So 20 hours later, I was sporting a big bruise on my jaw and everyone was laughing at me. l didn't understand the laughing part but I also don't care. I headed to my locker and as a new habit, I stood behind the door to let whatever they put in there out. today it was bandages with a message,

You'll need more of this if you don't fuck off.

That's what I don't get. why the hell do they care if I'm talking to Charlie? she's been through a lot and all they can see is a nerd talking to an elite? That's when you know that society's totally fucked up.

It's a Monday so I'm at my mom's. As usual, she isn't home yet she usually gets home an hour after I do, so I took out the baked mac leftover in the fridge and ate as I watched tv. Now this is what days with mom are like. Alone, uneventful and eating leftovers.

I shouldn't be comparing but dad's place's better since dad was actually there. Unlike here where my mom's either busy or not home yet.

After doing the dishes and washing up, I finally settled on the couch to do my homework. At nine, my mom came home with take outs.

"Have you eaten?" she asked when she got into the apartment.

"Yeah but I think I can still fit that in here." I said with a mischievous grin and t

Naturally we ate while we both did our works and then she saw my bruise. I explained to her what happened during that dance and promised it won't happen again and she was fine with it as long as I keep my promise and as long as I 'mind my own business'

Days with my mom are not perfect but I guess it has it's moments.

In the morning when I woke up, mom was already gone but she left a note on my door.

Emergency in the office, had to substitute for my co-worker, flying to China in an hour, stay with your dad. I love you, take care.

My mom got a job at some clothes company and she always does this to me. I'm not angry, it just adds up to the frustration with my family.

Lunch time at school had always been the hardest. Some days I'm lucky enough to eat my whole meal and some days I'm not. Today, Tate pretended to innocently bump into me and made me drop my entire meal. I bit back my anger and just walked away. I knew from experience that this is the right thing to do.

I stepped out of the cafeteria and went to the butterfly garden which wasn't very far. I sat on the bench and just breathed fresh air. Sure they're rich and their parents are famous in town but why do they need to do this to anyone. What good does it do to them?

I heard the garden door open and I took a peek. it was her again and she was walking towards me, I watched her walk as I held my breath, I don't even know how she manages to look so breathtaking when she doesn't do it on purpose.

She handed me an apple and water then sat next to me. We sat silently - and awkwardly - beside each other for a short while before she spoke up.

"The night at the dance.. when I panicked.. I don't like people touching me..."

"I'm sorry... I didn't mean to touch you in any way - you were just - I just wanted to calm you down and -"

"No! no.. I didn't mean that... it's Tate.. I just whenever someone touches me I feel like they're gonna hurt me and that's why I started to stay away from the crowd.."

"I guessed it's something like that.."

"And my dad.., he didn't die on a boat accident." She said.

I waited for her to continue but I got the feeling that's all she can manage to say. Maybe she just wanted to say the truth for once but still can't relive the past.

"Thanks for the food." I said with the same awkward movements, deciding to change the topic for her benefit.

"No problem, It's probably my fault you lost yours anyway." She said waving her hand off.

"No, it's not you." I assured. "Tate's a jackass and that won't ever change." I looked at her and saw that she's looking at my jaw. "Don't worry about that, my mom said it made me look badass."

She snorted and I pretended to took offended. "You don't think so?"

She smiled at me and shook her head. "No, I do think so, it's just funny it came from your mom."

"Well, as you've probably noticed, I'm not the friendliest in here."

"Neither am I." She said with a shrug. "What do you do for your spare time then?"

"I work at my dad's resto." I said. "but sometimes I just hang around my mom's place. It sort of varies with a specific day."

"What do you mean?" She asked with a curious tone. As if my normal life sounded interesting.

"Well, originally, I'm in my mom's custody when my parents got divorced and when we moved here from Texas I had no contact with my dad whatsoever and then my dad moved out here, they agreed on both taking care of me so my mom has me from mondays to thursdays and I'm at my dad's from fridays to sundays."

"That's... " she was quiet, like looking for the right words to say. "Horrible."

"It is, I guess.." I agreed. "But it's the best they can do for me so I gotta appreciate it." But I know I don't always appreciate it. "How about you?"

