I woke to the sound of birds chirping loudly. It was too damn early for this. I reached to the left for my glasses and freaked out when I hit the mattress. I wasn't in my bed. Why wasn't I in my bed? I should be at Annalise's house, lying on my stomach and reach to my left for my glasses on the bed side table. Think Charlotte, think. Were you abducted? No. Did you go to Annalise's house? Hell no. Where was I? This bed was too big to be the one in Father's house and too big to be the guest bed at Mary's house.
Daniel.
I'm at Daniel's house. He made me stay here last night. Wait, where did he sleep? I felt around for my glasses and grabbed them and pushed them on my face. He wasn't in bed with me, which is a good thing. I groaned as our conversation flooded my mind, why did he have to be so hot, so nice, so freaking Daniel Weston. I couldn't believe he thought I didn't remember anything. Those were the happiest years of my life after my mom died. And it hurt when I had to let him go.
Father said he would hurt Daniel because he was getting too close to me, and thankfully he only made me let Daniel go. I don't know what I'd do without Ashton and Mary. I could barely function without Daniel for a while. I sighed and climbed out of bed and shuffled down the hall and the stairs to the first floor. Honestly, I thought my house was a dump, but after one party at the Weston house, I didn't mind my house one bit. There were red and blue Solo cups everywhere and empty bottles and food spewed everywhere. I managed to maneuver around it all and go to the kitchen. It's been six years since I've been in this house, yet I still know where everything is.
Clara was in the kitchen, cleaning up the mess as the coffee brewed. She looked up and smiled at me as she shoved seven Solo cups in the Glad trash bag. She walked around the counter and hugged me tightly, since we haven't seen each other in years.
"Well, I'll be damned. I thought Danny was lying when he said you were sleeping in his room." She whispered, pulling back. Her well trained eyes focused in on my bruised cheek bone. "He's doing it again, isn't he?" I nodded and bowed my head.
"He knows." I mumbled, hoisting myself onto the counter top. "Danny knows, and it scares me."
"Did you tell him about—?"
"Yes! I told him everything, and he still wants to be around me, and protect me." I said, nearly shouting. "He kissed me." I blurted out. Clara's eyes practically popped out of her head.
"What! He kissed those virgin lips of yours!" She exclaimed. "When, give me the details." I rolled my eyes at her with a smile.
"First time was on Wednesday because I was yelling at him and he wanted to shut me up. The second time was yesterday when he was reviving me and in his room." I said softly. "And I told him we couldn't kiss or anything."
Clara sighed. "But you like him." She stated. I nodded with a sigh. I do like him, too much for my own good, might I add.
"Where is he?" I asked, curious about his whereabouts. She smirked and went back to cleaning.
"Well, seeing as he was severely pissed off this morning, he's on a seven or eight mile run. He'll be back shortly." She promised as the coffee machine dinged. I went over to the machine and pulled out two mugs in the cabinet overhead and poured the black liquid into them.
"He's mad because of me." I mumbled. "I was being a bitch yesterday and he didn't deserve it." I handed Clara her cup as I sipped mine.
"Oh, sweetheart, it's okay. Danny has had a rough time since you let him go. I tried to explain that to him, but he's Danny and he doesn't listen." Clara reasoned. The front door opened and closed loudly, signaling that Daniel came home. I closed my eyes and sipped my black coffee again. I didn't want to see him yet, especially if he was mad. I opened my eyes as Daniel strolled into the kitchen with only sweatpants on. He was sweaty and his abs were glistening with sweat. He looked pissed. I leaned against the counter opposite the coffee machine and he passed me to grab himself a cup, and our eyes met. His beautiful eyes were filled with sadness as Daniel looked me over. After a few seconds, I averted my eyes from his and heard him sigh.
"How was the run, Danny?" Clara asked, continuing to pick up trash from the party.
"It was Fine. When's breakfast?" He asked as he brushed past me.
"Breakfast is as soon as you help me clean up your mess. I'm not going to make Charlie do it." Clara said with some sass.
"Um, no, I think I'll shower first while you make my breakfast, big sis." Daniel retorted. Clara was ready for a fight, and so was Daniel. He had every right to be pissed, but pissed at me, not his sister. Why was he pissed at her?
