Chapter Seven | Charlie's Surprise
[ so i should probably tell you this in case you get really confused. i changed valentine's name to FELICITY because i really really really wanted to. plus, charlie is going to have a really cute nickname for her ... you'll see adfkjgkbpsh ]
The next week passed by blissfully fast. I began school and when I wasn't dancing or studying, I was babysitting. I developed a strange routine - I arrived at Elizabeth's apartment early in the morning to prepare the girls a lunch and breakfast. Then we all walked to school; by some strange miracle, their kindergarten was only five minutes away from the dance studio where I rehearsed. My lessons got out an hour earlier than theirs, so I waited for them patiently in their school library and finished my homework.
The weather was frightfully cold when we walked back home. You could tell that we were deep into autumn because the leaves were turning beautiful shades of orange and red. I was thankful I had spent all of last week shopping for leggings and coats. Penny and Millie were dressed in adorable red snow coats with black and white striped tights. We rapped to Iggy Azalea all the way back home, earning us some confused stares from the people passing by.
I sighed as we finally entered their warm apartment, thankful that it was Friday. This week had been hectic, to say the very least. I found out on Wednesday that I had fourteen days to prepare for Nutcracker auditions. Inside, I was freaking the bleep out. And on top of that, Charlie was nowhere to be found! In fact, I had only seen him once since our little 'movie date' (is that even what you would call it?). It had reached the point where I was positive he was avoiding me.
"Can we watch Frozen?" Millie asked innocently. "We don't have any weekend homework."
"Please?" Penny chimed.
If there's one thing you must know about babysitting, it's that kids never - and I mean never - get tired of Frozen. I had watched it at least four times in the entire week and a half I had been babysitting the girls.
But I just couldn't say no to their beaming little faces. Suddenly, it made sense to me why parents spoil their kids. I sighed as the familiar opening credits began to play. The further into the movie we got, the heavier my eyelids seemed to be. I felt a rush of fatigue and despite my best efforts to stay awake, I felt myself drift off into a deep sleep.
+ + + + +
"You've been a very naughty babysitter," A deep voice whispered into my ear. I wrinkled my nose in confusion. Was I dreaming? "Felicity..." The voice murmured, almost tauntingly. "I know you can hear me."
My eyes slowly fluttered open, and I found myself face to face with a smirking Charlie. I choked on my spit, spluttering like a lunatic.
"Sleeping on duty?" He taunted disapprovingly. "Mum's going to be furious when she finds out."
My eyes widened in horror (which was partially due to the fact that I could get fired really soon, and partially because Charlie currently had me pinned to the couch). Damn he is strong. I managed to squirm free of his grasp and sat up straight, fixing my messy hair. "You wouldn't tell, would you?"
