Nick and Charlie

Chapter 24

"Charlie, honey, you need to wake up, your mother will be here in two hours and I need help," I hear dad say, shaking me awake. I groan, turning over and burying further into the covers.

"Charlotte Mia Johnson, get out of bed this minute!" dad says, jumping on my bed and lying across me.

"I don't understand why you love this bed so much, it's kind of uncomfortable," dad says, and I giggle.

"Maybe that's because you're on top of me!" I say, exasperated, as his weight pushes down on my lungs.

"Alright! Alright, I'll get up!" I say, and dad jumps back up and walks out the door.

"Wear something nice, darl, and at least try to be fast," he says, turning the corner and walking into the kitchen.

I huff, then walk over to the wardrobe. I see the green dress that I bought with the girls weeks ago, and I contemplate wearing it. I haven't worn it yet, but it looks too fancy.

Instead, I go for my black varsity jumper with two white stripes on the sleeves, my lightest pair of blue jeans, and my white Stan Smiths.

I have a shower, blasting my music and singing along. Once I get out of the shower, I get changed, then put on my makeup.

Once I have finished with my face makeup, I move onto my eyes. I put on mascara, leaving the eyeliner in my makeup bag.

I blow-dry my hair, then attempt to brush it. As usual, it frizzes up, so I wash my hands and run them through my hair, trying to tame the wild beast.

When I am happy with my appearance, I walk out into the kitchen where Aug and dad are frantically running around, trying to get things ready.

"What are you doing?" I ask dad as he puts a bunch of flowers into a vase.

"Well, we want to make the house look nice, no thanks to you. I said to hurry, not take an hour and a half!" dad huffs, and I smirk.

"Technically, you said to try and hurry," I say, and he glares at me.

"Go take the garbage out," dad says, and I stare at him, mouth open with shock.

"Dad, that's gross! I can't take out the rubbish! Do you know how long it took me to get this look perfected?" I say, gesturing to my body. He chuckles, then holds the garbage bag out to me.

"Off you go, sugar," he says, and I huff, taking the bag and holding it as far away from me as possible.

When I get outside, I walk over to where my bins are situated in front of the fence, putting the bag in the bin.

"Hey, princess," I hear a voice call from over the fence, and my stomach flips. Memories of last night come flooding back into my mind.

Will you go to formal with me, princess?

"Hey, Pardini," I say, throwing the bag into the bin, then slamming the top down.

"You pumped?" he asks, and I can't help but wonder whether he means mum coming home or formal.

"For what?" I ask, and he chuckles.

"Your mum coming home, what else?" he asks, and I feel my face heat up.

"Oh, well I don't know whether you meant formal or mum coming home," he says, and I silently face palm.

"Well, are you pumped for formal?" he says, trying his hardest not to burst out laughing.

"Pardini, I thought I made it very clear to you that we are going strictly as friends, and that the only reason I am going with you is because no one else has asked me," I say, trying to regain some dignity.