Stalking Charlie

A Case of Goners

Nick Stone

This is fucking awkward.

I scowled at the darkness surrounding me. It's almost three o'clock in the morning, and we had finished four Saw movies. Alex fell asleep on the third, and I don't know about Charlie. She was still wearing that stupid glasses on the fourth one, but when I heard her soft snoring I realized she's already sleeping too with her glasses on.

Does she have sore eyes or something? I thought as I removed the glasses gently. I noticed the dark bags under her eyes, and how tired she looks without her glasses covering it.

I finished the movie alone, annoyed that I didn't enjoy movie night much. I usually do it with my sister alone. And I always liked it.

But with Charlie watching with us, half of my attention was with her, my hands itching to reach out to touch her. The other half was with the fact that Alex was sitting between us.

Ow! Alex shifted beside me, her knee hitting my thigh. Since there's three of us in one sofa bed, it's a bit cramped.

I have planned this movie solely for the purpose of talking to my sister. But how can I talk to her when the subject of our talk was sitting there with us?

I pushed Alex's knee away from me, thinking about going up to my own bedroom and leave this two here to sleep.

No, it should be Charlie leaving the two of us alone. I thought grumpily. I planned about spending quality time with my twin sister. And I'm not gonna have this little spitfire defeat me.

Yeah, keep telling yourself that. I frowned at my thoughts. No, I'm not staying just because Charlie is here, and certainly not because it almost felt like I'm sleeping with her.

Well, I literally am sleeping with her, right? It's just that Alex is also sleeping with us.

Why does it feel like one of those dramas, with unforbidden love and romantic shit? I feel like such a girl, dammit.

I wrapped the blanket around me, suffocating my dark thoughts. I ordered myself to sleep and not think about Charlie's close proximity.

My jumbled mind was hovering between consciousness and deep sleep when a shrill scream jarred me awake.

I sat up, feeling like I was slapped hard in the face. I saw someone jump up, and another figure writhing and screaming near me on the sofa bed.

I went to the screaming figure, it tried to fight me off, and I received a good kick in the stomach.

"Oof!" I grunted, thrown to the floor. Someone turned the lights on, and I saw Alex standing by the switch, her face ashen with shock.

I scrambled back to the sofa bed, my heart hammering like crazy inside my chest. I saw Charlie curled in a ball, crying. Her hands were covering her ears. She had stopped screaming, but she's still shaking with fear.

"Charlie!"

I gathered her in my arms, and she didn't resist me this time. She held on to me like I was her lifeline, and she's trying to escape death.

"R-Rocky.." she choked. "I t-thought there was s-someone.."

I checked her if she was hurt. When I saw that she's fine I tightened my embrace on her, hushing her. Her entire body humming with fear. She cried silently on my chest.

"Here." came Alex's voice. She had gone quickly to get a glass of water, and Charlie drank half of it. It took her minutes to calm down.

"Are you alright?" my sister asked her, rubbing her back. Charlie nodded.

"J-Just a bad dream." she said, wiping at her tears. She remained on my arms, her small body engulfed by my large frame. I embraced her a little tighter, conveying my concern through my action. She snuggled a bit more. Alex didn't seem to mind.

"Why don't you sleep in the middle?" Alex suggested. "You might sleep better."

What?

I was about to protest, but seeing the look on Charlie's face, I swallowed my objections. She even asked if we could leave the lights on.

My sister took her place on the other end, putting a blanket on Charlie. She stroked her hair, whispering soothing words. I just watched them, resisting the urge to pull her to me so I can whisper comforting words to her.

You're not the girlfriend, assface.

I scowled, shifting away from the two of them. I didn't get far though, the sofa bed is only spacious for two people who are on the small side, like Alex and Charlie.

"I'll be in my room." I said, sitting up. I had already stood up when a hand shot out to stop me.

"Please stay." a small voice pleaded.

Damn it. I cursed as I looked into Charlie's eyes. Without her dark glasses hiding it, I could clearly see emotions on her chocolate eyes. It's still wet with tears, fear and turmoil brewing in its depth.

I sank back beside her, my whole body rigid with the desire to hold her closer and keep her safe. I kept my hands on my sides, making sure they won't disobey me by reaching out and embracing Charlie without my full permission.

Now this is some real drama. Lying beside the girl of your dreams, but unable to touch her because your sister is also sleeping with you, who happens to be the girlfriend of your dream girl.

I cursed myself inside my head. I'm officially a stupid goner.

I felt something small and soft sneak on my right side under the blanket, searching for something. My own hand jerked and I met her cool hand with mine, intertwining our fingers. I turned to Charlie, to see that she had already closed her eyes.

Warmth spread through me, and I closed my eyes, too.

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