They all piled into Jared's truck for the night, ready for the bonfire. Kim had dressed both Charlie and Denny for the night, they didn't want to wear their city clothes and stick out too much. Quil was amazed when he saw Charlie come out in plain blue jeans and a plain black sweater with purple converse on. Her fading purple hair was braided into a fishtail going down her back and the only jewelry she wore was her earrings. She looked simple but absolutely beautiful to Quil. Denny wore a plain white T-shirt Quil had leant him and a pair of black jeans with steel toe boots, this was the most normal he would ever look. Kim was impressed with her work, very La Push chic she thought. The car ride was mainly filled with a few conversations here and there but Quil and Charlie both sat quiet. Quil was nervous for her to learn the stories but he hoped that she wouldn't be piecing anything together anytime soon, he wanted to just enjoy his time with her acting like a normal guy who is falling for a psychotic mess of a girl. Charlie was feeling withdrawal set in, she hadn't gone almost a full day with nothing in her system since maybe the beginning of high school. She could feel her bones start to ache and the cold sweats start to come, luckily Quil was so warm next to her that she just leaned into him anytime she got cold. She was trying to remain calm because she knew soon the screams would start bubbling out of her throat and her body would start twitching with pain.
"How much longer?" Charlie finally half shouted from the back of the car causing everyone to look at her. Denny rubbed her back knowing that being in the small space for so long with a sober mind was killing her. Quil looked at his watch and saw they only had about five minutes left.
"Five minutes but here," Quil rolled down his window and unbuckled moving forward to squish himself against the back of Kim's seat. Charlie quickly unbuckled and crawled on the seat to hang her head out the window like a dog, maybe this wasn't the right time to get sober. Why did she think this was a good idea? For a guy who is going to leave one day anyways? He said he wouldn't but Charlie knew he would, she just wanted to live in a blissful lie for a little bit more. Charlie let the coldness hit her face as she took a deep breath of ocean air. She knew the beach was right around the corner which calmed her nerves a bit. She placed a hand on the back of Quils shoulder silently thanking him for the help. Denny rubbed her back lightly still, concerned for his best friend but also proud. She never had any intention on getting sober but this man, Quil, was changing that path for her and he just prayed nothing bad would happen. Denny knew one bad thing between the two of them could make Charlie go back and completely sprial.
"We're here!" Charlie shouted to everyone before starting to climb out the window before Jared was fully parked. They all watched as she jumped out and began taking deep breathes of the salty air.
"Everyone just...be patient with her. She's trying," Denny patted the boys backs and gave an apologetic look to Kim.
"We know how hard this can be. No worries, we'll just give the others heads up," Kim smiles kindly before stepping out the truck along with everyone else. Quil watched his imprint as she paced along the front of the truck, Charlie felt like her bones were screaming to get out of her body. This is what she's always avoided.
"Can I go see the water?" Charlie asked as the others finally came and stood next to her. Quil and Kim knew they had to go and warn Sam along with the others of her withdrawling. Denny was going to go with them for safe measure, vouch for Charlie not being crazy just struggling with herself currently. They all wanted to make sure everyone understood what was happening so they didn't deem her insane right away.
"I'll go," Jared deciding before anyone else said any of their reasons. He didn't want her to get upset of the special details they were taking care of for her. He also didn't want her to go to the water alone because he has seen how implusive she is and doesn't need a diving incident. The three took off towards the group of people that were building the fire and laying out food while Jared and Charlie walked towards the water. Charlie wanted to put her feet in, make herself feel numb without drugs.
"Hey guys!" Kim shouted as she left Denny and Quil behind, excited to see the group again. Everyone smiled before leaving their duties behind to give her hugs.
"You'll have to tell us all about it," Rachel told her as she gave Kim a tight hug before passing her off to Emily.
"I haven't even started officially yet. Charlie just helped me get a lay out of the campus this week and the classes. I start Monday," Kim had forgotten how nervous she was about going to school away from home because her roommates made her feel like she was home. Kim hugged Emily who then gave her a homemade cookie and went back to food duty. She knew the boys would be starving soon so she had to finish getting that all ready.
"This is Charlie?" Seth asked with raised eyebrows looking at Denny who finally caught up to where the group was. Seth was almost positive that Quil wasn't gay but if he imprinted on the man next to him then who was he to judge.
