"And then BOOM!" His friends jumped, the girls squealing. "He was no more…" Charlie finished dramatically, spreading his hands to indicate a disappearance.

"No!" Carly protested. "It can't end like that!" Charlie put one hand on his hip and pointed at her.

"Look here, young lady," He said in an Old English accent, "The story shall end any way I deem it worthy to end."

"Do the Scottish accent, please." Kara begged. Charlie smiled cockily and cleared his throat.

"Oh, no… not the kilt…" Joe pleaded.

"Oh, it's a wee bit breezy down there." Charlie pretended to be holding down a kilt on a windy day. "If ye eat ya oats 'n' wheat, ya will grow from a wee lil' lassie to a big strong lad, like yours truly." The girls were in peals of laughter while Joe was in denial. Ever since Charlie had met Joe's Scottish grandfather, he had not stopped with the Scottish accent.

"Can you do, um, that detective one?" Carly asked.

"Detective one?" Carly nodded. "Uh… what detective one?"

"Curly!" They were interrupted by Charlie's only enemy- Kevin.

Kevin was jealous of all the attention Charlie got. Charlie was ADHD and dyslexic, but his was funny, kind of smart and always put a smile on people's faces. Kevin wasn't so popular, more infamous than famous. He was stocky and athletic whereas Charlie was short and kind of scrawny. Only Charlie could make scrawny look cute. Charlie's hair was a wild, curly mess while Kevin's was a tame, flat land of dull brown hair. Charlie's eyes were full of life, humour and often burned like embers in a homey hearth, while Kevin's eyes were icy blue, cold and unloving.

"Kevin, my man." Charlie snapped his fingers and made finger guns, popping a bullet from each into Kevin. "What's up?"

"That plane."

"What about it?"

"I want it."

"Well, it's mine." Kevin was a rich boy and was used to getting what he wanted. "My birthday present, mate, you ain't having it."

"I thought you'd say that." Kevin produced an envelope. "Have a look." Charlie took the envelope and sat down. He pulled out a thin stack of photos.

"Cliché much, dude. Hey, that's one got my good side."

"I thought you said you were all good side?" Kara smiled.

"I am."

"Then- you know what, nevermind." Charlie smiled devilishly.

"That's me. And that's me. And that's me too!" He looked up at Kevin, who didn't look happy. "Who took these photos?"

"I did."

"Well, they're really good. I guess you can be nice."

"Or he's your stalker." Joe suggested slyly. Charlie's smile faltered.

"Ew, no." He shook his head, but held the photo stack up proudly. "I'm gonna get these framed and then they're going on my wall."

"Can I have one?" Carly asked quietly.

"Anything for you, princess." She smiled. "Wait, where these supposed to be some of those pictures that I don't want anyone else seeing?" Kevin's jaw clenched which probably meant 'yes'. "Hell, I'm gonna photocopy them and stick up around the school."

"Vain much?"

"No. I can't be everywhere at once and people need to see some sheer awesome every day."

"Vain much?" Kara repeated. Charlie rolled his eyes.

"Actually… maybe a little bit. But I blame my dad."

"Curly, the plane."

"What about it?" They were at the start of their conversation again.

"I want it."

"Well, it's mine."

"I'll pay you."

"You might as well get your own if you're gonna pay me for it."

"But I don't want to build it."

"Well, you get and I'll build it. I work at… five dollars an hour?" Kevin pursed his lips. "Don't do that, you look like a duck." He scowled. "Six dollars an hour after a face like that."

"Fine." And he was gone.

"Are you gonna spend a whole day working on it?" Carly asked disbelievingly.

"I'm gonna say that and spend the rest of my day blowing stuff up."

"Sounds about right."

"You're a fraud." Joe smiled.

"I prefer devilishly handsome and smart, but hey," Charlie shrugged, "Whatever floats your boat."