Charlie's POV
I was stepping into my grunge era with black lace up combat boots.
I wore a pair of black jeans that actually fit, ripped at the knees. A large cool gray undershirt, along with a red and black checkered flannel jacket, unbuttoned.
I threw a glance at the mirror in my bedroom, observing my outfit.
Hmm. I don't know.
I took off the flannel jacket and tied it around my waist, giving myself another once over.
Charlie 2.0 looked pretty slick, and definitely ready for a party.
Nora entered my bedroom, whistling at me.
She walked over to my bed and took a seat, breathing annoyingly loud.
"Are you sure you're okay?" She wondered.
"You should get a new question, cause that one is getting old." I quipped, still admiring my outfit in the mirror.
"I heard that Ella is throwing a party tonight." She stated.
"Yeah, I can't wait." I said excitedly.
"You hoping to see someone special there?"
I turned to face her. "What?"
"Is that why you've changed your whole look, to impress someone?" She wondered.
"I cannot stress this enough! I changed because I wanted to change. Leave me be." I groaned.
I was seriously getting sick of all the interrogations and assumptions.
"Okay." Was all she said before she up and walked out of my room.
I looked at myself in the mirror again, giving myself a look of confidence.
Alright.
It's time to go party.
Adelaide's POV
"Do you want to go out for something to eat?" I asked Ace, who was currently drawing in his sketch book, probably another tattoo design.
"I thought you were going to Ella's New Year's Eve soirée?" He quirked his eyebrows.
"Eh, sounded boring." I replied.
In all honestly, it didn't sound boring. It sounded like it would be a great party, which is exactly why I was going to attend. I was just going to drag Ace along with me, without his knowing.
"I guess I could eat." He said, putting his pencil down and closing his sketch book.
Okay, step one is complete.
Now I just needed to convince him to get dressed up nicely.
"You'd better go change." I encouraged.
"Why? It's not like we're going to some fancy restaurant." He scoffed.
"There's a new eatery across town, it's very fancy and like, totally elite! Only real rich people and what not go there. So, you have to dress to impress." I lied, very convincingly if I say so myself.
He rolled his eyes. "Fine. I'll be downstairs soon."
"Hurry up!" I urged, leaving his room and waiting downstairs in the foyer.
Step two, check!
I pulled my phone out of my purse and began texting Nora and Ella.
The target is on the move. I repeat, the target is on the move!
That's what they always say in those spy movies, right?
Huh? Nora replied.
I let out a silent groan.
Ace is coming! 🕵️♀️👏
Nora, Ella and I had come up with a devious plan to parent trap Ace and Charlie at Ella's New Years party. Let's just hope that it works.
Omgggggg! Nora replied. Okay, Charlie and I are headed there right now.
Ella added a text. When Charlie gets here, I'll take him to my bedroom and, do I lock him inside?
I quickly typed a response. Yes, at least until Ace gets there. Ace is currently getting dressed, so we might be awhile. I'll text you when we're nearby, then you can lock Charlie inside ur room while I convince Ace not to bail.
Ella quickly texted. Let's hope that they go for it, there's a bed in there if things get steamy 🔥🔥
And Ace is going to lose his shit over Charlie's new look! Nora typed.
I heard Ace's shoes tapping against the marble staircase, so I quickly locked my phone and slid it back into my purse.
I looked up to see him, and I immediately regretted my decision to lie about the fancy restaurant.
He was wearing a bloody tux!
I can't tell him to go and change, cause that's just suspicious.
"Very dapper." I complimented his look.
"Can we just hurry up and go? I'm bloody starving." He groaned.
"Okay." I grabbed my car keys from the cabinet in the foyer and headed for the door.
"Why do fancy rich people wear tuxes to dinner? What if food spills on it?" He complained as we walked outside, the cold evening air greeting us.
Step three, check!
Charlie's POV
By the time we arrived, which was at seven-thirty pm, the party was already in full swing.
A slight twinge of discomfort appeared in my stomach, and all I wanted to do was return home.
No, Charlie. You can do this.
Easy freaking peasy.
Nora and I exited the vehicle and walked up into the house. We were met with a congested entryway and loud synth music playing through the speakers.
