Dedicated to all those amazing people who are sticking with me and this book. Thank you so much. No amount of love from me would ever be equal to the happiness you all  give me.

"THABSHT BOT I'M BAYSHING!"

My voice was so loud that it sounded like a scream. It was a way of showing my agreement with my brother upon the current economic policy formulated by the government, who was sitting towards my right on the dining table, then, peacefully munching on his grilled sandwich. I, myself, couldn't comprehend the words coming out of my mouth due to it being stuffed with milk and cornflakes.

Before I could make myself clear, dad raised his palm, indicating me to stop.

"We get it." he said in a low voice, agreeing with me as he folded his newspaper into one fourth of its actual size and placed it firmly next to the jar filled with juice. I squinted at him, not actually believing the fact that he might be agreeing with me for real. He was lying just to shut me off.

"Shut up and eat, Char." I heard my mom screaming from kitchen. "And if I find you leaving the front door open once again, I'll not leave you. I don't want any insects coming in!"

I rolled my eyes at her warning. My mom, is extremely against the existence of a species called lizards. I don't know what those cute little creatures had ever done to her. Think about it. A lizard is just a harmless creature. The poor thing can't even crawl on the roads, on the floor carefully just like we dominant and evil humans can! My mom just had a habit of making a fuss out of everything.

Who are you, Evans? Advocate of the entire lizard-kind?

I was about to open my mouth, again, coming up with a perfect response when my dad cut me off. "Char, the milk is dripping out of your mouth. At least stop talking when you have food in there." He said as I immediately wiped off the milk from the corner of my mouth. I realized, subconsciously I had spilled some over myself too. I was pathetic. I still am.

Once I pushed a handful of cornflakes and a glass of milk down my throat, I clapped my hands together, almost knocking dad off his chair. "What it is gang leader?" I said looking at him. "Feeling old already?" I laughed it off earning glares from both my father and my pig of a brother.

I spotted Carbon, wagging his tail, standing next to my chair, his face was leaned against the material of my blue jeans with a considerably large amount of drool dripping down his mouth. 

Oh my god, we are so similar! I thought.

"Hi, little boy." I said as I lifted my sweet pup off the floor, only to make him sit over my lap. Dad sighed.

"Char, how old is he?" he asked suddenly, gaining all my attention once again.

"Three months."

"And look at him, he's getting obese. It's bad for his health, Char! You keep on feeding him." he said and I narrowed my eyes.

"Yeah, the two of them even look the same now." replied Louis. "If only we ignore the fact that Char walks on two feet while Carbs on all four." His words somehow made Carbon happy because he replied with a cheerful bark and jumped off my lap, spilling some of the milk over the table. I chose to ignore that.

"Anyways." I said diverting my brain back to what I had been trying to say. "Dad, you and mom are coming tomorrow, right?"

Dad pulled his eyebrows together in confusion which made me realize that he had probably forgot about it already.

But just then mom made her way to the table, wiping her hands on her clothes, joining the conversation. "She's talking about Olivia and Stephen's anniversary party tomorrow." I was actually happy that mom remembered but then why wouldn't she? Liv was her long-lost friend who actually had returned to Rockville after whole seven years and that was a long time.

However, mom's reply was not directed towards dad. She looked at me as she spoke.

Had they been fighting, again?

"Ah-" he said as if suddenly remembering all of it. "Yeah, Stephen called. I am sorry it just slipped out of my brain."

"As much of a troublemaker you're Charlotte Evans" Mom said placing her hands on her waist, "I am so proud of you for suggesting such an idea. I thought my daughter hated all these stuffs but look at you. You made the woman beyond happy with just a single idea." I passed her a proud grin as she praised me.

The thickness of the tension persisting between my parents, even though not as evident, didn't go unnoticed by me. They were probably not talking again. It wasn't like they didn't get along but me and Louis got to see a lot of it when we were kids. They loved each other and I didn't want them to keep fighting like that.

Suddenly a gibberish idea flashed inside my head.

