Playing a Poorly Planned Prank

It's as though someone has hit the pause button on a remote control, immobilizing everything but the two teenagers seated on the couch. At the moment, their eyes are solely fixated on one another. And although there is nothing but comfortable silence lingering between them, it's not the same case internally speaking. Their hearts are thudding wildly and haphazardly against their chests, as if the organs are ready to burst right through at any second.

Charlie finds herself holding her breath while the warmth from Ethan's palm envelopes her entire body, almost paralyzing her. His words are all jumbled up in her head and she tries her best not to cower away, sitting as stiff and still as a statue composed of marble. Slowly, but surely, the boy inches closer, the tiny bit of distance keeping them apart growing smaller and smaller.

His hot breath begins to drum against face, sending tingles tumbling down her spine as she finally realizes what's going on. The hairs on the back of her neck stand erect and she involuntarily shivers, goosebumps unfurling against her skin. She should retreat, tell him to stop but...why should she? Inside, Charlie knows that this is what she wants. He is what she wants. Her eyelids flutter shut as she waits for his lips to unite with hers.

The only problem is they never do.

"I shouldn't do this," Ethan confesses breathlessly as he pulls his head back.

His voice causes Charlie's eyes to shoot open. "Why not?" she questions, not bothering to conceal her disappointment.

"Because it's not right," he answers as he caresses her cheek with the pad of his thumb. "I don't want to confuse you. I don't want to take advantage of the situation." His hand falls down onto his lap and he shifts away, no longer looking at Charlie. "You must be pitying me right now."—his voice cracks a little but he continues—"I don't want you to do something you're going to regret."

"I'm not pitying you," she replies almost immediately. "Why would I?"

"Because I'm the broken kid who got dealt a pretty shitty hand," Ethan snaps, momentarily losing his cool. He didn't mean to do that, especially not to the girl who's able to make him feel whole again. He just doesn't want to be given false hope. She shouldn't come to him simply because she feels bad about his situation. That's the last thing he needs.

"Don't be such a little bitch," Charlie scoffs bluntly, taking him by surprise. Then again, he should have expected her to say something like this. It's Charlie we're talking about here. She's as callous as the hands of a professional powerlifter. And shockingly enough, this might be what he needs to hear. "There's nothing about you that's broken. So stop throwing yourself a pity-party already, would you?" Like gravity pulling him in, Ethan turns and looks at her, his expression softening as he waits for her to carry on. And she does.

"All I see right now is a guy who's trying to get used to something...different," Charlie remarks. "I won't sit here and lie to you. I can't say I understand what you're going through either because I don't. But if it's of any consolation, I'll be here if you need me." A smile ghosts over her lips and Charlie locks eyes with him. "Didn't you know even the shittiest of hands could still win as long as you know how to bluff and you've got a lucky lady by your side?"

"If you don't feel bad for me," Ethan starts carefully, "why are you doing this?"

The answer slips out like melted butter and before Charlie could stop herself, it's already too late. "Because I want you." Her eyes widen in horror upon recognizing what she's just said and, ever so swiftly, she corrects herself. "To. Because I want to," she repeats, wanting to make sure he heard her.

He might not be feeling well, but his ears are functioning perfectly fine. Ethan's almost two-hundred and ten percent positive he heard her say you and the red tint covering her cheeks only confirms his suspicions. Something warm and fuzzy blossoms within his chest and the corners of his lips quirk upwards.

Most people would play dumb or act oblivious if they found themselves in this type of predicament, but unfortunately for the girl, Ethan is not one of those people. He won't overlook this.

"Charlie, I don't' know if I'm being a pompous ass for making assumptions on my own again, but do you, by any chance, like me? You know, as more than a friend?" he inquires, his palms already accumulating a copious amount of perspiration. He's got no room to regret his actions though. She's right. Because sometimes, you have to take a risk and go all-in. Who knows, he could even emerge victorious.

Flabbergasted and at a loss for words, Charlie could barely make out a coherent response. "What? Me liking you? What?" An awkward laugh ensues and she avoids any direct eye-contact. Why does she feel like a kid who's been caught for doing something bad? That nauseous feeling comes surging back and she quietly curses under her breath as she attempts to put a cap on the nerves rapidly reproducing in her body at what seems like an impossible rate.

"I didn't hear a no," he points out.

Wait, what does she have to be shy about? She's Charlie fucking Whitmen! And Charlie fucking Whitmen never gets embarrassed. All right, what happened earlier with Olivia is an exception, but other than that, she's got nothing to be shy about. Her feelings included. "Okay," she admits, "maybe you're not as big of an asshole as I thought you were going to be."

"I'm touched," he jokes. "And you're sure you're not just saying this because you feel bad for me?" This time, Ethan steadily holds her gaze, his grayish-blue eyes hypnotizing her. As she stares into his orbs, she can't help but get lost. It feels like she's swimming in the clear-blue waters of the Caribbean Islands and a sense of serenity washes over her as she finally speaks up.

"I told you there's nothing to feel bad about," Charlie answers, her voice gentle. "In fact, I'm kind of happy you trusted me enough to share something so personal about yourself with me." She means every single word. It mustn't have been easy for Ethan to open up about his intimate and private familial affairs, especially with someone he's known for less than half a year. It makes her feel special.

"Wait a minute." He does a double-take, evaluating the situation they're currently engaged in. "Are we...having a heart to heart right now?"

Charlie thinks about it and nods, slightly dazed by the revelation as well. "I guess we are," she confirms.

