Author's Thoughts: Happy Birthday to me! Here's a gift, everyone. Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts on the last chapter. I'm so happy you guys are here for the simplicity of this story! That's Alex above! I think this chapter is the one that'll answer many questions regarding a grayish-blue eyed boy. Be ready! And the first chapter of Jack's story is out. Please do check it out.

Playing the Intruder

This is not good. This is not good at all. Hayden feels like a complete imbecile for making such a grave mistake. As if he's a deer caught in headlights, he doesn't know what to say or what to do. Utterly ashamed and embarrassed (if that isn't obvious), he is unable to meet gazes with the girl, his eyes darting around the entire room. If you could look into his mind right now, you would see nothing but chaos. It's like a tornado went in there and destroyed everything in its path.

At least, that's how the boy feels. Perhaps he should have confirmed the rumors with Charlie herself instead of making speculations on his own. How could he have been so foolish?

"You mean you're not into girls?" he questions albeit hesitantly. He doesn't know if he should be relieved or not. Things are already complicated enough for him. Add this to the pile and you've got yourself a recipe for disaster. It's that bad.

Charlie rakes her fingers through her wavy locks and sighs loudly. She should have realized something was off right from the start. How could she have missed it? "Why would I be?" she answers.

"Are you sure?" He doesn't know what he's expecting to achieve by asking this.

The redundant inquiry, in Charlie's opinion, is absolutely ridiculous and this major miscommunication between them might just be the last straw that breaks the camel's back. Her patience is wearing dangerously thin and she's getting tired of having to play this game of charades. Could you blame her though? It's two in the fucking morning on a weeknight!

Hello, she has to wake up in less than five hours for school! If Hayden didn't look like a lost puppy that's been abandoned in cardboard box, she would have thrown him out onto his ass while also spewing strings of profanities at him for disturbing her sleep. She's not even his real girlfriend! If he's got a problem, shouldn't he be standing at Cecilia's doorsteps right now, interrupting her sleep? Why does Charlie have to suffer and explain herself at this ungodly hour?

"Yeah, I'm pretty sure." She refrains from looking at him like he's the world's most dumbest teenager alive and adds in, "I think I would know my sexual orientation better than anyone else." Her tone comes off as annoyed and irritated because, well, she is annoyed and irritated. She can't even be mad at him. People are always misunderstanding her. Why would Hayden be an exception?

Hayden's emotions have gone awry as he buries his face into his hands, not knowing what to do as he attempts to organize his thoughts. "I know that sounded like a stupid question. I'm sorry. I just—I'm such an idiot."

There's no way she's going to argue with him on that one. Whatever gets him out of her house as soon as possible will do. "You can say that again." Shaking her head in disapproval, another matter comes to her attention. "Wait, is this why you were so insistent about me being your fake girlfriend? Because you thought I was a lesbian?"

"Yes and no," he replies. "It wasn't really my idea. Cecilia came up with the plan and I just went along with it because it seemed like it would be a win-win solution. I should have asked you about it first."

"Yeah, you should have." She nods. "No wonder she was so cool about everything. I almost thought she was a robot. Most girls would be pissed as fuck if their boyfriend went around making grand gestures to other chicks. You should probably tell her I don't swing that way," she advises.

"I will," he assures.

She claps her hand once and holds them together. "Well, I'm glad we had this talk. At least now I understand why I got dragged into this. Sort of. If that's all, can you leave now? I really want to go back to bed."

"Oh yeah." He walks back towards the door and turns to look at Charlie one last time. "Thank you and sorry again for everything."

The door shuts behind him and Hayden closes his eyes, swallowing in a deep breath. What just happened? God, is this a mess. Honestly, he doesn't know how he's going to deliver the news to Cecilia. It shouldn't be hard, but for some reason, he feels like it's not going to be a nice walk through the park either. Hell, even he's still in a state of shock! He's not sure how she'll handle it. Maybe he should have gone straight home instead of showing up at Charlie's doorsteps.

At least then, he would have still been in the dark about everything.

