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7

I finished telling Charlie what happened just as we pulled up to my driveway. My eyes were bloodshot, my throat was as raw as sandpaper and my makeup was smeared from the tears that mixed with it.

As he shut off his car, I looked down to our intertwined hands, as to avoid his gaze on my face. I didn't want him to see me like this.

"I can't believe she did that. You didn't do anything wrong and you definitely aren't a pushover. You're the toughest person I know and you don't do anything people tell you to unless you want to do it. You know that's kinda annoying if you think about it, you being better than everyone and doing whatever you want." This causes me to laugh, forming the first smile I've had in what felt like forever. I playfully hit Charlie's shoulder which barely even moved his tight fitting baseball shirt let alone affect his arm at all. "You know you love me." I sang in a mocking voice and stuck my tongue out at him. "Yea" Charlie sighed but a small smile stayed on his lips. "I do."

Those last two words put chills up my spine. Usually when I mock him like that he just replies with something like, "Yea, whatever." and rolls his eyes, but this time was different. He didn't roll his eyes and his smile was different, as if he really meant what he was saying.

I couldn't help but let a smile creep up onto my lips as I looked at him. Even with his hair wet from the shower he took in the locker room, and some dirt on his jawline that he got from throwing the winning touchdown, I couldn't help but just stare at him. Ever since I had met him, he had been perfect. He was the nicest person I had ever met, and still is, no matter what situation he is in. To add on top of all that, he was hot.

Before I knew it, we were both leaning towards each other once more. Nothing could get in the way of this kiss right now. Our hands were still interlocked with one another and we were just inches apart. I looked from his eyes to his lips and my heart began to beat furiously. I wanted to kiss him so badly but at the same time I wanted to take it slow and feel every emotion inside myself all at once. I didn't want to rush it, I wanted to enjoy it. I wanted to enjoy him.

We were so close that I began to lose all my senses. I could feel my eyes beginning to close and my lip grazing his. I felt him put his hand in my hair but as he pulled me close. As our lips were about connect, a bright light came into view and we heard a car door slamming.

We both jumped back to our seats, more startled by the noise than nervous that someone might see us. I looked to see the back of someone go into my house. It took me a second but then I realized it was my mom. What was she doing home tonight? She said she wouldn't be back until Monday.

I didn't have much time to wonder that as she came out of the the house as fast as she went in. Except this time, she was heading for Charlie's car. She made her way to the passenger side and motioned with her hand for me to get out. I looked to Charlie with a frown on my face that mirrored his. He nodded his head and I sighed, opening the car door and getting out. As soon as I shut it, I was being yelled at. "You know you could have left the light on for me when I got home. Or maybe some food?" I didn't know what to say as I was completely confused as to why she was saying this to me. "You texted me that you wouldn't be home until Monday like usual. Why would I have food for you if you weren't going to be here?" With one glare from my mother, I knew I had set her off without even doing anything. "You know, you're lucky I'm not here on the weekends because I would have to ground you. Staying out with a boy or rather, getting him into bed with you at our house when I'm not home! Unacceptable." I almost choked on my spit. "Mom, why would you think I would do something like that? Charlie drove me home from the football game so I didn't have to take my bike." She rolled her eyes, completely ignoring my comment and spoke again. "Whatever, I'm going back to Andrew's. Oh, and by the way, stop crying you look terrible. Do you really think you're ever going to get a boyfriend with a face like that?" Before I could even process what she said, my mom was already pulling out of the driveway.

I stood there, unsure of what to do. My mom had never acted like that before. We were always so close but she acted as if she didn't know me at all.

I turned back around facing the car door and opened it, letting myself slide back into the leather seat. It was completely silent. Neither of us had said a word since I came back into the car. I was comfortable in silence when I was with Charlie but I knew I had to speak. "I'm sorry about my mom. I don't know why she did that." Charlie took hold of my hand, something he had been doing a lot recently and spoke. "Don't apologize. You did nothing wrong. I'm sorry that everyone is being so mean to you today. You don't deserve it, any of it."

~

It was currently 2:15 am and I had been laying in my bed for hours, not able to sleep. I couldn't stop thinking about everything that happened last night. I had lost my best friend, my mom seems to think horribly of me, and Charlie and I almost kissed. Twice. How is someone supposed to sleep with all that going on inside their head?

I couldn't focus my brain enough on sleeping and I knew there was only one way to stop thinking about everything else. I had to talk to Charlie. He calmed my nerves. He didn't even have to do anything besides just be near me to always make me feel better. And if he did try to do something to make me feel better, it always worked. It was just who he was.

I rolled over in my bed towards my night stand and grabbed my phone. I unlocked it, going straight to my messages and found Charlie's name. I knew he had his phone on silent so it was a long shot that he would answer, but I knew in my mind I would feel better if I texted him.

Me:
"Hey, are you up? I can't sleep."

I waited a few seconds with no answer and put my phone back on my nightstand. As a few minutes went by, I began to close my eyes to try and force myself to sleep. All of a sudden, I heard the low buzz of my phone. My eyes shot open and I searched blindly in the dark for a few seconds until I was finally able to grasp my phone.

I unlocked my phone to see a message from Charlie.

Charlie:
"Come to the front door."

I quickly got out of bed, but immediately regretted it as the floor felt like ice under my bare toes. I made my way down the stairs and opened the door, letting out a breath of relieve as I saw Charlie standing there. My breath hitched in my throat as I saw what he was wearing. He had nothing on but his red and black plaid boxers, leading all of the attention to his six pack. I forced my eyes away from his torso quickly so he wouldn't catch me checking him out. My eyes trailed up to his face to see his disheveled hair and a slight line of drool coming from the corner of his mouth. He had definitely been sleeping yet he had woken up and come here just for me.

I couldn't think of anything to say to him, so instead I stepped out the front door to where i was close enough to him that I had to tilt my head up to see his face, and hugged him. I took in his scent of peppermint and freshly brewed coffee, allowing myself to relax. Moments later, I felt two arms wrap around my back and Charlie's chin resting on my head.

I would have stayed like that forever but seeing as it was October and just above freezing outside, we had to go in at some point before my feet got frostbite.

A half hour later, Charlie and I were laying in my bed. Ever since we came upstairs to my room after I hugged him, we didn't say anything to one another. I was ok with the silence. Just knowing that he was here with me was enough.

I curled into his side, letting my head rest on his chest. His hand softly played with my hair as his other arm was wrapped around my waist. I closed my eyes and let my senses take over, my head slowly rising and falling to every breath Charlie took. Sleep was taking over my body and it was hard to keep fighting it.

I was almost completely asleep when I felt something wet on my forehead. It didn't feel cold though, it was warm, but whatever it was gave me slight butterflies in my stomach. I couldn't concentrate enough to figure it out as my brain was only telling me one thing, sleep. Thoughts of the football game ran through my mind and played out in front of me when I felt a soft vibration against my head as if someone was talking. I tried to bring myself back to reality to hear what the person was trying to say. Come on, concentrate. I somehow finally woke myself up only to hear three words I knew I must have been dreaming. "I love you."