Ethan cracks another smile and takes her hand into his own as he rubs small circles against the space between her thumb and forefinger. "I didn't think the Great Charlie Whitmen was capable of doing such a sentimental thing. I'm not going to lie, I like it."

"Yeah, me too," she breathes.

"Does this mean I do have a chance with you?" Holding his breath, he awaits her answer.

"You've always had a chance with me," Charlie states.

"I really want to kiss you right now," Ethan declares. "But I won't. Not until you're a free woman again and both of my lungs are working properly."

His honest remark has her temperature shooting through the roof and she bites on the inside of her cheek. She wants him to kiss her too. Screw Hayden and the promise she made with him. Like her brother said, sometimes, it's okay to be selfish. "Ethan, actually, I have to tell you something," she begins.

"What is it?"

The moment is interrupted by someone's fist beating against the front door. "Charlie! You need to come home, like now!" She instantly recognizes that the frantic voice belongs to Alexander and without hesitation, Charlie jumps up from the couch and scurries over, throwing the door wide open so that she could see him.

"Why? What's wrong?" she questions, brows furrowed.

"It's dad," the young boy pants. "He is about to go absolutely insane because of Chase!"

Ethan than joins the siblings, equally worried.

"What? Why? What did he do this time?" Charlie interrogates.

"Just come on and you'll see!" her brother prods hastily before he runs back towards their house.

She turns to look at her neighbor. "I'm sorry, I have to go," she announces. "I'll come back after everything's settled."

"Yeah no, take your time," Ethan urges. "I hope everything's okay."

"Knowing that idiot, it's probably nothing major."

She couldn't have been more wrong.

"Please tell me this is just a poorly planned prank," Mr. Whitmen begs, as he stares at his oldest son with desperate eyes.

"It's not," Chase answers for the umpteenth time, his gaze set on the floor. He doesn't have the courage to look at his father. He feels utterly ashamed.

"Chase Theodore Whitmen. What were you thinking?" the man exclaims, frustration laced in his voice. The room feels like it's spinning and he places a hand on the countertop to keep himself from toppling over.

Charlie enters the kitchen and discovers her dad massaging his temples, Chase standing across from him with his head hanging low, and her two younger brothers hiding behind a wall. She could hear all of the yelling from outside, which means whatever it is that Chase did, it must have been pretty bad. "Whoa, what's going on? Dad, are you okay?" she asks.

"No, I am not okay, Charlie!" he barks as he throws his arms up into the air, startling her. "Your older brother decided that it would be a brilliant idea to drop out of school during his last year! Why, Chase, why would you do such an irresponsible thing? Don't you know how important having an education is in this day and age?"

"Wait, what?" Charlie whips around to gawk at her brother. She couldn't believe this! "You really dropped out of school?" she queries. "Out of all of the crap you've done, this has got to be the worst! What were you thinking, dude?"

"You're totally not helping out right now, Charlie!" he hisses. "And I didn't drop out," he corrects, snapping his head up to glare at her. "I was kicked out last semester because I flunked all of my classes, okay?"

"Dear mother of God, I'm about to have a stroke because of you!" Mr. Whitmen fumes. "How long were you planning to keep this from me?"

"Only until I found myself a stable job and would be able to pay you back for everything you've done," Chase explains. "I knew you'd react like this. I just...didn't want to disappoint you again."

"Well, it's already too late for that," Charles sighs, shaking his head in disapproval. "Just go upstairs to your room, Chase. I need some time to clear my head."

"No," the eldest of the Whitmen children rebels.

Charlie's eyes round as she stalks over to him and latches onto his arm. She can't sit back and watch them fight. She already has a hunch that this isn't going to end on a good note. But, she is determined to minimize the damage as much as she can. "Chase, what are you doing? Listen to him."

"I can't." He shakes her hand off and holds his head up high.

"Excuse me?" Mr. Whitmen is utterly baffled, his blood-pressure increasing drastically. This is definitely not good for his health.

"I'm not a kid anymore, dad," Chase defends in a stern tone. "I'm going to go back out there and keep searching for a job. If I learned anything valuable from the time I've spent at Champlain, it's that I'm the only person who can be held accountable for my actions. It's my responsibility to fix this. Not yours."

"Fine, if you want to be responsible, then pack up your bags and move out."

The silence is deathly, the tension thick and strained.

"Dad, you don't mean that," Charlie remarks, trying to calm him down.

"But I do, Charlie," he disagrees. "I have had enough of your brother's reckless behavior. If he doesn't want to listen to me anymore, then he can leave," her father declares firmly.

"Fine, if that's what you want, then I will." And without another word, Chase heads upstairs to his room while Mr. Whitmen storms out the back door, leaving behind three frightened and very muddled teenagers in their wake.

- - -

Author's Thoughts: Could Ethan be any more perfect? Notice how different Charlie is with him than she is with Hayden? Her remark about him being a little bitch is so her though. Don't you think? And Chaseeeeee ;~; 

There was a subtle hint about his problem in I forget what chapter it was. It was that one day when he was home playing games and Charlie asked him about his class and he said it got cancelled. That's him down below!

As I said before, this story is also centered around family and like Charlie said, even her family isn't perfect. Now we see why Chase had been a little bit of a prick in the beginning. Remember, we're all fighting our own battles.

Please leave comments and votes if you'd like. Thank you for getting this story to 482 in the teen fiction category. You guys are the best <3