Charlie stumbled down the stairs, rubbing his eyes and yawning loudly. Gently pushing open the kitchen door he headed straight to the fridge, pulling it open and grabbing a carton of orange juice and picking up a glass from on the side. He sat down, glancing up at the clock, his eyebrows furrowed, where was everyone?
His eyelids dropped, willing him to fall back asleep. He yawned again, stretching his arms out wide when suddenly he heard the door click open.
"Morning Dad" he managed to say, mid-yawn, his eyes still scrunched up. He turned his head to the side, as his face relaxed, slowly opening his eyes.
"Miss?"
Kim gave him a small smile, "Yes.."
"I… what?"
"I, erm.. stayed the night.." she said, looking over her shoulder at Andrew who had appeared behind her, doing up his tie.
"You not dressed yet," Andrew asked, looking up at him.
"I've only just got up."
"It's already half 7," Andrew stated, looking down at his watch.
"I can read the time, y'know."
"Less of the cheek," Andrew raised his voice, "Go get changed…"
Charlie sighed slightly, before trailing out of the room and up the stairs.
"Sorry about that," Andrew said quickly, looking back towards Kim and walking towards the fridge, "You want anything?"
"No, I'm fine thanks," Kim replied, leaning against the counter.
"Sure?" Andrew opened the fridge, looking inside.
"I'm fine, Andrew," she repeated.
He swiftly shut the door, turning round to look at her, "Nothing at all?"
She rolled her eyes, "No, Andrew."
He smiled, "Okay."
He looked up as he heard Charlie coming down the stairs, "That was quick," he called out to him.
The boy walked round into view, finishing doing the buttons up on his shirt, his tie hanging loosely round his neck, "It doesn't take that long…"
Andrew sighed quietly, "Tuck your shirt in. And do your tie up.."
Charlie groaned, his eyes looking up towards the ceiling, as he tucked it in, before sitting down at the table.
"Tie!" Andrew said, firmly.
"I'll do it in a minute," Charlie muttered, reaching across for the cereal.
Andrew just shook his head, turning his attention to Kim instead, "So…"
"I should probably go home and get changed…" Kim said.
"Umm, okay.. I'll drop you round."
"Oh, Andrew, are you sure?"
"Well, I'm read to go. Just waiting for him," Andrew jerked his head towards Charlie.
"I do have a name," Charlie said, rolling his eyes.
"Enough," Andrew glared down at him, "Just because Miss Campbell is here does not give you the right to be rude."
Charlie looked up to meet his gaze, although his eyes quickly flickered away, "Sorry…"
"Good. Now, I'll go with Miss Campbell, and drive by to pick you up."
"Don't worry, I can walk.."
Andrew considered it for a second, "No, I'll pick you up. And no going out, and no-one coming in. Okay?"
Charlie sighed, "Yeah.."
"Alright," Andrew looked down at his watch, "I'll pick you up just after 8."
"Okay, bye.." Charlie said, standing up, and walking round to the fridge to get a bottle of milk.
Andrew turned and smiled at Kim, walking down the hall and allowing her to follow.
…
"Yeah, and a left turn here," Kim said, pointing down a side street.
"We nearly here?" Andrew asked, wary of the time.
"Number 23 on this street," she paused for a second, "You're very strict with him, aren't you?"
"Sorry?"
"With Charlie."
"Oh, yeah, I guess.. But we're talking a lot more now.."
"Yeah?"
"Mhm.. we were talking about his mum yesterday."
"Oh, sorry."
Andrew smiled weakly, "Don't worry, it's been 15 years, I'm fine…"
Kim looked across at him, "Sorry if I'm being too nosy, but, have you… been, with anyone else since?"
"No. No-one."
"Oh…" Kim said, not really sure of what to say, "He's a good kid… Charlie.."
Andrew smiled slightly, "Hmm.. he can be.."
"Can be?"
"Did you not hear? About Izzie's room."
"Well, someone trashed it the other week, didn't they?"
Andrew sighed, "Charlie.. to be exact."
"Charlie?"
"Yeah, I was surprised too."
"But, surely he wouldn't…"
"That's what I thought," Andrew sighed, "Is it this house here?"
Kim looked out of the window, "Yeah.."
Andrew pulled over and stopped the car, "Kim, can you do me a favour.."
"Sure?"
"Could you talk to him? I mean, he acted like he was doing it so I'd send him back to Kingsmere but… I'm not sure."
"Yeah, of course. I'd be happy too."
Andrew smiled, "Thanks Kim."