"I'll make breakfast." I said quietly, and both Weston's whipped their heads toward me.
"No," Daniel said. "I told you that you were staying here. You are my guest, Charlie. You're here to relax." I put my mug down and walked over to Daniel, raising myself onto my tiptoes so I could look into his eyes.
"And you're being an ass for some reason. I'm sick of hearing you talk to your sister that way. You should love her like she loves you. I'm making breakfast and that's final." I said sternly, placing my hands on my hips. The look in his eyes changed from anger to want. How could he want me? I was ugly and battered and dead inside. Daniel cupped the back of my head forcefully and pulled my face close to his while his other arm was wound around my waist. Oh shit, he does care, I thought as he slowly brushed his lips against mine. I couldn't do this. I just freaking couldn't put him in harm’s way, but I can't form a coherent thought when he does stuff like this.
Clara cleared her throat and I jerked backwards, and out of his grip. Daniel's eyes turned angry again as he took his coffee and stormed up stairs and grumbling he was taking a shower. I started rummaging around the kitchen for things to make French toast. Clara dropped the trash bag and came over to me, enveloping me in her arms.
"He's making it so hard, Clara. I'm trying to keep him safe and he doesn't care!" I whispered into her neck. "I care about him so freaking much, Clara. Everything I'm doing is for him, why can't he see that?"
"Shh, Charlie, he's a boy, that's all. He's too bullheaded to understand your sacrifices." She whispered in a consoling way. I nodded and pulled back with a weak smile. "What's for breakfast?"
"French Toast,” I said, going to the fridge for the eggs, milk and toast. I put those near the stove and got the rest of my items together. After fifteen minutes of cooking, breakfast was done and the kitchen and dining area was clean. Daniel came down just as Clara and I finished setting the table. He wore blue jeans that hung low on his hips and a plain white t-shirt. I forced myself to stop staring at him. After this weekend, I would go back to ignoring him, and hopefully Daniel would do the same. I brought the plate over to the table and sat down in between Clara and Daniel. They took my hands in theirs and joined hands across the table and said a quick morning prayer then dug in. I smiled faintly at the two, I forgot how they ate. Even as kids, they ate like athletes because they were athletes. I started to pick at my breakfast as the two went for another round.
I wasn't used to such family contact. The most contact I had with my father was when he was hitting me, and I didn't enjoy that. I looked down at my food with a slight frown as I slowly ate my food. I didn't have much of an appetite as I thought of the vermin that helped create me, but I knew I had to eat. I could feel both of them watching me as I picked at the food.
"Charlie," Daniel called softly, taking my hand gently. "Is everything alright?" I nodded and turned my head toward him and forced a smile. He didn't look convinced but he didn't push me.
"I'm going to go shower, is that okay?" I asked, starting to stand up.
"Yeah, sweetheart, I'll leave you some clothing in Daniel's room. You remember where the shower is?" Clara asked. I nodded and walked away from the table. I walked up the staircase and into the bathroom at the end of the hall. I pulled off my borrowed clothes and turned on the shower and stepped in. The water was warm against my skin, which was nice for once. And not like a Luke-warm or anything, a hot tub warm. After my long shower, I wrapped a towel around my body and crept into Daniel's room where there were fresh clothes waiting for me. I pulled them on and walked down stairs into a heated argument between Daniel and Clara.
"Will you just tell me, dammit?" Daniel cursed at his sister. Neither of them noticed me, thankfully, so I kept hidden to listen to the conversation.
"Fine, she cares about you! I don't know why though. You never take anyone's feelings into consideration. Especially hers, you were so angry at her when she stopped being your friend. I tried to tell you why, but you wouldn't freaking listen. Just like now. You say you don't understand why she won’t be with you now, even after she told you why!" Clara yelled at her brother.
"No, she didn't. She gave me this crap about her father having a vendetta against her." He grumbled, running his hand through his semi-dry hair.
"No, you idiot, he looks at Charlie as the reason for his misery. She was there when her mother died; she was unable to help the police catch her killer because she couldn't think. Charlie is my closest friend, Danny. She's been through hell for practically all her life. She doesn't need you--" I stepped out of my corner and the two stopped their fight. Daniel looked at his feet as Clara looked right at me.