"No," Quil rolled his eyes, almost able to read the kids thoughts. "This is Denny, Charlie and Kim's roommate. Denny grew up over in Forks," Quil threw his arm around Denny and flicked off Seth. Denny laughed before smiling and waving. He was happy to see Quil and Kim in their natural environment. He was also happy to see all the shirtless men with perfect bodies around him. Denny was in heaven.
"Well, then where is Charlie? And Jared?" Seth asked noticing that Jared wasn't by Kim which never happened.
"He's down by the water with Charlie. We wanted to talk to everyone before they came up here actually," Quil cleared his throat. He was nervous to tell everyone that Charlie was in fact a drug addict but that she was trying to get sober now. Well, more like confirm because they all had been suspecting since Paul kept mentioning the snorting sounds he heard the day they dropped Kim off. Plus, it didn't help that when they were running as wolves Quil kept replaying the drug bag in his mind, seeing everything inside of it scared Quil of losing Charlie.
"Charlie is starting to recover from drug addiction so she's a little on edge right now. Shakes, sweats, aches, etc. She's trying to hold on the best she can but she's going to go insane at some point I'm sure. She's normally a bit impulsive already so I think this will just add. So please, I apologize in advice and just...be cautious," Denny shrugged at the last part not sure if he should tell them to run from her or just support her. They didn't know her, they didn't owe that to her.
"Oh, honey. We will cheer for her like there's no more tomorrow," Emily said from the food table as she slapped Jacobs hand away from the cookie tray.
"We'll do whatever you need," Seth chimes in while looking at Quil. Seth was like the little brother and knew he would need all the help to tame the rowdy girl who was currently flipping Jared off as she walked knee deep out into the water, pants rolled up as high as they could go.
"My mom got sober a few years ago from drinking so it's all good," Embry gave Denny a smile before breaking a stick and tossing it into the now smokey stack of wood. Denny was shocked by the acceptance of everyone and before he could open his mouth to say thank you Kim grabbed his hand and rubbed him to the food table to help. The more hands the merrier. Quil took a sit on a log, watching as Jared threw his own shoes off and rolled up his pants. He could tell Jared was getting nervous of the girl who was now knee deep watching the waves come in, the water had to be freezing to her. Not even the kids down the beach were in the water.
"Hey man, how you doing?" Embry came over and sat next to him. The sun was just starting to go down as they watched Jared pick up Charlie and throw her over his shoulder to get her out of the numbing water.
"I have no room to complain," Quil was being honest. How could he complain when he imprinted? Yes, she had problems but that is what it is. Yes, he knew she liked him so there wasn't any questioning that thank god. But, he was terrified of her, for her.
"She'll be fine. After the first week she'll be okay from the physical pain," Embry knew from personal experience. Once his mom passed the first week she was no longer in pain, she just had to deal with emotional and mental stuff then.
"Yes but I'm only with her until tomorrow. Then I won't see her until next weekend. I have doubles all week to make up for me missing weekends now," Quil lowered his voice a bit when Denny went and sat on a log across from them to start snapping photos on his camera. He brought it because he needed reference photos for scenery in his comics.
"Kim will be there. She also seems to have a pretty good friend right there," Embry whispered back while pointing to Denny. Quil nodded before sighing. Jared was getting closer with the girl still over his shoulder. Charlie was silent though, eyes closed, pretending to be dead. Denny laughed as he watched the scene, she almost always did this when someone picked her up like this. Played possum.
"Your girl is crazy!" Jared laughed when he sat Charlie down carefully next to Quil and Embry.
"He said it was getting too cold which I call bs on because I couldn't feel it," Charlie stuck her tongue out at Jared as she rolled her pants back down and pulled on her socks and shoes. She didn't care that sand was still on her feet, it made her happy to be by the water again.
"It was getting too cold! You were just too numb to tell," Jared knew she must have been freezing in the water because it was cold even to him.
"You're just a wimp," Charlie flipped him off again before wrapping her arms around herself, she wouldn't admit she was cold but it felt soothing in a way.
"Someone else who agrees with me," Paul laughed as helped get the fire going bigger. Sam rolled her eyes and smacked him on the back of his head. Paul was always acting like the annoying older brother to the pack.
