Chapter 13 – Sweet Invitations
It had been almost a month since Charlie's shoulder injury and it was healing quite nicely much to his satisfaction. Charlie felt indebted to Hiram Berry for basically being his own personal physician since he insisted on checking out Charlie's shoulder every single time he went to the Berry house to see Rachel. Hiram predicted that he would only have to wear this sling for a few more weeks which was music to Charlie's ears because he literally really wanted to burn it in his fireplace sometime before he went home for Christmas.
Football at McKinley had officially ended a couple weeks prior as Finn had led them to a crushing defeat to Columbus. Charlie was going a little stir crazy from the lack of exercise his body was getting. He wasn't use to not being able to run or lift weights the way he wanted to, so for now he was stuck with nothing to do. Thanksgiving was only a few days away and today was the first day schools in Ohio were off for fall break. While Charlie was busy at home doing nothing the New Directions were busy gearing up for Sectionals and hard at work perfecting their routine.
Charlie was currently lying in his bedroom floor on his back with one hand gripping his bed while doing leg lifts. He lifted his feet six inches off the floor and held them there before lifting is legs straight up and bringing them back down to the six inch mark. A few hundred of those should make him feel better. He loved to feel the burn of a good workout.
He could hear the sound of bickering coming from out in the hallway and closing in on his room.
"I swear you are going to meet Moses personally, Berry, if you do not shut up." Santana seethed as she filed in the room in front of Brittany and Rachel.
"I'm just saying that we could all use a little more practice, Santana. There is always room for improvement. Take myself as an example. I have perfect pitch and I still practice my singing every day." Rachel explained as she entered the room.
"The only thing perfect about you is your ability to get on my very last nerve, Berry. My performance today was freaking flawless and so were Britt and Mike's. You need to worry about figuring out a way to get Frankenteen to stop making googly eyes at you long enough to learn the number before he costs us Sectionals." Santana told her before looking at the blonde who was still lying on his bedroom floor. "Done many of those Q?"
"Yeah a few," Charlie grunted out as he kept his legs steady and off the floor, "How was Glee practice ladies?"
"Great." Brittany told him.
"Good." Santana replied.
"Terrible." Rachel pouted out.
Charlie dropped his legs and rocked up onto his feet before taking a seat between Rachel and Brittany on his bed.
"Why was it terrible darlin, because of Finn?" Charlie asked her curiously.
Rachel nodded, "He's just not paying attention to what he's doing and he's ruining our number."
"Be forreal Rachel. He's more interested in singing love songs to you instead of with you for the sake of the club." Santana said with an eye roll. "Face it, he still thinks you two belong together."
"You don't know that Santana." Rachel assured her.
"Actually…we do." Brittany told them. "He said those words. He said Rachel and I belong together."
"When did he say that, Britt?" Charlie asked her.
"Yesterday at practice," Santana explained for her. "What are you going to do about it Q?"
"He's not going to do anything. Finn is our male lead Santana and we need his vocals to help win Sectionals. I will talk with him again and let him know where he stands with me-" Rachel started.
"Oh pu-lease Berry. I mean this with all the kindness that I can muster for you; don't act like you don't enjoy Finn's attention. You are an attention whore Rachel. You are eating this shit up. Don't act like you aren't." Santana said sassily.
"While I do enjoy being in the spotlight Santana I do not enjoy Finn's attention and I do not appreciate you trying to rile Quinton up for no reason. Don't geode him into a confrontation with Finn that could result in him getting hurt-"
"I'm not afraid of Finn." Charlie interjected.
"Do not interrupt me." Rachel told him pointedly. "As I was saying… Don't geode him into a confrontation with Finn that could result in him getting hurt since he hasn't even healed from his last injury yet. Fighting about it isn't the answer Santana. As Captain of the Glee Club it is my responsibility to try to extinguish any problems that may arise and I will address this problem as soon as I get the chance. And as for you," Rachel said, as she rounded on Charlie. "You will say nothing to Finn."
The distinct sound of a whip cracking could be heard coming from Santana's direction. Charlie huffed at her command and nodded reluctantly.
