Nick and Charlie

Chapter 10

6:15pm. I should probably get ready. I need to be at Nick's house in 15 minutes. Not that it's very far away.

I close my laptop screen, pressing pause on Grease first, of course, then get up and walk over to my wardrobe.

What would be a good outfit to wear to a 14 year old's birthday party?

I pull out a plain t-shirt, pairing it with my black leather jeans and a black hat. I chuck on my black boots and walk out of my room and into the bathroom.

I look at myself in the mirror and sigh. My curls just can't be tamed, and I am not in the mood to try. I reluctantly run a brush through my hair, and it frizzes out, as usual. I then run my hands under the tap and put some water on my hair to try and calm it. Half works.

I put on some makeup; not much, but just enough. I don't really like to wear it, so I only use it when it's a special occasion.

I check the time on my phone: 6:27pm. Wow, didn't realize the time went by so quickly. I now understand why Aug gets annoyed.

I walk out of the bathroom, and into the kitchen to find dad and Aug playing a game of chess.

"I'm going over to the Pardini's, be back later," I say in passing, taking a drink bottle, that I previously stored in the fridge, out and hoping to slip out the door quickly.

"YOU'RE GOING TO NICK'S HOUSE?" Aug yells, standing up. I roll my eyes.

"It's Katie's birthday, and I offered to DJ in exchange for Nick tutoring me in maths. Now I need to leave, I am expected to be there at 6:30," I say, turning around to leave.

"Have fun honey, say hi to the family for me," Dad says as I walk out the door.

I walk down our driveway and into the street, turning right and walking back up the Pardini's driveway. I haven't been inside their house since I was 10 and they were having a going away party, which I was forced to attend. I just hung out with Katie, and Nicolas was doing his usual being-annoying act.

I take the front steps two at a time, walking across the verandah and to the door. I knock, and a few butterflies get unleashed into my stomach.

The door opens, and a girl stands there, looking at me. She is wearing a pastel blue skirt, with a black top and white heels. She has the same brown hair as all of the Pardini's, and it's then that I realize it's Katie.

"Charlie?" she says, looking at me in awe.

"Hey Katie," I say, smiling at her, and she rushes forward and hugs me.

When Katie and I were younger, she was one of my closest friends who wasn't in my year. We both were able to bond over how annoying Nick was, and we became close, until she had to leave and I haven't talked to her since.

"My word, you've grown up so much," I say, pulling away and looking at her again.

"Is that good?"

"You're such a pretty girl," I say, and she goes a bit pink, then a tiny, furry black dog bounds over and interrupts our conversation.

"Cooper!" I cry, bending down to play with the dog. Dad is allergic to dogs, so Cooper was the next best thing. I swear he hasn't gotten any bigger since I saw him last.

"Katie, who is it? Bring them in!" I hear Maria, Mrs. Pardini, say, and I pick up Cooper and Katie and I walk down the corridor and into the kitchen.

"Hi Maria," I say, putting Cooper down. Maria turns around, and a smile spreads across her face.

"Charlotte! You're as beautiful as you were when we left," she says, coming over to me and hugging me.