Playing Big Brother

"Didn't you hear? They broke up!"

"I saw that coming a long time ago."

"Yeah, the two of them were never going to work out."

"I wonder who dumped who."

"I bet Hayden was the one who gave her the boot. I mean, have you seen her?"

"No way. Charlie definitely ended things. You think a girl like that would let a guy breakup with her and get away unscathed? As if."

"That's true. Did you see her with Ethan though? They've been smiling nonstop and making googly eyes at each other. It's kind of repulsive. She must have left Hayden for him."

"Wow. What a conniving little—"

"Finish that statement and it'll be the end of your social life," Jillian seethes, throwing a lethal glare at the group of people huddled around a desk in the middle of the room. Once they recognize her, they all scramble to their respective seats, trembling with trepidation. A fierce scowl adorns her face as Jillian stalks over to her desk, daring anyone else to talk out of their asses about her best friend in her presence.

Usually, the honey-blonde girl, whose eyes are a vibrant blue, is a sweetheart. Unlike her best friend, she's feminine, polite and courteous, but nobody can be a complete angel. That's not how life works. The way Jillian treats people depends heavily on Confucius' Golden Rule. You know, the one about doing unto others what you would like to be done to you and yada-yada. Although they aren't actually talking about Jillian, she sees no difference.

Throughout the entire day, news of the supposed couple's parting has traveled around the school, evoking an array of reactions from the students. Some people are happy about their separation, a few devastated, but the majority of the crowd is indifferent on the matter. A number of rumors regarding the possible reasons which could have resulted in their breakup have also been circulating amongst the students. And boy, are they starting to bother the hell out of Jillian.

These immature buffoons are really testing her patience, and she's just about had it with them. She hates how irritating people around her age can get, especially when they don't even know the whole story. Who are they to pass judgment so easily on other people's lives? Charlie doesn't deserve to be badmouthed by the likes of them. She hasn't done anything wrong and even if she has, again, it's none of their goddamn business!

Clearly, they're still having a tough time trying to wrap their pea-sized brains around the fact and Jillian can't help but wonder how people like them could ever benefit the rest of the world. If anything, they'd only wreak havoc on the place. Thinking about it now, she's certain that she's not going to miss high school once graduation comes knocking. Hopefully, in college, things are different. If they're not, then she's lost all hope for humanity.

Charlie enters the class and all eyes zero-in on her. Hayden is nowhere to be found, which means he probably left school early or something. He probably couldn't handle it and she doesn't blame him. The rumors and gossip about their breakup reached her ears when she arrived to school and to be honest, she expected nothing less.

Her selective hearing and ability to tune out any kind of negativity that soars her way, thankfully, prevent her from strangling the next person to look at her like she's some extraterrestrial lifeform that's just crash-landed on Earth, determined to destroy mankind. Everybody talks. It's inevitable. Why do you think Neon Trees made a song with the same title?

She had been prepared for this, though. As soon as she accepted the proposal to be Hayden Knight's fake girlfriend back in September, Charlie already had knowledge of what was going to happen once this game of charades ended. It didn't matter who broke up with whom. People are still going to hate her for no reason because that's high school for you. Yet, despite knowing that, Charlie still chose to go through with it and put herself through this madness. What had she been thinking? Oh right, that she could hardly give a fuck about people who have nothing better to do than divulge in the lives of others. Besides, good karma, right?

"Are you okay?" Jillian questions as her best friend claims the desk next to her.

"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?" answers Charlie nonchalantly.

"Just double-checking," she offers before she nods her head, impressed. "So you haven't murdered anyone yet. That's good. Judge Melbourne would be very proud to find that you do, indeed, have some self-control bestowed upon you. Me, on the other hand..."

"Don't worry about it, Jill," Charlie laughs, the sound confusing and, at the same time, frightening her peers. "It's not like I give a flying fuck about what people I barely know think. They're irrelevant, like last week's garbage." The surrounding students close enough to hear her callous remark cower in their seats, returning to tend to their own matters.

"I know, but still. It's annoying to hear them run their mouths when they know absolutely nothing about what happened," Jillian replies as she folds her arms in front of her chest.

"It's life. Wherever we go, there will always be people talking about us. Just don't let it bother you," the girl advises. Class begins a minute later when their instructor returns, a pile of handouts in her grasp. During the entire period, Charlie could feel all of the scrutinizing gazes settled on her from behind but, for the most part, she manages to ignore them and focus her attention on the teacher's lecture. At one point, however, she had considered standing up and cursing the hell out of those imbeciles! Then, Charlie realized she didn't want to pay a visit to the principal's office.

She hasn't been sent to see Principal Mallard yet this year, a new personal record for her, and she wants to keep it that way. She does plan on going to that place called college two years from now, you know. Therefore, she doesn't want to give the old man any other reason to hold her back, even though she's pretty sure he's just dying to get rid of her. What can she say? She's an administrator's worst nightmare. He should be thankful she's not as bad as she used to be during her freshman year or else he would be filing for an early retirement!

Charlie's last two classes, like the four prior ones, proceed in the same manner and once the final bell rings, marking her freedom, she wastes no time seizing it. While making her way towards her locker, Charlie is still receiving dirty and judgmental stares from the students she crosses paths with. They can look all they want, but if someone crosses the line, blood will be shed.

Putting in her combination, she pops open the storage space and grabs what she needs. No, her locker hasn't been vandalized or defaced with derogatory and insulting remarks, like what you find in the movies. Her school is equipped with security cameras and destroying school property can result in expulsion and a fine of up to five hundred dollars. Plus, if anyone was stupid enough to try to mess with her, Charlie would undoubtedly hunt them down.

