Author's Thoughts: Look! I made a trailer for this story <3 Any who, this is a really bittersweet moment. Longer note at the end. Also, this story got ranked 114 thanks to you all! I will be going back in to edit this whole thing now that it's completed. Happy reading, everyone!

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Playing for Your Team

Having a four-day weekend is basically every high schooler's dream come true. Don't try to deny it. At one point or another, you were beyond stoked about not having to go to school no matter what the reason may be. It's part of being a teenager. Hell, it's a part of life. However, in Charlie's case, a four day weekend plus a fridge stocked with delicious food is what she would consider a dream come true. And luckily for her, it looks like she's going to be one happy camper over this brief break.

This year, Thanksgiving will be celebrated at the Whitmens' house, which means all of the leftovers won't be going anywhere accept into the girl's digestive system. The two-story house, painted a midnight-blue, is the only place large enough to accommodate close to twenty people without making it feel like they're spending time at the sauna. Normally, Charlie and her family would head over to her aunt's house for some home-cooked turkey and fresh mashed potatoes, but now that they've got Naomi and Layna teaming up, putting together a feast fit for kings, there's no need for them to go anywhere. Leftover turkey sandwich for days!

The aromatic scent wafting throughout the entire house is driving them all insane, causing the children to salivate against their will at the enticing and delectable smell of whatever is it that's cooking. At the moment, nobody else has arrived yet with the exception of the two women, who are hiding in the kitchen, forbidding anyone from crossing into their sacred territory, Maxwell, the Golden Retriever everybody seems to love, and Ethan. He's been over since ten in the morning and they have been playing videogames in the living room in order to kill time.

Mr Whitmen is busy setting up the table in a buffet style because he realized it would be less of a hassle to have everyone serve themselves instead of trying to cram twenty people at a single table. Could you imagine how difficult it would be to eat comfortably with somebody's elbow jammed into your gut? He can't even remember the last time he had hosted a Thanksgiving dinner as grand as the one they'll be having tonight but to have his home filled with so much life and laughter is something he definitely misses. It's also something he wouldn't mind getting accustomed to.

Granted, his children are, of course, quarreling, arguing about who is better at what, their voices resonating throughout the whole house. Then again, that's nothing out of the ordinary for them. At least nobody's physically hurt, leading the man to believe that everything is still fine.

Charlie and Ethan are seated on the floor next to each other, their backs pressed up against the couch and their legs outstretched in front of them. His arm is comfortably wrapped around the girl's shoulders and although everyone had been teasing the two of them at the beginning for being lovesick puppies, the mockery has disappeared, replaced by the immense interest they harbor towards videogames instead.

Maxwell is curled up on her right, sleeping soundly as she combs her fingers through his fur. Charlie's body is snuggled against Ethan's, the intimate proximity allowing her to feel the rhythm of his thumping heart resting inside of his chest cavity. No wonder people are so fond of cuddling. It's fucking amazing and absolutely relaxing, might she add. Charlie could stay like this, stay in his arms, forever.

As cheesy and cliché as it might sound, she isn't afraid to admit that she does, indeed, enjoy the serenity which cascades over her entire body whenever she is in the boy's embrace. She might not even need to go to the batting cage anymore in order to relieve her stress. Why would she when she's got a much better option just waiting for her on the other side of the road?

Over the course of the last week, the students at school have toned down their snide and snarky remarks about Charlie. Mainly, it had been thanks to Hayden's announcement and confession of the two of them never having been a legitimate couple. But the thought of landing a spot in the hospital had also enticed everyone to keep their traps shut. A girl could only handle a certain amount of pressure before she explodes and takes out her anger on someone.

Even though some people still can't figure out why Hayden Knight chose to turn to Charlie Whitmen for help, out of all people, they try not to dwell on the matter anymore. Sure, there are several people who would send Charlie the stink-eye whenever she walks by but as long as they don't say anything to her, she wouldn't have to worry about getting sent to Principal Mallard's office or scheduling another appointment to meet up with Judge Melbourne.

She wouldn't necessarily say her life is perfect. In fact, it's far from it. But, if you haven't realized it by now, Charlie finds perfect boring. Besides, looking around now and seeing the people she cares about all gathered together in the same room, with the exception of a few bodies that are still missing of course, she realizes that this—this is more than enough for her.

She might fight with her brothers.

She might not see eye to eye with her father.

Nevertheless, that doesn't mean her love for them will ever falter. Because without her family by her side, who knows where she'd be. Who knows who she'd be. Probably, not the same girl she is today. Most people take their family for granted, Charlie does too. The rare moments, like the one she's having at this very moment, where she takes the time to truly appreciate everything she has are what make Charlie realize just how lucky she is.