"And mom! Dad! I have prepared a dance performance for them." My mom gaped me in horror and Louis and dad let out a mocking chuckle, immediately covering their mouths as soon as I looked over. I was so fond of dancing that I had no words and I couldn't have thought of something better.

"I remember you saying that you loathe that verb." My mom asked blankly. Okay, I might or might have not said that. Well, I was in sixth grade when I stopped taking dance lessons. I stopped going there because I hated the teacher's attitude towards the students. While in reality, I might or might have not pushed our her off the stairs for calling me horrible.

"Mom, stop discouraging me." I was irritated when I heard dad and Louis's sound of laughter filling up the room. They didn't even bother to hide it this time. "And stop laughing just because I am far better than you guys."

Wow Char what a comeback! Yawns.

"Well, Alexis would love if I did a dance performance." I said scratching my cheek followed by my elbow. Summers are really itchy.

"Alexis?" Dad queried.

"Yup. Olivia's daughter."

"Olivia has a daughter?" dad said blankly, "I never knew that. I'll have to meet Alexis then. I thought she-"

"Dad!" I said complained, cutting him off. "I'll show you guys what I've got in store if only you let me!" I pulled down my backpack, placing it over the wooden table, drawing out my phone from the pocket. My mom observed my actions in anticipation. I tapped open my music streaming app and opened the song I wanted to be played. I pulled the slider to get through the chorus because that's where my dance began to spread its magic.

Stop lying Evans. You just choreographed just that much.

Soon the music started filling the room, making the hair on my skin stand. This is what music does to real artists.

"I could feel your blood run through me
You're written in my DNA
Looking back in every mirror
I know you'll be waiting, I'll see you again"

I started throwing my arms in the air, swaying with the music, with a huge smile on my face. My eyes were closed as I let all of Louis Tomlinson's fine voice settle within me. I turned around to cover the free space as my feet danced along the gentle background beats. The music proceeded and so did my feet.

"So, I will keep you day and night, here until the day I die
I'll be living one life for the two of us
I will be the best of me, always keep you next to me
I'll be living one life for the two of us"

I was on the verge of singing along when someone cut off the song.

"What was that?" dad was the first one to interrupt.

"What? How was it?" I asked calmly.

"How was it?" Louis gaped at me in horror. "How you ask? What was that?"

"Contemporary." I replied cockily as I rolled my eyes. "But what would you know, Evans?"

"Contemporary? At one point I feared that my little sister needed exorcism!" he said and positioned himself to run away. I walked towards the living room. Picking up a cushion from the sofa and threw it over my brother's head.

"Exorcism?!" I ran after him as my parents looked at us in horrified manner.

"Yeah. I thought you were possessed!"

My eyes were still fixed on the spot he just was. My shoulders were moving up and down rhythmically along with my breath. I swear it had more composure than the dance I just presented in front of my family.

"Come here Charry cakes, let me sprinkle some holy water over your head." He raised his arm and moved his fingers in unison, indicating me to follow him. Like a dog.

"You grasshole!"

"And some over your tongue too."

He threw his bag over his shoulder and immediately ran out of the house yelling back a faint 'Bye'. He left for the club, already. I don't know why that idiot hadn't already left for college. Instead, he had been spending his time with the football club lately.

"Char, what was that?" mom asked, still trying to comprehend all of it. "It is a wedding anniversary! Not a funeral." I almost cracked up at the last part but I still tried to control.

"Geoff, I we are not letting her do this tomorrow, are we?" my eyes lit up when I realized that my mom was actually talking to dad again. He nodded in agreement.

"Now, we have got things to discuss-" mom said looking at me, "-if you leave for school."

*****

I pushed the door of my locker shut after I took out my textbooks. All of my thoughts were preoccupied by the excitement incurred for Olivia and Stephen's party the next day. It took me three whole minutes to realize that I was stoned in my position, near my locker, absentmindedly chewing the back of a poor little pencil. 

Pencils have a way to my mouth automatically.

Before I could gather my scattered thoughts together and head to my next class, I felt a pair of strong arms wrapping around my neck, immediately alarming my senses. The couple of books that I was holding fell on the floor with a thud sound. My first instinct was to let out a yelp before looking around. How the hell was no one paying any attention?

