Turning pages ~ Charlie Jones (stereo kicks)

Chapter 21

Annabelle's P.O.V

"Saints don't move, even when they answer prayers." I answered Charlie, remembering the lines from when I'd re-read this very scene over twelve times. Charlie moved closer to me and I was tempted to back away, so I slipped backwards a little; Charlie following my movements. His face moved closer to mine and I felt his nose brush mine before he spoke again.

"Then don't move, while I act out my prayer." Charlie moved forwards and placed his lips on my own. I didn't react, I just stayed still as Charlie's lips gently caressed my own. He pulled back but not far enough, we were still close, our noses almost touching. "Now my sin has been taken from my lips by yours."

I stared at him before speaking again, I knew I had to continue with this, even if I didn't want to. "Do my lips have the sin they took from yours?"

"Sin from my lips? You encourage crime with your sweetness. Give me my sin back." Charlie replied, a slight smirk on his lips. This time, I would have to kiss him too. Hesitantly and reluctantly, I leaned towards Charlie. Charlie met me halfway and pressed his lips against mine, this time with a little more movement. I pulled away sooner than I should have and looked at Charlie shyly. Charlie was staring at me and I saw his tongue run across his bottom lip.

I walked backwards and fell to sit down on Charlie's bed. My hands covered my face and I shook my head frantically. I couldn't do this scene, there would be no way I could kiss Charlie again. But you wanted to, that annoying little voice in the back of my mind nagged. I bet Charlie didn't get this stupid little voice.

"Annabelle?" Charlie's voice cut into my thoughts, I lifted my head and saw him sitting down next to me, his face almost right against mine. I abruptly moved backwards and twiddled my thumbs nervously. "Are you alright?"

I shook my head 'no' vigorously. "That should not have happened." I stated. I watched as charlie 's face fell slightly, but it only lasted for a split second. He made a quiet sound as if he was clearing his throat, about to say something.

"What do you mean?" Charlie asked, his blue-eyes peering through my own. Almost as if they were trying to see how I was feeling. If what I'd just said was true or not. "What's so bad about me kissing you? It's not as if you've never kissed anyone before."

I stayed silent.

Charlie's eyes widened. "You've never kissed anyone before?" Charlie seemed shocked and he looked at me with a surprised expression on his face. That wasn't exactly true, I had kissed someone before. However, that kiss wasn't something I liked to talk about. Plus, I didn't class it as my 'first kiss'.

"I have kissed someone before," I defended shortly.

"Then what's the problem with it?" Charlie questioned. He looked truly concerned and if I didn't know any better, I'd think he cared for me. That was a stupid thought though, he's Charlie Jones, and I'm... well, me.

"I don't like talking about it," I muttered, turning away from his gaze and picking at the hem of my cardigan. A shuffling sound passed into my ears and an arm wrapped itself around my shoulder. Charlie's thumb rubbed my upper arm gently, comforting me even though he didn't know why I didn't like talking about it.

"You can tell me, Annabelle," Charlie's voice soothingly assured me. I shook my head and tried not to face him. His voice was like a magnetic pull and just his touch made me want to turn around and take in his caring face.

"Why?" I snapped, an uncommon tone for me. "So you can call me a slut again? Or even a whore?"

Charlie's hand brought my face to look at him, his blue eyes were filled with guilt and regret. "Annabelle, what I said about you last night, it wasn't true." Charlie said, his fingers on my cheek spreading a sudden surge of tingles through my body. "I didn't mean it, and I would never mean it. I'm sorry."

"Then why did you say it?" I inquired. Charlie's eyes glanced down for a moment before he looked back up into mine. A low sigh escaped his mouth and he shut his own eyes.

"I... I was jealous." Charlie mumbled. I furrowed my eyebrows and watched as he opened his eyes again. He was what? Jealous? Why on earth would he be jealous?

"Jealous of what?" I was still confused. This was Charlie Jones, hearing him being 'jealous' is odd enough, but him being jealous because of me is something that would be impossible.

"I was jealous of Reece," Charlie admitted. "I hated the way he was touching you. I wanted to be able to touch you like that. You always seem to be uncomfortable around me, but with Reece you were relaxed and calm. I wanted you to be like that around me. I guess when I saw you with Reece I got jealous and angry because he looked like he was about to kiss you."

"Oh," I was lost for words. In all honesty, I had no idea how I was supposed to respond to that. Well he's confessed something to you, why don't you tell him about your kiss.

I don't want to though, I'm not entirely sure if I trust him,

You do trust him, he trusts you too.

Pushing all thoughts away, I let out a shaky breath before facing the wall across from Charlie's bed. "Are you sure you want to know why I don't like talking about my first kiss?" I asked. I felt Charlie's breath on my neck and the feeling of his lips brushing against my earlobe.

"Only if you want to tell me," He whispered. I nodded before gulping down the lump that had formed in my throat.

"I trust you enough," I whispered back, turning back around to face him. Charlie was watching me, anticipating for me to explain. "The only other person I've told this is Cole."

"What happened Belle?" Charlie asked me. He called me Belle again.

I let out a long breath of air before closing my eyes and opening them again. "I was fifteen, so two years ago. I was doing a project with Sam, you know from English class," I let out another lot of air and felt Charlie rub my arm comfortingly. "We were sat in his room, on his bed and I was... I was writing down something for the project when I felt his hand on my thigh." I felt Charlie tense beside me.

"I pushed it off and continued writing. I turned around, about to ask him something about the project when he just kissed me. It was my first kiss and I was so shocked. I tried pushing him off me, but he wouldn't budge. He was about to, you know," I nodded my head in a motion that I hoped Charlie would understand before blinking back the tears that had been building back. "I slapped him and he got off me. He looked so angry. He started yelling at me, calling me a slut and a whore. He said I was ugly and that I should have been grateful of what he tried on me. After he'd yelled at me enough, he literally pushed me out of his house and onto he street."

"That's horrible," Charlie stated. I nodded and sniffed. That's why I always flinched when Kerene called me ugly. That's why when Charlie called me a slut it sent me into overdrive. That's why I was always so uptight about people touching me and who I got close to.

"He was my friend, Charlie," I told him, Charlie's eyes widened. "I trusted him so much. That's why I barely talk to anyone. That's why I don't like being around you, because I don't know if you're going to be another Sam."

"Belle," He said it again. "Listen to me, Sam is a fucking prick and I swear to God when I see him tomorrow I'm going to beat the living shit out of him. I'm not like him, I would never do anything like that to you. And for the record, I don't think you're ugly."

"You don't?"

"No," Charlie said bluntly. "I think you're positively beautiful."

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