I took in the decor, and I must say, Ella did an outstanding job.
Streamers and everything!
"Okay, I need a drink." Nora said, leaving me in the foyer.
I started to follow her, but I accidentally barged into someone.
Great! I literally just arrived at the party and I've already bumped into someone.
"Crap, I'm so sorry!" I apologised before realising who it was.
My face fell and my entire body flared with the heat of a thousand suns.
What the hell is Joey doing here?
I swear to god, if Ella and Tom invited him, I'm going to unfriend them.
"Uh, hi Charlie." He said, taking a sip of his beer.
And just like that, the new and confident Charlie began to flicker out like a candle against a harsh breeze.
I stood there, dumbfounded, stunned and unable to form words with my mouth.
Even after all this time, I was still afraid of him.
"I know it probably won't mean shit, but I wanted to apologise for what happened." He spoke, causing my anger to double in suns.
He wanted to apologise to me?
I let out a scoff.
"Joey, you need to leave." Tom appeared beside me.
Okay, so Tom didn't invite him, thank god.
I agreed. Joey Turner did need to leave this party. But not just yet.
"Wait, Tom." I said, putting a hand on his shoulder. He turned to face me, a confused look on his face. A look that pretty much had 'huh?' written all over it.
I inhaled a deep breath and released, suddenly feeling so much more confident.
"You're right, it doesn't mean shit." I spat. "You bullied me, said mean things to me and attacked me! All because I was gay. All because you're a crappy homophobic piece of shit."
I took a daring step toward him. "You're so pathetic, I hate you and i am done being scared of you." I gave him a scornful look.
Then I did something the old Charlie never would have done.
I punched Joey Turner in the face.
"Woah, woah!" Tom jumped between Joey and I to keep Joey from retaliating.
"Leave, now!" Tom warned Joey.
Joey scowled at me before downing his drink and walking outside.
I let out a long and deep breath, still in complete shock as to what just happened.
I punched Joey Turner?
I suddenly felt elevated, like I was high on ecstasy or something. Don't worry, I'm not on any drugs, it's just a metaphor.
After following Joey and making sure he left, Tom returned to me. "Damn Harrington, that was awesome!" He shook my shoulder.
"Really?" I asked.
"Hell yeah!" He smiled. "Also, I'm digging the new look." He ruffled my hair.
"Thanks." I couldn't help but smile.
"Oh my god! Charlieeeee!" Ella squealed as she appeared in front of me, embracing me in a hug. "You look awesome! That whole outfit, it's a jaw-dropper!"
I can't with these compliments, I'm close to dying from blushing too damn hard.
"Shoot, I almost forgot! I have to show you something in my room!" She began to drag me towards the stairs.
"But I haven't even gotten a drink yet!" I protested.
Ace's POV
"What are we doing here?" I asked as Adelaide halted the car in front of a house with a dozen people on the front lawn. I can only assume that it's Ella's party.
"We're getting our party on." She answered, acting as if I should thank her.
"You made me throw on a dumb tux for this?" I seethed.
"Uh, technically you threw on the tux. I just told you to change into something nice, I didn't say luxurious."
I sighed. "Seriously, Della. Why the fuck are we here?"
She slumped into her seat defeatedly. "Fine." She shifted to face me. "I want you to go tell Charlie how you feel."
I scoffed. "What?"
She punched me in the arm as hard as she could. "You heard me!"
"Fuck! Ouch!" I winced. "Jesus!"
"Now let's go." She ordered me.
"Can we at least go home so I change into something less conspicuous?" I suggested, angrily pulling at my tux.
"So you can lock yourself in your room and hide from your feelings? I don't think so." She responded.
I let out a groan of annoyance.
Charlie's POV
After walking up the stairs, we entered Ella's bedroom.
"What did you want to show me?" I asked, walking over to her bed.
At the sound of the door closing behind me, I whipped around to see that Ella was gone.
"Ella?" I called out.
"Sorry, Charlie! But I can't let you leave!" She shouted through the door over the loud music that was playing downstairs.
I could make out the sound of Katy Perry's Last Friday Night through the walls.
"Ella! Quit playing and let me out!" I bashed my hands against the door.
