Chapter Text
"We meet the people we're supposed to meet when the time is right."
- Alyson Noel
November 23rd, 2018
If you asked Charlie St. George where his loyalties lied, he would probably be conflicted. Charlie’s always been a go-with-the-flow kind of guy, just trying to blend in, stay cool, and stay popular. It’s sometimes led him to bear witness to all sorts of questionable and sometimes downright awful things his friends have done. Every single time, Charlie would say something – but only in private. He’s always thought of himself as trying to be a good person at heart, to do the right thing – but sometimes not at the cost of his friends or his popularity.
It’s a flaw he carries. But after spending two years at Liberty High and witnessing all the messed-up things that were said and done, Charlie decided somewhere along the way that he’s had enough. He wants to be a good person – he really does. So when Charlie was forced to witness Bryce threatening Monty just minutes before their Homecoming game, just hours before Bryce would die – he decided that this would be the breaking point.
He had supported Monty, looked up to him, clamped down on his hurt and dislike whenever Monty spewed out his homophobic tirades – not knowing that Charlie himself was bisexual and very much into men – but Charlie drew the line at rape. He could tolerate the homophobia, chalking it up to toxic masculinity and jock culture – however much he disliked it and however much it bothered him. But this was one step too far. It made him physically ill.
So right after Tyler stood up at the assembly and came out as a survivor, Charlie made sure to cut ties with Monty – permanently. He reached out to Tyler, letting him know that he has a friend in Charlie, and went to the station with him to provide a detailed witness statement. It was a little awkward at first – no doubt, the two of them definitely still had preconceived notions of one another that wouldn’t just go away immediately – but Charlie nonetheless felt a weight lifted off his chest knowing he did the right thing.
But Tyler wasn’t the only one that Monty had hurt. During Bryce’s confrontation, Charlie overheard that Monty had tried to kill Clay and even threatened Alex by giving him a gun. Charlie and Clay had already made amends, with Clay gladly welcoming him into the inner circle. Still, Charlie had yet to find an opportunity to properly apologize and reach out to Alex. He can’t really blame Alex for it either – Alex found out from Zach that Charlie had said some less than positive things about him.
Yes – Monty was a bad influence, but Charlie knows that doesn’t excuse it. As far as Charlie knows, Alex’s impression of him remained “that jock who was Monty’s friend and said I shot myself in the head and missed.” It was a crass, shitty thing to say, and Charlie should have known better. He found himself regretting it the moment it came out of his mouth, doubling down when Zach reprimanded him for it (and rightfully so).
But now they’re all together, here, in Monet’s the day after Thanksgiving. It’s the first relaxing day they’ve had in a very long time, and Charlie feels relieved that Winter Break is coming up quickly. He and Tyler had agreed to hang out more often during December but suggested that Charlie reach out to Alex first before then. So when Alex walked past him, silently into one of the darker corners of the café, Charlie made sure to excuse himself from Zach and reach out to him.
“Hey,” Charlie says, putting on a slight smile when he and Alex are a reasonable distance from the main group.
“Hey,” Alex says back, a little slow and guarded.
“You okay?” Charlie asks, resisting the urge to reach out a comforting hand to the boy before him.
“Y…yeah, I just needed some time in my own thoughts,” Alex admits after a long pause, before forcing a smile and throwing his hands up slightly. “Everyone’s all happy, and I don’t wanna ruin the mood,” he admits, sniffling a little.
“I get that,” Charlie nods. “It takes time,” he adds, smiling gently.
“So uh, what about you?” Alex shoots back, an eyebrow arched.
“I uh, I just wanted to… you know, reach out to you,” Charlie murmurs, wide-eyed and solemn. “We’ve never been like, properly introduced.”
“Right,” Alex nods. “I’m Alex. Well – you already knew that. Just like how I know your name is Charlie,” he says, matter-of-factly.
Awkward.
“Right, but like, we don’t really know each other all too well,” Charlie quickly adds. “N-Not that it’s a bad thing… or anything – I just… wanted to check up on you to see if you were okay.”
