Nick and Charlie

Chapter 16

"237?" I say, and Nick smiles.

"Yes! You're getting it!" he says, giving me a high five. It's been a week since the girls and I presented to the year 8's, and from what Mr. Dean has said, it's worked.

It is now Friday, and I'm sitting at the Pardini's kitchen counter, while Nicolas tutors me. We've made it a routine that he will tutor me on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, even though it's the start of the weekend.

We hear the front door close, and voices in the hallway. I try to lean to the side to see who is coming down the hallway, and Nick does the same.

Katie and Mason appear in the kitchen a few seconds later.

"And then he left the house," Mason says, and Katie bursts into a fit of giggles. Nick raises an eyebrow at me, and I shrug.

"Hey guys, how was school," Nick and I say in unison, high fiving each other without looking. That took about half an hour to perfect.

"It was okay. You know, the usual," Katie says, walking into the pantry and taking out a packet of chips. Katie has been worrying less about her body shape since she stopped hanging out with the popular girls, and I'm very happy for her.

"Mason, you have to show me that video," Katie says, walking with Mason into the dining room, their voices fading.

"Well, they seem pretty happy," I say, and Nick raises an eyebrow before turning back to the page.

"Niiiiiiiiiiiick," I whine, and he chuckles. My stomach does a little flip. Well, that was strange.

"Princess, if you want to pass then we have to study," he says, and I close the textbook.

"No. Charlie no study," I say, folding my arms and frowning at him. He laughs.

"Fine, fine. What do you want to do?" he asks, and I think.

"You've been playing guitar for a while now, right?" I ask, and he chuckles, raking a hand through his hair.

"Yeah, about 13 years now," he says, and I raise my eyebrows.

"No need to be cocky," I say, and he mocks a shocked look.

"Where's your guitar?" I ask, and he gets off his chair and walks upstairs. I sit, confused. Am I meant to follow?

He turns around at the top of the stairs. "You coming, princess?" he asks, and I get off the chair and walk upstairs.

We go over to his room and I find the guitar leaning in a stand. I take it and sit on his bed, and start playing 'Stone' by Alessia Cara. I hum the voice part of it, and he sits on the end of the bed, watching. When I finish the song, he claps.

"Why didn't you sing it?"

"Because, I don't know. I get a bit embarrassed, I guess," I say, feeling my cheeks go hot.

"You have nothing to be worried about," he says, and I begin playing the chorus again, singing this time just to please him.

And I will follow where this takes me,

And my tomorrows long, to be unknown,

When all is shaken, be my safety,

In a world uncertain, say you'll be my stone.

"See? Much better," he says, and I smile.

"Do you know how to play 'Pumped Up Kicks?'" Nick asks, and I shake my head.

He walks over to me on his knees, and sits just behind me. I feel the warmth of his chest on my back, and my stomach starts swirling.

"Ok, so what you want to do is play right here," he says, putting my index finger on the first fret. He shows me how to play the rest of the song, and when I get the hang of it he gets another guitar out of his parents room and starts playing the chords to it.