❛ Come with me, my love, to the sea, the sea of love. I want to tell you how much I love you. ❜

DEAD POETS SOCIETY
chapter sixteen

CHARLIE WALKED ELIZA back to the staircase as he always did. Although, now, they walked in a tense, ugly silence that would usually be filled with whispering too loud and laughing until their stomachs hurt. Now, they were both upset and annoyed and well tired of how the night had turned out.

⠀⠀⠀"Eliza," Charlie said before she could head upstairs and never talk to him again. "Can we talk now?" he asked her quietly, almost begging.

⠀⠀⠀Eliza stood at the edge of the staircase, her hand on the rail, ready to escape and never come back down.

⠀⠀⠀For Charlie, though, she'd do anything.

⠀⠀⠀So, she turned around and looked at Charlie with a deep frown settled into her skin. "What?" she asked, staying where she was at a distance. Charlie wanted to rush to her but accepted the space she put between them.

⠀⠀⠀"Please, you have to know I didn't mean to..." Charlie began, trailing off as his big brown eyes warmed with tears. "I didn't mean to do anything to make you guys mad. To... To make you mad. I just wanted to go to school with you, be able to feel normal around you without feeling like Hager is breathing down our necks, waiting for one wrong move. I just wanted the guys to find what we have."

⠀⠀⠀Eliza sighed, unable to believe this was the person she was dating. Someone so stupid but so good-hearted. Someone who went through any means to get what he wanted.

⠀⠀⠀"I know," Eliza sighed, rolling her eyes and walking down the stairs to him. "I know, you stupid idiot, but you have to think of what it'll affect," Eliza explained, standing toe to toe with him. "What kind of trouble we could get into, you know?"

⠀⠀⠀"I'd never rat you out," Charlie assured her, his hands pressed against her shoulders to hold her and never let go.

⠀⠀⠀"I know you wouldn't, but it doesn't matter. They know that my presence here is 'negatively changing you', and they'll send me away," Eliza told him.

⠀⠀⠀Charlie's eyes looked down to her lips as she spoke, his head leaning closer so that his forehead leaned against hers.

⠀⠀⠀"I don't want to lose you," he whispered.

⠀⠀⠀"I don't want to lose you," she said back, leaning just a little closer.

⠀⠀⠀Charlie moved forward, their lips meeting between salty tears streaming down their faces. Their lips moved together, sweetly and softly, as they pulled each other closer. Eliza's hands snaked up into Charlie's hair as he leaned her back slightly, trying to get the most out of their kiss. She smiled despite crying and pulled him closer to her.

⠀⠀⠀A loud thump came from upstairs, scaring the two out of their kiss. If not, the two would have probably kissed the entire night.

⠀⠀⠀"I have to go," she whispered, dragging her hands from his hair. Charlie grinned stupidly as he watched her, his hair going every which way as he kept still where he was. "Charlie, I have to go!" Eliza exclaimed, trying to pull out of his grip.

⠀⠀⠀"Another, before you go!" he whispered, leaning in quickly, and softly she pecked his lips.

⠀⠀⠀"Alright! Let me go!" Eliza exclaimed, laughing a little too loud. "I have to go before we get in trouble!"

⠀⠀⠀"We're already in trouble," Charlie assured her.

⠀⠀⠀He dragged her in for one last, long kiss, leaning her back like that one World War I picture of the sailor and the woman before snapping her back up.

⠀⠀⠀"Alright, until we kiss again," Charlie smiled giddily. Then, he quickly dashed out from under the stairwell and to his room to gossip with his friends.

⠀⠀⠀Eliza laughed at his antics before dashing up the stairs as well.

AUTHOR'S NOTE —

WOOOOOO ANOTHER CHAPTER DOWN! We're close to the end and while I know that's sad it gives me the opportunity to turn my focus on other books that I have started and have yet to finish. I love this story from the bottom of my heart and I can't wait to wrap it up so that you can all see Charlie's story from beginning to end.

Also, sorry this is so short! The last chapter was really long and I could've probably broken it up so that the second half included this one but oh well. I'm just not that smart.

SONG: Sea of Love by Phil Philips

Thank you for reading! Leave comments telling me your thoughts on this chapter, but however you interact, know that I really appreciate you reading. I hope you enjoy, and until the next one.