Playing All Truths & No Lies

"You can do this," Ethan tells himself as he shuts his locker and grips harder onto the straps of his backpack. His heart feels like a jackhammer and in order to calm the loud organ down, he shuts his eyes and inhales cavernous breaths. Today is the day. The day where he is determined to declare war on Hayden, war over Charlie's heart that is.

Yeah, it sounds totally ridiculous, and not to mention corny and cheesy, but can you blame him? The girl's worth it. When you meet that special someone who can make your entire world tilt over on its axis, you'll be able to empathize with him. This might not be his first rodeo when it comes to love, but what he's experiencing now is most certainly on a whole different level when compared to the relationships he's been a part of in the past. Given that, in this case, things are a tad bit more complicated but, as aforementioned, Charlie's worth it.

Honestly, Ethan's never been involved in a love triangle prior to this one because he usually checks to ensure that the girls he takes an interest in are single and available before he makes any advances on them. And what happened with Charlie, well, he had no control over the matter. As soon as he discovered she had a boyfriend, he told himself he should stay as far away as he could from her but he couldn't. At the beginning of their turbulent relationship, he was almost positive he'd never develop those kinds of feelings towards her.

Overtime, however, without realizing it, Ethan did begin to fall for the girl, who's unquestionably one in billion. Even now, he's still falling for her and he refuses to stop. It's definitely too late for him to turn back, not that he wants to. How can he when Charlie, herself, told him he had a chance with her? He'd be a blimey, bumbling idiot if he allowed an opportunity like this to slip through his fingers. A girl like her is hard to find. Sure, there's a possibility that the two of them might not work out as a couple, but he'll never know if he doesn't give it a shot. And who knows, maybe they could be the perfect match.

Only time will tell.

Ethan wants to play fair and square, which is why he has reached the decision to come out into the open about this – what did they used to call it back during the old times? Oh yes, this courtship he intends to pursue with Charlie. So of course he doesn't want to be accused of sneaking an attack on his unsuspecting opponent. Again, he's never done something like this. He's about to fight over a girl and Ethan Morindozo never fights over a girl, but of course, Charlie Whitmen is not your average girl.

Today, Charlie didn't come to school because her dad needed her help. She hadn't been specific about the matter, which is why today is the perfect day for his declaration of war. If he remembers correctly, Hayden's locker is on the second floor, by the boy's bathroom. He spots his target off in the distance and when he's three feet away from Hayden, another guy pops up, causing Ethan to whirl back around, cursing under his breath. Why is this a lot harder than he anticipated?

"Hey, Hayden," the shaggy-haired boy calls out.

Hayden pulls his locker in, making sure to keep it open as he looks over towards the person talking to him. "Oh. Hey, Lenny," he greets. Lenny is a sophomore he tutors.

"Can I ask you something?" Lenny ponders aloud.

"Uh, sure," he permits, albeit hesitantly.

"Where did you take Charlie out for your first date?"

The inquiry is quite baffling but Hayden manages to keep his cool. "Why do you want to know that?" he returns.

"Well, because I'm taking this girl out this weekend and I wanted some ideas," Lenny explains, not bothering to beat around the bush. "I mean, you must have some incredible tricks up your sleeve. You scored yourself the Charlotte Whitmen. Do you know how many freshmen are drooling over her?"

Hayden's brows furrow while Ethan clenches his jaw. "Why would they drool over Charlie?"

"Because, and I mean this in the most objective, non-offensive, complimentary way possible, she's smoking hot. Plus, who doesn't like a girl who knows cars, sports and has the ability to kick your ass when it comes to video games?" Lenny specifies with a smug grin.

He's not wrong. Since Hayden and Charlie have never been out on a date before or fabricated false ones, he doesn't have a memory to share with the boy and creating one up on the spot isn't exactly his forte. On the other hand, he holds many fond moments with Cecilia, his real girlfriend. There's no harm in using one of those memories. It's not like anyone will know.

"I see. Well, we—I took her out on a rowing boat so that we could watch the sunset together from the lake," Hayden narrates, his tone placid.

Upon hearing his words, Ethan frowns and glances over his shoulder. Wait, did he just hear that right? Surely it must have been a mistake. And if it isn't, then Charlie must have hated the date. There's no way in hell she'd enjoy it. She probably hurled five times!

"Really? That's pretty damn romantic!" Lenny praises, wriggling his eyebrows. "How did she react? Did she love it? I bet she did."

"Yeah, of course she did." Hayden recalls how happy Cecilia had been, and suddenly, he feels awful for snapping at her. "Ce—Charlie loves going out onto the lake. Her dad owns a small boat, you know. We go out on it whenever the weather's nice." That was a close-call. He almost said Cecilia instead of Charlie.

"A date on the lake it is!" Lenny cheers as he pumps a fist into the air. "Thanks, man. I'll see you Thursday!"

The wheels in Ethan's head start to turn rapidly. Next, he hears the locker shut, and a second later, Hayden walks by him. With keen and observant eyes, Ethan examines the boy and then notices how Hayden's step suddenly falters. It seems like he's... looking at something? No, more like someone. Ethan shifts his weight to his left foot and spots a petite blonde heading their way. Where has he seen her before? Her eyes flit over towards Hayden, her gaze lingering a little longer than it should have if they were just mere strangers, and an unsettling feeling stirs within him.

