The London List//Charlie McDonnell

Chapter 1: Where It All Started

"Alex, seriously? She just got home and you drive her here to me!" chided Charlie McDonnell. 

"Well, mate, I wanted to show her how much maturer you are than me," replied Alex Day, his voice dripping with sarcasm. 

The two were talking over the phone, arguing over Alex' idea of bringing his sister to meet Charlie. 

"Gee, thanks." Charlie replied in the same tone. 

"Whatever, Charlie dearie. I'll meet you there." 

And before Charlie could protest, a small click indicating that Alex had just ended the call made Charlie sigh. He had no choice, then. He'd be meeting Alex' sister. 

[...]

Riiingggg! 

Charlie jumped. There it was again.

Riiiinggg!

The door! Charlie stood up and bolted to the door. He swung open the door, only to find his best mate, Alex standing outside.

Alex was not a bad-looking chap, with his messy brown hair and hazel-ish eyes. A smile graced the boy's features. 

"Hullo Charlie," greeted Alex. "How are you?" 

"Just woke up," groaned Charlie in reply, rubbing his head. 

"Ah, well, forget that." Alex chirped, waving a hand. "I'd like you to meet my... Oi! C'mere!"

"Mm?" A voice said half-heartedly from behind Alex. 

Charlie had to resist the urge of letting his jaw drop as Alex moved aside so Charlie could see his sister. 

Where Alex was standing a few seconds ago stood a girl. She had a few of Alex' features- brown hair and chocolate eyes. She was a petite girl, with freckles on her face and a smile on her lips. There were earphones plugged into her ears and she was humming a song, but as she faced Charlie, she pulled them off and stuffed them into her pocket. 

Then, Alex said one small sentence, containing nine words that turned Charlie's world upside down.

"Charlie, I'd like you to meet my sister, Autumn." 

[...]

"Mm?" Autumn said half-heartedly. 

I shouldn't love you, 

But I want to.

I just  can't turn away.

I shouldn't see you.

But I can't move,

I can't look away.  

Autumn had put the song on full blast: It was one of her all-time favorites, Jesse McCartney's "Just So You Know". 

Alex moved aside, and Autumn found herself looking at a boy. 

He was a tad taller than Alex. He had brown hair, and blue-ish eyes. 

Autumn stuffed her earphones into her pocket, pausing her song reluctantly and smiling meekly at the boy infront of her. 

However way she may deny it, Autumn thought that the boy was a bit good-looking. 

"Charlie, I'd like you to meet my sister, Autumn." said Alex, his tone holding a bit pride in it. 

"Hi!" Autumn said, smiling wider as she held out her hand. "I'm Autumn Day, sister to this bumbling, bambling baboon ("HEY!" protested Alex)." 

"Er, um, I- I'm Charlie." stuttered Charlie, shaking Autumn's hand briefly. "Charlie McDonnell." 

"It's lovely meeting you, Charlie." Autumn said, her tone cheerful. 

"Yeah. Uh, um, same." 

Alex gave Charlie a weird look but before anybody could say anything...

JUST SO YOU KNOW, 

THIS FEELING'S TAKING CONTROL OF ME,

AND I CAN'T HELP IT.

I WON'T SIT AROUND,

I CAN'T LET HIM WIN NOW. 

"Sorry!" squeaked Autumn, pulling out her iPod and muting the song. "Er, guess the earphones got knocked out." 

"You like Jesse McCartney?" blurted out Charlie. 

"He's one of my favorites, why?" 

"I love that song," Charlie grinned, pointing at Autumn's phone. 

"Really?" 

Charlie nodded. "As well as 'Beautiful Soul' and 'How Do You Sleep' and--" 

"I like him, Alex!" announced Autumn. "Haven't met anybody who can name more than two Jesse McCartney songs. Other than my friends on the Internet." She added with a smile at Charlie.

Charlie turned red, causing Alex to snicker. 

"That's a big compliment, Charlie." Alex joked. "She practically lives and breathes on the Internet." 

"So do you," countered Autumn. 

"You want some ice for that burn, Alex dear?" smirked Charlie as Alex muttered "Touche." under his breathe. 

Autumn laughed a bit at what Charlie said as Alex flushed crimson. 

"Not bad, McDonnell. Not bad at all."