WHEN CHARLIE said she wanted to take things slow with Marcus, she meant that. She didn't want to completely lose him over something like this. It seemed silly to be mad at him for this, but at the same time, she had every right to be upset with him. He lied to her about something so simple... and so did Ginny Miller. She would deal with her later.

But Charlie knew she liked Marcus, she really liked him, and it was almost sickening to her. She knew she wanted something more but she didn't know if he felt that same way, especially after that shit that went down.

Yeah, he countlessly apologized and tried his best to reassure Charlie that she was the one that he wanted to be with. For years Marcus had pushed down his feelings for Charlie by getting with different girls like Padma and Ginny, he knew he was an asshole for that, but no one said that Marcus Baker was a good person.

He wanted to be with Charlie more than she knew. He wanted to be with her and he'd do anything to prove that to her.

But for now, the alarm in Charlie's room rang and she slammed her hand against her phone. She quickly grabbed it and shut the alarm off before heavily sighing and rolling over to face Marcus.

He'd been awake longer than she had, she could tell. There was no more tiredness in his eyes as he smiled at her.

They were still friends and titered along the lines of being so much more than that. They hadn't done anything crazy like sex, but damn... they really wanted to.

"Mornin' Charles." Marcus smiled.

Charlie smiled and slowly sat up, propping herself up on her elbow as she looked down at him.

"Tell me," She smiled. "does my morning breath smell?"

She began leaning down, drawing herself closer to him. He began to tilt his head towards her, expecting her lips to be placed on top of his, but alas, Charlie pursed her lips and blew. Her breath gently tickling his face as he screwed his eyes shut.

Marcus chuckled, throwing his head in the opposite direction as he let out an exaggerated gasp. He slowly rolled off the girl's bed, barely missing her nightstand as he fell to the floor.

Charlie chuckled as she rolled over onto his side of the bed and watched as Marcus popped up, his face now directly in line with hers.

Charlie clasped her hand over her mouth and Marcus gently took it in his own.

"Could be way worse." He muttered.

With that, he closed the distance between them, pressing his lips softly against Charlie's. Marcus could feel Charlie's hand cup his cheek and draw him closer as their kiss deepened. He was lost in the feeling of her softness, the warmth of her body against his own.

As they pulled away, they gazed into each other's eyes. Charlie ran her fingers through Marcus's hair, tucking a strand behind his ear as she smiled.

"Good morning." She whispered.

Marcus grinned at her. "Good morning to you too."

Charlie chuckled softly as she licked her lips. She rolled over once more and stretched loudly as she sat up fully. She stood to her feet slowly and looked over at Marcus, who was pulling his pants up.

"I need to talk to Ginny today." She said. "Clear the air with her."

Marcus nodded. "She was gone, you know."

"She was?"

"She texted me and asked me about you." Marcus said. "I guess she went off with her dad, but she really wanted to try and talk to you about... everything."

Charlie nodded. It was reassuring to hear that Ginny was trying to reach her. She would assume it would be to apologize for lying, but she wouldn't find out until she spoke to the girl.

"Hey," Marcus called. "I'll see you at school?"

Charlie nodded. "I'm meeting with my therapist this afternoon, so don't wait for me."

Marcus nodded and made her way over to the girl. With a gentle smile, he bent down and placed a soft kiss on her forehead.

"See you at school, Charles." He muttered against her forehead.

Charlie chuckled and pushed Marcus away from her. She held her small smile as she watched him climb out of her window and make his way home.

She sighed heavily and grabbed her clothes from her closet and began to get ready for the day.

CHARLIE, FOR the first time this week, finally got her phone back from her mother. She had never seen so many text messages and notifications in her life, it was somewhat overwhelming.

"Charlie!"

The girl looked up from her found and found Max jumping up to her feet and making her way towards her. She quickly wrapped her arms around Charlie and rocked the two of them back and forth.

"God, I've missed you." Max muttered. "Where the hell have you been?"

Charlie backed from the hug and licked her lips. She looked behind Max and saw Hunter standing there idle. She wasn't close to the boy whatsoever, but she knew that he was hurt by Ginny and she felt for him.

"I, uh, I went to California for Thanksgiving." Charlie answered. "She wanted us to get there early to help out."

Lying to Max and her friends wasn't new and she wasn't going to stop just because she was hellbent on Ginny and Marcus lying to her... that was different.

"California?" Max smiled. "Did you bring me one of those cool souvenir thingys?"

She had, but she'd given it to Abby.

"Uh, no." Charlie said. "My mom took everything from Billie and I. We never left my grandma's house."

