and girly things." Charlotte whispered.

Carly shook her head. "That's not fair on her or you. You guys need to spend time together, not with me." Carly immediately started to panic, but Charlotte shook her head. "Listen. We can go shopping but we can bring mia in to help us with your makeup. She helped me learn how to do mine. Im a lot less orange now," Charlotte joked.

Carly nodded slightly before resting her eyes on Charlottes chest, listening to her heartbeat. Carly stood there for a while to Charlotte moved. "Stand up for a minute." She whispered before gently taking Carlys hair out of the ponytail. "Char, what are you - ?" Carly mumbled, but Charlotte ignored her. "Just shh," she told her, gently parting the young girls hair into a half up, half down style before turning her around to look in the mirror. "Right, let's get you back with winter." Charlotte whispered before taking Carlys hand and walking her back to the baby room.

As the door opened, Charlotte gently pushed Carly inside "Carly where on earth have you been?" Winter asked abruptly, but Charlotte gave him a look as she stood behind the young girl. "Actually, it doesn't matter. Come and help me. We are about to do some painting, and you know i get it everywhere." He joked before offering a soft smile. Charlotte smiled at him as Carly walked into the room like nothing had happened. "Thank you winter, just keep an eye on her." Charlotte mouthed across the room, earning a nod from winter as Charlotte left. Winter explained the activity idea. "Yeah, good job im here. You would have made such a mess." Carly mocked before giggling slightly. "Thank you, Carly." Winter spoke with a sarcastic tone before also giggling at the thought.

*

Carly knocked on Charlottes front door, and seconds later, Mia opened it. "Come in, Char is just upstairs finishing her makeup." Mia told the young girl before stepping back to let her walk in. "Thank you, Mia." She mumbled nervously while walking inside. "Right, what's wrong. I can tell just by looking at you that you are hiding something. " Mia spoke as he led her into the living room. "Well, um, my mum... well, she wouldn't drop me here because apparently the walk would do me good, so i had to catch the bus so i wouldn't be late." Mia sighed softly before pulling the young girl closer. "Im so sorry," she whispered softly. "Let's go upstairs, and i will straighten your hair for you." Mia told Carly as she pulled her off the couch, dragging her upstairs.

"Mia, you dont have to, i feel bad now." Carly mumbled, but Mia ignored her. "Amelia Mae, what are you doing to Carly?" Charlotte asked quietly as she turned around to look at them both. "Im going to straighten her hair before we leave." Mia told her as she sat Carly in front of the mirror. Secretly, Carly felt so loved by Mia. She was always so cold to everyone, but sometimes she would melt.

*

Mia helped carry all the bags in from the car while Charlotte and Carly sat on the couch with makeup on the coffee table. "I can't do it." Carly mumbled as Charlotte rolled her eyes. "Say that you can't do it one more time, and im going to shove that brush.." Charlotte started. "... Charlotte Victoria! How is that going to help her? " mia warned before joining in. "I will do mine, and you can copy, but dont worry. It takes time. " Mia told her softly.

*

An hour passed, and in that time, Carly had learnt how to do basic makeup and how to style her hair in a half up, half down style that she loved so much.. While Mia was helping Carly. Charlotte went and put together some outfits Carly could wear to work with the clothes she had just brought. She used all the clothes apart from the crop top that Mia convinced her she needed.

*

It started to get late as Carly yawned. "Carly, you can stay the night if you want. You are on the shift with Char, and you have new outfits you can wear. And i have an oversized top that you to sleep in, normally char wears it, but you can have it for tonight." Mia offered, and Carly nodded slightly. "What if i have no confidence in the morning and want my hoodie?" She mumbled nervously. "Then we will hype you up, Carls. You are beautiful inside and out." The young girl smiled before slowly getting up and sitting herself between the couple, hugging Charlotte tightly before putting her arms around Mia. "Thank you" she whispered