Chase and Ian are duking it out on Tekken and everyone else cheers on from the sidelines, rooting for the person they want to win. It's a close match. And with a fatal and deadly combination, Ian knocks Chase's avatar to the ground, emerging victorious. Immediately, the boy jumps to his feet, both of his arms extended upwards as he gloats openly, not a single ounce of good sportsmanship anywhere in sight.

"Who's your daddy?" he brags, which causes his older brother to scowl in distaste.

"You only won because I got the crappy controller," defends Chase.

"Don't be a sore loser," Ian snorts.

"Let's switch controllers then," Chase says.

"Fine," he agrees. "Just get ready to have your ass handed to you, again."

"Are they always this competitive?" Ethan whispers, an amused smile tugging on his lips.

"It's in our blood. We can't help it." Shrugs his girlfriend.

"Kids, your favorite aunt is here!" Sharon hollers at the doorway, a broad grin on her face. From where they're sitting, her nephews and niece greet her with lazy hellos and waves, none of them willing to budge. When the woman discovers how absorbed they are with what they're doing, their eyes practically glued to the illuminating scree, she shakes her head and moves along into the kitchen. Teenagers and their technology. She should have expected this.

Her husband makes his way over to his Mr Whitmen in the dining room, offering to help him with setting up as they converse about their respective businesses. Paul, their eldest son, is running a little late. After, Jack enters, his attention geared towards his phone. When he accepts that he won't be getting a response anytime soon, he tucks the device away and shuts the door behind him. He joins his cousins in the living room and once Charlie catches sight of him, she climbs to her feet and scurries towards him.

"Jack!" she exclaims happily.

"Hi, traitor," he deadpans.

Charlie's smile instantly fades. "You're still mad for me lying to you?" she questions.

"No," Jack denies. "I'm mad because you've been blowing me off the last week to hang out with your boyfriend. What happened to bros before beaus?"

"You just made that up right now," Charlie points out.

"Well yeah," the boy answers flatly. "What did you want me to say? Bros before hoes?"

"I'm sorry, okay?" she sighs, feeling a tad bit guilty. "It's because this is all really new to me and I'm trying to get used to how this whole dating thing works," she explains.

"It's not so easy, is it?"

"No," she admits. "But that doesn't mean it's not worth giving a try."

"You'll be fine," Jack assures, his mouth curling into a subtle smile. He knew this day was going to come sooner or later. It's inevitable. Whether he likes it or not, it's time for best friend to make room for another guy in her life who isn't a part of the family and there's nothing Jack can do but accept it and be supportive of the pair.

Don't get him wrong. He doesn't hate Ethan. He just doesn't enjoy not being able to stir trouble with girl whenever he wants. However, he has realized that things, like people, change. Neither he nor Charlie are the same (for the most part, anyway) menacing kids they used to be. They've grown, matured. They've got their own lives to live now and he understands that. "If you're happy, I'm happy."

"Hey, Jack." Ethan appears by the girl's side, unaware that he's the topic of discussion between the two of them.

Jack's expression hardens and he turns to him. "Great. He's here too?" He couldn't believe it! Just when he thought he would finally be able to spend some quality time with Charlie! He should have seen it coming though.

Ethan's eyebrows shoot up in confusion. "I'm sorry?"

Next, Jack takes a step towards the younger boy, his glare as cold as the ice in Antarctica. His voice is deep and sounds dangerous as he quietly says, "You, me, fight to the death on Tekken."

Ethan relaxes and smirks. "You're on," he declares.

Again, Chase loses and, out of frustration, he storms off to his room for a breather. Jack and Ethan are up next and once they're engaged in battle, the doorbell chimes. Charlie smiles to herself as she watches the two of them act like a bunch of five year olds, playfully jabbing each other with their elbows in hopes of sabotaging the other, before she goes over to answer the door.

Standing on the other side is someone she personally invited, along with her significant other and his daughter. "Hi, Olivia."

Olivia smiles, a tray of sweet potato casserole in her grasp. "Hello, Charlie," she states. "Thank you for inviting us." 

Charlie steps to the side and gestures for them all to come in. "You're welcome. I'm sure Ethan and Layna would love to spend Thanksgiving with you as a family."

A man dressed in a tailored suit holds his hand out to the girl and she shakes it. "This is my boyfriend, George, and his daughter, Zara."

"It's nice to meet you guys," Charlie announces.

"Dad?" Ethan has his mouth slightly ajar as he walks up to them. "What are you doing here?"

Olivia smiles, eye flickering over to the girl next to him. "Charlie and her father invited us. I hope that's okay."

Ethan peers to his girlfriend and smiles. How'd she know? "Yeah, of course it is," he replies. "Hey, George, long time no see."

"Same to you, Ethan," George returns.