Rachel arched her eyebrow. "Not a word Quinton."
Rachel scooted closer to him and leaned in to kiss his lips softly before saying, "I will take care of Finn and you will just have to trust that I will come to you with a problem if I need you okay? Trust with your heart, remember?"
Charlie nodded and smirked at her before responding , "I remember." and leaning in to kiss her again.
"You're completely pathetic Fabray. She's completely neutered you." Santana said as she watched the couple and shook her head. "Come on B, let's go. I need something to help rid myself of these images."
"Bye guys." Brittany said before she followed Santana out of the room.
"Bye Britt." Charlie and Rachel responded as she left.
"Oh my goodness I almost forgot! I have something for you." Rachel exclaimed as she jumped up off the bed.
"What is it?" Charlie asked, weirdly excited by her excitement.
Rachel pulled something out of her jacket pocket before depositing it in Charlie's hands with a beaming smile. Charlie read the ticket and smiled in return.
"It's your ticket to Sectionals." Rachel explained.
"I know." Charlie replied with a chaste kiss. "Thank you darlin. I wouldn't miss it for the world."
"I can't wait for you to see us perform Charlie. We're going to win, I just know it. Santana's number is phenomenal and with Brittany and Mike's dance routine our competition doesn't stand a chance. Everyone has been working so hard and I'm so excited for you to see us." Rachel explained excitedly.
"I can't wait to see you perform Rach. You haven't sang for me in weeks. Glee club has been hogging you." Charlie told her with a smile.
"I sang for you the other night, silly." Rachel laughed.
"Well, it feels like weeks." Charlie explained.
Rachel giggled before slapping his arm playfully, "You're crazy Charlie."
"Mmmmm." Charlie hummed against Rachel's neck, "Crazy about you."
Rachel laughed before pushing him away slightly so she could look at his face.
"Well how about I give you a private show Friday night…at my house." Rachel told him as she bit her lip lightly. "My Dads," She continued, "are going out of town for a little romantic getaway before their hectic holiday work schedules kick in."
Rachel looked away shyly biting her lip before gathering enough courage to face him again and ask, "Would you like to maybe come over and spend the night with me?"
Charlie felt goose bumps explode from his neck down both his arms before he choked down the saliva that was in his mouth and was able to answer.
"At your house?" Charlie squeaked out, "All-all night?"
Rachel looked away dejectedly, "You don't have to, it was just a stupid suggestion."
"I want to." Charlie whispered assuredly.
"You do?" Rachel asked suspiciously.
"Yes." Charlie coughed out.
"Okay! Yay! We can have dinner and just spend time together. Maybe watch a movie and cuddle up on the couch. What do you think?" Rachel asked him anxiously.
Charlie nodded his head, his heart hammering in his chest. "That sounds amazing, Rach."
"Doesn't it?" Rachel smiled, "Well I have to go because I have dance class in a little bit. Talk to you after?"
"Of course, darlin." Charlie replied before kissing her goodbye.
Charlie watched her leave before he lunged for his cell phone to text Santana.
To Santana: Your help, I need it now!
Santana: What is it Yoda?
To Santana: Can I come over? It's an emergency.
Santana: Yeah man, just give us 5 mins.
Charlie stepped into his shoes and put on a hat before he headed over to Santana's house and up to her room. He knocked and waited impatiently for someone, anyone, to let him in.
When Santana opened the door she raised her eyebrow at his frantic state, "Dude, why are you trippin?"
Charlie stepped into Santana's room and started pacing her floor before he started trying to explain. "She, uh Rachel, she invited me to her house Friday night. To uhh-and she was biting her lip which is so sexy and she asked me to stay and her Dads, her Dads won't be there. No parents guys. None. Not either one of them, not one. They'll both be gone and we'll be alone. What do I do?"
"Okay, first of all, sit down. You're going to wear a whole in my carpet." Santana instructed and Charlie took a seat on her desk chair. "Second of all, why are you freaking out? Staying the night with your girlfriend with no parents is like hitting the freaking jackpot dude."
"Charlie," Brittany called sweetly, "Are you worried about sexy times with Rachel?"