…..
Charlie stepped out of the car, looking around himself warily. Fortunately no-one seemed as interested as they had been yesterday, so none of them noticed Miss Campbell slide out the other side of the car.
Then Charlie met eyes with Rory, who obviously had been waiting; his eyes widened at the sight of Miss Campbell. Charlie rolled his eyes as he walked over to him.
"Woah, you've even got Campbell today," Rory commented as Charlie approached him.
"Yeah, luckily no-one else has noticed."
Rory gave a small laugh, "Yup, unfortunately you're old news now."
"I wouldn't necessarily say that's a bad thing."
Glancing around, it did indeed look like everyone had forgotten already... although he doubted Lewis ever would. He was still stood there at the side of the corridor with all his mates, glaring at Charlie as he walked past.
Lewis smiled, beckoning for Charlie to come over. Rolling his eyes, Charlie asked Rory to wait for him before walking across.
"Yeah?" Charlie asked, nervously.
"Rimmer believe it?"
"Well, as I'm now stuck in the cooler and grounded for a week, I'd think so."
"See, told you nothing would happen."
"You call that nothing?"
"Eh, if it had been me I'd have been chucked out!"
Charlie paused for a second, "Is that it?"
"For now," Lewis said smirking.
Charlie sighed, turning away and walking back over to Rory.
"What was that all about?" Rory asked.
"Nothing," Charlie replied, walking round to the left.
"Where you going?"
"Mr Rimmer wants me to go straight to the cooler."
"Oh."
…..
"Can I take Charlie please?"
Charlie's eyes shot up, he hadn't bothered acknowledging who had entered the room, but now he was more interested. His eyebrows furrowed as his eyes focused on Kim, who turned to give him an encouraging smile and a small nod.
Still confused he stood up, "Shall I bring my things?" he asked, only just loud enough for her to hear.
She just simply nodded again.
He pushed his pen and books into his bag, before picking it up and walking out of the room after her.
"What's going on, miss?" he asked as soon as he'd shut the door.
Kim turned round to look at him quickly, "Nothing.. just wanted a chat.." she turned away again, and continued walking.
Charlie sighed, speeding up to catch up with her, "About what?"
"Just things," she replied simply, turning and walking down the stairs.
Charlie bit his lip, getting slightly annoyed, and choosing just not to say anything whilst he followed her to the office. She opened the door, holding it a second for him to walk in and then making her way over to two chairs. Charlie looked round, walking just slightly behind her, before pulling out a chair and sitting down, "So, what's this about?"
Kim sat down, looking directly at him, "Well.. a few things really.."
"Okay..."
"How are things at home now?"
"Better I guess.."
"Better?" Kim was slightly surprised, "So, like this morning, that was better?"
"What happened this morning?" Charlie asked.
"Just.. they way your Dad acted.. and spoke to you."
"Oh.. he's always like that though."
"Oh..." Kim said, "Okay.. So, what about in school?"
Charlie shrugged, "Same as usual."
"No-one giving you a hard time, over who your Dad is..?"
Charlie hesitated, "There were a few comments.."
"Nothing more?" Kim asked.
"No."
She glanced down at her watch, "Well this is going quicker than I thought.. just one more thing."
"What's that?"
"The drama room.."
Charlie groaned, "Again? Can't everyone just drop it?"
"Well, I certainly won't Charlie.. At least not until I fully understand why."
"But I don't know why I did it!"
"Come on Charlie there must've been some reason.. I don't know, a way of rebelling? Anything, we just want something.."
Charlie leant back thinking, "Dad put you up to this didn't he."
"That's beside the point..."
Charlie rolled his eyes, hesitating before speaking, "I want to go back to Kingsmere.. Maybe if I act like this.. Dad'll send me back."
"And that's really the truth?"
"Yeah..."
"See, I don't believe you Charlie.."
Charlie sighed, looking away.
"Why can't you tell me the truth?" she asked, "You always have before.."
"Things are different now," Charlie stated.
"How?"
"You know Dad now.. you're close to him.. it's obvious you're just gonna tell him."
Now it was Kim's turn to sigh and look away, it was true, and knew that she shouldn't really lie.
"Okay.." she said carefully, "But, what have you got against him knowing?"
"Because he'll freak, and things will just be ten thousand times worse."
"You don't know that.."
"I do," Charlie replied simply, "Is that it?"
"You're not going to tell me.."
"No," he said standing up with his bag, "Can I go back to the cooler?"
Kim leant back in her chair, giving up, "Fine.. go on then.."