"Charlie that is Paul. This is Embry, over there is Sam. His wife is over by the food table next to Jacob who just got smacked again. Then Seth is the baby face playing football alone. Billy and my grandpa are coming with Rachel and Leah," Quil gave a quick run down on the pack around them. Rachel and Leah were bringing the old men who insisted on not driving in the dark. Charlie took note of everyone's name and gave a wave. She was usually very confident in meeting new people but right now not so much. She was more nervous. This people meant a lot to Quil and they were going to see her at her worst. Maybe this was a bad idea.
"I'm nervous," Charlie finally whispered to Quil when Embry got up to go play with Seth so he wouldn't look so sad.
"Don't be. They all will love you," Quil wanted to add in just like he did but that would be a deal breaker for Charlie probably. They met the weekend before, love was not in equation yet probably. Especially because she started sweating despite the sun now gone and the breeze picking up. Everyone else was putting on sweaters or hoodies minus the actual pack. Quil asked her to stand up in which she did, he rolled the log they were on a few feet back away from the fire hoping it would help the sweats.
"Thank you," Charlie told him but before she could sit back down with him in their own little bubble Denny grabbed her hand and took her over to where Kim and Seth were. Seth was calling over Embry and Rachel who had just showed up.
"Okay! So the Cupid Shuffle!" Denny shouted as the song started on the radio that had been softly playing in the background until now, now it was cranked. Quil could see Charlie trying to fake her way through the first bit as Denny and her showed the group. Embry looked over and mouthed support before he decided to get up and go dance too. He hated dancing but not with her. Not for her. The girls caught on quickly but the guys kept running in to each other. Charlie laughed when Seth tripped over his feet but then she reached out a hand for him to hold as she led him through the last bit. Once the song was over Seth hugged her.
"It's so good to meet you! Finally! Quil has someone!" Seth knew that she was aware of the imprint but he was happy that he had found someone. Charlie laughed, she definitely needed to ask Quil if they were dating. Falling by Harry Styles came on next so as Rachel pulled Paul over to dance and Emily pulled Sam over Charlie decided to stick with Seth.
"You're a baby huh?" She asked smiling as Quil whispered he was going to go and make them a plate. She had no appetite but she would eat if it would make him happy.
"I'm sixteen thank you very much," Seth stood to his full height trying to make himself seem older.
"So a baby, just a tall one. You know what I was doing at sixteen?" Charlie laughed at his goofiness, he was an adorable kid.
"Not dancing with a handsome 'baby' like myself?" Seth winked and clicked his tongue trying to be smooth. That only made Charlie laugh harder. She was forgetting all about her sweats right now.
"I indeed was not. I was drinking in a gas station bathroom with my foster sister, Tiff. She was dating the guy that worked there. But, I much rather have been doing this," Charlie left the conversation on a light note as the song ended. They both bowed to each other in playfulness as Charlie walked back over to Quil. She grabbed a cookie off the plate and started to nibble.
"What were you guys talking about?" Quil was fully aware what she had said but wanted to see if she would also trust him with the same information.
"I told him about my weekends as a sixteen year old," her eyes looked sad as she answered him despite the playful grin left on her face.
"What were you doing at sixteen? You tell and then I will," Quil knew he was going to sound extremely boring to her once he told her but maybe she would still want boring.
"I was spending my weekends drinking in a gas station bathroom with my then foster sister, Tiff. She was dating the guy who worked there, his name was Rob. I always called him Bob though cause I was a dick then. Still am I guess. But, anyways. Tiff was only there in that foster home with me for about half of my sixteenth year before she got into a drunk driving incident. That should have made me stop then, it just made me drink more," Charlie took a giant bite of the cookie then she could have something to do instead of looking into his pity filled eyes.
"I was...I was studying and taking care of my grandpa at sixteen. Now I work and take care of my grandpa," Quil told her to fill the silence that had happened between them. Before either one could say anything more they were interrupted by a loud whistle. Two men in wheelchairs sat next to Jacob and Sam. Quil Sr and Billy.
"Let the stories...begin," Quil Sr announced giving a slight smile to Charlie and Quil. She would bring out the best in him.
So longer wait but longer chapter! Enjoy! Review! I have other stories! Thank you!