She didn't reply.
"Ella?" I called out again.
Hell no! What kind of stupid prank is this! Did she seriously lock me in her bedroom?!
"Helloooo!" I shouted.
I rolled my eyes and walked over to the bed, lying down defeatedly on it's surface.
She could have at least let me get a fudging drink!
Adelaide's POV
We entered the house of partygoers, Ace lingering slightly behind. Probably planning his escape.
"You made it!" Ella greeted me, hugging me.
"Yes we did." I smiled.
She turned to look at Ace, her eyebrows rising to her forehead as she observed his outfit.
"It's a long story." Ace said nonchalantly.
"Actually, it's a pretty short story." I said. "I told him we were going to a fancy restaurant, and he thought too fancy. So here we are." I laughed.
Ella laughed as well, taking a slurp from her drink.
"Drinks are in the kitchen, feel free to go crazy." She encouraged.
"Awesome." I smiled.
Ace started towards the kitchen, eager for a drink before I reached my hand out to stop him.
"What?" I turned and wondered.
"She wasn't talking to you." I told him. "Ella's going to take you upstairs."
He slumped his head in her direction, clearly pissed off.
"Alright, I'm going to get drunk!" I hurried towards the kitchen area to pour myself a drink.
Ella's POV
Adelaide rushed off towards the kitchen, leaving both Ace and I in the entryway.
He looked like something out of a movie. Slicked back hair, tux in mint condition, that whole brooding look going on. I can see what Charlie see's in him.
"I love the tux by the way." I gave him a compliment.
He just observed the party without speaking.
I reached forward and grabbed him by his right sleeve, dragging him upstairs.
"Let go." He attempted to shake his arm out of my grasp. I latched on tighter and turned to face him on the staircase. "No." I said.
"Charlie is my best friend, and he doesn't deserve to be lead on, Okay? So you are going to walk into my bedroom with your whole double 0h seven, James Bond look, again, love it, and give it to him straight. For your sake, it better have a good outcome, or I will hunt you down for the rest of my very long life and destroy you." I warned him, giving him a venomous smile before continuing to lead him upstairs.
Clayton's POV
Where the hell is everyone? I wondered as I stood in the kitchen and poured myself another drink.
By everyone, I mean my friends. None of them were anywhere to be seen, except for Tom who just a second ago walked outside with Ryan.
I let out an annoyed groan and took a sip of my freshly mixed whiskey and cola.
"Dude, I told you to back off!" I heard a girl say from the opposite side of the countertop.
I turned around to see the hottest girl I had ever seen before, like in my entire life.
She had a septum piercing, and a bright red streak in her naturally dark hair. And some douchebag was pestering her.
"She said back off." I spoke up. The guy was pretty tall, and he looked kinda scary, which made me regret what I said.
I am totally bad at conflict.
"How sweet of you." The girl smiled at me. "But I can take care of myself, I don't need some guy with a knight-in-shining-armor complex to step in and save me from a douchebag, Capeesh?"
I couldn't help but admire her.
"Yeah, dude. Calm down, she knows she likes it." The guy said, groping her waist.
She smiled at me before turning around and kneeing the dude in the acorns.
He groaned as he slumped onto the ground, rolling around in pain.
She turned back my way, reaching for a bottle of liquor and taking a swig of it.
"Told you I could take care of myself." She winked at me.
I think I might be in love.
Charlie's POV
I paced around Ella's bedroom, fuming.
I had texted Ella, Clayton and Nora, demanding that they release me from this room at once. But none of them bothered to reply.
Jerks.
Well this party was shaping up to be great so far, right?
Stuck in a bedroom, listening to muffled music and pacing around like an idiot.
I turned around at the sound of someone attempting to open up the door. "Hello?" I called out.
"Can you please go and find Ella and tell her to let me out?" I shouted.
Nothing.
"Hello?"
Silence.
"FAR OUT!" I snapped and angrily sat down on the bed, punching myself in the leg.
The door opened, and I shot up from the bed, eager to leave.
I halted when I saw Ace standing in the doorframe, dressed in a tuxedo?
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I really enjoyed writing this chapter for you guys, I hope you all enjoy!
Let me know what you think :)