Nearly a month had passed and Charlie and I had grown closer to each other. I still didn't really know where I stood in her life.. I know she said she liked me but really, her saying that could mean a lot of things. It could even mean she just likes me as a breathing human being. I just don't believe that she meant it as something else.

And of course, my locker threats had increased through the weeks which is impressing because this is the most they've paid attention to me since I started at Leswick. But then they started taking my stuff and since last Wednesday, I haven't used my locker and I carried all my stuffs home everyday.

"You know, I can share my locker with you, I don't even use it.." Charlie offered as we walked out of the school after dismissal. This is normal to us now, just within a few weeks, we've already developed a system where we meet after classes and walk to dad's together.

"No." I told her for the hundredth time because she's suggested it over and over. "They just might mess with your locker too."

"Like I said, I don't even use it." She said with another shrug.

"Hey Charlie!" One of her elite fiends said approaching us and totally ignoring me. Since we started hanging out she seemed to slightly feel comfortable with people. Just slightly. And since everyone noticed, they kept trying to win her back to the 'Cool' side of Leswick and away from the nerdy-scholars like me. "Um, we were going to the mall and we thought you'd like to come."

The Charlie I came to know and the Charlie when approached by people, I realized, are two different people. Yes, she was warming up to it but she still doesn't like it. Especially when she's unprepared if that happens she just suddenly panics, even when the girl that called her attention used to be her bestest best friend.

I nudged Charlie softly on the back like I usually would when she'd doze off like that. Like always, she seems to have waken up from a trance. "Um, no.. I have homeworks.."

The girl looked completely taken aback. The Charlie she knew obviously didn't do homeworks.

I stood awkwardly as the girl awkwardly said goodbye. I keep saying awkward just to give emphasis to how awkward it all is. "I just can't do it." Charlie said in frustration when her friend left.

"Hey, you can. You did it, you just needed a little push." I said smiling wittily because she did need a little push. literally.

She smiled and shook her head and then we continued walking. "Charlie.. there's something I've been meaning to ask you..." I began awkwardly. I still wasn't sure if I should do this but I couldn't stop talking. Just like that one time when I couldn't stop myself from wiping her tears at the AV room. my voice is suddenly not mine to control. "I really like you and uh -"

"No, Logan, don't." she said, cutting me off.

Once again I felt embarrassed for even talking about it.

"Oh.. okay.. Um- sorry, I was stupid to even ask- "

She saw my reaction and shook her head. "No, don't think for a second that I don't like you because I really do.. a lot. But you know me now and you see what a wreck I am, I can't let you get into that.. I realize that now. You saw-"

"Charlie." I said, making her stop. If that was the only case then she shouldn't really be bothered about it. I'd spend all my waking hours just to make sure she'd be okay. "Don't worry about me for a second... just think about what you want and answer my question." I bit my lip just so I'd know it's real. It is. "Would you maybe like to go on a date with me?"

She looked at me grudgingly because I understand now that she didn't want me to ask because she'd say yes even if she thinks she shouldn't and if she say yes, she thinks I'll regret it later.

"Yes. I'd like to go on a date with you." she replied with a grudging tone.

And in that moment, I swear I could've passed out. She said yes. Although it's not how I imagined it, it still feels impossible and just magical and I'm probably going to pass out. But the sudden sensation got the best of me and so, with the remaining wit I had left, I said. "Next saturday, lunch." and then walked ahead of her because I didn't want her to see how red I've turned.

After this became a usual thing, my dad finally told us to stop occupying tables and avoid getting seen by 'fangirls' so he told us to just study upstairs.

Charlie looked the video up on youtube weeks ago and told me that it had 964,043 views to date and it's so overwhelming to even just think that over 900,000 people had watched me sing on youtube and now people are actually coming here to see me.

To keep myself from getting scared of being so publicized without my knowledge, I tell myself that half of those views are probably from my dad cause it's so not far from the truth. Ever since he found out he kept replaying the video to our usual customers which honestly became soo embarrassing the minute he started doing it.