"What I do for my spare time?" she asked for confirmation, I nodded. "well, I used to spend a lot of time in the mall but now... I'm just always locked in my room. "

"What do you do in your room all day?" I asked, unable to believe that anyone can stand that. Especially her, she's one of the most active event organizers in school, there was even a rumor that she's going to run for student body president... until what happened, anyway.

"I read." she said with a shrug.

"How would you feel if I tell you that I can offer you a job? I mean, I know you don't need the money but it's something to do for your spare time." I said slowly, letting it sink in, just so she could think of a better way to turn it down.

She shook her head and smiled sheepishly. "I don't think I can handle a job.."

I looked curiously at her. "Why not?"

"It's crowded, it feels like a nightmare."

Then suddenly I look at our distance from each other.. or what lacked thereof. I looked up at her questioningly when she beat me to talking.

"Don't even ask." she said frustratingly. Looking at me like I'm a puzzle yet to be resolved.

"Ask what? Why you're not freaking out right now? cause I was just gonna ask that."

"Yeah, that. Cause even I can't answer that."

"Why can't you?" I asked again, I really want to figure it out.

"Because even I don't know." She said, she seemed to be really frustrated with this. "All I know is that I feel safe with you."

"Even if I couldn't even defend myself last night?"

"Even then." She confirmed.

"I'm sorry.." I felt like I had the responsibility to apologize. She feels safe with a guy who can't even stand up for himself, for god's sake.

"Why are you sorry?"

"Cause of all the people you could've felt safe with, it's me and I can't do much to protect you."

"Why are so focused on protection? what do you think will harm me?" She really looked like she was wondering why I'd even think that, honestly, I'm wondering about it too. "Besides, you might not know but you've done a lot for me already."

"Really?" I asked with surprise.

She nodded.

"Really." She smiled at me and I swear I could've died then and there. "Anyway, that's why I can't accept that job offer but I am looking for a study partner. Word is you're smart.., help me?"

She pulled a puppy dog face on me which she didn't need to do because I would've said yes no matter what. "Sure, how about tonight?"

"Awesome." She said with a really big smile on her face.

"So where do you want to meet..?"

"Well, you said your dad has a restaurant, maybe we can do it there.. My house isn't.." She trailed off but I didn't wait for her to continue, she probably wasn't even sure how to continue.

"Yeah, that'd be great there, it's usually peaceful and quiet."

Peace and quiet my ass. the moment we got in I saw a bunch of teenagers in there, hanging around like it's the most natural thing they did. I have never seen them before. There were several groups scattered all over the place and I wondered what brought these people in here. Then I noticed a few usuals within the group of teens and assumed that business is finally taking off.

"Wow. where's the peace and quiet I thought existed here." I said apologetically as I led Charlie to an empty table.

"Hi Logan!" a girl my age that came from one of the noisy groups chirped at me.

I frowned. "Um,.. Hi stranger that creepily knows my name..?"

She giggled at my statement as I finally settled on our seat.

"Uh.. everyone's staring.." Charlie said awkwardly as she pretended to read the menu.

I looked around and saw that everyone was, in fact, staring. mostly the teenage girls, though.

"Wow. I would not believe it if I didn't see it with my own two eyes." I said with a gasp.

"What?"

"That you're a complete headturner. I mean I know you got the title at school and all but damn -"

"Logan, they're not looking at me.."

"Well, who else would they be -"

"Logan." My dad said, standing in front of our table. "All these nice - and noisy - teens came here to hear you sing and asked me to ask you to do so tonight."

I was taken aback. "hear me what?"

"Apparently you're some youtube sensation of some sorts." my dad said with a shrug.

"Dad! is this one of your pranks again? I swear you're losing track of what's normal and what's totally out of your mind."

Dad frowned at me. "Son, if I did this - well I won't cause why would I want to have these rowdy teenagers in here?" he said, looking annoyingly at the teenagers eyeing me. Then my dad smiled at Charlie. "hi, I'm Logan's dad, the father of a youtube sensation."

Charlie giggled but and hessitantly took dad's hand. I easily stood up and dragged him away and told him we had to study. When I came back to out table, Greg another crew was trying to take Charlie's order.

