CHARIS EMPLOYED HER PERSUASIVE SKILLS to convince her family to leave her at Cole's house. The entire journey involved a combination of pleading with her father and enduring Marilyn's sassy remarks about the "interesting" prospect of leaving the two of them alone.
After persistent efforts, Austin Duncan relented and drove his youngest daughter to the Walter residence. Unbeknownst to him, Cole was grounded, but that detail could wait until later.
Charis felt a tinge of nervousness, although she was reluctant to admit it. Cole had the power to make her giddy and excited, but recent events had also shown that he could make her feel terrible. However, he had promised never to hurt her again, and Charis was determined to give him the chance to prove himself. She was aware that Cole had hosted girls at his place before, but what she didn't know was that he was genuinely looking forward to spending time with her, eager to ensure she had nothing but a good time.
Charis patiently waited for her family's car to drive away before ascending the porch steps toward Cole's house. As she raised her hand to knock on the door, it creaked open slightly, revealing Cole on the other side. His captivating green eyes met hers, and with a mischievous glance, he reached for her belt loop and spun her around, a move reminiscent of the iconic scene from "Sixteen Candles." Charis burst into laughter, caught off guard by the unexpected but amusing gesture.
"Sixteen Candles, really?" she exclaimed between laughs.
"But it worked, didn't it?" Cole replied with a playful smirk.
Charis couldn't help but smile widely—a rare sight for her—as Cole responded with a warm smile of his own. He wanted this evening to bring her some peace after a challenging day, given both the recent events and their personal dynamics. Cole had envisioned a night of making food together, watching movies, and engaging in conversation. However, he was careful not to appear inconsiderate, mindful of the significance of Charis's brother's death anniversary.
"Cowboy, what've you got in store for me?" she teased.
"Whatever you want, cowgirl," he replied, meeting her playful tone.
Coled suggested making waffles, pancakes, or anything else, but Charis hesitated and tensed, showing a disinterest in food. Cole picked up on this shift in her mood. Movies, however, seemed like a good idea to her, and she expressed curiosity about his choices for the evening.
"If you want, we can make some food, but I already ate before I came over. I'm curious about what you've chosen for the movie," she informed him.
"Depends on what genre you want. I know you've seen, like, every movie ever made, so it's been a hard decision," he admitted, his hand gently snaking around her. He felt a certain nervousness around her, even though he wouldn't readily admit it.
"I don't care if I've seen it. It doesn't matter. We're gonna watch a few anyway," Charis responded, gazing into his eyes. The evening was unfolding, and Cole hoped it would bring them both comfort and connection.
The brief silence hung in the air, a comfortable tension between them. They exchanged careful glances, both wary of making the wrong move. Yet, a mutual understanding passed between them, and they found themselves melting into each other's embrace, sharing a tender kiss.
Cole decided to make some popcorn before leading them to the couch, ensuring both were comfortable under a cozy blanket. Charis wished she had opted for more comfortable attire than jeans, but she didn't mind too much. She leaned into him, feeling his arm wrap around her shoulder as they settled into the couch. The movie began, and to Charis's surprise, the title flashed: Dead Poets Society. She turned to him with an incredulous expression.
"You, sir, are an asshole," she laughed, giving him a gentle slap on the chest.
"What?" he chuckled, feigning innocence. He had chosen the movie with a purpose.
"You know what. This is the one movie that made me cry when I was fifteen," she scolded him, half-jokingly. He learned that information in rehab.
"I just want to see if you've got a soft side," he teased. Charis playfully rolled her eyes, realizing he had already seen her at her worst, and now he was in for discovering her best—or what she deemed her best, given her reservations.
After the bowl of popcorn and some good-natured teasing about Charis crying during the movie, Cole stood up, eager to prepare some food. Charis tried to dissuade him, claiming he didn't need to make any more, but he insisted. She ultimately relented, deciding not to stand in the way if he wanted to cook. In a short while, he returned with popcorn, proposing the idea of waffles or pancakes after the movie. Charis agreed, and he joyfully threw himself onto the couch, setting up the next movie.