It's time to get into some action, Char. 

The attacker had his both of his arms locked up against me, while I had mine free.

I angled my elbow up in the air before letting it collide with his chest with a great force. He screamed in pain, immediately getting his hands off me. Sensing his close proximity, I repeated the action with my other elbow. and turned around on my spot, letting my leg contact with his body.

"Ouch! Mommy!"

This is what you get when you mess with me. I thought.

"Char, what the hell is wrong with you?" Jax asked, still wincing in pain. 

Wait who?

"I am so sorry, Jaxon!" I cried as I moved towards him to help him out. People started encircling us.

"Man, don't touch me." he complained, rubbing his knee, at the same spot where my foot met a few seconds ago. "Have you seen the way you hit people?"

"And how many times have I made myself clear about not touching me? I am not a fan of physical contacts."

"Anyway-" he said as he stood straight once again. The pained expression that masked his face was now replaced by a huge smile. Was he even hurt? "I just wanted to surprise you, you know."

I sighed. 

"Do you know, I am actually passed my retests?" he said and my eyes widened in happiness.

"Really?"

"Well, no. I gifted my paintings to each of the teachers and they let me in again."

My eyes narrowed. There are some people who never change. Jaxon was one of them.

"I was being sarcastic." he deadpanned and I forced a laugh. Of course he was being sarcastic. Who would happily take his paintings anyway?

As harsh as it may sound but the fact that Jaxon's paintings back at his art gallery that I visited two days ago were out of my processing abilities. He was my friend, and I know I shouldn't say this but one would definitely doubt his sanity especially when they look at his painting about the social inequalities. He had painted a horse, eating grilled chicken, standing over a heap of hay having just three legs! Jaxon Hayes, had the guts of drawing a horse with three legs, each of different length!

Blake spent hours cursing himself after that but that worked well for our Jax. He was happy and that's all what mattered. I was quite surprised when I realized that he had gained himself more than a handful of fans. 

The rest of the day wasn't much eventful. I attended all with full dedication. However, I had a brief encounter with Brittany. Remember her? The Barbie girl? Well, she was low key pissed at me for submitting her project on her behalf. I mean I was just helping her for God's sake and she kept of lashing at me. Later I realized I had submitted it under the name 'Brittany' while hers was Jessica.I don't even know how many times does she changes her name throughout the year?

After school, Olivia's day care was the only place I was allowed to visit. I didn't have any interaction with Blake throughout he day which was kind of unusual. Eleanor informed me about him missing some classes as he had gone somewhere with Stephen. He wasn't even there during the work hours.

"Heya!" Eleanor chipped as she took a seat next to me on the sofa.

"Hi. Where's Kev?" I asked her, my eyes tracing the room looking for the little boy. Kev used to stay with me at my place after the school hours till Anna came back from work.

"Anna took him home." She informed me. I averted my gaze off the screen of the television which was then playing an old episode from the third season of The Vampire Diaries.

"Really?"

"Yeah. Where's your mind today?" she was clearly concerned. "What are you thinking about?"

"Nothing-" before I could make myself clear, my phone chimed, indicating the arrival of a text message. I swiped the icon on the screen, scanning the message with my eyes, patiently.

From: Blakey Boy

Hey Cherry,
Sorry didn't get to see ya. Don't miss me much.

I smiled at his words. At least he remembered to initiate a talk.

"And I am assuming that is your new best friend." Eleanor looked at me suspiciously, with her narrowed eyes. I almost laughed at her face.

"That's Blake-"

"Who's keen on replacing me, isn't it?"

I rolled my eyes as the words left her mouth. "No one is ever going to replace you, Eleanor. You're the only best friend and most importantly only girl- friend I've got myself after-" The words dropped dead on my tongue when my mind made me remember Violet. It was May already which meant Violet's death anniversary was a month away. My stomach churned as the events of that dreadful night flashed inside my head in glimpses. "-since Violet left us."

