Please note: This is my first fic, period. I'm going to try and make it a good one, but please bear with me. Also, I have been influenced by other writers, and may use some of the same topics, but the plot ideas are all my own. -§teph

This story takes place after the first year of Eden Hall. They will have turned sixteen.

Charlie's POV

The sky seemed bleak to me, utterly senseless, I thought to myself, for me to be here. I looked around, my eyes straining against the torture of the crystal droplets. Searching, I found myself staggering forward, my clothing becoming damp in the spring shower. My face illuminated, as I saw the familiar figure exit through the front doors of the school. Although my joyous expression was sudden, it was short-lived. Behind him, followed one of our fellow teammates. Julie Gaffney. I wouldn't have minded, accept for the look of intimacy and vacancy in their expressions.

My heart skipped a beat, and it was obvious that there was something going on. I felt the familiar lodging in my throat, and struggled to swallow it down. How could he? I thought this, but I knew I had been fooling myself from the beginning. Adam wasn't the type, and he'd never feel the same way I did.

Sauntering closer, but hiding, and getting close enough to eavesdrop, I eagerly listened in.

"No, I don't have anything planned tomorrow…" I could hear Adam's voice, and fondly sighed.

"That's great, if you don't mind me asking you out…" Julie's voice came like the straw that broke the camel's back.

"Good, then I'll see you tomorrow night," Adam, again.

I inhaled with disbelief, and tried to calm the thoughts that sounded through my head. No, it must be…to study. Yeah, that's it…study. I couldn't help but wonder, and as I leaned against the wall of the building, trying to get my breath back, he turned, looking straight at me.

I wanted to shout to him, and tell him we needed to talk, but everything I'd been brought up by, told me to let it be. I knew we'd get a chance to talk, but I hated what he was doing. He couldn't really feel for Julie…could he?

Adam, being the person I knew he was, must have thought that something was wrong, and, God bless him, excused himself from Julie, and came over to talk.

"Is something wrong, Charlie?"

"Banks, we need to talk.."

He nodded in agreement, and I felt a huge weight lifted from my shoulders. Together, we walked down the hallway, and out the back door. Heading towards the dorms, since it was our lunch-break, we chose mine. Safely inside, I turned to him.

"Adam –"

"Charlie, I know what you're going to say…Save it."

I was startled by his tone of voice, and, gazing into his eyes, I could see that there was emotion there. I couldn't read it, however, but I tried. I wanted to know what he was thinking, and why he seemed so angry.


Look, we haven't been..close..lately. Charlie, I don't think this can go on. I'm not the naïve little boy I used to be, and I don't think it's right…" He continued, to my dismay, "I really like Julie, and, I know now, that I'm not, well…y'know."

My jaw dropped, I couldn't believe it. I wanted to break down, right then, right there, but managed to hold it in. I knew he could read my expression, it was there, bright as day.

'Adam, I had no idea you –"

"Maybe you didn't think. It's not all about you, Charlie."

The sting of his words were well-aimed, and I cringed with the blow. He stepped back, and I shook my head. Oh, how I wanted to reach forward, just to touch him, and see if he was real. It had to be a dream; it just had to be.

"You don't mean that…Please, tell me you don't mean that."

"I mean it! I don't want to keep it up anymore, Charlie. It's not who I am."

"Adam! It doesn't matter if it's a lie, I need you…"

"But I don't need you, and I know you'll be fine without me."

I nearly choked. How could he be doing this to me? It just couldn't be real…no way.

"Adam.." I knew it sounded pitiful. There was so much left unsaid, but this imploring, and soft-toned plea was all I had left.

"I'm sorry, Charlie…It has to be this way."