Charlie and I settled comfortably on the couch as we took out our notebooks. as it turns out, she was really smart and needed no help at all so we decided to just study quietly together. We both liked the company.

Exactly 2 hours, 15 minutes and 35 seconds later, I still hadn't understand a single word written on the textbook I so epically failed to read because I was too preoccupied with thinking of what we could do tomorrow when dad called us for dinner.

Now the crew system to eating dinner is this: The first 6 will eat while the remaining 7 will take over everything and then vice versa. Of course having Charlie around didn't excuse me from my waiting duties so we ate first along with the other five.

"You know, I think my dad likes having you around." I told her as we walked downstairs.

"You know, I think I like hanging around here too." She said teasingly but it sounded like heaven bells in my ears.

"So, got any new songs for tomorrow?" She asked casually - or pretending to be - as we sat side by side on a booth.

"Yes, actually." I told her vaguely.

"Do I get to hear it?" She asked her mouth slowly turning into a pout.

"No, you have to be surprised like everyone else." I told her with firmness in my voice.

She narrowed her eyes at me and then said "fine" grudgingly.

Dad and Greg joined us a little bit later with four of our meals. "How's studying?"

"Great." Charlie replied naturally.

I have explained to dad that Charlie's not comfortable with touch and vaguely explained why, he was cool about it and took in Charlie without complaint. But that doesn't mean he hasn't been teasing me about her. Cause he has and he's been annoying about it.

We ate together loudly and messily. teasing back and fourth and talking about everything. from school to how things are going for dad and work. After that we took over a few works so that the other crew can eat while Charlie made fun of me as she sat on the bar stool. When she noticed that it's getting too crowded, she frowned and I nodded for her to go up.

After everyone had eaten, I immediately went upstairs to give Charlie company. for the past few weeks we've become used to each other's company that I wish this is a permanent thing. But tomorrow, it might change. Maybe even for the worse.

"Hi.". I said after sitting on the couch next to her. She was reading a book off of my bookshelf and managed a wave at me.

After a short moment she looked at me with a weird expression on her face. "you have such a weird reading taste. How could you love horror books so much? I mean, what, does the grudge suddenly pop up during the suspense moments?"

I laughed wholeheartedly before making a reply. "No, that's why I like it, the authors can make it scary even just through their words and that's pretty awesome, don't you think?"

"Sure." she replied, unfocused. Something was bothering her, that much I could tell.

"Hey." I said patting her lap slightly, expecting the flinch that never came and would probably never come. "Earth to Charlie."

She smiled sheepishly before she spoke. "Why don't you ever ask me about the truth?"

I didn't expect her to ask but I was glad she did, maybe she's ready to talk about it, finally. "Because I never wanted to know unless you were ready to trust me with your secret."

"But you want to know?"

"Of course, I want to know what broke you. But it doesn't matter unless you want to discuss it."

"Are you expecting me to tell you?"

"No." I replied easily. I didn't know what's up with the questions but I thought it's best to answer all of it honestly. "You can't even tell your closest friends, what more with a guy you just met three, four weeks ago? Honestly, you don't have to tell me because it won't change anything, I'm still going to be right by your side."

"Why?"

"Well, because I actually like spending time with you."

"Even if I don't tell you anything while you tell me everything about yourself?"

"I know everything I need to know about you." I said with a shrug.

She slightly got up and took hold of my shirt, it all happened so fast that the only thing I'm aware of is that we're kissing and it was so perfect I couldn't even think of anything, it felt like the kiss fried my brain.

When our kiss ended I felt blood rush up my face.

It was my first kiss.

Call me whatever you want but in my defense there wasn't any opportunity at Leswick where all the people of my opposite sex wanted someone rich and famous. Not that I was looking, anyway..

She smiled at me in a way that obviously wanted to laugh.

"What?" I asked awkwardly.

"You're red as a tomato, it's adorable." she said.

I swear I felt my ears get warm, she just called me adorable. that's the kind of thing you say to a puppy. that's never good.

She laughed then, "No, no, no, don't take that the wrong way, it's just cute.."

