The next day Alastor and Charlie went again to his work. Charlie was hugging his arm as she used to do, but there was something different and Alastor could feel it.

Charlie thought a lot last night while she was trying to sleep. She wouldn't try anything again, even if she so desired to. Alastor was being gentle with her, and she owed him for everything he did for her.

She was hugging his arm, but there was no tension, she was caring in her touch, but she was still hugging very close to her.

As they arrived, he stepped back so she could get his card and check in on the clocking-in machine.

Irene, as it was getting often, saw the couple and rolled her eyes. For now, she was certain they were together.

As they got up to the 'office' floor, everyone was staring at them, just the same as the past days. But now there was something different. There was a circle of women around someone or something. It caught Charlie's attention since they were a little noisy and they abruptly stopped to look at Alastor and Charlie. They turned to 'whisper' to each other, which made Alastor pull the girl towards the studio when the circle of women stepped aside to reveal who was there.

It was a blonde tall guy with light blue-greenish eyes. His hair was combed back with gel, and he wore a brown vest with a beige shirt. His tie was loosened.

With a half smirk the guy approached the 'couple', but looking directly at Charlie. As Charlie half closed her eyes to see better, she recognized that guy. Wasn't that the same guy who she saw on the poster in the office…?

It has a name on the poster it was P-

"Phillip." The blonde man stretched his hand towards Charlie.

Alastor raised his eyebrows.

Charlie gently put her hand over his to shake it, but the man pulled her hand towards his lips to kiss it.

Charlie giggled because she wasn't expecting this and it made Alastor discreetly look towards her without moving his head.

"You must be Charlie." The man slowly released her hand with a big smile on his face.

"Y- Yes, how did you-" before she concluded, Phillip was already giving her his explanation.

"Everyone in this place knows the so well-known Charlie, Alastor's girlfriend." As Phillip said that Alastor felt his heart jump. Maybe it was just him being bothered about it not being true and people gossiping about it.

Charlie on the other hand knew exactly why her heart jumped inside her chest. With her cheeks growing red, she had to take a small breath before answering.

"We aren't dating." Both said in unison and looked at each other in a fun disbelief.

"Oh, in that case, Charlie, are you single?" Phillip crossed his arms.

As Phillip asked that, Alastor raised his eyebrows. That, in his vision, was extremely rude to be asked so soon.

"Actually, yes, I am." Charlie answered without seeing any problem in it which made Alastor look confusedly at the girl. Usually Alastor didn't show many reactions, but now he just did, which caught Phillip's attention.

"I see, are you available later today?" Phillip was looking at Charlie now, with his blue-greenish eyes.

Before Charlie could reply, Alastor pulled her closer unconsciously.

"What are you doing here so early today, Phillip?" Alastor tried to smile without frowning his eyebrows, but he was bothered.

"Wow, calm down, Al." Phillip raised his hands and shook them in the air in a mock fashion.

"I just decided to show up early and meet, as I said, the well-known Alastor's not so girlfriend that everyone is talking about." Phillip's eyes went to Charlie and he winked at her.

It made Charlie giggle, not because of Phillip being charming, but of how silly he sounded and looked by winking at her.

Alastor almost frowned at it, but he tried his best to keep his smile on his face and his calm expression.

"So, Charlie, are you free later today?" Phillip asked once more.

"I hm…" She looked at Alastor whose eyes connected with hers. She hugged his arm a little bit more. "Do we have anything planned for today?"

For a moment, Alastor thought on saying yes, they planned something even if they didn't, but it would be a lie. Also, Charlie was free to do whatever she wanted.

"I believe no, unless you want to explore the city and have lunch together." Alastor said with a gentle smile at her.

"Well, in that case, I can show you the city and we can go for lunch together." Phillip smiled at Charlie, basically repeating what Alastor just said.

Alastor's eyes half closed in a bored expression as he looked at the blonde man with a bothered smile.

"Alastor knows a lot of the city, but he is a boring man. I can show other parts of the city that I'm certain you will like. I mean, he is not the only one who knows New Orleans." Phillip raised his eyebrows once, as it was a little wiggle, suggestive wiggle for Charlie.

"Excuse me?" Alastor had the same bothered smile as before, looking directly at Phillip.

Charlie didn't like how Phillip talked about Alastor, after all, Alastor has been a great guide and host for her.

