Nick and Charlie

Chapter 26

"Please guys, we need you," Jane says, looking at me with giant puppy dog eyes.

"Jane, I don't know about Nick, but I am NOT doing this," I say, crossing my arms in front of me.

"Come on, please Charlie? It's for our photography assignment!" Seb says, clasping his hands together.

"Princess, its just some photos," Nick says, and I glare at him.

"I don't want to act like some sap while you guys take photos of it for permanent memory!" I say.

Jane and Seb want to photograph Nick and myself for their photography assignment, and I wasn't having any of it.

"Please Charlie? I'll pay for every ice cream you get for the next month," Jane says, and I contemplate it.

I mean, I didn't want to look like one of those cringe people who pretend to laugh so that the camera will catch them pretending to laugh and it looks really fake.

But, Jane was offering free ice cream... for a whole month...

"Fine," I say, sighing.

"Great! Can you guys come to the park with us after school?" Jane says, and I reluctantly agree.

"This is going to be so much fun!" Jane says, clapping her hands together excitedly.

Just do it for the ice cream.

...

"I have to tell you something," I say, taking a chocolate chip from the bag. Nick had stopped by my house this afternoon after school so that we could walk to the park together.

"What's that, princess?" he says, pouring a handful of chocolate chips into his hand.

I stop walking, and he turns around to look at me. I take in a deep breath and put on a serious expression.

"I'm batman," I say in a deep voice, and Nick stands there, shocked.

"This can't be right," he says, and I look at him, confused.

"What?"

"I'M batman," Nick says, and I look at him for a minute before we burst out laughing.

"But seriously, have you ever seen me and batman in the same room together?" I say as we continue to walk.

"Yeah, but you know what they say: Always be yourself, unless you can be batman. Then be batman. Turns out the job as up for grabs," he says, and I start giggling.

"I honestly think eating chocolate chips straight from the bag is not good for me," I say.

"If you mean mentally, then I don't think you should worry. You're already completely bonkers," Nick says, and I slap him on the shoulder.

I see the park in view, and I shove the packet of chocolate chips into his hands before running over to the swing set.

I sit down and start to swing, kicking myself higher and higher.

"What can you see?" Nick asks, looking up at me.

"I can see the angels and the fairies," I say, giggling like a child. I think the sugar is getting to my head.

"Oh look, there's superman. I think he needs help saving the world, I have to go," I say, swinging higher and higher still.

"Princess, don't jump off the swing," Nick says, putting the chocolate chip packet in the bin.

"But I have to help superman," I complain, and he chuckles.

"Princess, you'll fall," he says, and I look down at him, giving him a pointed look.