I soo feel like a dog right now.

"Logan!" she said when I went redder.

She pulled me fast into another kiss before I could react. When she stopped to catch her breath, I felt her smile against my lips. "I don't even know how you can like a girl like me." And then she pulled me into a kiss again.

But I just kept on thinking about what she said, 'I don't even know how you can like a girl like me'. How can she even say that? Falling for her is the easiest thing to do and it's a wonder how she can't see it for herself.

She leaned her forehead against mine and just stared at my eyes. I held her gaze and we stayed there for a few moments, both wondering what awaited us.

"Walk me home?" she whispered, her breath blowing on my face.

"Of course."

I thought the kiss we shared meant something special for the both of us, I mean, I'm not sure about how she felt about it but for me it was definitely magical. Thinking about it made my knees go weak it's insane.

She bid my dad goodbye and when we finally got out of the crowded restaurant, she took my hand and entwined it with hers. It felt good and it was another one of my firsts. I looked at it for a second, fascinated that it feels so good.

"Actually, the real question here is.. why do you like me?" I asked looking at her, waiting for an answer, just something that would make me believe this is real and not some freakishly long dream that I'm having.

She looked taken aback, as if it was the most ridiculous question in the world. "Why would I not?" she retorted.

I shrugged. "I don't know, because I'm nobody?"

She stopped walking and rolled her eyes at me. "You don't know how wrong you are about that." She ruffled my hair, making it messier than usual and looked back at me. "You mean so much to me that you need to stop thinking you're a nobody."

"How can you say that? To me? of all people?" I asked, surprised to have said it out loud.

"Because it's true!" She exclaimed. "Why are you always doubting your worth? You're a special guy and I can't even put to words how much you've made my life so much better so just quit asking why anyone would like you because that is soo not hard to do!"

I looked at her, a bit taken aback. Nobody had ever said anything like that to me and I was so grateful she felt that way because I wasn't sure anyone else did.

After making sure Charlie got home safely I took a cab back to dad's and decided to sleep early so that I can wake up early and plan everything for tomorrow.

There's this 'word of wisdom' my mom tell me when I don't want to to go bed yet, something along the sorts of, "those who sleeps early starts the day early." I don't remember it. But I never believed that statement because whenever I sleep early I don't wanna get up and I'd actually want to sleep for the rest of the day. But for the first time in my life that saying became true, I slept at nine pm and woke up at three am when everybody was still asleep. Besides me and my new alarm Charlie, anyway.

Tears were streaming down her face and she looked absolutely terrified. "I didn't know where else to go." She was standing by the end of my bed and I immediately stood up and dragged her into a hug.

"What's wrong?" I asked, my heart suddenly beating fast. I felt scared to hear the answer but I had to ask, I have to know so I'd know how to cheer her up. But she just cried helplessly and I didn't know what to do so I did nothing, I just hugged her and waited for her to calm down.

"My mom - my mom she's opening my dad's murder case." She said sobbing after every word.

"But, Charlie, it was a boat accident." then I remembered that I never believed that anyway and she already told me it wasn't. She just didn't explain it further that I assumed she wanted me to forget about it.

"It's not. it never really was."

I did the best thing I could think of, try to look on the positive side. "Well. that's great isn't it? your dad's death will be given justice."

She sobbed harder and I knew then that I should stop talking. We stayed like that for at least another hour, and I didn't realize an hour had passed because I was preoccupied feeling so helpless as I listened to her cry. I didn't know what to do, I mean, how do I help? Can I even help?

"I'm so scared." She told me but I felt like shit cause I didn't know how to reply. She looked up at me finally, her eyes were bloodshot and her lips trembled.

"Charlie, what's really wrong?" I had a feeling I won't like the answer but she's finally willing to share it so I would never disappoint her.

She cried a little bit more before she finally answered. "We were taken hostage..." She muttered slowly but it was enough for me to put little pieces of it together.

Her dad was some sort of big business man and business men as big as his dad's bound to get into fights. That's probably what happened.