* * *

Despite the black circles her eyes are engulfed in, making her resemble a panda, Charlie manages to survive the school day in one piece. Sure, she might have dozed off during a couple of her classes here and there, but she's almost positive she didn't miss anything too important. If she did, well, that's the price of sleep for you. Like Mariana, she's got no regrets.

She'd do it all over again if she's given the chance, which will most likely arise when it's time for midterms.

Ethan is still at home, sick with the flu. Wanting to help him out, Charlie took it upon herself to go to all of his classes and gather the work he's missed thus far. It won't be good if he falls behind with the curriculum. Junior year of high school is a critical one. After she explained the situation to his teachers, most of them had been rather doubtful since they wouldn't necessarily deem the boy to be one of their stellar students. However, they did not refuse and provided the girl with all of the material.

Thankfully, Charlie doesn't have work today, giving her plenty of free time after school to do whatever she pleases. And she knows the perfect way to spend her evening.

Charlie would have visited Ethan yesterday but her busy schedule wouldn't allow her to. When she texted him, wondering if he wanted her to drop by later, he told her not to bother, especially because she wasn't going to get home until nine. Of course, Charlie had been bummed out to hear that but she wasn't mad. As long as he's alive and breathing, that's all that counts. Today she is determined to keep him company though.

After picking up Cameron from school, she drives home to drop her brothers off. Alexander doesn't get out of the truck, however, and lingers behind in the passenger's seat next to her. "Aren't you going to come inside?" he questions.

She shakes her head, fighting back a yawn. "No. I have to go somewhere." The thought of her bed sounds enticing but it can wait.

Alexander observes her behavior. "Where are you going?"

"I have to swing by the market," she answers.

"Why?" he continues.

"To buy stuff," she says vaguely. She's not trying to hide anything. She just doesn't know what kind of stuff she's going to buy yet.

The younger boy isn't satisfied. "What kind of stuff?"

"Stuff that helps with the flu." Charlie doesn't have time for this.

"For Ethan?" Alexander's eyebrows arch upwards, but he can't say he's surprised.

"Yeah," she hums.

"Can I come too?"

She doesn't see why he can't. "Sure."

Out of all of her brothers, the most recluse one would have to be Alexander. He likes to keep to himself and is very private about things. Sometimes, there are rare moments where he'll be actively social, but for a majority of the time, he's the quiet kid nobody really notices. At home, he's more talkative, but that's because he knows he's surrounded by people who will always love him unconditionally no matter what. Like his sister, Alexander likes to speak his mind and be honest. He's just more polite with it than she is.

Something has been bugging him and he feels the urge to address the gigantic elephant stuffed in the truck. "Charlie, you and Hayden... you guys aren't really dating, are you?"

"How'd you find out?" Charlie almost slams her foot into the brake as she peers over to him.

"Last night," he confesses. "I was thirsty and when I went downstairs, I heard you guys talking." Crap! How could she be so careless?

"You can't say anything, Alex," she declares.

"Why not?"

"Because it's not your place," Charlie sighs. "I'm only doing this because Knight and his girlfriend are going through a tough time."

"But what about you?" Alexander rebuts.

"What about me?"

"Pretending to date Hayden is putting you through a tough time too, isn't it?"

He's got a point there. Thinking about it, however, Charlie rejects his claim. "It's annoying and tiresome, but I wouldn't call it a tough time."

"Then what about Ethan?"

"What about him?" she returns.

"You like him, don't you?"

This time, her foot does clash with the brake pedal, sending both of their bodies lurching forward. "What? Where'd you get that idea from?" she questions, slightly anxious.

"I'm fifteen, Charlie," he sighs. "I'm very perceptive. I can tell you like him because you're my sister and it's my job to know these things. You're different with him, you know."

"No I'm not." She shakes her head firmly.

The boy stares at her with a who-are-you-trying-to-fool expression plastered onto his face. "You're voluntarily going to the grocery store to buy things for him. When do you ever go to the grocery store without being coerced, bribed or dragged out of your bed against your will?"

Another valid point. "I guess that's true," she mumbles. "I don't fucking know, okay? I just want him to feel better."

