The dance for sunday was exclusive for everybody, these sort of events were normal especially since it is a high class school. I was wearing a tux which Aunt Jane provided and every crew hooted for me when I got down.

"Jeez Logan, you're making me question my manhood." Craig, one of the waiters my age, said teasingly. He had to have the night shift and witnessed this embarassing moment.

I rolled my eyes at him because I asked them earlier not to tease me about this "I always knew I were your type, Craig." I answered, choosing to not get embarrassed about the situation.

"Whoa, this ain't a place for well-dressed men like this one here." My dad said patting my back.

I groaned. "You people are such jerks!"

"Well, us jerks are proud of you." Dad said and then pushed me out. "Now go to that dance of yours."

"It's not like I'm dancing, I'm just taking pictures." I reminded him as I took out my camera out of my backpack.

"It's still a dance, you don't have to take pictures all throughout the event."

"Whatever." I decided and bid him goodbye. "Don't wait up for me, huh?"

My dad's place had always been better since it was a lot closer to school than at my mom's. I walked two blocks to reach Leswick and although I was wearing formal clothes and all, I still felt so undressed when I stood next to one of the elites.

I took out my camera and reminded myself that I will never ever feel well-dressed in this society.

"Whoa, charmboy, you dress up good!" One of the jocks said laughing at me. "You won't even know how filthy you really are with that tux on you."

Ah. Tate McCall, Charlie Montgomery's ex, making my night crappy just because he's a freaking ass and he can't get his ex to talk to him when I did.

I tried my best to pretend the asshole is just a figment of my imagination. But then he patted me on my back so hard I would've choked out my lungs. "Know your place charmboy." He warned before walking away with his friends.

I tried to regain my breathing because jesus, I feel like my lungs had gone out of my mouth.

I walked inside the school gym where the dance is held. If I felt underdressed outside, that was nothing compared to the inside. Every single thing said rich and no place for me.

I ignored everybody's snide remarks upon seeing me and took a few pictures as people entered the place, a few teachers drinking punch, some people sitting on their chairs and a lot of groups sitting on the bleachers. That's when I caught something beautiful in my camera, it was wearing a white dress with a cream ribbon and uneven edges. It was her.

She was beautiful without even trying and she got the attention even when she isn't trying to get it. She sat on the farther corner of the bleachers and she looked so uncomfortable with what she was wearing but that didn't matter, every guy's eyes was fixated on her. I shook my head as the words rang in my head,

"Know your place, charmboy.."

I turned around and took a few more pictures of different things. Hoping this thing would end fast. After I took a few pictures, I sat on the first row of bleachers and took out my phone to see if my mom texted me or something. Since there was no text whatsoever I decided to go to my notes app and just wrote a few words. Nothing in specific, just a few words about exactly how I feel right at this time.

By the time it was the dances, everyone was hounding me. This is the only time anybody notices me because they want their pictures taken while they danced. And by the time dinner came, I was dead tired. Everyone settled on the tables but I stayed on the bleachers and lied down. With a nobody like me, I can hardly care how they'll think when they see me like this.

I found these types of events very irrelevant because why would anyone want to have a school dance on sundays? Well I guess everybody else but me..

When I know I've got enough pictures already, I decided to step out of the school gymnasium and breathe some normal air for a moment. I sat on the grass, not caring about how dirty I might get later.

"Not hungry?" A quiet voice asked.

I whipped my head around to see who's talking. I didn't even know she came out before I did. She was sitting a few meters away from me, hidden beneath the apple tree.

"Um.. Not really.. You?" I asked, looking shyly at her.

"I didn't even wanna be here, so.." She trailed off, looking at her hands.

"Well.. That makes the two of us." I answered as less awkwardly as I could manage.

"You mind if I join you?" She asked slowly.

"No." I said, gesturing the spot next to me but then I realized her dress might get ruined so I took off my tux and placed it on the grass for her to sit on.

It took me a long moment before I got the courage to ask, or even just open my mouth."Um.. I've been wondering.. I just want to ask, why are you talking to me?" I wanted to slap myself for such a stupid question so I added, "I mean, you don't talk to anyone else..."

She looked at something in the distance, I let her take her time to answer. "I guess it's because you turned out to be the only person that hoped that I can be fine even when you knew that the old me isn't going to ever come back. Funny thing is, you're the stranger, not my mom or my friends but you're the one who can understand."

"Well, I know how you feel. Not exactly but still, I get how painful it is and -"

"But shouldn't my mom get it? She lost her husband but all she cares about is the stupid publicity." She said angrily. I was surprised with the outburst but I didn't stop her, she's probably been keeping all this to herself for so long. "She knows how hard it's been, but still, she keeps insisting that I keep my mouth shut that- " she stopped but I knew exactly why.