"Hey, you're Charlotte, right?"

She glances to her right and sees a boy, standing a little under six feet and slightly muscular, smiling at her. "Actually, it's Charlie," she corrects stoically. "Who are you?"

"Oh, sorry." He continues to smile, as if it's the only thing he can do. "My name's Emmett. I'm a senior. I actually have a class with your brother."

"Okay, and?" Charlie doesn't understand why some guy who knows Ian would suddenly approach her out of the blue. His motives are immediately questioned, putting the girl on high alert.

"I was wondering if you would want to go out with me," he explains.

Charlie frowns and bluntly speaks her mind, "Why the fuck would I want to go out with you?" she questions as she shuts her locker.

The smile is wiped off of Emmett's face and is replaced with a glower. "I was trying to be friendly. You don't need to be such a bitch about it," he states.

"Excuse me?" Charlie scoffs, taking a step towards him, her neck craned up so that she could properly look him in the eyes. "What did you just say?"

"Forget the date." The boy smirks as he brazenly runs a finger down her arm. "How about I take you back to my place and we have some fun. I want the same treatment you gave to that Morindozo kid."

Before Charlie could break his arm, someone comes from behind her and lands a punch across his face, sending Emmett tumbling to the floor. The other students lingering in the area gasp and, in haste, they whip out their phones to record the scene. Charlie turns to look at the attacker and her mouth falls open. "Ian," she says, clearly stunned.

"Hey, asshole," her brother hisses as he towers over Emmett, his hands still clenched up into fists. "Sorry to break it to you, but she's out of your league. The only treatment you'll be getting if you keep messing with her is from the emergency room and that's a promise." Emmett stands up and, with an angry glare, marches off. Then, Ian glances around and addresses the people spectating them. "Anyone else who has something smart to say to my sister, come out now or forever hold your fucking peace." Everyone disburses and he shakes his head.

"How did you know he was going to be here?" Charlie asks

Ian combs through his dark hair and sighs. "Matt heard him in the locker room, bragging about how he'd get you into bed by the end of tonight," he answers, blood still boiling. "Do you even know what people have been saying about you, Charlie?"

"Who cares?" she huffs. "They'll forget about it soon enough."

"I know, but you should stay away from Ethan for the time being." Ian doesn't like telling his sister what to do because she is her own person. However, as her big brother, he has to take care of her, even if she can take care of herself just fine. Because that's what a big brother does.

"Why?" Charlie questions.

"Because being with him is not helping your cause right now," he explains.

She knows he's only trying to watch out for her but Charlie's dealt with worse. "I like him, Ian," she confesses. "I don't want to stay away from him. I can't."

"Of course you can't." The boy smiles while rolling his eyes. Looks like someone who's got the ability to make his little sister swoon has finally appeared. It's about damn time. "But the next time you want to be a saint and help someone out, don't. Just look at the mess you got yourself into."

Her eyes round. "How did you..."

"Jill told me," he says, shrugging. "Don't blame her though. I sort of forced it out of her when I heard you two broke up."

"Of course you did." Now it's her turn to roll her eyes. "And the next time you want to punch some douchebag in the face for me, do it off of school property. You better hope he doesn't report you."

"Trust me," Ian snorts, "if he knows what's good for him, he won't." They both laugh before he ruffles her hair.

She slaps his hand away and fixes herself. "I'll see you at home," she says, spinning around to leave.

"Charlie?" he calls out.

The girl peers back over her shoulder. "What?"

"You're not so bad," Ian playfully remarks. "Thanks for being my sister."

Charlie turns back, facing forward, the corners of her own lips hiked up too as she gives him a lazy wave. "Right back at you," she muses.

"Hey," Ethan greets once she climbs inside the car.

"Hey," Charlie returns. There's a pause.

"Do you want to go paintballing tonight?"

She quirks a brow at him. "As in a date?"

"Yeah, I mean, no. Only if you want to call it a date," he sputters nervously. This went a lot smoother in his head. "It doesn't have to be though. But it'd be nice. I just wanted to take you out and get your mind off of things and stuff."

Charlie smiles generously and buckles her seatbelt. She could always count on him to make her forget about how shitty people can be. "I'd like that. A date it is," she declares.

"Really?" Ethan rejoices.

"Really." She nods, gazing into his beautiful eyes. For a moment, they don't utter another word and carry on smiling like fools.

"You guys realize I'm sitting right here, don't you?" Alexander points out, reminding them of his existence from the backseat.

"Don't ruin the moment, Alex," Ethan whispers, filled to the brim with happiness. He knows coming to school mustn't have been easy for her. He's just glad she hasn't allowed those rumors to get under her skin or drive them apart. She's been through a lot, needless to say, and he's determined to make tonight's date a real and precious one. I mean, what girl doesn't like being shot at with pellets made of paint on a first date?

* * *

As Charlie is trying to get ready for her date with Ethan, the house phone resonates, echoing through the place. Usually, she would just let it go to voicemail but today, she decides to pick it up for once. And god, is she glad she did. "Hello, is this the home of a Chase Theodore Whitmen?" a man with a rather brassy voice questions politely over the line.

"It is. Who's this?"

"I'm Officer Mueller from the ninth precinct," he introduces. "It seems like Mr. Whitmen has been in an accident."

"He's been in a what?" Charlie shouts, slapping a palm over her face. "Fucking hell! That fucking idiot!"

- - -

Author's Thoughts: Thank you all so, so, so much for your neverending support. I'd like to dedicate this chapter to tealgirl0505, arinasn and AShhXIEYY.

I said Chase was going to be in this chapter, but then I got carried away. Hope you all don't mind. Please leave comments and votes if you want :)