"He doesn't know, does he?" She doesn't utter a word and that's the only confirmation he needs. "I won't say anything because you're my big sister and I trust your judgment."

The rest of the car ride is filled with music belting through the old speakers and before either one of them knows it, they've arrived at their destination. Charlie grabs a cart and they enter the store. "Do you know what you're getting?" her brother queries.

Charlie peers over to Alexander and puffs her cheeks out. "Not a fucking clue. But I've got this covered." When in doubt, all you have to do is turn to Google. Into the search box she types in: foods that will help with the flu and 0.64 seconds later, she receives approximately twenty million suggestions.

Luckily, she doesn't have to scroll down because there is already a list stocked with items she could get located at the top. Some of the stuff sound odd, but she doesn't question them. It's Google we're talking about here. With her brother's assistance (and the Internet's), she manages to get everything in less than twenty minutes.

As she opens the backdoor to retrieve her backpack and the groceries, Alexander circles the vehicle and ends up behind her. "Charlie?"

"Yeah?" she replies, shutting the door and swiveling around on her heels.

"Sometimes, it's okay to be selfish. I just wanted to tell you that," he says before leaving.

Charlie doesn't dwell too long on his words though when something else seizes her attention.

Parked in the driveway, beside Ethan's beauteous Impala, is an unfamiliar silver Bentley. How come she didn't notice it before? Pursing her lips out, Charlie makes her way up the steps, her eyes never abandoning the second vehicle. Is one of Layna's friends over? Her finger grazes the doorbell and an uneasy feeling makes itself home inside of her chest. There is no answer and when Charlie reaches for the knob, she realizes that it's unlocked.

"Hello?" she calls out as she enters the house. There's nothing. She doesn't find Layna's favorite pair of Clogs near the shoe-rack either, which means the elder probably isn't home at the moment. In the living room, Charlie sets the bags down onto the coffee table and glances around. Suddenly, Maxwell comes charging down the stairs, barking excitedly and she squats down to receive him in her arms.

"Hey, Max," she laughs, ruffling his fur. She, then, catches sight of a pair of red pumps on the floor and a purse on the couch. It doesn't look like either one of those things belong to Layna. They're too flashy.

Does that mean somebody else is here?"

Ethan comes down the stairs, his lips dried and slightly cracked. His complexion is a ghostly white and her heart feels like it is being squeezed as she stands up. "Charlie, what are you doing here?" he rasps out, taken aback by her presence.

"I came to check up on you," she explains before her eyes return to the luxury purse lounging on the couch. He traces her line of sight, confused. "But I see that you have a guest. I should leave you two alone." Her tone is sharp and harsh, telling him that something is wrong. Then it clicks.

"Wait," he calls out, using what little energy he has left to grab onto her arm and spin her back around just as she is about to reach out for the doorknob. "Please don't misunderstand. This isn't what it looks like," he wheezes.

"I'm not misunderstanding anything." Charlie breaks free from his grasp and holds her head up high. She feels like an idiot. She shouldn't have come. No wonder he told her not to visit him last night. How could she forget that he's a normal guy? He's got needs like everyone else in the world. "What you decide to do in your house is none of my business."

"Seriously, Charlie. You've got it all wro—" He is cut off by a third party, leaving him unable to finish the statement.

"Ethan, is someone here?" The voice may be a little husky, but it definitely has a feminine flare to it.

Next, a woman, who stands at what looks like a minimum height of six feet, enters the room and halts in her tracks once she notices the young girl standing by the front door. As Charlie stares at the stranger from across the way, she recognizes the woman's distinct and slightly masculine characteristics. Her shoulders are rather broad while her jaw is chiseled, revealing the bone structure of her long face.

The boy groans in frustration as he runs his slender fingers through his messy bed-hair. Looks like he can't avoid it any more. His past has finally caught up to him. After inhaling a cavernous breath, Ethan glances up and locks eyes with the girl.

Her brows are slightly bunched together while the corners of her lips are tugged downwards as she waits for him to say something—anything. She doesn't know what to make of this. A second later, she gets her answer.

"Charlie, I want you to meet Olivia... my dad."