"I think I will pa-" Before Charlie could say anything, Marie showed up to warn Alastor.

"5 minutes, Alastor!" She said it in a very gentle and singing way, with a big smile to the host.

"I have an idea." Phillip said coming closer to Charlie and getting her free hand to him. "Since Alastor will work now, and you will be trapped there for the rest of the day… How about we go out a little to drink coffee together. I would love to get to know you better, if that's okay with you since you two aren't dating." Phillip looked at the couple.

Alastor kept his eyes on Phillip, he was getting even more bothered with the blonde man.

"Sure." Charlie said after looking at Alastor. He didn't look at her so she assumed it was okay with the brunette.

As she replied Alastor raised his eyebrows in surprise. Phillip pulled Charlie gently towards him. "So let 's go!" He smiled at the woman, and offered his arm to her.

Charlie, not very comfortable, switched and held his arm gently, she didn't hug as she did Alastor's arm.

"Don't worry big guy, I will bring her back in a few hours." Phillip winked at Alastor and proceeded to walk towards the exit of the place.

Before they left the room, Charlie looked above her shoulder and saw how Alastor looked at them. Even if he was smiling his expression was different. She felt an uncomfortable feeling inside her chest.

As soon as the couple disappeared, people were looking at Alastor as there was a tense situation in the air. Alastor felt a string being pulled over his chest, and it hurt, making the feeling even worse.

He looked around, he still had his smile and his calm expression. He simply put his hands behind his back and walked towards the studio.

"Morning, Alastor, you have 1 minute." Roger said, looking at the buttons in front of him.

Alastor didn't say anything, he just walked past Roger and frowned his eyebrows. Why did he feel this uncomfortable feeling again? Why did he suddenly miss Charlie's touch?

"Where's Charlie?" Roger first noticed that Alastor didn't say Good Morning back, which was odd. Then he looked around and saw Charlie wasn't there.

"She went out with Phillip." He replied without any tone in particular, it was a neutral voice.

"What?!" Roger exclaimed but Alastor just entered his sound proof room so he could begin to work.

Roger blinked a few times, in disbelief with what he heard, but now everything made sense. Alastor was bothered with it, wasn't he?

As Alastor began the radio show, Roger noticed his mannerisms were less than usual… Even if his voice was the same, enthusiastic and happy, his mannerisms and expressions were more serious. In all those years Roger worked with Alastor, he never saw the man like this, even if it was very subtle.

As soon as they left the building Phillip started to ask how old Charlie was and how she met Alastor. She explained she was 22 years old and she met Alastor by a coincidence, she recently arrived at New Orleans and he was a gentleman to help her out.

Phillip said he was 22 years old too and he seemed a little bothered about how well Charlie spoke about Alastor.

As soon as they arrived in a coffee shop, Phillip didn't pull the chair for Charlie, as Alastor used to do which made Charlie purse her lips. She pulled the chair for herself and sat in front of Phillip. He was a good-looking guy, but…

"And how about you? You work at the station too?" Charlie asked as a waitress got to their table, she gave them a menu each. When the waitress was getting out, Charlie saw how Phillip looked at her. It was the same look many of the guys gave to women in her homeland and for her it was disgusting.

"Well, I do work in the station, I'm the star from there." He passed his fingers on his hair and looked at Charlie again.

"I thought…" Should she say it?

"You thought…?" Phillip raised his eyebrow looking her up and down discreetly.

"I thought Alastor was the radio star." She smiled a little shyly. Phillip laughed at her shaking his head.

"A star with no face. Yes. But actually, I'm the star, did you listen to my show?" He smiled big at her.

"Hm… Not yet." She shrunk in her seat. Phillip looked surprised, and a little bit offended for a second. Then he chuckled.

"Well, that's okay, but once you hear it you'll understand why I'm the star there, besides, well the looks." Phillip winked at Charlie, and she tilted her head. He was that certain he was the star? "Did you know that I also get fan mail? Just like Alastor?"

"No…" Charlie smiled without knowing what to say. Why would she be interested in it?

"Yeah, I get twice as much as him." He chuckled and Charlie took the menu and brought it even closer to her face. It would be a long conversation, wouldn't it?

As the waitress came back Charlie felt relief.

