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It had been difficult to accept it. He’d denied it, ignored it, and did everything he could to get over it, but it was no use.
Alastor had a crush on Charlie.
Ugh, CRUSH. What a ridiculous word. Though he supposed it was appropriate, because it was agonizing to be around her. He woke up one morning and decided today would be the day. He was the radio demon! He wasn’t afraid of anything! But the thought of telling Charlie that he had feelings for her made his blood run cold. He decided it would be best to approach things slowly, to sort of court her and see how she responded.
That would’ve worked if Charlie wasn’t the most oblivious person in the world.
He’d gone out that morning and gotten a beautiful bouquet of flowers. She was sitting at the desk reading a book as he approached, and he sincerely hoped he wasn’t visibly sweaty, because that’s how he felt. She looked up as he approached and smiled. God, that smile! “Morning, Al!”
”Good morning, my dear. These are for you.” He extended the flowers with a smile.
”Aw, that’s so sweet, Al! You know, I’ve been thinking we could use some more plants around here, this is a great start! I’ll put these on the desk, and maybe I’ll get some ferns or something for the lobby.”
What?
”-or I read this article about living walls, where you put a bunch of plants on one wall. Al, are you even listening?”
“Apologies, my mind was elsewhere. Living walls, you say?”
Ok, so the flowers had been a bust. He’d get her some chocolate! She loved chocolate, and if it was in a heart shaped box, it would be difficult to ignore his intentions.
He was wrong.
”Oh my gosh, it’s like you KNEW I needed this today. Are you secretly a mind reader?” Charlie grinned and popped a chocolate in her mouth.
“I just thought that I’d give you a little something as sweet as you.” He gave her his most charming smile.
“What a LINE! You crack me up, Al.”
For two full weeks, he tried a variety of approaches. He’d bring her coffee, come up with reasons to be around her, go with her to the store….Ugh. He was pathetic.
Ok, he’d ask her to dinner. That would make his feelings clear, right?
“Tonight? Sure, I’m not doing anything important. I was just going to tidy up my desk, it’s kind of a mess. Hey, do you want to just order takeout?”
He would have to be more direct. “Actually, Charlie, I was hoping to take you out to dinner. If you’d like to, that is.”
”Yeah, sure, we can go out! Let me grab a jacket.”
”Not that I don’t think you look wonderful, but I had a bit of an upscale place in mind.”
”Oh! Ok, cool, I’ll go change. What’s the occasion?”
”No occasion, I just wanted to take you out.” He gave her his most charming smile.
“You’ve been a real softie lately, Al! I’m not complaining, it’s just different. I’m starting to get suspicious.” She giggled. “Like you’re buttering me up to give me some bad news.”
”I assure you, it’s nothing like that.”
”Alright, give me five minutes!” Charlie bounded up the stairs to go change.
“That was painful to watch.”
Alastor was startled. He usually kept an eye on his surroundings, but he’d been so focused on Charlie that he hadn’t seen Angel Dust sitting nearby.
”I didn’t realize we had an audience.” Alastor straightened his tie.
“Look, the rest of us are readin’ ya loud and clear. But Charlie? She’s different. Unless you literally say ‘I am asking you on a date,’ she’s not gonna get it. I guarantee she didn’t read between the lines. Ya just gotta be direct.”
”You say that as if it’s easy.”
”For some of us it is! I can walk up to anybody and tell them how I feel about them.”
”Yes, that’s been very clear.” He rolled his eyes. Angel Dust was not among his favorite people.
”So grow a pair and tell her how you really feel, unless you wanna stay in the friendzone forever.”
Charlie came down the stairs a moment later in a black cocktail dress and her hair pinned up. “Will this work?”
”Certainly. You look wonderful.” He smiled.
“Hey, you clean up pretty nice doll! Got a hot date?” Angel asked as Alastor silently plotted his death.
”Al wanted to go out to dinner tonight. It’s fun getting dressed up every once in a while! I never go out, I’m always so busy here. This will be fun! Come on, Al, I’m starving!”
Charlie was surprised at the restaurant he’d chosen. It was a really upscale place, and the kind of place where you went on a fancy date. But Alastor was a fancy guy, so why not?
She was looking at her menu when she felt someone staring at her. She looked up and saw Alastor looking at her intently. “Um, do I have something on my face?”
”No, my dear. I was just admiring the view.” He smiled at her. Why did she get butterflies when he said things like that? He was probably doing it on purpose, he liked making people uncomfortable. Unfortunately she had a MAJOR crush on him, but knew it was pointless. He wasn’t interested in her like that.
“Thank you, Mr. Smooth talker. Seriously, do you have a book of these or something?” She giggled and returned to her menu. After they ordered, a waiter poured them each a glass of wine. She wasn’t much of a wine drinker, but this one was fantastic! “This is so good! I’m not usually a wine person.”
”It’s a very rare vintage, I’ve never had it myself before tonight.”
Charlie nearly choked on her wine. “It’s rare?! Al, this is too extravagant!”
”Nothing is too much for you, Charlie.” He had that smile again. It wasn’t his usual wide smile, but a softer, more genuine one.
”Al, what’s going on with you lately? I’m really starting to worry that something is wrong.”
”Nothing is wrong, my dear. In fact, I feel that I’ve finally found something right.”
”Is it this wine? Because I totally get it.” She chuckled.
“No, no. Something, or rather, someone else.”
”Good for you, Al! I’m glad to hear it. You deserve to be happy.”
She was surprised when Alastor put his face in his hands and let out a muffled scream, drawing the attention of nearby diners. “Al! Are you ok?!”
”No! I’m not ok! Not in the slightest! Because I have been trying for the last two weeks to make my intentions clear, and apparently I’ve failed!”
”What are you talking about? Can I help in some way?”
He let out a peal of laughter, making the other diners look nervous. “No, you can’t. You really can’t help it. I was worried that perhaps you were just trying to spare my feelings, but no. You really can’t help it.”
”I don’t understand. Did I do something?”
”Yes, you did something Charlie. You’ve stolen my heart, and I have been trying for the last TWO WEEKS to demonstrate my affections, but you’ve misunderstood every single one of them! I gave you flowers, chocolates in a heart shaped box, I dedicated a song to you on my radio show! I’ve showered you in compliments, spent as much time with you as possible and fixed you breakfast and brought you coffee. I asked you out to dinner and brought you here, and you still didn’t get it! So I have no choice but to make a complete and utter fool of myself and create a spectacle just to say that I HAVE FEELINGS FOR YOU! I didn’t want them and I can’t get rid of them and they have been EATING at me and I can’t stand it anymore!”
Charlie stared at him with wide eyes. “Oh.”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t intend to do it this way. I hope this doesn’t affect our partnership. I’m sorry for making you uncomfortable.” Alastor closed his eyes and rubbed his temples.
“You didn’t. I like you too, Al.”
He looked up in surprise. “What?”
“I told myself you were just doing those things to try and get a rise out of me. I figured there was no way you were serious. I figured it was just a big joke to you, so I was trying to act unbothered.”
“Oh my. It seems we’ve had a few misunderstandings.”
“A few.” Charlie giggled.
“Can I take you on a date sometime, Charlie?”
“Sure. I’m free right now?”
“Wonderful. To no more misunderstandings!” He held his glass up. Charlie clinked it with a smile. She was looking forward to a great evening.