The door was opened with a loud crack, and the whole family appeared in the whole. Mom's hands were both full with bags and pack, Dad's forehead was glowing from sweat and Peter was grinning happily.

- Hi dear! - Mom shrieked, nearly jumping up and down. Duff shuddered from surprise and tried to fake a beam.

- Good day, come in!

- Charlotte...Where is Charlotte? - Mom uttered weakly, her hands dropping and her eyes going up and down Duff.

- She is getting ready, she will be there in a minute, - he mumbled, shuffling his foot.

- Oh, nice. Excuse me, but who are you, young gentleman? - Dad asked curiously, wiping his face with a handkerchief.

- I am a friend, - Duff blurted, crossing his arms on his chest. Why is this so awkward? - My name is Duff. Charlie and me met at the concert, and I thought it would be nice to pop in and congratulate her...

- Great, glad to meet you, Doug! - Mom exclaimed with insincere excitement, - so, where is my birthday girl? Charlotte! Charlotte! Come here, we are waiting for you!

Having taken a short glance at herself in the mirror, Charlie hurried to the hall, one hand going through her hair and another one smoothing out her T-shirt.

The scene she saw there was weird: Mom was suspiciously eyeing the apartment, Dad was shifting from foot to foot, her brother Peter was whispering something in the unfamiliar to Charlie girl's ear and laughing quietly, and Duff was leaning against the wall in the corner, a silly smile pulled on his face.

- Hello everyone, - she started shyly, waving her hand. Mom lifted her eyes and, having eventually seen her daughter, rushed to her and hugged her tight.

- My little! Happy birthday, my sweet, you're so big already! - Mom cried, her hand patting Charlotte's cheek and neatening her hair. Charlie blushed when she saw Duff suppressing a giggle. - Where have you been? We already started to worry!

- Long time no see, Lottie! - Dad bellowed, pinching Charlotte's arm, - you've grown a little bit, haven't you?

- I only changed my clothes, Mom, - Charlie muttered, scratching her head, - no, Dad, I am nineteen! You just forgot how I look!

- Birthday, Charlie! - Peter smirked, his hand wrapping around his girl's waist, - of course we forgot, you haven't found time to visit us for so long!

- But I've been busy, college and all, - Charlie objected, taking flowers from Peter, - oh, they are wonderful! By the way, meet Duff! He's a friend of mine, and he paid a visit to wish me happy birthday...

- Nice, little, very nice, - Mom said fussily. Peter coughed behind her back and exchanged funny glances with his friend. - We greeted each other already!

- And this is Bobbie, - Peter pointed at the long-legged girl, - we work together, and she wanted to see LA, so we took her with us. Hope you'll get along well!

- Hi Charlie! - Bobbie purred, flipping her gorgeous hair back, - Peter has told me about you a lot! I wish you a very happy, happy birthday! I thought you'd like it!

She gave another charming smile to everyone and handed Charlie a pretty shiny hair barrette. It was all covered with glitter and very Bobbie's style. She was wearing a smart short dress that was climbing up her tanned legs and incredibly high heels. Charlie looked really bland in comparison, almost like it was Bobbie's birthday, not Charlie's. She tried to pin the hairslide to her hair, but it was too short and wavy to keep it. Charlie realised she looked like a fool with it, and it somehow annoyed her. She rapidly took the clip off and put it in her pocket.

- Thanks, it's lovely, - Charlotte lied, making Bobbie beam so widely all her teeth could be seen.

- That's wonderful, I am so glad! Oh, also, hi Duff! You are such a cute couple!

Dad frowned, looking first at Charlie then at Duff. The latter snorted, his eyes fixed at Bobbie's legs. Charlie regretted not wearing her jeans shorts.

- M-m, maybe you want to take a seat? - Charlie suggested to break the uneasy silence. - Come over there!

- So, I guess it's time we didn't tease you any more and showed the present? - Dad said after they all sat in the living room. - You know you're already nineteen, and there is a tradition in our family that every grown woman gets jewellery...It's like a sign you're an adult.

- Yes, little, we bought these with your Nana, - Mom smiled while taking a velvet box out of her handbag, - put them on!

Charlie thanked her parents and opened the box. Everybody, especially Bobbie, was watching her thrilled, and she tried to play enthusiastic. In the box there was a pair of big silver earrings, each having a round blue gemstone in it.

- These are beautiful! - she told Mom, - really, you shouldn't have...

- No, Lottie, so it goes in the family! -Dad said proudly, lightening up.

- But look, my ears aren't pierced...

Mom goggled at her, taken aback. She opened her mouth, closed it and then stuttered:

- Oh dear, but how? I remember this kindergarten photo of yours with little gold studs and in a frilly dress we borrowed from Marty...

- M-m, I haven't worn earrings for so long the holes healed, - Charlie explained, looking away, - never mind, these are truly wonderful ones, and when I get them pierced again, I will wear them for sure!

- Ah, okay. Also, what's this strange smell?

Charlie bit her lip. She has thrown away something that had been a pie and opened the windows, but the smell didn't go away. She wanted to bake it so her parents would see how mature she is, but failed so hard.

- Uh, this is that man who lives on the next floor, - Duff replied suddenly, winking at Charlie, - I've seen him, he smokes these stinking cigarettes...

- Ah, it...