She placed her warm hand over mine, giving me a small, grateful smile. "And no one's going to ever leave you now." she reassured. "Don't let your past mess with you, Char. It's all History. It may sound wrong coming out of my mouth but don't depress yourself over Violet replaying all the last few bad moments you guys shared. Remember the happy days, alright?"

I nodded.

She sighed and mumbled to herself quietly. "I know its easier said than done."

I nodded yet again innocently. She chuckled at my honesty. A silence embraced the two of us. We had our eyes fixed on the television screen. The only sound that persisted was Klaus Mikaelson's.

"They didn't let me attend her funeral, you know?" Eleanor looked at me with a shocked expression on her face, as my words shattered the comforting silence. "They arranged the burial at their hometown. Her parents. They said I was a bad influence and Violet would never want to see my face ever again, if if she was gone already."

"Well, if that's so, they don't deserve you, Char. How could they say those things to you while they knew that their daughter was by fault too?" She said. I could sense her anger building up. "It's not your fault Charlotte Evans that Violet drove her car into a barricade! It's not your fault that Zachary Thompson used you. Neither you are the one to be blamed for Finn Barconn's disappearance! So stop blaming yourself."

I studied her expressions carefully. Wow that was quite a speech. What could have possibly gotten inside her?

"And don't deny it. We all know how your head snaps in all the directions when you hear someone even saying that fishes have Fins." She mocked, quoting his name with her fingers, making a chuckle escape my mouth. "-Or when you are asked to FIN-ish your work."

I slapped her arm jokingly. "Shut up."

"Okay." She said raising her arms, surrendering. "See, that's the reason Blake's soon going to replace me." I pulled my eyebrows together in confusion as she continued. "Even though unintentionally, I make you think of things that are worth forgetting while he makes you forget everything without even trying."

I fell silent. Was she right?

"That's not it, El."

"You are actually delusional." she said rolling her eyes. God, she does that a lot. She got up from the sofa and straitened her pistachio green shirt. "I am going to get us something from the kitchen before Mr and Mrs Evans come back home. Make sure to text your Blakey Boy back." Before I could hit her with the cushion, she stalked away from me, leaving my lazy self lying on the sofa. Mom and Dad had gone to Olivia's place to make sure if they had everything prepared for the next day event.

I fixed my eyes on the screen of my phone, re-reading the message almost thrice before tapping over the text box, letting the blinking cursor appear. I thought of a reply before pressing 'send'. My phone chimed again in the matter of seconds.

My mind was surprisingly anxious to read his reply.

From: Blakey Boy
?
You could never :)

Funnily enough, his reply made no sense. I scrolled up to re-read the entire conversation.

From: Blakey Boy
Hey Cherry,
Sorry didn't get to see ya. Don't miss me much.

From: Me
To: Blakey Boy
I don't piss you.

From: Blakey Boy
?
You could never :)

I literally slapped myself for not throwing away my phone in right time because the stupid auto correct was still messing with me. I never want realized when the word 'miss' changed into that vulgar slang. However, Blake's response to my unintentional message caused a smile to find its way back to my lips.

A/N

Heya! 

That is the newest chapter and to be honest, I am not really proud of this one. I literally had to force myself to complete writing this one because this book needed some fillers too. So if you disliked it, no problem, I have another one in my stock, coming straight your way. Yes, A double update because, why the fax machine not?

Anyway, time for the same train of questions-

1. Who felt inspired by Charlotte's passion for dancing? I mean she is really bad after all Lmao.

2. Excited to read about Olivia and Stephen's marriage anniversary function?

3. Do you think, Louis should've actually carried out an exorcism on Char?

4. Anybody who missed Blakey Boy?

5. If not by Char, does any one of you feel like picking up Art after getting inspired by our Jax's drawing of a horse feeding on grilled chicken?

6. Does auto correct reminds of you of something from the last book? or someone? :(

FUN FACT: I was actually scratching my cheek and elbow while writing the part where Char mentions summers being itchy lol.

I swear next one is eventful. Thanks for all the love and support. 

Love ya <3