MARCUS HAD somehow managed to keep a smile on Charlie's face throughout their friendship. He had never upset the girl with him until now and it struck a never with him. Yeah, he fucked up by not letting the girl know he was going to be late, but he would be damned if he told her that he was bricked up thinking about her on the way over and did a U-turn to Ginny's to have sex with her to get his mind off of Charlie.

It was fucked up and he knew that, but his excuse was being a teenage boy and that was good enough for him at the moment, but that wouldn't be good enough for Charlie and he knew that.

So as he made his way to her locker where she stood with it wide open and digging through it, he thought about how this conversation would go. It could go many ways, and he only wanted it straight. He had to lie to her. That, to him, was the only way to get the girl to speak to him.

He approached her locker, leaning against the neighboring one as he waited for her to shut it and once she did, he gave her a small smile that she didn't return. Instead, she looked up at him and turned, walking in the opposite direction.

Marcus sighed and followed behind Charlie, her pace faster than normal, but he caught up with ease. "Can you stop ignoring me?" He asked.

"I'm not ignoring you." She answered. "I texted you this morning."

"Telling me to shut the fuck up when I say good morning is not very nice, Charles." He joked, but Charlie didn't laugh and he continued, cutting in front of the girl which caused her to stop with a sigh. "I'm sorry, okay? I didn't mean to miss the movie... I lost track of time and-"

"Why won't you tell me where you were?"

"I'm sorry and I was... I was trying to clean up my bike some more and found something that could fix on my own and lost track of time. It's a stupid reason to miss a movie with you and I'm sorry."

Was it a good lie? No, but he hoped that Charlie believed him.

He watched as she quipped her lip to the side and her arms crossed over her chest, but a small smile began to form on her face which caused him to smile.

Charlie groaned, tossing her head back, a small sigh escaping her. "You're right, it's stupid for you to ditch me for a bike you can't ride until December."

Marcus nodded. "How can I make this up to you? I'll do anything."

Charlie's smile widened. "Anything?" She asked, sauntering forward. "You must be really sorry Marcus." She teased. Her arms still crossed her chest as she leaned towards him.

Marcus nodded, licking his lips. Charlie had been wearing a white tank top with the band Deftones on it, and black bra, he could tell by the strap, and a green button-up. She was pushing her breasts up without much knowledge or care and Marcus had the clearest view of them, one he never really saw, and God... he couldn't and wouldn't look.

Marcus chuckled nervously, trying to maintain eye contact. "You have no idea how sorry I am."

Charlie grinned and stood uptight. "Movies at your house."

Marcus swallowed hard. "That's all you want?" He chuckled.

She nodded, stepping towards him. She shrugged her shoulders before making her way down the hall with him following close by.

"Unless you can think of anything else."

He could think of a thousand and one things to do with Charlie, but he kept it simple.

"Don't threaten me with a good time, Charles."

Charlie laughed, turning around to face Marcus as she walked backward. She stretched her arm out to shove him, but he grabbed her wrist instead, pulling her into a loose hug against his chest.

Her scent filled his nose, a heady mixture of vanilla and something uniquely hers. As he held her close, he became acutely aware of every contour of her body beneath her clothing. He could feel the steady rhythm of her heartbeat under his touch where his hand rested on her lower back, the softness of her skin.

Charlie continued to laugh and pushed herself out of Marcus's hold and fixed her button-up so it was sitting on her shoulders rather than falling off.

Marcus sighed to himself. As long as Charlie didn't find out, things between them would be good. That's all he's ever wanted.

CHARLIE KNOCKED on the door of the Baker household and waited for someone to open the door. Marcus finally opened the door and stepped aside to allow the girl inside.

She waved at his father, Clint, who sat on the couch and saw his mother sitting in the kitchen with another blonde woman. Marcus softly smiled and leaned down, whispering in her ear. "That's new girl's mom."

Charlie turned her head, she and Marcus close, if either of them moved incorrectly, their lips would've touched.

Charlie smiled, nodding at the boy as she stepped into the kitchen, waving at the two women who held wine glasses in their hands and noses deep into the phone that Ginny's mother held in her other hand.

"Oh, Charlie." Ellen smiled and waved the girl over. "Georgia, this is Charlie. She lives down the road."

Georgia smiled, her teeth nice and white. "Nice to meet you."

Charlie returned the smile. "You too. Ginny's great by the way."

"You two friends?" Georgia asked.

"Uh, we're getting there." Charlie answered. "Still trying to find common grounds."

Georgia nodded, taking another sip of her wine when Marcus approached them, resting his hand on Charlie's lower back. "We're gonna watch the movie now." He said.

Charlie sent the blondes one last wave before she and Marcus dipped out of the kitchen and headed upstairs and into his room.

Georgia had seen everything, from when Charlie stepped into the house to when the girl headed upstairs with Marcus. She was observant, she had to be, even if she didn't want to be. She took notice of how careful Marcus was around Charlie. He spoke softly around her compared to how he spoke around Max and though their relations were different, it stood out to her. His touch as well. He was careful with Charlie. She liked that about Marcus.

Georgia turned in her seat, her body facing Ellen's. "She's a beautiful girl." She said, sipping her wine. "How long have they been together?"

Ellen chuckled. "They aren't. They've been friends since kindergarten, but God knows after seeing Maxine's... finsta, anything could be going on under my nose."

Georgia gave Ellen another smile before she placed the wine glass between her lips and she glanced over at the steps.

Meanwhile, Charlie had kicked her shoes off and pressed her back against Marcus's headboard. He joined her side with his laptop in his hands, a hefty oof leaving him as he sat beside her.

He crossed his arms over his chest as he picked 2001: A Space Odyssey and watched as a small smile grew on Charlie's face. She slumped down in her spot and rested her head against his shoulder to get comfortable as the movie began to play.

The screen from the laptop lit up both of their faces as the movie played on, but Marcus managed to fall asleep before the movie ended, it didn't bother Charlie, he'd done it a thousand times before.

She looked up at him, her cheeks flushed and hair slightly messy leaning on his shoulder. Charlie sighed to herself, turning her head slightly to watch the movie play on the screen, but before she knew it, she had fallen asleep.

Not long after, Ellen, who had been slightly tipsy, made her way upstairs to remind Marcus to leave his door cracked. She trusted Charlie more than her son, but she was a mother and she didn't want any "funny business" happening under her roof.

As she pushed his door open, she saw Charlie and Marcus asleep, the movie credits rolling on the screen as she entered the room.

Ellen sighed and grabbed the laptop off of Marcus's lap and placed it on the desk. She threw a blanket over the two of them as she chuckled to herself, trying to stay as quiet as she could to prevent waking the two teens on the bed.

Once the blanket was placed, she held her hand over her mouth and left the door cracked as she left the room.

Ellen had never seen Marcus so open with anyone other than Charlie. But she truly believed that they were just friends... yeah, just friends.

— lucy has something to say !!

marcus looks so miserable with padma

anyway

i tried writing this chapter three or so times and i don't think I'm satisfied with it

next chapter contains mentions and descriptions of self harm just a heads up because i feel like its needed. there will be a trigger warning at the top of the chapter

but for now, its time for me to go :)

bye :))))