Turning pages ~ Charlie Jones (stereo kicks)

Chapter 35

Annabelle's P.O.V

As usual, like I did every weekday morning, I walked into the school yard. My books were held tightly against my chest as I desperately tried to avoid talking to the many people that were tugging on my t-shirt. They were all frantic to make friends with me now I was close with Charlie. It was almost unbelievable how many people immediately tried to latch onto me the moment they found out my social status had gone up. The likes on my Facebook and Instragram had gone up a considerable amount since yesterday and my followers on twitter had increased. Quite honestly it was annoying.

My gaze fell on Kerene, who was sat on the hood of a car, her hands on Dylan's shoulders, giving him what looked like a massage. Rolling my mossy green eyes, I leaned back against the bark of the large oak tree in the school yard. It was no surprise, she flitted around like an annoying fly. Even only a few of the jocks could stand her.

Cole wasn't here, he was busy helping his form tutor with some files. Not willingly, that was clear, no he got detention every morning this week because his teacher thought getting him up early was worse than keeping him behind. According to Cole, and pretty much every other teenager on Earth, it was much worse.

I glanced over at the boys by the fence and had to blink a couple of times. For a swift second, I thought I saw Charlie talking to Chris Leonard. When I had another look, it wasn't. I didn't know why I thought that, his car wasn't even in the car-park. Shaking my head a little, I turned around.

A gasp erupted from my mouth as I came face to face with the one person I had been meaning to talk to all morning. It shocked me as I still hadn't seen Charlie's car. "Reece," I let out. "You've got to stop creeping up on me like that! You're going to give me a heart attack."

Reece grinned sheepishly. "Sorry," He replied, shrugging his shoulders. "Are you alright? Charlie was freaking out a bit last night. Did something happen?"

"That's what I wanted to talk to you about," I stated, shifting my books so it was more comfortable for me to hold them. When I looked up, Reece was giving me the look as if to say 'carry on'. I smiled. "I need you to tell Charlie that everything is fine and that he needs to meet me here, at the tree, at lunch time."

"So something did happen?" Reece pointed out.

"It's none of your business," I scolded, glaring at him. I let my smile return to my face swiftly though. "Now please could you tell him to meet me here? It's just to straighten things out."

Reece shrugged and nodded. "I suppose I could," He muttered, causing my smile to go.

"Thank-you Reece ," I said gratefully. "You may have saved an awkward situation. Just remember to tell him that everything is fine."

He nodded in response before stalking off, hopefully in search of Charlie. I was thankful that our conversation had ended before the bell rang, I had never been tardy and I wasn't going to start being so now. Taking one last glance at Reece, who was engaged in a conversation with Charlie (thankfully), I walked into the school.

By lunch, I was only carrying one book. The rest were in my locker, ready to be collected a couple of minutes before the warning bell for next period. The first three periods of the day were okay, fortunately I didn't have any need to talk to Charlie, escaping the awkwardness of an in-class discussion about our relationship.

It wasn't long before I was seated at the foot of the oak tree. The weather had grown substantially warmed in the past month and it was becoming difficult to keep a cardigan on. My Grandpa had fixed me up some cucumber sandwiches, perfect for weather like this. Pulling them out of the small paper bag he had passed me from over the breakfast counter, I lifted the bread to my mouth.

After one bite, my name was called. It seamed like the voice was coming from across the field. Curiously looking up from my cucumber sandwich, I made eye-contact with the person I'd asked to come here. Before I could stand up, Charlie sat himself down beside me, his hair not as neat as usual; there were stray strands out of place in the usually-perfect quiff.

"Annabelle, I'm sorry about last night," Charlie sputtered out the minute he sat down.

"Didn't Reece tell you that I said it was fine?" I asked, cutting him off from the brewing sentence that was building up on his tongue. Charlie knitted his eyebrows together and shook his head in denial. "Well it's fine, alright?"

"No, it's not!" Charlie protested. "I was irrational and way too protective, maybe even possessive. I know that know and I don't want to loose you because of my stupid behavior. You're one of the best things that has ever happened to me and I want you to be happy. If Cole makes you happy, I don't mind." Then he added quickly: "Even if he is a dick."

"That's what I wanted to talk to you about," I said, placing my finger to my lips, indicating I didn't want him to interrupt. "After our... Disagreement, let's say, I went to Cole's house. I told Cole about what had happened and he gave me some advice." Charlie looked almost scared for a minute, his face paling. "In fact, it was really good advice."

"Listen, I'm sorry," Charlie said, almost pleading. I'd already forgiven him though, I don't know what he was upset about. "I'll be less of a douchebag."

"Charlie, what are you blabbing about?"

"You're not breaking up with me?!" His eyes were wide and I was tempted to burst out laughing. I'd seen situations like this on the TV.

"No!" I exclaimed. "Of course I'm not!"

"Then what was Cole's advice?"

"He said you were a nice guy," I started but Charlie almost choked on air in surprise.

"Cole said what?" Charlie sounded genuinely shocked for a second. Did he really think Cole hated him that much that he couldn't see anything good about Charlie? Well, maybe Cole did seem like he utterly despised the guy, but Cole knows a good person when he sees one.

"Then he told me that I shouldn't be mad at you for it," I said, ignoring Charlie's outburst. "He said you were doing it to protect me, after-all, from what you'd seen of him, he was a huge asshole - His words, not mine."

"So you don't think I'm a total prick?" Charlie questioned.

"Don't use that language." I scolded and Charlie muttered a fast sorry. "No I don't, quite honestly I think it was the heat of the moment." I cocked my head to the side slightly. "And maybe the fact you kept shoving chocolate buttons in my face."

Charlie chuckled and wrapped his arm around my waist, pulling me closer to him. His blue eyes were glowing as he looked down at me with a smile that looked to be full of adoration. "You're so beautiful, Belle," Charlie complimented and I buried my face into his shoulder, a flash of deja vu coming over me. "So so beautiful."

I lifted my head and brushed my lips against his. "Thank-you, Charlie," I mumbled against his mouth.

"For what?" Charlie whispered inquisitively.

"For breaking down my walls and coming into my life," I murmured. "I've never been happier than when I'm with you."

Charlie caught my chin with his finger and pressed his lips gently to my own. My eyes fluttered shut and I melted into his arms, which became wrapped around my shoulders. My hands linked behind his neck as warmth swam through my body. When I was with Charlie, I'd never felt more alive. I loved him. I used a word that I swore I would never use until I was finally sure. And I was sure. Sure that I was in love with Charlie Jones.

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