[ eek i really hope you like this! be a dear and press vote, yeah? thanks ashgfbjilkfd ]
His beautiful blue eyes seemed to swallow me whole. I was locked in spot and the only thought going through my mind was how damn unfair it was that someone could be so attractive. After what seemingly felt like hours, his girlfriend interrupted our staring match. "Babe, can we finish this upstairs?" She gestured to the compromising position they were in.
"Uh, yeah." He glanced quickly at me before walking her up to his bedroom. I felt bile rise in the back of my throat. I turned back to the twins who looked indifferent to the whole exchange.
"He does that all the time," Millie explained in her soft little voice.
"Does what?" I asked.
"Kisses pretty girls."
It took me a few seconds for the information to sink in.
"You mean that girl wasn't his girlfriend?"
"Nope. Charlie doesn't have girlfriends." Penny hummed as she finished making her taco. "He dates models and stuff. I think that girl works for my mum."
So his name is Charlie -- and he's a major player. Disappointment filled my chest and for some odd reason I wanted to cry. Instead I managed to force a smile to my face. "Who's ready to try the tacos?"
We all simultaneously took a bite, letting the grease drip down our chins as we consumed the heavenly food. "I'm gonna eat this every day for the rest of my life," Penny declared. Millie nodded in agreement. All thoughts of Charlie vanished completely from my mind as I listened to them giggle and tease each other about their messy faces. Suddenly, an idea sprang into my mind.
"Do you girls want to learn ballet?" Their eyes widened in surprise and I took that as a yes. "When we're done cleaning I can teach you a few moves. Does that sound like fun?" They nodded enthusiastically. I quickly finished my dinner and began cleaning up the mess we had created. The girls soon joined me, taking up the job of drying dishes. Before long the kitchen was spotless and it was impossible to tell that we had just made an entire meal from scratch.
"Are you guys ready?" I asked. I was buzzing with excitement. As pathetic as this probably sounds, my entire life revolved around ballet. When I wasn't working, I was most likely rehearsing at the studio, repeating dance sequences until my feet ache. Most kids dread the upcoming school year. Me? I can't wait for summer to end so I can get back to my friends and my hectic dance life. Penny and Millie patiently gestured for me to begin.
And that's how we ended up spending the evening. I covered all of the basics -- foot positioning, exercises, and their favorite move: "tippy toes". The girls are obsessed with Taylor Swift, and after a lot of persuasion they convinced me to put on her latest album while they danced. The only interruption was when Charlie took his "bed buddy" home. I forced myself to not make eye contact as they passed by. When it was finally time for the girls to go to bed, they looked sleepy and happy.
"Promise you'll be our babysitter forever?" Millie asked drowsily, her eyelids beginning to flutter.
"I promise," I whispered.
+ + + + + +
I quietly crept downstairs and hopped onto the couch.
The minutes crawled by at a snail's pace. What was taking Elizabeth so long? A little part of me was angry because I only expected her to be gone for a couple of hours, not the entire night! I hummed a song underneath my breath. The twins had long fallen asleep in their bedroom upstairs which left me with absolutely nothing to do ... Except wait.
"What song is that?" A deep voice interrupted my singing.
I jumped up, startled. "Little Bird, by ... um, Ed Sheeran." I blushed bright pink as Charlie's eyes wandered over my face. He shrugged off his jack by the door and strode towards me. I watched him, as if in a trance, as he slowly sat down beside me and picked up the TV remote.
"Ed Sheeran, huh?"
"Mm-hmm."
"He's a nice guy. Drinks a bit too much when we go clubbing, but then again who doesn't? So what should we watch?" His eyes gestured to the large flat-screen. My mouth hung open in disbelief. Wait, this guy knows Ed Sheeran?
Of course he does, I thought dryly. His mother does own the largest fashion magazine in the country.
Charlie nudged my side and I felt jolts of electricity course through my body. "You never answered my question," He mumbled slowly.
"Um, I probably shouldn't 'cause Elizabeth ... erm, I mean your mom, will be back at any moment. It's really late and I don't want to wake the girls and I'm tired and I really really--"
He held a finger up to my lips. "Shhh. Has anyone ever told you how annoying it is when girls ramble?"
The breath caught in my throat. He noticed my flustered face and smirked. "So, 21 Jump Street it is." The fangirl inside me screamed. Hey, what can I say? I'm a sucker for Channing Tatum. Charlie put the disk in the movie player before flinging himself back onto the couch. His body took up much more space than necessary. As the opening credits began to play I was suddenly aware of our close proximity. From the corner of my eye I could see his strong profile, his tousled hair, and the small smile gracing his lips.
I forced myself to concentrate on the movie, and it wasn't long before I was laughing along like a lunatic. Sometime during the movie Charlie had gotten up to make popcorn.
And then the front door slammed.
We shared a panicked glance. "Mum's home," He muttered. "And she's pissed."
Something about Elizabeth was off. She looked angrier than usual, and a fire burned in her eyes. "Fiona? What are you doing with my son?"
"It's actually Felicity—"
"I know that," She snapped. "Now answer my question!"
I cast my eyes to the floor. "Um, well . . . I g-guess we w-were—"
"Silence," She seethed. "And you!" Her attention was now focused on Charlie. "When's the last time I've seen you? Oh, that's right. The last time I saw you was on the cover of a celebrity gossip magazine, reemerging from a club with god-knows-who draped on your shoulder! If you disappear again I swear you'll never be allowed in this house ever again." I took in a sharp breath. She slowly breathed out through her nose. "I believe I owe you eighty dollars?" In a split second she morphed back into her cool, collected personality. "Thank you for watching the girls."
"Y-you're w-welcome," I stammered uncomfortably. She pulled out her purse and handed me a crisp stack of bills.
"My chauffuer will drive you home. I expect you to be here at 8 o'clock tomorrow morning."
"Yes ma'am."
I practically ran out the door. Elizabeth was definitely bipolar. But as hard as I tried, I couldn't quite get Charlie's smile out of my head. As promised a sleek black car was waiting at the curb. I quickly told the driver my address before rummaging through my purse to find my phone. My aunt was most likely freaking out -- I never expected to be gone for so long. My fingers brushed against a strip of crumpled paper and I curiously pulled it out.
In loose, wide handrwiting it read:
Maybe we can finish the movie later? --- Charlie
Beneath that was his phone number. And despite the crazy day and my pounding headache, I couldn't wipe the smile off of my face.
[ has anyone listened to one direction's new album, four? Despite the unimaginative name, it is absoluetly perfect! argh and the music video for night changes tho. aha sorry i'll stop now... ]
[ photo of penny and millie parker played by kristina pimenova >>> on the right ]
