15 years old
Alone.
That's what Charlie was.
Alone.
She shouldn't have been. Patrick had said he was going to get drinks.
But that was half an hour ago.
Where was he?
Patrick knew she hated crowds like this. Heck, Patrick hated them even more than her. They were both forced to go by their mothers. They had originally planned to stay in and watch movies with a big bowl of popcorn at Charlie's house.
But no. They were forced to get dressed up and go to a school dance.
They hadn't moved from where they were sitting on a couple of seats at the edge of the hall until Charlie realised she needed a drink and Patrick said he would get it.
That, like I said, was half an hour ago.
Charlie and Patrick weren't exactly the most popular people in the school. They had some friends, but mainly they had each other.
The other friends had been lucky enough to have parents who either a) didn't care if their kids went or not. Or b) just didn't find out about the night.
"Hey Charles! Where's your boyfriend? Did he realise not even a nerd like him could hang out with a loser like you?"
Ah yes. Jess Piper. All round bitch.
Charlie sighed. She thought she was well hidden from people like her.
"He's not my boyfriend, Jess. And he's just gone to get drinks." Charlie wasn't in the mood to pick a fight. She just wanted to find Patrick and leave.
"But you've been sitting here for ages. Face it Charles, he's left you in the dust," Jess sneered.
"Shut up."
"Never. This is way too fun."
"Maybe it's a good thing I'm leaving..." Charlie whispered.
"Speak up!" Jess shouted. But Charlie wasn't listening anymore. There was a group of some of the more annoying, taller boys from her year in the middle of the room. They were all shouting.
She pushed past Jess and her group of friends so she could get a closer look. She didn't know why she wanted to see what was going on, she just felt like she had to.
Over the music she heard a faint shout for help. Her breath hitched as she realised she recognised that voice.
Patrick.
She heard the boys shout things like "fight" and "beat him up." She was too small to really see what was going on. But she knew that it wasn't good.
She had to help him.
"Get away from him!" She tried to shout. But they barely heard her. She tried again.
"GET AWAY FROM HIM!!!" They heard that.
The crowd parted a small bit so she was able to see. She saw Patrick, crumpled on the ground with Miles Hunter towering over him. She swore she saw blood run down Patrick's nose.
What angered her more was the fact that the teachers supervising the event were in full viewing distance. But they chose to ignore them because even they were afraid of Miles Hunter.
"Oh look it's little Pattycake's little girlfriend, come to save the day."
"Get away from him Miles," Charlie wasn't entirely sure where this sudden courage was coming from, all she knew was that they were hurting Patrick and she had to stop that.
"And you think I'm going to answer to you?" Miles laughed, "you know it's the first time I've ever seen you wear a dress. First time you've looked like an actual girl."
"And what does that have to do with anything?" It was true that Charlie had chopped off most of her hair last year and died it green. She didn't regret it though. Patrick said he loved it and she didn't care if some small minded, sexist, idiot like Miles didn't.
"Nothing."
"Then why-"
"Not that it makes you look much better anyway. Maybe a shorter dress would help. Patrick agrees with me, don't you Pat?" Patrick's face screamed bloody murder but he wasn't able to get up and punch him in the face like he wanted to.
Instead Charlie decided the best thing to do was kick him where it really hurts. As Miles doubled over in pain, Charlie punched him in the jaw.
That got the teachers attention.
She was thrown out of the dance hall, into the empty hallway to wait for her mother to come and collect her. She was suspended for a week.
Not that she cared. Miles Hunter had got what he deserved and that's all that mattered.
"Hey..." Charlie looked up to see Patrick sitting beside her.
"Why are you out here?"
"We'll do you really think I would want to stay in there?"
"True."
"Besides, you just punched Miles Hunter in the face. I'm not sure if I should thank you or congratulate you."
"What about both?"
"Okay." Her eyes widened as Patrick leaned in and...kissed her. It was a bit awkward. Neither of them had kissed anyone before. But Charlie didn't stop him.
She realised that night that she really liked Patrick, more than just the best friend way. It's what made the next bit the hardest thing she ever had to say in her teenage years.
After a minute she pulled away. She wanted to stay kissing him, she wanted to stay with him. But she had to tell him.
"Patrick I need to tell you something."
"Oh no. You're going to tell me you don't like me like that. It's the sideburns isn't it?"
"No, no Patrick. I do like you like that. I really do...but..."
"Well it's definitely serious if you called me by my actual name, twice in a row."
Despite herself Charlie laughed.
"Patrick, I'm moving."
"What? House? School?"
"Continent." Patrick looked at her, shocked.
"W...what do you mean?" He stuttered, "you better be joking."
"I wish I was," there was tears in her eyes now, "my dad's got this big job over in England. He wants us all to move over there."
"England? B...b...but that's in Europe!"
"Ya, I figured."
"This is no time for your sass Charlotte. When are you leaving?"
"Two months..." It came out in a whisper, "I...don't want to leave. Even though I hate this school, I don't want to leave you."
"I don't want you to leave either."
At that moment Charlie's mother arrived. At first, she looked angry. But then she saw the tears in both of their eyes and she looked at both of them sympathetically.
"She told you..."
"Why? She doesn't have to go, she doesn't have to go!" Patrick cried.
"I'm sorry Patrick. But it's the best decision for our family. But you can write to each other and-"
"Mom. Stop."
Patrick leaned in again and kissed Charlie again, making her mother gasp.
She really didn't want to rip them apart. But she didn't have a choice. It was for the good of the family. Well that's what she thought.
See, I told you this chapter would be longer.
Poor Charlie and Patrick! They just realise they like each other and I rip them apart. 😈😈😈 xx