"I want a big cappuccino for me and a chocolate donut." As the waitress noted, she waited to see if he was going to say anything. Charlie lowered her menu and a silence spread between them.

"Is there anything else?" She asked, looking at the blonde woman now. Charlie nodded because she wanted to order something.

"No." Phillip replied while looking at the waitress.

"Actually- I want to ask for an espresso and a cookie, please. Oh, if it's not too much to ask, could you please bring me some sugar?" Charlie smiled at the waitress, who smiled back and noted.

"Alright." She shoved her small notebook inside the pocket of her apron." If you need anything else, let me know." She looked directly at Charlie before she left once again.

The same look, discreet but Charlie knew this kind of look and it bothered her slightly.

As Phillip turned to Charlie, he began to talk again, without even asking her anything.

"Also Mike said the night show is getting very good in the ratings." He began to ramble about himself.

Charlie's attention was fading away as he continued to talk about himself. Of course, her mind went back to how she felt about leaving Alastor at the station. She liked him, she knew it by now, but she didn't want to pressure him if he didn't want her back, which probably was the case.

Maybe, since she was single, she should concentrate on other people, after all she was 'free' as Phillip said before.

She looked up to Phillip, maybe she should give the guy a chance, even though he was just talking about himself, maybe deep down he was a nice guy.

"I'm happy for you, Phillip. But tell me, what do you enjoy doing?" Charlie tried to change the subject a bit. Maybe they had things in common.

"I love my work, and I love to drink. You know, go to a bar and have nice shots." He leaned over the table. "And you?"

"I-" She backed up a little in her chair. "I like to paint, draw, I love to dance and sing." She smiled big at the guy, but her smile vanished as she saw how Phillip looked bored at those things.

"I see… But how about drinking? Do you enjoy it?" He placed his chin over his hand, looking at her.

"Hm, just casually." She smiled in a shy way.

"We should go out to drink sometime." He smiled and winked at her.

"Hm, do you like to dance?" She tried to bring up the subject again, dodging his invitation.

"I dance very well, and I must say, better than Alastor too." Phillip leaned back and the waitress appeared. She brought their orders and placed them onto the table. Without saying anything she went away and Charlie looked down. There was an extra cookie in a small paper package over her plate.

Charlie was about to raise her hand to warn the waitress when she saw the woman looking at her. The waitress made a little gesture as there was something under the package.

As Charlie saw Phillip was distracted with his cappuccino, Charlie slid the cookies a little away, there was a note between the package and the plate.

'There's an extra cookie for you, honey. I hope it can brighten your day.' As Charlie finished reading, she looked to the waitress and gestured a 'thank you' with her lips.

She took the note and put it inside her purse. It was too sweet for her to forget. She wanted to keep it as a good memory.

Charlie then turned again to Phillip. "So, how did you discover you dance better than Al?" Now she was curious.

"You see, we had this station party at the end of the year. And usually the employees dance, because you know, it's a party. And all the women at the station were making a queue to dance with me." He chuckled, adjusting his shirt and taking the donut from his plate. "Alastor danced, but no one danced with him, maybe one or two girls." He shrugged. "That's how I knew."

Charlie frowned her eyebrows. Alastor was an excellent dancer, and the women at the office looked all interested in him, or just… Hated her that much by all the looks. Roger said something about them being crazy about Alastor too, didn't he? Why did they queue for Phillip but not for Alastor?

"I see…" She smiled, gently, getting the sugar pot to pour sugar onto her espresso.

They kept talking, Charlie trying to be kind, asPhillip continued speaking about himself.

As they finished Phillip called the waitress and she gave the bill for their order. Phillip took his wallet and paid for just his part. As the waitress came back, she saw it was missing money to fulfill the bill.

"Ahm, excuse me, but there's a quantity missing." The waitress tried to sound as gentle as she could.

"Oh, I paid for mine only." He smiled and crossed his legs. Charlie raised her eyebrows, basically together with the waitress. Both looked between each other, confused.

"Aren't you an independent woman? In that case I can pay for you." He opened his wallet and Charlie felt a little off, it bothered her, not for him not paying for her, it bothered her because he didn't even talk to her about it in the first place.