"Hi bud." Greg said when I patted his back before sitting. "So, you're not singing for these annoying fangirls so that they would leave?"

"They're not fangirls. come on, get real. Me? With fans?"

He shrugged. "You got talent, it's possible. So, orders?"

"Uh, I'll take fried tapa and iced tea."

I looked at Charlie and she smiled sheepishly. I'm guessing she feels shy to choose anything. "Go ahead and pick whatever you like, it's no problem." I assured.

"Yeah, go ahead. It'll come out of Logan's paycheck."

I shrugged. "I don't have one."

She smiled and ordered ribs and iced tea.

Greg left us alone and I smiled at her, "So what do you wanna study first?"

"I have a quiz on economics tomorrow and I'm failing.. "

"Sure, I love Econ." I said biting my tongue because I sounded like a nerd.

She took out her notebook where a quiz paper with an A+ grade peeked out. I averted my eyes from the paper and pretended not to see because how can I not? She was trying to pull one of those 'tutoring' stunts to get guys. and she's doing it to me! whoever would've thought?

She bit her lip when I finally looked at her. "you saw that, didn't you?"

"Well, yeah.. I just assumed the lessons are harder now.."

She smiled gratefully at me. "But we both know you don't believe that."

"Well, it's harder to believe anything else." I admitted.

"You don't believe in yourself, do you?" She asked in surprise. I didn't know how to answer that so I just looked at her.

"I - Can I just ask, cause I'm not good at this.. do you like me?"

She bursted out laughing and I felt so embarrassed for even asking "Sorry, it's not that, it's just that you're the only guy that would ask even after all that I did. Of course I like you."

I wanted to keep hearing it and for her to keep repeating it. "Really? No joke?"

She nodded in confirmation. I was about to say I liked her too when another one of those teens (like I wasn't one) approached. "Hi Logan, can you please sing for us?" she looked at me expectantly.

"Um.. can I ask how you know me?" I asked politely.

"From your video, duh." She said matter-of-factly.

"Video where?"

"On youtube, it has like a hundred thousand views on youtube. So will you sing for us please? we came all the way down from Jersey.."

I looked at Charlie and she nodded encouragingly at me. I agreed hesitantly then. "Fine but... I don't have any new songs to sing."

The girl bounced in joy. "that's okay, just sing 'If, And, So' we love that song!!"

I smiled sheepishly at Charlie and she smiled back, almost as if she were proud of me.

I was going to get my guitar upstairs but my dad handed to me, apparently he's been keeping it here since I came home.

I stood awkwardly onstage and looked at the crowd. "Um, this song is called 'If, And, So' and surprisingly, some of you know this song so.. sing along if you'd like and... this song is dedicated to - you." everyone cheered then but I held onto Charlie's gaze, trying to tell her that the song was for her. And did it awkwardly too.

I sang the whole song with my eyes on Charlie the whole time, I watched as she slowly realized that the song wasn't just dedicated to her but it is for her. It's her song. After I finished with the last line, I saw that she was teary-eyed.

The cheer from the crowd made me remember I was standing on-stage. I smiled awkwardly at them and decided to add something. "Um, sorry it's just one song, I got assignments so.." They laughed and it made me feel much comfortable on stage. "Uh, if ya'll want to hear me, come during weekends, thanks."

I walked offstage and they hounded me. It totally took me off guard. They all congratulated me and told me they'd definitely be back on saturday then slowly they walked back to their tables.

I walked towards our table and the minute I got close enough to reach, Charlie stood up and hugged me. She just hugged me so tight and started to sob. I remembered her telling me she couldn't handle being physically close to anyone and then I didn't know what to do so I just didn't do anything. "Thank you." She told me, her voice so little but it was the only thing I heard.

"There's really no need to thank me." I whispered back to her.

"I just want you to know that I really am grateful." She let out a few shaky breaths before continuing. "because you're the only one who seems to really want to help me.. and you don't even know me well enough."

"One look in your eyes told me everything I needed to know." I informed her and wiped her tears.

----

By the way, picture of Logan is on the side if anyone's interested. :)