Chapter Text
When Charlie agreed to go out with Adam Banks for money, he never imagined he would have to spend a Saturday night in a shabby club listening to some niche rock band—one which, in his opinion, sucks—just to get Adam’s attention.
As soon as he walks into the building, Charlie hears the music pounding in his head, as the smell of the alcohol—mixed with a scent of sweat and hormones—fills his nostrils.
He glances around, hoping to spot a familiar face in the crowd. When Charlie notices Adam Banks in the distance, the corner of his mouth curls up into an almost imperceptible smile.
The blond boy is surrounded by other teenagers—die-hard fans of the same band—all enjoying the music and the night together.
Adam is dancing—moving casually to the beat—and Charlie notices a genuine smile on his face.
As Adam walks away from the dance floor, Charlie tracks his figure down with his eyes—watching as he heads towards the bar counter. He follows the blond over, then he takes a seat on a nearby stool.
“Two waters, please.” Adam asks.
After the bartender hands him two bottles, Adam notices a familiar face.
He rolls his eyes. “Are you stalking me?”
“I’m enjoying some good music.” Charlie replies, shooting him a quick look.
“Sure you are.” Adam’s tone switches from annoyance to mockery.
He walks back to the same spot as earlier, getting closer to the stage. Charlie follows him, and stops beside him the moment he does too.
Adam takes a sip from his water battle, then he wipes his mouth with the palm of his hand.
Charlie stares at him with an amused expression. “You always know how to get someone’s attention.”
Adam gives him a wry smile.
“I don’t live to get other people’s approval.” He says, turning his head towards Charlie—who is already looking at him.
“They’re good,” the dark-haired boy says, “it’s not as fun as watching a hockey game, but it’s good music.”
Adam raises both his eyebrows in surprise. “You’re a hockey fan?” He asks.
“Isn’t it obvious?” Charlie gives him a playful smile.
The blond doesn’t argue back.
“I was watching you out there before,” Charlie says again, “I’ve never seen you look so hot.” Unfortunately for him, the song ends just as he says that last part. Silence falls over the room, allowing everyone to hear his bold comment.
Charlie curses himself mentally for the awkward moment, but when he notices Adam barely holding back a laugh, he can’t suppress a smirk.
“There’s a party Friday night. I’ll pick you up at seven thirty.” Charlie says again.
“You never give up, do you?” Adam shifts his attention to him.
“Deal?” Charlie looks confident.
The other boy looks away before giving him an answer. “Maybe.”
“I’ll take that as a yes. Friday night. Don’t be late.”
As soon as they arrive at the party, Adam immediately regrets accepting Charlie’s invitation.
The smell of alcohol is overpowering and the house is way too crowded.
After wandering around aimlessly for a while, Adam spots his sister with Scooter Holland—which causes his expression to darken immediately. Charlie—who has been keeping an eye on him the whole night—notices it right away.
“Julie, wait!” Adam says, grabbing his sister’s wrist to get her attention.
She immediately reacts to the sudden contact, freeing herself from his grip. “Leave me alone! I’m trying to enjoy my adolescence.”
The expression on Adam’s face shifts to one of anger as he watches his sister walk away with Scooter, then he grabs a shot from a random tray and downs it in one gulp.
“What is that?” Charlie asks after appearing beside him.
“I’m getting trashed, man. Isn’t that what you’re supposed to do at a party?” Adam replies in a sharp tone.
The night takes a whole new turn when Adam starts knocking down every shot of alcohol he can find.
He grabs another small glass and just when he’s about to drink from it, Charlie snatches it from his hand.
“Okay, that’s enough.” He states.
Adam lets out an annoyed groan as he tries to get the glass back.
Charlie holds it right above his head. Under normal circumstances he wouldn’t have managed to do that—the two are practically the same height—but because of all the alcohol he’s had, Adam can’t quite maintain his balance.
He ends up slumping against Charlie in a clumsy attempt to get his drink back—eventually, he gives up.
Charlie lets out a relieved sigh, but the calmness lasts only for a couple of seconds.
Adam has now climbed onto a table and is busy showing off ridiculous dance moves in front of everyone.
Charlie knows Adam will probably regret it the next day, but all of his attempts to stop him are futile.
He spots Julie in the crowd: she’s staring at her brother with a shocked expression on her face. She stands there for a moment—too stunned to do anything—before leaving the room without looking back once.
Charlie hears a thud from Adam’s direction and when he shifts his attention back to him, he notices the blond losing his balance—after hitting his head on the elegant chandelier that lights up the room.
Luckily, Charlie manages to catch Adam mid-fall—saving him from an embarrassing tumble.
“I need to lie down.” The blond says.
Charlie is quick with his answer: “Absolutely not. If you lie down you’ll fall asleep.”
“Sleep is good.” Adam argues back.
“Not if you have a concussion.”
With one hand on Adam’s shoulder and the other around his hip, Charlie guides him out of the house and into the garden. Then, he helps him sit down.