"Yes, I can pay." She frowned a bit and opened her purse. Actually she didn't bring money with her because usually Alastor paid for both of them. She snapped her fingers discreetly and the amount appeared inside her purse. She took it out and gave it to the waitress. "Keep the change, hun!" She smiled at the waitress and the girl nodded at her.

Charlie got up, without Phillip's help and she got the cookies and put them inside her purse. Actually, she didn't eat the cookies, since she got two, she had an idea.

While they were going back to the station, her attention went to anything that wasn't Phillip. He kept talking about himself, which was very tiring to listen to after a while.

As they got back from the entrance she could see Alastor in the break room. He turned to see who arrived, seeing it was Charlie. As their eyes connected in distance, Charlie felt a relief to see him and gave a small smile.

Phillip on the other hand, looked at Charlie, who had her eyes on Alastor and he frowned. He gently pulled Charlie against him by her waist which caught her by surprise.

And he gave a kiss on her face. "It was a pleasure meeting you, and we need to hang out more…" He winked at her. She was visibly uncomfortable, when she looked back at Alastor, he wasn't at the door anymore.

"Yeah… See you later." She tried to cut it and release herself from his hold. Charlie walked to the break room and saw Alastor sitting alone there, drinking his coffee.

Quietly she walked to him, and he wasn't even looking at her. She tried to smile.

"Hey…" She called him and Alastor slowly looked up to her.

"Hey there." He smiled, but there was something different.

"Can I sit?" She pointed at the chair next to him.

"Of course." He got up from his seat and pulled the chair out for her. She missed this simple gesture. "Do you want some coffee or tea, or water?" He adjusted the chair for her as she sat on it.

"No, I just had a coffee now." She giggled.

"Oh, silly me." He chuckled and then went back to sit. He took his coffee to sip it once again. "How was it?" He crossed his legs. Deep inside he didn't want to know, something was off in his chest and it bothered him a lot.

"It was… Good." It wasn't, but she didn't want to tell him every little detail right now.

"I'm glad to hear it. Did you have fun?" He was avoiding looking at her, he was trying to process what he was feeling right now, since it was the first time he felt this kind of uncomfortable feeling.

"Yes, I did…" She did have fun, thanks to the waitress. "And how's the show going?" She leaned closer to him.

It made Alastor's uncomfortable feelings mix and his heart pound for some reason.

"It's going well, I will have to get back soon." He sipped his coffee once more and left the empty mug over the table.

"I know…" She gave a small and weak smile. "That's ok if I join you to watch?" She turned her head to look at him, and he looked at her too. The silence got there for a few seconds.

"Yes, that's okay, dear." Alastor half smiled at her.

For a moment she got lost in his brown eyes. "I was thinking… Do you still want to have lunch with me?" She slowly reached for his mug, just to play with it.

"Of course, dear. Do you want to have lunch at home, or outside?" He was looking directly at her with a smile.

"I believe I would like to have lunch at home, if that's okay." She was admiring his eyes for a moment.

"Alright, I believe we still have food for today. So, I can prepare something delicious for us." Alastor adjusted his posture, placing his arms over the table.

"And I can help, right?" She leaned even closer to him, almost touching his shoulder with her cheek.

"Of course." He looked back at her with a big smile. Charlie melted with his smile and slowly got closer to him. She looked up and down. She wanted to kiss him; he was so handsome even closer… But she promised she wouldn't do anything anymore.

For a moment Alastor got lost in her eyes as well as her smile. It was weird how happy he gets just by seeing her smile shining.

"Alastor, 5 minutes." Roger entered the room and stopped at the door. He blinked at the couple.

Both of them then noticed how close they were once they heard Roger's voice.

"Of course." He leaned back in his seat and stood up. He offered his hand to her so she could get up as well. Charlie gladly held his hand, and felt her cheeks growing red.

Roger coughed a little embarrassed and turned his back to the couple.

Alastor offered his arm for her and as used to, she got his arm and hugged it. For a moment he looked down at her. He actually missed this feeling, even if it was only for a couple hours.

He was getting used to her, what did it mean?

She was about to release his arm, afraid he wasn't liking it as he was staring at her, but she gave up when he smiled kindly to her.

They walked to the studio and Roger was looking at the couple the whole time, discreetly as he could.

After seeing Alastor's reaction for being without Charlie and now, Roger give a silent chuckle to himself.

_

Beta Reader:
Angel: angie_bun