Because why did she have to keep her mouth shut if it's a boat accident? Unless something else happened. I decided to let it go, it was her problem, if she wanted to she'd share it. And probably share it with someone she trusts too.

"You know, my mom was the same way with my dad." I began, deciding to open up to her just so she knows whatever it is that's going on it's not all different from everybody else's experiences. "When his brother died he couldn't function, he was a wreck, he can't do anything, not even eating.. Nothing. My mom couldn't understand it, all she knew is that dad had a family and he was entitled to provide for them. She couldn't understand him but I did. I saw in my dad's eyes that it wasn't just losing a brother, it's losing a piece of your heart that will never be whole again. His brother had been by his side forever, their bond was so powerful that it somehow killed a part of him too.

"My mom divorced him, thinking it's for the best but in truth, she just couldn't understand because it didn't have the same effect on her. My uncle's blood didn't run through her veins and she didn't spend half her life with him. Anyway, my dad's been different ever since but he got better and that's what matters in the end."

She was quiet but I hoped that my story somehow helped her, after all, that's all the help I can give her.

"You know, to be totally fair," she began with a hint of a smile on her face. "That's the longest I've heard you talk."

I let out a short laugh. It was true, I am the quiet type, I don't talk much in school unless it's for recitation.

"You've noticed?" I asked rhetorically.

"Yeah, honestly, everybody has." She admitted. "If you were more social, I'd bet you'd be the school hearthrob."

I didn't believe it but I felt good that my ultimate crush said that. "Well, that's hard to believe after all the crap I've been given in my locker."

"I was talking about the girls." She explained, smiling knowingly at me.

"You know, that's still hard to believe." I admitted. "But thank you for that nice statement."

"Just being honest." She told me with a shrug.

"I totally forgot," I feigned and offered her my hand. "I'm Logan Parker."

She looked at my hand hesitantly and I was thinking of dropping it when she shook it. "I'm Charlie Montgomery, nice to meet you."

I smiled shyly at her. "Nice to meet you too, Charlie."

"Don't you just want to run away from these events?" She blurted out, as if we've known each other for a long time. "It's like they can't come up with anything better to do than these events."

I smiled. "I know right? My sunday consists of me at my dad's place waiting tables for people I know and actually like, not taking pictures of superficial brats." I bit my tongue. "Sorry, I forgot some of them are your friends..."

She cracked a smile. "It's okay, it's true."

I couldn't help but smile as well. But I never really learned nor remembered that I can't ever be happy. Within just a few minutes, the jocks came out to smoke or something when they saw us.

Tate McCall was among them and although I'm trying to be humble, he's a sore loser and in his eyes, this is competition. Who would've thought that I'd ever be competition for anyone.

"Ooooh, charmboy's making a move." one of them said, followed by a lot more different remarks.

I bowed my head and felt embarrassed to even look at Charlie.

"They've been giving you crap because of me?" She asked after hearing the first few comments shouted at us.

"Well, no, they've always given me crap so it's not you, really."

"Hey charmboy, I thought I told you to know your place?" Tate shouted walking towards us.

Stupidly enough, I chose to reply. "I do know, isn't this it? away from the in crowd? Honesty speaking, ya'll are tresspassing.."

"You trying to be smart?" He asked pulling me up from the ground.

Shit.

"Tate, put him down! You freaking asshole!" Charlie screamed, I heard the fright in her voice and I wanted to be thankful but I needed her to shut up, she might get in trouble too.

"The first time you talk to me and for what, to freaking defend this little bitch?" he asked giving me a punch. "waste of words, Charlie."

"Let him go." she said again and he did, only he went after her next.

"Fine, wanna take his place?" Tate offered harshly, dropping me on the floor. "I missed you baby, do I get a kiss?" He got a hold of her hand and she screamed a really terrified scream that I managed to get up as surprised and scared Tate along with his possy ran. they were playing loud music inside so I doubt anyone heard. I ran to her and I didn't know what to do, she was freaking out and crying. I honestly didn't know why she was so affected anyway, I'm not defending the asshole but he only touched her wrist.

"Charlie, it's fine, everything's fine, Charlie.." I said soothingly as she cried and threw punches in the air. "i'm gonna put my hands on your shoulder alright? Don't punch me, please..." I said slowly and calmly as I did what I said. "shhh, don't cry. it's fine, everything's fine."

She opened her eyes and then dragged me into a hug, she hid her face on the croock of my neck and I just didn't even know if I should feel happy or totally scared. she sobbed for awhile and I couldn't even dare myself to move.

I never thought our first hug would happen as she cried but I was fine with it.

Then a thought suddenly occurred to me.

The scream at the slightest touch.

The change.

Did.. did Tate McCall rape Charlie?