- Good it's not you who smoke, Charlotte! - Peter joked, and she faked stupid laughter. For an unknown reason, she didn't feel comfortable around her own family now.

- Okay, maybe time for birthday lunch now? I bet you are very hungry after such a long journey!

- Yes, I wouldn't mind a sandwich or what you've got there, - Peter agreed, yawning. - Can you make tea?

- Ha ha, oh so funny! - Charlie poked a tongue at her beloved brother, - you're wrong, today we've got fried chicken with salad and mash!

- You're pulling my leg! Charlie and cooking?! There is something not so right about that!

- Don't envy, better move you arse to the kitchen!

- My little host, I am so proud of you! - Mom announced with tears of happiness in her voice, - come on, let's see what you've got!

Charlie invited her guests to the kitchen and carried two more chairs with Duff's help. When they all took their seats Charlie could do nothing but praise herself for buying a meal in the cafe down the street.

- You turned out to be a pretty good cook, Charlie, - Dad remarked, reaching out for a napkin.

- I tried my best for you, - she answered with her head tall, - also, Duff came a little earlier to...help me.

- Oh, that's so sweet! - Bobbie put her fork aside, - do you always do anything together? And Duff, are you a chef?

- Nah, I am not, - the corners of his up went up and he gave Bobbie a playful look, - actually, I am flattered you think so, but I am just a plain musician.

The last phrase was pronounced casually, but Charlie knew he was aware of the effect it was going to make. Peter lifted his head and gazed at him with respect, and a sudden loud exclamation escaped Bobbie's little pink mouth.

- Oh, seriously? That's fantastic! Do you sing?

- No, I play bass in the band.

- M-m, Duff is indeed a fab bass player, - Charlie assured, putting a smile on his face.

- No, for real, - he murmured, but Bobbie interrupted him:

- Bass? - she arched her perfect brow, - but it must be hella hard to play!

- Nothing so difficult, - Duff shrugged, - you just gotta learn the basics, take your guitar and so it goes. I can show you someday, say, tomorrow?

- That would be marvelous! We are not leaving until Sunday, - Bobbie clapped her hands and let out a laugh that made her not so small breasts jump. Duff stared at them in a daze. Charlie nearly choked on her chicken and made a displeased utter. She couldn't stand a random pretty chick hitting on her guy right it front of her. She wanted to say something bitter, but Duff was first and put his hand on her thigh. It was meant to calm Charlie down, but in fact only made her giddy. She closed her mouth and looked up only to find Mom staring at her in astonishment. Charlotte fidgeted in her seat, and Duff's hand vanished that very second.

- Could you show me around the flat, Charlie? - Mom asked after some time, - I want to see how your and Ellie's life is going here.

Charlotte lead her back to the living room where Mom admired the fascinating view from the balcony, then to the bathroom, where she checked whether they had a first aid kit and hot water, and then to the bedroom. When Mom started inspecting the desk, Charlie was glad Duff didn't get the condoms he told her he had out of his pocket. Elle's ashtray and cigarettes were also in her room, so she was safe.

- What's this? - Mom wondered, pointing at the watercolor box on the table.

- This? Watercolors! Isn't it amazing? Duff bought me them.

- Yes, awesome...He seems to be a good guy. Duff...what a strange name he has!

- It's a childhood nickname, - Charlie explained, asking herself what Mom would think of the way everybody called Steven Popcorn, - yes, he is!

Nothing really happened, but realizing Mom liked Duff made Charlie really happy. On her way back she almost bounced. When she returned, Peter and Dad seemed to have gone out, but Bobbie was still there. Charlie was shocked to see Duff was sitting by her side, helping her light up, his shoulder touching hers. She turned all smiles when the cigarette caugh fire, and then her fingers ran down his chest. He didn't seen to mind that.

- Oh, I'm sorry! - Charlie yelled angrily, stamping her foot, - didn't mean to walk in your love scene!

- Hey! - Duff got up on his feet and hurried after hee but bumped into Charlie's mother in the doorway. She made him go back and put the kettle on.

After the tea, when all the candles were blown and all the cake eaten, Charlie's relatives and Bobbie left, having agreed that she's show them the town another day. Duff was the last to go, as he helped her with the dishes.

When the door was closed, he turned to Charlie and cupped her face with his hands.

- Hey tiny, - he whispered, his palm caressing her cheek, - don't you think we should go and finish what we started?

He leaned down to kiss her lips, but Charlotte pulled away.

- No. Go away, Duff!

- What? Are you sane? - he asked in the middle of taking his shirt off.

- I...I don't want you. It was all false!

She felt her eyelids begin to prick and tried to control herself. She was empty inside. The whole thing was a big lie she told herself.

- I don't love you, and I've never have. I was just stupid to believe there was something between us! Now I see...I am not like that!

His olive eyes turned huge.

- Like what? Silly, I just...

- Get away! Leave me alone or I'll scream!

She jumped back, breathing heavily, her fists clenched. Duff shook his head.

- Charlie, let me say something...

- No, I won't! You are a huge liar, Duff McKagan, and I don't want to see any more of you!

Her hands began to tremble. They didn't stop shaking neither when she closed the door behind him, nor when she buried her face in them and cried.

Author's note: the title basically means I don't know what song to choose. :D Read, comment and vote, I am desperate for some feedback!