As the opening scenes of 10 Things I Hate About You played, Charis couldn't contain her laughter. Cole playfully began to regret his choice as she enthusiastically raved about Heath Ledger's looks, though he couldn't help but agree that Ledger was indeed a good-looking guy. The lighthearted banter continued as they settled into the second movie of the night. Cole held Charis as though she might slip away at any moment, a comforting embrace that Charis relished, finding a sense of security in his warmth.
"Would you buy me an instrument?" Charis joked, referencing the movie scene.
"Hell, I'd buy you a horse," he responded, planting a kiss on her.
They continued in their cozy position until the conclusion of the movie. Once it ended, Cole began coaxing Charis up from the couch, much to her playful groaning. He was adamant about making pancakes, but Charis wasn't particularly enthusiastic. She convinced herself it would upset her stomach with all the sugar, though deep down, she just needed an excuse not to eat.
"Come on, what are you on about?" Cole laughed, nudging her toward a bar stool. He assumed she was joking and proceeded to make the pancakes for both of them. He couldn't fathom why she wouldn't want to enjoy some.
"Are you worried I'm gonna mess them up?" he asked, preparing the batter.
"No," she laughed, though she refrained from touching the food and settled back onto the stool.
Cole shook his head playfully and proceeded to prepare the food. They sustained their playful banter throughout the pancake-making process. Cole sensed that something was on Charis's mind, but he didn't want to press her to eat or discuss anything she wasn't ready for. He suspected it might be related to her brother. To Charis's amusement, he only managed to burn one pancake, and she applauded him for it.
When the pancakes were ready and neatly arranged on a plate, Cole slid the plate to the center of the counter. He observed Charis as she stared at the plate, absentmindedly toying with the hem of her sleeve. Sensing that there might be more beneath the surface, he chose not to comment, avoiding any unnecessary alarm. Charis, likewise, didn't want to concern him with her thoughts. Feeling his gaze, she reached out for a single pancake and began to eat it. Although Cole felt a bit relieved, Charis remained contemplative as they sat side by side.
"How has today been for you?" he asked, turning slightly in his chair as he ate. Charis, appearing calm yet somewhat relaxed, practiced in her response, turned to face him. She pushed her plate away, leaning on her elbow against the counter.
"It started out rather challenging," she nodded, tilting her head, her eyes wandering over the kitchen cabinets.
"But I think it's turning for the better," she added, returning her gaze to his, offering a sincere smile. He might have been a factor in the rough morning, but his intentions seemed genuine.
"I'm sorry," he said, smiling sadly. He wished he could offer her more, recognizing that she deserved it.
"Don't be. As I said, being here, with you, is nice," she reassured him, smiling as she leaned back in her chair.
"Just nice?" he scoffed, laughing.
"Quite nice," she corrected herself, rolling her eyes playfully.
"Never did think things would be like this a year ago," he remarked, leaning closer to her. Reflecting on the past, Cole mused over the tumultuous arguments and clashes they endured a year ago, confined to their hospital rooms side by side. In the heat of the moment, words were exchanged that cut deep, revealing raw emotions and unspoken truths. Now, with everything laid bare, there were few secrets left between them.
Trying to shuffle his chair nearer, he almost toppled over, prompting Charis to stifle her laughter.
"A year ago, I would've been pronounced dead," she noted between laughs.
"Way to go, Charis," Cole teased, applauding her for her bluntness. They both laughed and as they calmed down, Charis took a sip of water, noticing Cole looking at her with an interesting expression.
"What?" she asked, raising her eyebrows, curious about what was on his mind.
"Truth or dare?" he proposed, hoping she would find it appropriate after the events of the previous night and share the same sense of humor.
"Grow up," she groaned, setting the glass down with a light thud. Cole smirked, undeterred.
"Come on," he insisted. Games like this usually triggered anxiety in Charis, as they put her in a situation where she couldn't control what the other person might ask. However, she decided to go with a slightly safer option.
"Fine. Truth," she sighed.
"Are you happy?"
Charis was taken aback; the question seemed to catch her off guard. She had never been asked that in her entire life, and it showed. Unsure whether to tell the truth or craft a lie, she hesitated.
