Sorry about those mistakes. I wrote the end at 11:30 at night and hadn't gotten much sleep the night before. I promise this one was written and reread while I was awake
Chapter 6
As Don opened the door to Charlie's house (he was still getting used to that) and the smell of his fathers cooking wafted to his nose
"Dad?" Don called out trying to find where this father is
"In here Donnie" Alan called to his eldest son from the kitchen
"Dad that smells really good…chili?"
"Made just for you" Alan told Don as he went to the pot to check on the food
"For me? Charlie is the one that truly LOVES chili. I thought you knew that it was HIS favorite" Don says taking a seat at the table. He thought his father would know his sons favorite dishes
"I know that it's HIS favorite but he's not going to be here"
"He's not?" Don said looking at his father questioningly. School was over what would he still have to do?
"Nope. He's having dinner with Amita" Alan said wiggling his eyebrows at Don
"Charlie's got a date?" Don said after recovering from the shock
"Well not really. He says it's just a friendly dinner but he's been in his room getting ready for awhile now" Alan said smiling. He always wanted Amita and Charlie to date once the student/teacher student restraints were gone. They were perfect for each other
"I'll go check on him" Don volunteered standing up and bounding up the stairs. He got to Charlie's room and started rambling. He knocked and waited for a response praying that Charlie wasn't lost in his math world. He wasn't
"Come in" Charlie called and then turned back to the mirror where he was attempting (and failing) to tame his unruly curls
"What's up buddy?" Don came in smiling
"Nothing. Getting ready for dinner" Charlie responded willing himself to not look over at Don
"With who?" Don said sitting down on the bed. He could see in the mirror Charlie battling whether or not to tell him
Should I? Aw dad will tell him as soon as I leave "Amita"
"Ooo" Don was enjoying this
"Donnie you sounded like a thirteen year old girl just then"
"So what if I did…is this a date?"
"No…maybe…no" Charlie finally decided
"Well how do you not know if you're going on a date?" Don asked confused
"Amita set it up. She said she wanted to have dinner because now she didn't have to worry about classes the next day"
"But she asked you to dinner. That has to mean something"
"Don, I would like it to mean something but it doesn't" Charlie said giving up the fight with his hair and sat next to his brother
"Then make it mean something. She hasn't been your student for a month Charlie. Say something before you loose her"
"But-" Charlie started
"No buts Charlie" Don said taking firm hold of his little brother and turning him to face him "You need to ask her out or at least let her know how you feel"
"Well I was planning on telling her tonight"
"I'm sensing a but" note to self: stop spending so much time with Terry. Don looked at Charlie then and it hurt to see the fear, love, and hope in Charlie's eyes
"I'm scared Donnie. I've never felt like this before. What if she's already taken? Or if she doesn't like me?…I'll be crushed Don" Charlie added with tears shining in his eyes and so quietly that Don had barely heard him
Oh Charlie...Now I have to choose my words wisely "Charlie you're afraid of how much it'll hurt if she can't be with you for one reason or the other, but think of how amazing it'll feel if she CAN be with you. Imagine how nice it will be to hug her, hold her hand, hold her in your arms…"
"You sound like you speak from experience"
"I do Charlie. Tell her how you feel. I think she already knows but tell her Charlie before its too late" From downstairs the doorbell rings
"Its Amita" Charlie said as the fear disappears from his eyes and is replaced by nervousness and excitement
"Go get her" Don said smiling standing up and leading Charlie out the door
"Thanks Donnie" Charlie said as they reached the stairs. Before they went down, Charlie gave Don a brief hug
"Hi Amita" Don said smiling as they reached the bottom of the stairs and Amita came into view
"Hey Don. Good to see you" Amita said flashing the smile that Charlie had fallen in love with
"You too. Congrats on your PhD Dr. Ramanujan"
"Thank you. You ready to go Charlie?"
"Yeah let me just get my wallet"
"No Charlie I got it"
"Wow. She picked you up AND she's paying" Don said smiling. Charlie got what he was implying
"Well I would've picked her up but I don't think there's enough room on my bike"
"Good point" Don ended. He could tell Charlie was anxious and he wanted to get his feelings out before he lost his nerve
"You two have fun" Called Alan from the kitchen where he had returned after he opened the door for a beaming Amita
"We will" Amita called as she stepped outside. Charlie followed suit. Before the closed Charlie turned around. Don mouthed good luck to Charlie and Charlie mouthed thanks back as he ran to catch up with Amita.