Charlie's eyes widened before he shook his head furiously, "No, not for a long long long time. Rachel wants to wait until she's twenty-five and her career has flourished."
"You're actually going to do that shit? Twenty-five is a long frickin time away dude." Santana said sympathetically.
"I'd do anything for her." Charlie told her seriously.
"Oh, barf." Santana said, "Well if it's not sex you're worried about then why are you wiggin out?"
"I know sex is galaxies away from being an option but what if she wants to do other things. I-I don't know how to," Charlie struggled out with a sigh, "I don't know what to do and I don't want to ever be bad at anything that she might want."
Brittany smiled fondly at him before turning to Santana, "He wants to know how to please his lady San. I think we need to help him."
Santana nodded with a smirk, "Our boy is growing up. What do you want to know exactly?"
"Like maybe how to ummm, ya know." Charlie said gesturing to his own chest.
Santana laughed, "If you can't say it then we can't help you, Q."
"Her boobs. I want to touch her boobs. When she wants that, I want to be good at doing that. Finn has had his stupid hands on her chest before and she has voiced her dissatisfaction of the experience. I want her to enjoy it, so I came to the two people who I am confident in their fondling abilities." Charlie explained.
Brittany nodded, "Santana is really good at touching my boobs."
Santana cheeks flamed pink, "Yeah well, don't wanna blow my own horn or anything but…if the shoe fits…"
"Help me Santana. I've barely even touched one before. I don't know if she'll want to fool around at all but, if she does, I want to have some sort of an idea of what I'm doing." Charlie whined.
"Fine. Come here, sit. I'll show you on you." Santana said as she patted the bed beside her.
Charlie moved over to the bed and sat down rigidly next to Santana.
"Okay, so pretend I'm Berry and we're getting our mack on, show me your first move, Cowboy."
"Ummm…I don't want to pressure her so I'm just going to wait until she shows me that she wants more than just kissing, if she does, I mean." Charlie said lamely.
"Okay, I'm Berry and I pull you closer to me, like flush against my body. What do you do?" Santana asked him.
"Dude, I don't know I only have one good arm here." Charlie told her desperately.
"Oh, for fucks sake. Fine, you be Berry and I'll show you what I'd do if I were you." Santana told him.
"Why, do I gotta be the girl?" Charlie pouted.
"Because you're being a whiney baby about touching your girlfriend's boobs. Man up and get your grope on, Q." Santana urged him.
"Fine, grope me." Charlie told her as she puffed his chest out.
"Now listen, you don't want to just go for the goodies right off the bat. Warm her up. Work up to it." Santana explained, "Touch her waist, her sides, do it gently at first unless she directs you otherwise. Like so."
Santana set her hands gently on Charlie waist and stroked his side under his shirt with the pad of her thumb. Charlie looked down at her hand and nodded his approval.
"That's kinda nice." Charlie complemented.
"I know, right? Just remember slow and steady wins the race here buddy. Once you feel comfortable and she looks like she feels comfortable then you can progress a little." Santana explained. "Maybe try to touch her sides here around her ribs, but don't tickle her and when you actually get ready to touch her actual breast just slide your hand up like this."
Santana slid her hand up his side and onto his chest and squeezed softly before Charlie slapped her hand away and Santana burst out laughing.
"That was hot." Brittany told them.
"And hopefully that doesn't happy when you go for Berry's berries." Santana said as she laughed again.
"You're supposed to be helping me Santana and so far you have been absolutely no help at all." Charlie scolded the still laughing Latina.
"Sure, I have." Santana said as she tried to quell her laughter, "Seriously Q, you'll be fine. Just remember to go slow. I'm pretty sure this is pretty new territory for Berry too. It's not like she knows what good is anyways. Just make your decisions based off her reactions to what you're doing. Kissing is good. Soft touches are good. Neck, ear lobes, and collarbones are good safe zone turn-ons. Wanna add anything, B?"
"Rachel will enjoy anything you guys do Charlie because she cares about you. I love Santana so that plus her amazing sweet lady kisses are what makes our physical relationship so great. Me loving her makes what we have so much more special than anything else I've had in the past. And you love Rachel so that will make anything that happens between you guys really special too." Brittany told him with a smile.