In the quiet moments when someone asks, "Are you happy?" it's like standing at the edge of a pond, unsure of the ripples beneath the surface. The answer hovers in the air, caught between the warmth of smiles and the cool breeze of uncertainty. It's a question that dances between the bright sunbeams of joy and the shadows of doubt. Deep inside, emotions play a subtle tug-of-war, making it hard to give a clear response. It's like trying to capture the elusive colors of a sunset – beautiful, yet ever-changing, leaving you in a poetic pause, uncertain of the hues that paint your heart.
"No," Charis replied bluntly, refusing to deny the truth.
"I think if you want to be happy, you gotta work for it and really want it," she explained her perspective.
"I'm not saying I don't want to be happy, but this mess is all I've ever known, and if it goes away, I know it'll be coming back. I don't want to get used to happiness too much if it ever comes," she concluded.
"I wish I could give that to you," he sincerely told her.
"You do make me happier, Cole," she added, acknowledging the positive impact he had on her.
"Your turn," Charis said, smiling mischievously at him. Two could play this game. She nudged him with her elbow, and he responded with a smirk. Leaning even closer to her, he chose "Truth" and exhaled.
"Are you happy?" Charis looked him in the eyes. Cole should've figured she would ask him that. It was only fair, he thought, that he remain truthful about his feelings. He just hoped it wouldn't scare her away, although they were past that stage now.
"Truthfully?" he asked rhetorically. Uncertain how to articulate his feelings, Cole looked a bit lost in his thoughts. Charis observed him, tilting her head, thinking that maybe she should not have asked that. She pushed him into a corner now, and she hated when people did that to her, and now she was doing it to him. She felt a twinge of guilt.
"Sometimes, I... I just feel kind of... broken," he admitted. Charis nodded, understanding. After all, it had been a hell of a year for both of them.
Safe within the walls of the warm house, they watched as a storm unleashed its fury outside. Rain pounded on the windows, and the wind howled, but inside, a cozy haven embraced them. The rhythmic drumming of raindrops created a comforting soundtrack, and the contrast between the raging storm and the snug shelter highlighted the simple joy of being tucked away from the elements. It was a reminder that even in the fiercest storms, there's solace in the simple pleasures of a safe and warm abode.
"Nothing is so broken that it can't be fixed,"
After the words had been spoken, the power generator turned off due to the storm, plunging the house into darkness. Cole barked a laugh while Charis sighed worriedly. Cole noticed her concern and pulled her closer to him, embracing her. He rubbed his hand on her back. She wasn't necessarily scared, but she usually didn't experience power outages in their house during storms, only in the barn a few times.
"Come on, let's try and fix this," Cole said, turning them both in the direction of the power generator. They navigated the halls until they reached a wall just beneath the stairs. Cole reached for it, and it opened with a lot of dust, making them both swat their hands and cough. Cole offered to fix it, but Charis said she would try, and that he should go check up on the youngest kids who were soundly sleeping in their beds.
When he came back down, the electricity still wasn't turned on, and he rounded the same corner with a smirk.
"Don't laugh," Charis told him, shaking her head.
"I didn't say anything," Cole raised his hands, leaning on the wall next to her.
In silence, with her phone serving as a flashlight, the electricity turned back on, the power buzzing through the house again, illuminating the halls. Cole stood up from leaning and looked at her surprised.
"I didn't figure you for an electrician," Cole nodded at the ceiling.
"'Cause I'm not. Just happened a few times in the barn, that's all."
And suddenly, the power turned back off, leaving the two of them in complete darkness, aside from the angry storm.
"Huh," they sighed simultaneously. Cole ran his fingers through his hair, and Charis playfully nudged him with her foot.
"Well, we can either make this really romantic or eerie," he suggested, shrugging. Charis turned to him with raised eyebrows.
"What have you got in mind?" she inquired. Cole motioned for her to follow him. Opening a box, he revealed its contents to her—candles.
"You sap," she teased, sharing a genuine laugh as she entwined her fingers with his extended hand.
Cole walked to the fire pit and kindled a fire for warmth, while Charis arranged the candles and lit them up, creating a warm and intimate circle. The setup had an air of either romance or a ritual sacrifice, a thought that made them both laugh. They settled into the blankets in the middle of the circle.
"Looks like the whole area is out," Cole remarked as he scooted closer to Charis. He extended his arm, and she sat up briefly for him to put it around her. She moved even closer, resting her head on his chest.
