Charlie. (Larry Stylinson)

Competent.

Hilton Bookstore.

[At a crossroad and in-between]

He had finally located the small building squished between two others, a small exhale breezing between his lips as he opened the double-doors and made his way inside. And the bright, organized, book-filled interior compensates for the dated exterior. It's an alternative, this place - one that Daniel kindly told him about. Spending time in his school's library was no longer an option and it annoyed him that he allowed the likes of Jeff and his loyal followers to push him out of one of his favorite spots at school; but the Hilton Bookstore seemed like everything and more. "I was wondering if you would show up." Charlie is drawn out of his analytical daze only to find Daniel standing before him.

"You work here?" Charlie asks, taking in Daniel's attire and the name-tag located on the left side of his red shirt. He should've known that would be the case. Daniel is rather absolute after all.

"Only four days a week. College won't be cheap," Charlie informs him, a small smile on his lips.

"But we're not even seniors yet."

"The word early isn't as scary as people try to make it sound." And Charlie nods - it's a revelation that he can understand. He looks at Daniel and sees contentment, not a bone in his body, or a thought, that is out of place. Charlie knows that his parents have his college fund set aside, that he wouldn't have to lift a finger to see to it that he's already guaranteed a less stressful experience, while Daniel balances course work and exams and a four-day shift at an exquisite bookstore. It's humbling. He adores him, he realizes.

"By any chance, is there an opening here?," Charlie timidly asks. Daniel smiles.

November 20, 1988.

Our one week holiday break is well underway. My mother has already booked our flights for our stay at my grandparents'. I'm a little ecstatic, to say the least. Gemma and I have conversed for the first time since Elizabeth moved. She was affected greatly by the departure of her friend, been in her own little funk, and not wanting to be bothered with anyone. And even though my first time meeting Elizabeth was also the last encounter, she was a kindhearted person. She wore the scars of her [former] stepfather's abuse, visible to the eye; something about the way she was able to look past it and continue on with her day as if they were just that - a scar - something that would fade overtime. She would continue on without a falter in her step.

Louis and I are making progress, though I still feel as though he's hot and cold. There's days when I exist to him, and then there's days when he'll pass me by and not mutter a word. There are days when he converses with me, whether it's for five minutes or half an hour, and then there's days when he shuts me out completely. I think he's having a complex time with trying to come to terms with who he is. I don't want to sound arrogant, but I think being around me makes him feel things he doesn't want to feel, or am I being delusional? Niall says he sees the signs, how Louis has a wall up in order to keep boundaries when it comes to certain aspects of his life. Maybe the idea of a relationship, or even love, just isn't his thing.

My current state of life remains adequate. I guess the idea of me wanting more doesn't seem like much like an idea for me at all, anymore.