Alex is watching him with a guarded, suspicious gait, but only for a split second. Then it all vanishes, and his softer features return to the forefront. “Well, I’ve… been better,” Alex says after a pause, before sighing. “It’s just difficult to process that this nightmare’s all over,” he admits. “With Bryce and everything…”
“Yeah,” Charlie whispers, smiling tensely at the unwelcome reminder. “Yeah… I know,” he says reassuringly, before looking around. “I uh… I just wanted you to know...” he begins, nervous and slow. “I… I’m here for you if you need anything,” he finishes.
Alex is looking back at him with a confused look, but it bears no hostility. “Thanks, but… why?” He asks, perplexed and pointed. “I mean – you barely know me.”
“I uh, I just happen to think you’re an inspiring person and shouldn’t feel bad about reaching out,” Charlie reaffirms, not wanting Alex to feel bad. “After you know… everything you’ve gone through,” he adds, trying not to sound too forward.
“You mean with shooting myself in the head and missing?” Alex’s eyes narrow, voice coming out curter than expected.
Charlie’s a little taken aback by that because it’s as much an accusation as it is a fact. He regretted saying that the moment the words left his mouth.
“Zach told you about that, huh?” Charlie’s got his palms raised up defensively. “Yeah… I just… I just want you to know I’m sorry… I’m sorry for saying that about you,” he says, sincere and apologetic. “I didn’t even know you at the time… and I shouldn’t have said something like that,” he adds. “And so I’m really sorry, Alex. And I didn’t know Monty sent you a gun to intimidate you like that either,” he shakes his head, disgusted. “That’s such a shitty thing to do.”
Alex looks back at him with a touch of suspicion, but nonetheless relents and nods after a short while, exhaling hard. “Thanks, I guess,” he finally says, wiping his palms against his pants. “I mean… I accept your apology, Charlie,” he says, sincere and understanding.
Charlie feels relieved. “Okay,” Charlie beams. “Cool,” he chuckles, a little awkward, letting his hands do most of the talking.
Charlie’s thinking of exiting the conversation here and now – he’s satisfied with how this first formal encounter went, even if it’s a little awkward, nonetheless. But Alex seems to have other ideas. “Hey, Charlie,” he starts, poking a head forward when Charlie turns to leave.
“Yeah?” Charlie asks back, turning his head to get a better view.
Alex looks solemn. And yet his eyes carry so much strength. “I just wanted to say to you – thank you for helping Tyler and going down to the station with him,” Alex says after a brief pause, smiling genuinely and nodding. “I know you and Monty were friends. And… I know you… helped me out with what you did, too,” he concludes, and Charlie realizes with a slight jolt that Alex is talking about the bloody tape Charlie put in Monty’s locker.
It’s not something they’re keen to openly discuss here in a public space, especially after just being formally introduced to one another. But they understand. Both of them get it. He doesn’t need to say anything else, and although the silence between them is awkward at best, it’s at least not stifling.
Alex is nodding slowly, cloudy blue eyes holding him, and for the first time since this conversation started, Charlie’s at a loss of words. There’s still plenty of things he wants to say, plenty of things he wants to do, but he’s just not quite sure how to. But they still went from barely knowing each other to Charlie reaching out and apologizing to Alex for not being better, to Alex genuinely thanking him for helping him and Tyler out. Surely that’s a victory in and of itself. Finally, Charlie opens his mouth, ready to say something, but Alex beats him to it first.
“I uh… We should probably get back with the rest of our friends,” Alex says, shrugging and wide-eyed. “You know, before they get worried,” he adds. “But uh… maybe you should come hang out more often? You know, with Tyler and me over the break,” he says, smiling subtly.
It makes Charlie blush a little. And it makes his chest feel warm when Alex says ‘our friends.’ It makes him really feel like part of the group now, and not just an outsider who got lumped in with a mess. And it meant Alex approved of him. “Okay, yeah,” he beams. “Sounds good,” he says back, trying not to sound too pointed.
When Alex starts walking, Charlie finally finds the words he wants to say. “Oh, and Alex?” He says, not realizing his heart rate has jumped.
“Yeah?” Alex asks, pausing in his footsteps.
“I’m glad you’re okay,” Charlie says. “You know, with everything.”
And although Alex doesn’t say anything back to him, he does nod warmly with a slight smile. Charlie’s content with this first interaction.
He has a new future to look forward to.