"Good, because I thought it was my fault," she chuckled, wrapping her arm around his waist.
"No," he laughed in response, rubbing her arm and resting his head on hers. This was a moment he never wanted to end, a dream he had harbored since he first saw her back in school. Despite their initial animosity during physiotherapy, he now found himself pining for her. They had both moved past the hurtful words exchanged and were determined to make up for them.
"Thank you," she smiled, looking up.
"For inviting me over. I probably wouldn't have called you back until tomorrow," she added.
"As you said, if you want to be happy, you gotta want it and fight for it. I wasn't about to just let you go," he echoed her own words.
They locked eyes, wondering about each other's thoughts, but with a shared realization that they were both head over heels for each other.
Cole reached up to move a strand of hair away from her face, but she caught his wrist and pulled him closer. Charis, determined to make the first move after he had initiated so many times before, kissed him slowly. He sighed in response, kissing her back, and a hand trailed up her hip, slowly moving up her back, sending a pleasant shiver down Charis's spine. Rolling onto her back, she began to trail her hand up his back underneath his shirt, the other hooked around his neck as he hovered over her, and they continued their passionate exchange.
The magical moment, however, was abruptly interrupted when the Walter family barged inside the house, leaving both of them breathless.
The flustered pair quickly scrambled to their feet, desperately attempting to blow out the candles.
"Ooh," Katherine exhaled, reacting to the horrible weather.
"Honey, I'm gonna go check up on the kids," she added.
"I'm gonna start the generator," Mr. Walter nodded.
"I guess I should go look for my daughter," a voice that didn't match the Walter's last name interrupted. Both Charis and Cole froze when they heard Austin Duncan, Charis's father.
"Where are Charis and Cole?" Alex asked as both he and Jackie rounded the house.
"Found 'em," they declared when they discovered Charis and Cole blowing out the candles and putting away the blankets. The power turned back on.
"Cole, I thought we said you were grounded," George stated as he reached them, placing his hand on his hips. Charis now felt a little out of place standing between them.
"Did you think we would not figure it out?" Austin asked the pair, standing next to George. She sent a hopeful smile, hoping it would somehow make up for the impending scolding.
"No, but it took you a little time, didn't it?" Marilyn laughed, standing next to Danny.
"You knew?" Austin turned to them.
"Wasn't that hard to figure out," Marilyn laughed.
"Especially when Danny told me you were grounded," Marilyn added, looking at Cole. Sensing something more between Marilyn and Danny, Charis nudged Cole, silently indicating that there was a connection brewing there.
Cole sent Danny a sarcastic tight-lipped smile as a fake thanks, and Danny snorted in return.
"So, what did you guys do?" the parents interrogated them. They weren't upset at all, in truth, they were quite pleased for them. They had hoped for this for years, that the two would find each other. Aware that sharp words could turn them away from each other, but equally aware of their capacity to love and be loved, the parents were optimistic about the relationship.
"Just watched some movies and had pancakes," Charis said as she walked with her family to the door to grab her jacket. Cole picked up on her words, sensing that while she wasn't lying, it also wasn't the complete truth. He was about to make a joke about how he ate a bunch and she didn't, but she stopped him, surprising him with a stomp on his foot. Fortunately, no one noticed, allowing Charis to keep her secret.
"Well, I hope you didn't eat too much because we're having Thanksgiving here tomorrow," Austin smiled, nodding toward the dining room.
"What?" Charis halted in place, and Cole was certain she was acting strangely. Was it because she didn't want to have Thanksgiving there because of him, or was it because it reminded her too much of her family, and she preferred to keep it small? He wondered if there was another reason.
"We'll be making the desserts," Marilyn grinned, wrapping her arm around Charis's, clearly excited about what the next day would bring.
Charis exhaled with a touch of worry, feeling a bit anxious, and smiled at the Walter family before heading out to the car with her own.
━━ 𝙧𝙖𝙢𝙤𝙣𝙖 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸𝘀 !
don't mind the sloppy writing at the end 😬
vote comment and idk what else
i'll probably be updating this book on the weekends only because i don't have much free time!
hope you enjoyed <3