Charlie nodded while Santana looked like she had just been handed the keys to a palace.
"And you should totally kiss her neck a lot. She told me she really likes it when you do that." Brittany added nonchalantly.
"She talks to you about us?" Charlie asked excitedly. "What else has she said?"
Santana rolled her eyes, "Dude, you are such a woman. I mistakenly told Berry that she could come to us if she ever needed relationship advice and the little blabber mouth takes us up on that often. We know more about her little feelings than she does I think."
"Rachel told me you are a really good kisser, Charlie." Brittany told him with a smile.
"And she so green with jealousy about Stacey seeing your goodies that she can barely function. Seriously, it's sad." Santana added.
"That wasn't my fault. She doesn't wanna see...ya know, does she?" Charlie asked timidly.
"Ha! Nah, I don't think so. Not yet anyways. She just really dislikes that Stacey has something with you that she doesn't or something. I don't know. She's confusing as hell." Santana explained.
"She hasn't said anything negative about us other than that right?" Charlie asked curiously.
"No, but that's all we're saying. If you wanna know how she feels the. You should ask your girlfriend." Santana replied.
Charlie eyed her suspiciously. "You know something."
"Nu uh Bud, we're not saying anything. Ask your hobbit if you think there's something you need to know." Santana told him.
"Fine. Thank you for your help ladies. Santana, thank you for...well for feeling me up, it a very uhhh educational experience." Charlie said, stumbling over his words.
"Anytime Q, anytime." Santana told him with a laugh.
"I'll see y'all later. Have a good evening ladies." Charlie said to them before he left the room and headed home.
When Charlie got home he had a missed call from Rachel so he laid on his bed to relax and before calling her back.
So you finally decided to call me back huh?
"Based off the time on my phone is looks like you only called about ten minutes ago, darlin." Charlie cooed into his cell phone.
Didn't wanna answer when I called before?
"I was at Santana's and didn't have my phone on me." Charlie explained.
Of course. I should've known. Santana says you two are lesbros. I'm still unsure of how you two could be lesbros since you aren't a lesbian, but it's cute either way. I just wanted to ask you something really quick. Do you have time to talk?
Charlie chuckled lowly into the phone before answering, "Of course baby, I always have time for you."
Rachel sighed dreamily across the line and into Charlie's ear. Charlie smiled and cuddled down into his blankets. "What did you wanna talk about darlin?"
Oh, right! Every year on Thanksgiving Dad, Daddy, and I go down to the shelter and help serve food to those who aren't fortunate enough to have a Thanksgiving meal. I was wondering if you'd like to accompany us this year. They always need extra hands so, would you maybe be interested?
"I would love to, Rach." Charlie told her.
Great! Thank you Quinn. And I've been meaning to ask if maybe you'd like to join us for dinner at our house as well. If you can I mean. I'm not sure what time your family partakes in the festivities at your house.
Charlie smiled to himself, "I'd love to join your family for dinner Rachel, but only if you come over here and eat lunch with us. I'll be sure we have something vegan that you can eat."
Yes! I would love to, but don't worry about the vegan food Charlie. What time?
"We eat early," Charlie told her, "about 2:00. It's more like Thanksgiving brunch."
That's perfect. So Thanksgiving Day at your at 2:00 and then we have to be at the shelter at 4:00 and we'll eat here when we get home. Then my Dads are leaving Friday around lunch and then Friday night...I'll see you here for our sleepover?
"Yes ma'am. Sounds like a plan babe." Charlie told her. "Sounds perfect."
Doesn't it? I'm going to get to bed now. Be sure you go to bed soon Charlie. It's imperative to get eight hours of sleep to be able to perform at your best the following day. I'll talk to you tomorrow?
"I know darlin. I'll talk to you tomorrow. Sweet dreams Rachel."
Sweet dreams Quinn. Bye.
"Bye." Charlie said softly before he ended the phone call.
He sighed contentedly. It looked like to Charlie that he had plenty to be thankful for this year.
TBC
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