"Listen, sweetie. I have to work today; it'll be just you and Danny. Give me a call if he bugs you." She said, leaning over and kissing my cheek as she grabbed her purse from the bottom of the stairs and ran off. Daniel and I just stood there awkwardly, not saying everything for several moments.
"Thank you," I whispered into the uncomfortable silence. "I mean, or saving me last night. I forgot to tell you that last night." Daniel lifted his head and gave me a boyish grin.
"You don't need to thank me, Charlotte." He said softly as he moved closer to me. "I meant what I said last night. I'm going to fight for you, Charlie and I will save you from him." He vowed. I sucked in a breath as his hands caressed my hips.
"Daniel, you can't—we can't. I'm trying to keep you safe." I whimpered.
"God Charlotte, I know. I l know what he's doing to you and I wish I could take away all the pain and make you happy." He whispered, pressing his face into the crook of my neck. He kissed the scarred skin, the burn marks, and the bruises as if that could make them go away.
"Let me in, Charlie. I miss you, I miss you so much." He mumbled against my skin. "Let me save you." I stayed quiet. I couldn't form words, or think, or move.
"D-Daniel," I murmured. He's so close to me, with all my battle wounds, my ugliness, I can't think of a reason why he'd want to be near me.
"How can you touch me?" I asked quietly. "How could you want to be near me? I'm ugly and plain and a freak and battered and I can't—" I stopped myself from talking. It felt like my throat was closing.
"Charlie, you're beautiful and amazing. Why would you say that about yourself?" He demanded, pulling back and staring into my eyes.
"I'm nothing like Peyton. You've been with her for years and I've seen how you look at her." I mumbled.
"How do I look at her?" He asked as I bowed my head.
"You look at her with lust and want and sexual need." I said. "And when you look at me—"
"When I look at you, Charlotte, it's with compassion and awe and... I don't know." He mumbled, raising my chin up with a single finger. He leaned in slowly and pressed his lips against mine, for some need for more contact than what we already have. I raised my hands to his chest and gently pushed him back, leaving an arm’s length of space between us.
"Daniel, please. I'm begging you. We can't. I'm trying—"
"I know, okay?" He cut through, eyeing me with tired eyes. "I know you're trying to protect me, but I don't need it. You do, Charlotte. You need someone to protect you, even if you don't think you do. I want to protect you. Charlie, let me, please."
"You said you wanted to make me happy, right?" I asked, looking into his eyes, and he nodded. "Then make me happy this weekend, okay? You can protect me from my father this weekend and make me happy, but on one condition. On Monday, you have to forget about your feelings for me, and everything you did for me this weekend." Daniel pressed his forehead against mine and closed his eyes. I didn't want him to hurt because of me, but I couldn't live with myself if my father hurt him.
"I can't promise I will be able to forget my feelings, Charlie, because they're so strong. Stronger than anything I've ever felt for Peyton. But I'll try." He promised. "I'll try just for you. Now, what can I do to make you happy?" I gave him a small smile as I shrugged. His beautiful eyes danced with excitement as he took my hand and lead me up the stairs to his bedroom. My stomach erupted into a fit of butterflies as he ordered me to sit on his bed, and he sat next to me.
"What are we doing?" I whispered as Daniel cupped the side of my neck.
"I'm going to kiss you, Charlotte." He whispered, leaning in again until he kissed my lips softly. I slowly closed my eyes and just sat there, keeping my hands in my lap. Daniel pulled back slightly with a smirk. "You know, you can kiss me back." I blushed and looked down at me lap. This was a whole new side of me that I wasn't aware I could have. I felt... alive for the first time in a while, and I liked it.
"I don't know how." I admitted sheepishly. Daniel smirked and pulled me closer to him.
"Then I'll teach you." He murmured.
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Hello lovelies,
New update! And Charlotte and Daniel are not a couple. Not by a long shot. I know I haven't updated Cinderella and Charming in a while, but the update will be coming soon. Please, please, please check out the A/N I posted. It's kind of important.
Anywho, almost done with MCAS! Well, the english portion. Math is in May and I am not looking forward to that. Only the sophomores get to come in at regular time to take the test. Everyone else in my high school get a two hour delay. Lucky ducks.
I will get to work on updating Cinderella and Charming and The Girl In The Music Shop. I promise.
Lots of Love,
DoctorWho