Then, Ethan turns to his daughter. "Sup, Zara."

"Don't pretend like we're strangers," she purrs, running a finger down his forearm. "Remember when we hooked up at the beginning of the summer when you came to visit?"

Ethan's jaw drops to the floor at the absurd statement. Utterly dumbfounded, he looks at his girlfriend and shakes his head, gaping like a fish out of water. Olivia and George stifle their laughs while Charlie quirks a brow. She doesn't even want to know. Not wishing to hear anything else, in case she gets the urge to gouge Zara's eyes out with her bare hands, she takes the couple to meet her father and the rest of the adults. Today is supposed to be a good day. She must contain herself. Is she jealous? A little. But so what if they did hookup? They did it before she met him. There's nothing wrong with that.

Once they're gone, Ethan glowers at the girl, his mind functioning properly again. "Zara, we did not hookup," he remarks as he runs a palm over his face. "Stop saying stuff like that. You're like an annoying older sister to me! Now, if you don't mind, I have to go and explain myself to Charlie."

"Oh come on," laughs Zara. "Did you not see the expression she was wearing? I gotta hand it to you, your girlfriend's pretty cute. I bet you I could get her to fall for me."

"Dream on, Zar," guffaws the boy. "Charlie doesn't swing that way and she's only got eyes for me. Tough luck. Go find someone else's girlfriend to steal."

The last guest to arrive is Jillian. It's ten past six when Layna and Naomi finally announce that it is time to eat. Like hungry wolves, the children in the house charge into the dining room, filing two lines on either side of the table. Charlie is in the kitchen with Jillian. They are perched up on the wooden stools across from each other, two plates filled with food piled high up to the sky in front of them.

"She did not," gasps Jillian, a hand cupped over her mouth.

Charlie nods. "She did."

Ethan wanders in, his head hung low. "Charlie, can I talk to you for a second?"

"And this is my cue to leave." Jillian hops off, swipes up her plate and heads back into the living room.

"What's up?" Charlie asks, not bothering to look at him as she plows through the mashed potatoes with her spoon. She must be mad at him.

"What Zara said earlier, none of it was true. We've never done anything like that. She's like a sister to me. She only said that to mess with me," he explains. 

"I know," she states nonchalantly.

His eyes round. "You do? How"

"She slipped me her number, told me what a nice ass I had and then winked at me when you weren't paying attention," she replies as she shows him the napkin with Zara's cell phone number scrawled on it.

"I am so going to kill her!" he seethes, crumpling the napkin up.

Swiftly, Charlie jumps down and stops him from going anywhere. "I don't know about you, but I'm pretty sure she's not my type," she comments as she leans in and claims his lips with her own. "You've got nothing to worry about," she breathes, pulling away, the corners of her lips twitched upwards. "Because the only team I'm playing for is yours. You got that, Moron-dozo?"

In a slight daze, he mumbles, "Loud and clear." After, he slips a hand around the nape of her neck and drags her back in, rejoining their lips for another kiss.

"Charlie! You took my turkey leg, didn't you?" Nick shouts from the dining room. "I totally called dibs!"

The two of them break away, laughing amongst themselves as Ethan presses his forehead against hers, his eyes fluttered shut. "Is this the part where we run?" he whispers.

"Precisely." And, with him, Charlie is well aware that she'd run anywhere, no matter how far or how hard it may be.

I N C I P E R E

- - -

Author's Thoughts: Oh my gosh. It's here. The end. I don't even know where to begin. Oh yeah, I do. For those who are familiar with Latin, incipere means to begin. Funny, I know. Haha, I put this instead of FIN because I believe that this is only the start of Elie's love story. They've got a long way to go, don't you think? I may or may not write an epilogue for this book. It depends.

Time frame for the last ten chapters looks like this: C41 – November 3rd  | C42 – November 5th/6th | C43 – November 6th | C44 & C45 – November 10th | C46 & C47 – November 14th | C48 – November 15th | C49 – November 16th | C50 – November 26th | This entire story took place in 3 months.

Ah, I'd also like to thank _zest_ for the cover in this chapter <3. And I'm sorry if I couldn't personally dedicate a chapter to every single person. Just know, I'm grateful you decided to give this story a shot. This story hasn't been a crazy or bumpy ride, but it's been a memorable one, nonetheless. This story started with family and it's going to end the same way. Okay, I should stop now.

Please vote and comment if you'd like.

Again, goodbyes are so hard but it means new chances for hellos. I hope that you all will stay with me and show my other characters the same amount of love and support you've generously shown here. Specifically, Jack's story which picks up around this chapter. I promise you won't regret it. Here's the trailer! Until next time <3

[A gif or video was added here in a newer version of Wattpad. Update now to see.]