Broken

Chapter 11

Peter's POV

Charlie releases me from the hug after a few minutes of us simply standing with each other. "You're really incredible, Peter," she says softly.

"Thank you." I look away, bashful all of a sudden. I see her smile out of the corner of my eye before she runs back into the main room.

"Do you play any instruments?" She asks, running around the room excitedly, touching every instrument the room holds (which is a lot).

I wonder whether to tell her or not, nervous that she will make me play for her. Don't get me wrong, Charlie is incredible! But... I'm not. "Uh... I play a little piano, but guitar is the one in better at. That doesn't mean that I'm good though!"

"Come on!" She pushes a guitar into my hands and sits down on the piano stool, opposite another chair. I try and refuse but something forces me into the chair and had brought the strap over my head. I look up at Charlie in confusion and see her pouting with the cutest puppy eyes ever. "Please?"

"Charlie, I'm not even good!"

"I won't take no for an answer," I give her a 'seriously?' kind of look, but she doesn't budge. "I won't let you go until you play."

"Telekinesis?" She nods to confirm my beliefs. "That's awesome!"

"Don't try and change the subject. Play," she relaxes into the stool a little. "Please." I sigh I'm defeat and begin to strum a melody.

When I finish the song I pull the strap over my head and put the guitar back in its place as to avoid awkwardness. "You're amazing. Incredible!" I turn back round to face Charlie.

"You really think so?"

She dismisses the question and runs up to me. "You have to teach me! It gets so boring here and I never leave my mom's room."

I try and walk away from her, "then you may want to invest in a qualified teacher."

"Mom would never let me!" She grabs my arm and tugs on it a bit, forcing me to look at her adorable pouty face. "Please?!"

"Oh no. Not this again," I try and escape but she has a strong grip. I'm about to give in when I get a sudden idea. "Okay," I watch her face light up. "I'll teach you guitar-."

"And piano!" I give her an incredulous look. "Please," she mutters.

"Okay... I'll teach you if you promise to sing for me," her face falls immediately.

"Nope."

"Come on!"

"No. Absolutely not. No way."

"I did for you! Twice!"

"Don't care. Nope."

"Fine. No lessons," she does a double take, obviously contemplating my offer. I see the conflict in her eyes and I feel bad for a second, but I don't cave.

"Ughhhhhhh!" She groans loudly. "Fine," I hear her mumble.

"Sorry, what was that? I couldn't hear you," she smacks my arm.

"Fine!" I immediately drag her towards the booth. "But I'm terrible!"

"$20 says you're not."

"Then start pulling out the cash, Parker," I don't question how she knows my last name, especially with her abilities. She pulls up a track on the computer on the panel and I turn on the sound, watching carefully as Charlie puts the headphones on, slowly and hesitantly. I play the track as soon as I see she's ready.

As she sings, I hear the raw emotion coming straight from the heart. I know it's cliché but I really could. Her voice is angelic. Enchanting.

When the song ends I don't leave the panel, frozen in shock. She must've assumed this was bad and put the headphones back, making her way towards the exit. I rush after her quick, knowing she got the wrong impression. "Charlie, that was incredible," I breathe out, grabbing her arm before she makes a run for it. "You- are incredible," my mouth spills the words before I even knew what I was saying. I realise just how close we are, literally face to face. We stare into each other's eyes for what only feels like a few moments but I know at least a couple minutes have passed.

Charlie seems to snap back to reality first, stepping back ever so slightly. "Um- uh... tha- thank you. I- uh... never really sang properly before."

"You should," she looks at me confused. "You should think about doing it for a living." She bursts out laughing while I simply stand next to her. "Seriously! You're extraordinary!"

"Okay, maybe I can hold a tune but I could never be a singer."

"Why not?"

"Because- I... I'm not cut out for leading that sort of life!"

"Says who?"

"HYDRA apparently. I'm never going to be able to have a normal life, a normal job. If I were a singer and if, by some sort of miracle, my music actually sold, HYDRA would know my location and come after me," I watch as her façade falls and she sits down in one of the chairs, head in hands. I grow emotional just watching her, feeling almost accomplished that she trusts me enough to let her guard down like this. Almost.

That's when a thought struck me. "What if they didn't know?"