Steps {Sequel to Patience} | Charlie Jones

0.8

I snuck a glance at Charlie, to find him looking back with a smirk on his face. My own smile crept on to my lips, and I continued to stare right at him. We've sort of been doing this for a couple of days now, when we're in lessons together but are forbidden to speak. Undefined matches of staring competitions, they began accidentally regular. We hadn't planned these, but in almost every lesson I shared with Charlie - it happened.

We were both broke eye contact when our teacher clapped her hands a little too loudly, making us jump. "Partners!" She spoke, in her American drool, making everything she spoke sound more sarcastic than intended.

Everyone began to rearrange themselves, clutching onto their partners and finding a table to sit at. Seeing as Charlie was the only person I knew, I made a dart over to him, but this muscular figure stood in my way. 

"Excuse me." I squeaked - in attempt to get to Charlie.

"Oh sorry." He mumbled, looking down at me, a smirk on his face. "Hey, why don't we be partners, you seem a little lost." He spoke, his tone was husky. I managed to look up at him, to be completely blown over. He was your average American sports jockey, who had dated every cheerleader and was now trying to get inside my pants, me being at a disadvantage of being new. 

"Sorry, I already ha-" I began but got cut off.

"You're British?! Woah oh my god, I did not expect that!" He chuckled, and I blushed, feeling a little intimidated by this bloke. 

"Yeah." I spoke, my voice shaking. I turned my head, trying to find Charlie, who was still perched by his desk, waiting for me. His face looked saddened, like he was waiting for me. I mouthed 'help' to him, he stood up abruptly and made a bee-line for me.
My head hung down, as I felt Charlie place his arm on my shoulder. "Cameron." He spook calmly as he approached this main, who he was obviously acquainted with. 

"Charlie!" He exclaimed, his arms held open just for Charlie, but he had no intention for going in and hugging him. 

"Yeah, sorry Autumn's my partner."Charlie informed, snaking his arm around my waist, and pulling my in close to him. I felt protected by him. 

"Oh, is this the girl you were with?" He wooed, scaring me a little bit. What exactly had Charlie spoke about me? "It all makes sense now. You're both British, so you are with her. Why are you lying?" He smiled, shaking his head. 

"I'm not with her, I'm protecting her. It's clear she's uncomfortable, it's her first lesson and blatantly she'd rather be partners with me, and not someone who she doesn't even know." Charlie started. 

"Well why don't we let her decided?" This guy asked, hands on his waist, expecting me to say him, being the cocky, arrogant person he is.

"Charlie." I spoke ever so quickly. The guy stood there, completely amazed and shocked with my decision, that he just walked away.

"Thank you." I beamed up to Charlie, as he smiled back down to me.

"Well, what did you expect me to do?" He chuckled, but I remained silent.

Charlie led me over to his desk, with was the oldest of the lot. It looked like it had been chewed by a vicious dog. Scribbles scattered aimlessly on top of the desk too, mainly names but also a few doodles, a lot of rude ones. The stall I decided to perch on, was wobbly - one of the legs was not stable, and as soon a sat down it gave me a fright. I scanned my eyes around the room, almost everyone was matched with a partner, except for the guy i just encountered with. He was perched between two skinny blondes, creating a group of three.

Miss smiled, like she'd just come up with an evil plan. She too gazed across the class, looking at the pairs that we had picked.
"Right well - what I forgot to say was, I'll be picking the pairs!" She sniggered, making the whole class sigh, bar Charlie and I. He clasped my hands, soothing the knot tightening in my stomach, I did not want this to happen, I want to stay with Charlie. "But don't worry! I have a bag full of different coloured pens, two of each. So you'll close your eyes and pick a pen out, and the person with the same colour as you, is your partner!" She exclaimed, pulling out a zip-lock bag, filled with old felt-tip pens. 
This left Charlie and I to a disadvantage. The tables were laid out in a rectangular shape, with one side removed, and our desk was at the end of the rectangle formation. If I miracle happened, there would hopefully be two matching pens left for us, but the chances are near enough impossible. 

"Charlie." I whimpered, squeezing his hand. Nervous was an understatement, I didn't want to be partnered with someone who I did not know. I was lame at speaking, I struggled to interact with people, it was ridiculous how nervous I get.

"We'll sort something out, I promise." He whispered, his eyes transfixed on Miss, and she began to move around the class, holding the bag out in front of her.

Miss neared us, and I managed to catch a glance of the colours left in the bag, a vibrant yellow, or a dark green shade. Shakily I dipped my pen in the bag, pulling out the yellow pen, if I could preform miracles, I would change the colour of Charlie's green to a matching yellow. 
Frantically I peered across the classroom, seeing if I could catch a glimpse of a yellow pen, but it wasn't in sight. I spotted Charlie's partner immediately. It was one of the skinny blonde girls, who was clearly a cheerleader, she was too the left of the boy I had bumped into.
The knot in my stomach was slowly tightening, as I noticed Charlie gazing right at her, a smile on his face. He was happy. It was selfish of me to be jealous, but when you're arrived somewhere new, and there are girls ten times prettier than you, it's pretty hard not to be. Just by looking at her, you could tell she was flirtatious, and she would make Charlie's her no matter what. I just hope Charlie wouldn't fall into her trap, just like he did with Rosie. He wouldn't. Surely.

"Right, find your partners!" Miss clapped. Charlie and his partner made some sort of contact, and she flounced over to him, her skirt was way too short, showing off her tanned, long legs.

"Hi." Charlie smiled to this girl. 

"Hi, I'm Brianna." She beamed, glaring at me like I was a piece of dirt on her shoe. Again, I felt intimidated and was forced to move and interact with people. 

"Autumn." Charlie spoke, clinging on to my hand. "Everything will be fine, okay?" He reminded me, and I nodded. 
Awkwardly I stood in the corner, my eyes averting over to Charlie and his partner, they were laughing, they fitted together well, and it made me envious. I wanted her confidence, I wanted to make Charlie laugh, but I just feel like a burden to him, but I know I'm not.
The whole class moved around me, completely ignoring my presence, I felt lost, I didn't fit in here. 

"Hey stranger, looks like we finally are partners." A familiar voice spoke. I recognised the same tight-fitting, navy blue, top, that accented his muscles. In his hand he clasped a fluorescent yellow pen. I looked up at his face, his brown quiff stood perfectly, and his dark brown eyes twinkled, as did his pearly white smile.