"Boo," Max exclaimed. "that's lame. I'm glad you're back though, you will not believe how annoying Abby and Marcus have been. Like, I live with him and I don't think I've ever seen him so... blag."

Charlie only nodded. Max's words go in one ear and out the other.

"Yeah, that- that sucks." Charlie said. "Look, I've gotta go-"

"Will you join us for lunch for once?" Max asked. "It will be a breath of fresh air not sitting with him."

Charlie licked her lips and began walking away from Max. She only nodded at her words and muttered something about how she'd "think about it", but in reality, she wouldn't, hell she wouldn't sit with Max if her life depended on it.

"Missed you, Charlie."

The girl furrowed her brows and held her middle finger up towards Press, the one who claimed to miss her.

She finally separated herself from the group and found Ginny walking somberly down the halls.

"Ginny." Charlie called.

The girl paused and slowly turned to see Charlie standing before her.

"Hey."

Ginny clasped her hands together. "Hey."

"Heard you were gone last week."

Ginny nodded. "Yeah, went to see my dad."

"That- That's cool." Charlie said. "I was in California and without my phone so I wasn't ignoring you or anything Ginny." She sighed. "I- um, I know we haven't talked since... everything and I just want you to know that I don't hate you. I just wish that you didn't lie about it."

"I really am sorry, Charlie." Ginny spoke. "I- It's no excuse for lying and Marcus didn't put me up to it. And-"

"It's okay, Ginny." Charlie said. "We're good."

Ginny let out a sigh. "We are?"

Charlie nodded. "Yeah, we're good. And to prove it," Charlie began digging through her bag before pulling out a small astronaut. "For you. Got it when I was in California."

Ginny licked her lips, took the small figurine from Charlie's hands, and looked down at it with a small smile.

"Thank you, Charlie."

Charlie returned the small smile and nodded. She sighed heavily and began fidgeting with her fingers. "Do you wanna... hug or like," She began to awkwardly spread her arms and clasp her hands together. "high-five or something?"

Ginny nodded, letting out a somewhat breathy laugh. "Yeah. A- A hug is good."

Charlie stepped forward and brought Ginny into her. Ginny's curly brown hair tickled her cheek as she rested her chin on her shoulder. Charlie sighed, shutting her eyes for a moment. Of course, Marcus was her best friend and would be for as long as she could have him, but Ginny was the first girl that Charlie felt comfortable around, and though they weren't back at square one, they were back nonetheless.

Charlie pulled from the hug first and gave Ginny's forearms a small squeeze.

"I gotta make my rounds." Charlie said. "Got homework and stuff to drop off from the days I missed, but I'll see you later, Ginny."

Ginny nodded and watched as Charlie gently brushed past her.

Charlie felt good. She didn't feel like she was rocking the boat with anyone and she was back o with Ginny and Marcus. She wouldn't be too worried about Max, she never had been, but she knew it would be a Hell storm once she found out that she forgave Ginny and Marcus.

That was a problem for future Charlie... and possibly Charlie's therapist.

CHARLIE RAN her hands over her bare face as she watched her therapist write things down on her notepad. Her leg bounced up and down as she watched the pen dance back and forth between the pages. For some reason, this session felt different. It wasn't like her first one and it wasn't the ones she had before leaving for California.

This felt different.

"Did you feel fine after?" Dr. Mayson asked.

Charlie looked up. "Yeah... I mean, it hurt at first, but I felt fine during and after, but then it felt like... it meant nothing after I found out everything."

Dr. Mayson nodded. "And you said that you found out about all this Ginny-Marcus stuff happened through Max, Marcus's sister?"

Charlie nodded. "I feel like if they were just honest with me, I wouldn't have reacted the way I did, but..." She sighed. "I know that I am also going through something."

"And that is?"

"I really wanna message my dad." She whispered. "I know he's not gonna respond. I know that, but I've done it for years, and sometimes... I find myself holding a pen in my hands and just... clicking it over and over." She sighed, resting her chin on her knee. "I don't want to... but the thought is there."

Dr. Mayson nodded. "I know that things like this are hard and I know that this is going to sound crazy, but the best thing you can do to prevent yourself from messaging your dad and with the pen is to run away."

Charlie furrowed her brows. "Run away?"

"Run away." Dr. Mayson repeated. "Don't go far out. I'm saying or recommending that. I'm saying that you go to someone you trust. Go to a place that brings you happiness. That place can be the park, your mother's room... Marcus. Some place that feels safe and secure, someplace to get your mind off all of that." She explained. "And if you really feel like you need to message him... don't email him, don't type it. Just write it down. Write it in your notebook, write it on a scratch sheet of paper. In your mind, you'd be writing to him, without having to send it. Only do it if you can handle it, there's no point in doing it if you can't."

