𝗙𝗜𝗙𝗧𝗘𝗘𝗡 - 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗙𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗢𝗨𝗧

•••

"How are your grades? Are you struggling in Physics still?" Mom asks, cutting a piece off of her toast with the knife and fork, along with the eggs.

She had today and tomorrow off of work, a rare occurrence and ensured me that tomorrow i could skip school and we would do something together.

"I'm always struggling in physics" i roll my eyes. "My grades are actually doing okay I suppose, they've been worse" i shrug my shoulders, physics was the absolute least of my problems.

After embarrassing myself in front of Charlie by completely breaking down for no apparent reason, it seemed as if he was walking on egg shells around me until we took my dogs for a walk and i shoved him into the lake.

It was the only way i knew to break the ice.

He was asking for it anyway... even if he was super sweet and maybe caring a little too much. As if theres such a thing as caring too much. God he was so sweet, this is why I constantly forget that people cower away from him in the hallways at school, he's never once gave me a reason to even remotely be afraid of him.

Apart from that one time he chased me and Brooklyn on Halloween one night. We were terrified, so much so that I rang him almost in tears, begging him to come over that night so I wouldn't have to be alone once Brooklyn had gone home.

He had the audacity to show up in the same grim reaper costume he chased us in, when I opened the door, I swear my heart fell out of my ass, nearly slipping over as I jumped backwards.

"That's good, you're doing better than your dad and i was at your age" she chuckled, a far away look in her eyes.

"Well that's not very hard" i snort as mom shoots me an amusing glare before laughing with me.

There was a honk from outside the house "oh i think thats Charlie, i should go" i say, scraping back the chair and grabbing my backpack.

"Here take him this" she passes me a brown paper bag " i made him his favourites" she smiles sweetly, She loved him more than she does me, i swear.

"Brownies and a BLT?" I ask, smiling at her kindness.

"Obviously, now go" she shoos me out the front door, waving me off before waving at Charlie.

"Here" i shove the bag into his hands after i slam the car door shut.

"Your moms the best" he looks into the bag with a grin on his face.

"She's definitely up there" i click in my seatbelt.

"It's getting colder, you know? Here" he stuffs his black jumper into my arms and i shrug it on for no other reason than to appease him, that and the way he smelt was to die for, it was like that cliche smoke mixed with the aftershave he uses and yes, i loved it.

"Are you excited for school?" He asks, as if thats a valid question.

"Thats a stupid fucking question" i laugh at him, bringing my knees up to my chest.

Charlies hand instantly goes to my knee, his thumb rubbing soothingly on my skin.

•••

Why do i even sit with these people.

That was my first thought when one of the football players began stuffing as many tater'tots in his mouth as physically possible. The rest of the table encouraging him, whilst Charlie sat with an amused smirk, not giving too much away as usual.

Charlie had the box of brownies on his lap, as he munched through them, i nicked the last one from the box and watched him frown and look at me with a playful glare, in return i gave him a triumphant smile and shoved the entire brownie in and struggled to chew it.

It was totally worth it, he looked physically pained that i had taken his brownie.

"You're so mean to me Ross" he feigned hurt, putting his hand on his heart, looking genuinely sad for a few seconds before chuckling and slinging and arm around my shoulders, pulling me closer to him on the bench.

"Snooze you lose, big boy" i smiled sweetly at at him.

"Can you two not be so in love" the same player who had essentially become a human trash can just moments ago gagged at us, as if us joking together was worse than watching him regurgitate cafeteria tater'tots.

The guys had been oddly friendly to me, after Charlies fight with Lucas and word got out about Oliver assualting me, they wanted Oliver kicked off the team and Lucas suspended but coach said they were 'irreplaceable' i say he just didn't want the school the team to be associated with assault and he didn't want to fill out the paper work, because teachers hate paperwork unless it bought them money in.

That and Oliver definitely wasn't irreplaceable, I've seen him play and a baby giraffe on stilts would have more accuracy. Just saying.

"In love?" I scoff and Charlie cackles, not a damn-you're-right laugh, but a literally-shut-the-fuck-up-you-couldn't-be-more-wrong laugh.

Which wasn't entirely reassuring.

