(charlie is 17 in this and slight tw? x)
Since the age of 10 you and Charlie Shelby had been inseparable, spending almost every minute of daylight together. The friendship first blossomed when Charlie had stuck up for you after he found a group of boys picking on you, calling you such and such, and after that they never even bothered to show their faces around you. However, as the twos teen years approached, you found yourself being spoken about by other girls, which was down to jealously of not only your natural beauty, but your bond with the Shelby. The girls would swoon over him, flirt unsuccessfully with him, anything to distance him from you. Not of this worked though, Charlie never left your side, promising he always be there for his best friend.
At the age of 16, you were informed that a boy named Archie Matthews had a crush on you, which was a first, given that most boys steered clear of you, afraid of the Shelby reaction. Archie's confidence has intrigued you, and soon enough you found yourself in a relationship with the boy. When Charlie found out, from a gossiping girl, he was annoyed. He was unsure if it was because you hadn't told him, that there might be a chance you'd distance yourself, or the plain fact that you were with another boy, not him. He put this down though to the two of you being so close as friends, obviously seeing you have fun with someone else would irritate him. Right?
You have to admit you did stop seeing Charlie for a bit, opting to spend time with Archie. This wasn't because you enjoyed Archie's company more, but he seemed to be the only boy willing to be in a relationship with you, and you didn't want to lose that. If you were going to be honest, you found the boy rather boring, he preferred to spend time indoors, which was fun at the start but got gradually boring. You often found yourself sat there beside him, wishing you were out with Charlie at the canal, or the hill where you'd both go to unwind or calm down.
Charlie was making his way home from the shops picking up some stuff for his dad, as he came round the corner he saw you leaving your house, most likely to go to your boyfriends house. The two of you hadn't spoken properly in a few weeks, only engaging in small conversation whilst passing by. He could've sworn his heart flipped when he saw you, especially after the lack of communication, and the thought of speaking to you came to mind. But he had been stood staring at you walk away like a fool for so long you had gone. He huffed and began walking home.
As the young boy entered his home, he was greeted by Mary, one of his father's maids who had helped him raise you, almost like a mother. "Let me take those" she stated whilst taking the bag away from the boy, she noticed something was off "Are you okay my love?" she asked, placing her hand on his upper back. "Yes Mary, just tired is all." he smiled and made his way up the staircase.
Charlie walked down the hall to his bedroom, dragging his hand against the wall as he went, but came to a sudden stop outside his dads office. He went up to the door and hovered outside it, hesitating to knock, but eventually did. He heard a muffled "Come in" from the other side of the oak door. As he walked in, he was greeted by his father sat in his chair, smoking a cigarette behind his desk. "Ah Charlie, what can i do for you my boy?" Tommy pusher his self up slightly. "I'm not really sure." Charlie answered honestly "Someone giving you hassle?" his father asked with genuine concern "No no no" he quickly replied, not wanting his father to get the wrong impression and begin with his threats. "Is it, is it about a girl?" Charlie head dropped, his eyes glued the floor. "{y/n}?" His sons head still remained down but he lifted his eyes to meet his dads eyes. "My boy" Tommy got on his feet and made his way over to the lad, grabbing his shoulder. "I must admit, i expected the two of you to be together by now." Charlie stayed silent as his dad carried on "What's the issue?" Charlie ran his hand over his face and sighed "It's this bloody Archie boy, only gone and taken her from me hadn't he." Tommy's eyes narrowed as his son spoke "She doesn't even like him, i can tell, i don't know why she's even with him, he's boring, dull, everything {y/n} doesn't want!" a frustrated Charlie carrier on. "Listen." Tommy started, watching his son become agitated at the thought of this Archie boy. "Oi listen to me" he grabbed his sons face, forcing him to look at him before returning to what he was going to say "You and that girl are made for each other alright, she bloody loves you and i think you love her too, we can all see that. Just- just give her time yeah?" Charlie nodded his head "At a boy" and he left the room, his dad patting his back.
You had reached your boyfriends home, him greeting you at the door and leading you upstairs. "How are you?" you questioned, trying to create conversation. "I'm good." he stated simply, taking your hand and pulling you towards his bed. You took a seat next to him on the edge of his cold mattress, before you could speak he placed his hand on your thigh. "Uh, do you mind?" You raised your eyes from his hand to his face trying to hint you didn't want that, yet his hand remained and began to travel up your leg. "Archie what are you..." you began but he interrupted you. "Oh come on {y/n} have some fun will you?" You just stared at him, unable to form any words, just paralysed. "Bet your Charlie couldn't do this, could he?" At the mention of Charlie, tears began to fall from your eyes and trickle down your cheeks. As you went to let out a sob Archie brought up his hand to your mouth, silencing you and pushing you down onto his bed. This wasn't happening. This was happening you kept repeating to yourself as the boys hand travelled inside your dress. With all your strength, you pushed the boy off you and ran for the door, swinging it open and running down the stairs and through the front door.
Running down the streets in the pouring rain, you knew exactly where to go. Charlie. Charlie wouldn't do this to you. He wouldn't touch you the way Archie did. And that's why you loved him. And that's when it hit you. It was just a friendly sort of love, it was real. You were in love with your best friend.
After 5 minutes of running you walked the rest of the way, having no energy left from crying. As you reached the estate Charlie lived on, you came to a halt. Did he want to see you? I mean you had been distancing yourself from him. Did he even care about you anymore? But you were stood in the rain, too far to go home, so you made your way up to the house.
Many a times you had let yourself into the Shelby household, everyone being quite used to your arrivals, but now you weren't so sure, deciding to knock on the door. You heard footsteps approach the door, and you were greeted by a well known face, Mary. "{y/n}? Oh my let's get you in and out of the rain." She took your hand and ushered you in, shuttling the door behind you. "Where's Charlie?" you asked frantically, needing his warmth at this moment. "I think he's in his room lovely, are you sure you don't want a drink or" By this point you were already making your way upstairs "No thank you."
Once you had reached the top of the stairs, you increase your speed, making your way down the corridor towards the room you had been in more times than you could count. As you arrived at Charlie's door, you grabbed the door handle and swung open the door to see your best friend sat on his bed. His eyes were stuck on you, once he saw you were crying he shot up and pulled you into a hug, resting his head on top of yours. You let out a few sobs into his chest. "Hey, hey what's wrong?" Taking your face into his hands, he looked down at you, straight into your eyes. The eyes he had fallen in love with. You lowered your head. "Archie he- he put his hand and he-" Charlie didn't need to anymore, just brought you back into his chest, kissing your head affectionately. Charlie was furious, he knew he'd have to do something about that boy. You pulled away from the hug and lifted your head to face the boy you had missed so much. "I'm so sorry." Tears stained your red cheeks and Charlie chuckled "for what?" he asked, wiping away any remaining tears. "For ignoring you, not speaking to you as much." He bought your forehead to his, resting it against it. "Don't be sorry okay? Don't apologise" His hands went back up, cupping your cheeks, your eyes flickered between his eyes and lips, as did Charlie's. After a few silent moments Charlie brought your face up to his and he gently placed his lips against yours. You instantly reacted, synchronising you lips and placing your hands at the back of his neck. The kiss was slow and full of love, and as cliche as it sounds, sparks flew. Charlie pulled away, still holding onto your face. You smiled at him, a genuine smile. "I love you." he whispered. Your smile growing more "I love you too." Charlie has now adopted your smile and had one plastered on his face. "C'mon you." He picked you up and threw you over his shoulder, you giggling like a child. "Let's see if Mary's got some dry clothes for you."