Charlie nodded and brushed her hair behind her ear. She would always take Dr. Mayson's words to heart and would try to do whatever she suggested, she was being paid whether or not Charlie did what she said, but Charlie really wanted to try. She didn't want to feel like this. She wanted to have a normal high school experience... you know, whatever that was.

IT WASN'T unlikely for Marcus to have his windows locked now. Ever since Charlie sprang her way in that night, he kept them unlocked for her.

She lifted the window and jumped inside, Marcus muttering out a small 'hey' before pausing her game and standing to his feet to look at her.

Charlie sighed as she shrugged her jacket off of her shoulders and tossed it off to the side. She ran a hand over her face as she sat down on his bed, not a beat of this passing the boy who stood in front of her.

"What's going on with you?" Marcus asked.

"Nothing," She muttered. "I'm fine."

She finally looked up and him and furrowed her brows. "Don't look at me like that."

"Like what?" He asked.

"You know what." She spat. "You don't believe me."

Marcus nodded. "I don't believe you." He said, joining her side of the bed. "But I'm not gonna push if you don't wanna tell me."

Charlie glanced over at him before standing to her feet. "My therapist told me that if I am feeling some type of way, I run away. Not far, but to you and I'm here because... I'm not in a good spot at the moment and I- I don't wanna hurt myself."

It was hard for her to admit. It would be hard for anyone to admit that they were going through something that led them down this path. That they felt like this was the best way to feel something other than the pain they were going through.

She knew Marcus wasn't going to judge her, but somewhere deep down, she felt like he was.

"Okay, well, I'm glad you came over." He reassured.

Charlie ran her hand over her mouth as she watched him stand.

"Tell me something, tell me anything." She said, practically begging.

Marcus licked his lips. "Do you know that if you clean a vacuum cleaner, you become a vacuum cleaner?"

Charlie scoffed, almost laughing as she lunged forward and wrapped herself in his embrace.

She softly sighed and turned her head to rest her cheek against his chest, but pulled back when she took notice of the small light illuminating on a notebook.

She knew Marcus liked to draw. That was his talent. Max acted and Marcus drew, and it evened out. Anyway, Charlie had always known that Marcus was an artist. She had small pictures and doodles he'd drawn her plastered over her walls, but this drawing was different.

Charlie smiled. "Is that me?" She asked.

She quickly unraveled herself from his hold and went over to the drawing, but Marcus was quick on his feet to block her eyesight.

"When you'd draw that?" She asked.

Marcus cleared his throat. "While you were in California?"

"Why?" She pressed.

"'Cause I missed you." He smiled.

Charlie smiled, a small laugh escaping her. "The rumors are true." She whispered. "You're obsessed with me." She laughed.

"Yes, I am." He smiled. He scooped down, grabbing the girl by her legs and lifting her up. "I absolutely am obsessed with you." He chuckled as he threw the two of them on the bed.

Charlie sighed as she looked up at Marcus, a small smile on both faces as they looked at each other. Marcus used to dream about nights like this. Nights where he and Charlie would be with each other. It didn't matter what they were doing as long as they were with each other. Yeah, they did it as friends, but this time around he could kiss her whenever he pleased.

Like now.

Marcus's lips crushed down on Charlie's. His hands tangled in her hair, yanking her head back as he deepened the kiss. Charlie's fingers dug into his shoulders, her nails biting into his skin.

Their bodies writhed against each other, the bed creaking beneath them as they rolled across it. He nipped at her lips, his teeth grazing her skin as he licked away the pain.

Marcus's hands roamed over Charlie's body, tracing the contours of her curves, her skin warm beneath his touch. His hips pressed against hers as his fingers traced themselves down her thigh and stumbled upon the zipper of her jeans.

Without removing his lips from hers, Marcus unzipped Charlie's jeans, both of their hands pulling her jeans down until they fell off onto the floor.

Marcus gently massaged Charlie's thigh, his cold rings sending a wave of strange heat along its trail. Soon, his fingers found what they needed, practically begged for, and slotted his fingers inside her.

Charlie let out a soft whimper as she felt his fingers inside her, but her moan was muted by Marcus' lips against hers.

That sound, oh God that sound was music to Marcus' fucking ears.

— lucy has something to say !!

i'm sorry for not updating for two weeks that was not my intention i got sick and then... yeah whatever

anyway i'm not giving a warning for the smut because... it's smut???? be warned that a chapter might have smut in it :)

and no, they aren't dating they are simply FREAKS

also, writing smut of any capacity makes me cringe... reading it on the other hand

bye :)))) (you can go to the website but trust you might actually start dreaming about the man that's there)