Nick and Charlie

Chapter 36

I wake up in the den to see Sam up and reading. She has her reading glasses on, and her hair is all ruffled.

"Hey Sam," I say, propping myself up on my elbow.

"Oh hey," Sam says, sticking a bookmark in her page and putting the book back in her bag.

"Where's Dillon?" I ask, noticing the absence of one person.

"She's in the kitchen making pancakes. Angeline has gone to the shops," Sam says, lying down next to me.

"Ah," I say, rubbing my eyes open.

We talk for a minute or two before heading out to the kitchen.

"Oh good, you're up. I was just about to come and wake you up," Dillon says, flipping a perfect pancake.

She places it on a plate filled with more pancakes, then walks over to the table and puts it in the middle. She passes Sam and I a plate each, and we sit down, each taking a pancake.

"So, how was the big formal?" Dillon asks, taking a bite of her pancake.

"It was...alright," I say, swirling maple syrup across my pancake.

"Just alright?" Sam asks, and I shrug.

"Yeah, you know, average. Nothing special happened. Next year is the big one," I say, trying to act nonchalant about it. I really don't want to talk about the whole Nicolas situation again.

"Anyway, what time should I get my dad to pick me up?" I say, trying to change the subject.

"Well, it's 10:45 now, so maybe around 11:15?" Dillon says, and I nod, taking out my phone and texting dad.

"I better go get changed," I say, excusing myself and heading to the den, grabbing my clothes and getting changed in the bathroom.

I put on my burgundy jeans, my cream jumper and my black boots, tying my hair into a ponytail. I put on my watch, then head out to the kitchen.

"Dad said he will be here in 15," I say, and Dillon nods.

We start binge watching YouTubers, and then the doorbell rings and I say goodbye, then walk out of the house and towards the car, getting into the driver's seat.

'Irreplaceable' by Beyoncé comes on, and I start driving, dad sitting next to me, highlighting something on a piece of paper.

"So, how was the night?" dad asks, and I tell him about the amazing food and how great the night was in general.

"It seems like you had fun," dad says as we pull into the driveway.

I get out of the car and walk up to the house, opening the door and going into my room. I really want to play guitar for some reason.

I take my guitar and start playing 'Act Like You Love Me' by Shawn Mendes, but it doesn't feel right.

I go outside and sit on the swing, then start strumming the opening to it, and realize this is much better.

"Charlie?" I hear someone call my name, and I walk over to the fence to see Katie and Megan.

"Hey guys," I say, and Megan reaches her arms up to me. I pick her up and place her on my side of the fence. She gives me a hug.

"My brother is an absolute douchebag," Katie says, swinging her leg over the fence.

"Took you long enough," I chuckle, and Katie walks over to me and gives me a hug.

"I'm sorry on behalf of my stupid brother," she says, and I hug her back.

"It's okay," I say, because I can't think of anything else to say.