“Stay awake, Adam. Don’t close your eyes for any reason.”
“Why?” He asks, visibly drunk.
“You hit your head. You can’t sleep after a concussion.” Charlie patiently explains—hoping to keep him awake with the sound of his voice.
“Charlie, we need to talk.” A girl’s voice gets the dark-haired boy’s attention.
“Not now, Connie. I’m busy.” He cuts her off.
“It’s important.”
Charlie huffs—clearly frustrated—but he decides to listen to her.
He glances at Adam one last time—making sure he’s okay and awake—before facing Connie.
“What?” Charlie asks, noticing the hesitation on her face.
“It’s off, okay? I’m done with this whole thing.” She blurts out.
“What are you talking about? Why?”
Connie sighs before speaking again. “She never wanted me. She wanted Scooter the whole time.”
“Connie, do you like the girl?” Charlie’s tone is now serious.
“Yeah.”
“And is she worth all this trouble?”
This time Connie hesitates, unsure on what to reply. “Well, I thought she was.”
“Listen Connie, Holland is not half the person you are. Don’t let anyone ever make you feel like you don’t deserve what you want.” Charlie tells her, his voice sounding softer and sincere. “Go for it.” He then adds.
Connie gives him a nod, then she walks away—leaving Charlie to deal with Adam.
After dragging him around for a while, Charlie makes Adam sit on a swing—not too far from the house hosting the party.
The blond boy almost falls when he loses his grip on the swing’s chains. Charlie puts an arm behind his back, saving him—once again—from tumbling.
He takes a seat on the other swing, beside Adam. The two remain silent for a while—the music from the party still audible in the distance.
Charlie throws his head back and exhales loudly.
“I didn’t think you were the kind of guy to get drunk like that.” He says then—his tone not hiding a hint of sarcasm.
Receiving no response, Charlie turns in Adam’s direction and he immediately notices his eyes closed.
“Hey! Look at me Adam, wake up!” Charlie gets up from the swing to reach the other boy’s arms. He then grabs his wrists to shake him a little bit—trying to keep him conscious.
Adam barely opens his eyes before speaking. “Why have you been taking care of me all night?” He asks.
Charlie wasn’t expecting this question. However, he replies with no hesitation. “You have a concussion. Leaving you alone would be irresponsible.”
“You don’t care if I never wake up.”
“Sure I do.” Charlie gives the blond a smile—which Adam can’t tell if genuine or not.
He says nothing, studying Charlie’s face for a moment.
“Hey. Your eyes have a little blue in them.” Adam states in a quiet voice.
Charlie meets his gaze, then quirks up the corner of his mouth.
He doesn’t even have the time to process the other’s words before finding himself gently rubbing Adam’s head as he throws up at his feet.
Charlie sighs, but he’s not angry at him.
He ends up driving Adam home.
When Charlie parks near his house, Adam seems more aware than he did earlier.
“Thanks,” he says—breaking the awkward silence between them— “for staying by my side, I mean. I don’t usually drink.”
Charlie lets out a soft chuckle. “I assumed.”
Adam would like to be annoyed by that answer, but he can’t help smiling a little at it.
When he turns to face Charlie, Adam notices he’s already looking at him. After a moment of reluctance, he leans in towards him, but when he sees Charlie widening the distance between them, embarrassment washes over him.
Adam quickly unbuckles his seatbelt and gets out of the car without looking back. As he walks up the driveway—muttering insults to himself under his breath—he feels Charlie’s eyes on him, and his cheeks flushing red with humiliation.
As Connie drives up to Julie’s house, she recognizes Adam’s car already parked nearby.
She pulls over and turns the engine off.
Julie is sitting in the passenger seat, not saying a word.
“You never wanted to go out with me, did you?” Connie’s voice is full of disappointment as she asks so.
Julie is caught off guard. She wasn’t expecting the brunette to be so direct. “Yes, I did!” The blonde tries defending herself.
Connie lets out a bitter and hollow laugh. “That’s not true.”
Julie knows she can’t lie anymore. “Not… in that way.” She finally admits.
“You could have just said so!” Connie is now visibly irritated. “Have you always been so selfish?”
Julie sighs softly. “Yes.” Her tone is so weak that Connie wonders if she imagined it. For a moment, she regrets letting her anger out on her.
“Just because you’re beautiful that doesn’t mean you can treat people like they don’t matter.” Connie says.
Julie glances at her. The brunette’s words made her heart skip a beat.
“I really liked you, okay? I defended you when people called you conceited, I helped you when you asked me to, I… I learned French for you! And then you just blow me off so you could-” Connie can’t finish her sentence before getting interrupted by Julie, who has now completely closed the distance between them.
She feels the sweet taste of the blonde’s lips on hers and a hand cupping her flushed cheek.
The kiss lasts only for a few seconds—though to Connie, it feels like an eternity. When the distance between them grows again, Julie won’t meet her eyes. She offers an embarrassed smile, and without saying a word she gets out of the vehicle—shutting the door closed behind her.