His laugh was so loud that it bought attention to us, peers wondering what the hell was so damn funny for the oh-so-stoic Charlie King to cackle like that.

I wondered the same thing, am I actually that revolting?

Probably, i thought to myself.

He sobered up immediately when he noticed the gawking students, sending a glare around the cafeteria. I would hate to be the on the receiving end of that glare, however i only ever experience Charlie's smiles.

Too bad I suppose.

"Shut the fuck up" Charlie grumbled, still keeping his arm around my shoulders.

"Oh thats right, you like our little ol' Scarlet, don't you" the guy said with a smirk. "Was trying to get into her pants the other day" i liked him better when he had a mouthful of tater'tots.

"Shut. The. Fuck. Up" Charlie practically growled and the entire table grew quiet and watched as Charlie stormed away from us.

Yikes.

Being the best friend that i am, i hurry to grab my backpack and run in the direction he left. The only thing was that Charlie is six foot something, whilst I'm barely five foot one, so you could imagine how much faster he was.

Like the fucking flash if you needed a

comparison.

I wander the halls for the remainder of lunch and still couldn't find him, even checking classrooms but when he didn't show up to lessons i assumed he had just skipped school.

•••

When i assumed he skipped class, i was right, not only did he skip the remainder of that day, but the next one too judging from what Noah and Alex had told me. He also hadn't texted me back.

So my fun-filled day out with mom was actually a worried-filled outing, constantly wondering where my best friend had hidden himself away from the world.

Why did he even get so mad? It was obvious the guy was joking.

Unless it's true.

If it is true, sucks to be him because Scarlet is literally a living, breathing STD playground. But thats for him decide if he wants to take a trip to the health clinic or not.

The rest of the day went by painfully slow and I couldn't help but think it was because Charlie qualified for a missing persons form to be filled out on him.

I sent a text to Noah, Alex and even found Harvey on facebook just to ask if they knew of his whereabouts.

I swear if he was playing hide and seek with just me, knowing how anxious i can get, I'll literally murder him.

Both Alex and Noah didn't know anything, but Harvey offered some promising news about a big race tonight at the basin.

I guess i'll go get ready.

•••

The races at the basin always attracted fewer people because of the higher chance of police busting us, but there was more money to be made since the high-ballers show up.

This was my first time showing up without Charlie by my side for a long time, so i chose a ever so slightly more conservative outfit which consisted of a pair of blue mom jeans, a white cropped tank top and a pair of white trainers.

Despite showing less skin than usual, all eyes were on me.

I scanned the line of parked modified cars, looking for Charlie or Harvey, which ever could be found first.

Of course the lanky blonde mechanic was the first one to be spotted.

I practically zoomed over to him, to be honest i think i even scared him a little when i prodded him on the arm as he leant over his ford's engine.

"Oh shit, its just you" Harvey said, pushing back his hair using his cap.

"Yeah, yeah, hi to you too Harv" i rolled my eyes with a smile. "Have you seen Charlie yet?"

"Yeah, kind of, he seems pretty fucked off though so i don't know if you'd want to approach him"

"Please have you met me? Just point me in his direction"

With that being said i took off in Charlies last known direction as if this was a mission.

I don't know why Charlie thought he could hide from me, as if i wouldn't hunt him down like a dog.

Why was he even hiding from me in the first place?

I spotted him stood by himself yet close by to some others, a lighter in hand and a cigarette between his lips. I quickened my pace and grabbed his bicep as i zoomed by, dragging him with me, away from any potential listeners.

"Care to share where you've been Mr King?" I asked playfully as i crossed my arms across my chest.

"Why does it matter to you?" Charlie exhaled a cloud of smoke.

"Woah, calm down big boy, whats with the attitude?"

"I'm just saying its none of your business"

"Is this about what was said about you and scarlet in the cafeteria?" I rolled my eyes "you know he was just joking"

Charlie looked up at the sky and pulled at his hair.

"Unless it wasn't a joke?" Is this was hurt feels like?

Charlie just looked at me, face as blank as a piece of paper.

"To each their own Charlie, but what the actual fuck? Are you not going to say anything?"

"Just mind your business yeah?" Charlie bit out before storming off towards his car.

I watched him throw it in reverse and speed out of here. Leaving me here alone.

He said he wouldn't ever leave me.