"Cecilia! There you are!" A girl, with rainbow colored hair, rushes up to the blonde, resembling a kid high on sugar.

Cecilia? Could she be the same Cecilia who had also been swept up in the dating rumors with Hayden? It couldn't be...

When Jillian exits her class, she is more than stunned to discover a familiar face leaning against the lockers across from where she stands. "Ethan? What are you doing here?" she queries, seizing his attention.

Ethan looks up and pushes himself off of the lockers. "I need to ask you something."

"Me? But why?" she wonders.

"Hayden and Charlie," he whispers as he moves in closer to her, "they're not dating, are they?"

The girl's eyes round. "H-how did you know? Did Charlie tell you?"

"No,"—he pulls back—"you just did. I've got to go. Thanks, Jill." And before she could ask him any other questions, Ethan scurries off.

"Why do you like Hayden?"

"What?"

"Why do you like Hayden? I mean, you're dating him so obviously he's got something you like, no?"

"I don't know. Everything?"

He should have realized something had been off right from the get-go. There had been so many signs and clues. Now everything makes sense. Charlie didn't lie to him that day he had asked her about Hayden in the hallway after the rumors about them being a couple had spread throughout the entire school. She had told him the truth. She didn't have an ounce of interest in the school's golden boy, never did. He's not sure why, exactly, Charlie and Hayden are pretending to date, but he's got a gut-feeling that the petite blonde he caught Hayden staring at earlier, Cecilia, is somehow connected to all of this.

He'll just have to confront Charlie about it.

Slightly out of breath, Ethan jumps out of his car and slams the door shut before dashing up the Whitmens' front steps. The truck is here, which means she is as well. Consumed with anxiousness, excitement and confusion all wrapped into one, his finger incessantly clashes with the doorbell as he impatiently waits for someone to open the door. Finally, Charlie is in his line of sight and Ethan is overwhelmed by her presence.

"What are you doing here?" she questions, clearly shocked by his random appearance. "School's not even over yet."

"I couldn't wait," he pants. "Charlie, if you're genuinely sincere about giving me a chance, then please be honest with me. Are you and Hayden really dating?"

The girl's lips pry apart, but nothing comes out. That fraction of a second filled with hesitation and silence is the only thing Ethan need to confirm his suspicions. And, without waiting for her to say something, he hooks a hand around the nape of her neck, drags her in and captures her lips with his own, plundering every last bit of oxygen from her lungs into his own.

As though he's afraid that he will break her, Ethan kisses her gently, cautious to keep his tongue tamed. There's so many things he wants to do with her. After a minute of euphoric lip-locking, Ethan breaks away, his chest concaving deeply and his breathing labored. With his eyes hooded, he stares at Charlie, his bottom lip now sitting in between his teeth. God, is she addicting. How had he managed to refrain from tasting her for this long?

"Charlie," he whispers, his voice deep and coarse. "You're driving me insane," he says wistfully.

Her eyes flutter open and with wide orbs instilled with bewilderment and uncertainty, Charlie's natural instinct kicks in and before she could stop herself, like the first day they encountered one another, her fist collides with his face. Ethan stumbles back, but manages to avoid landing onto his derrière.

Then, Charlie realizes what she has just done and gasps, cupping both of her hands over her mouth. "Oh fuck! I didn't mean to do that! I'm so sorry."

"If you didn't like the kiss, you could've just told me," Ethan groans as he comforts his aching jaw... again.

"No, that's not it!" she rambles. "It was just a reflex of mine. When I was in the third grade, some kid who used to have a thing for me kissed me without my permission and I immediately punched him in the face for it. So when you did it, I didn't know what to do. You just took me by surprise!" Next, she points an accusing finger at him. "You're supposed to fucking tell me first!"

Ethan's arm falls down to his side as he takes a step closer to Charlie and grabs onto her finger, pulling her in closer. "That is possibly the most cutest thing I've ever heard. I'm sorry for shocking you. Can we call it even?"

"How'd you find out Knight and I weren't a real couple?"

"Well, I had my doubts in the beginning but I wasn't sure if I was overanalyzing the situation. Then, I ran into him in the hall and some underclassman was asking about your first date together and he mentioned taking you out on the lake and how much you loved it. I found it weird, though. I remembered you telling me how easily you get seasick and I just put the pieces together," he explains, before sheepishly adding in, "Plus, I might have asked Jill before I came."

"I was going to tell you," she says.

"I know you were. But I'm glad you didn't. Because, then, I wouldn't have realized just how much I actually like you."

"So, you're not mad?" asks the girl slowly.

"Not at all," Ethan assures, his eyes wandering back down to her lips. "But would it be okay if I kissed you again?" Charlie doesn't even need to think about her answer and nods her head.

- - -

Author's Thoughts: And there it is, ladies and gents! Charlie punching Ethan is so Charlie! I really do hope you enjoyed this chapter. Elie/Charltan has officially sailed!