AN-So, this chapter is where my initial plot kinda begins. Whoot!!
Enjoy!
It was late in the evening. Katie and Maddie were relaxing in their dorm room, not a care in the world. Suddenly there was a knock on the door. They exchanged a confused glance before Katie got up to answer it. It was Charlie.
''Charlie, what's up?'' she asked.
Charlie grinned at her, but it wasn't his grin. It was forced, and he looked really upset.
''Hey Kat.''
He walked inside the room and smiled at Maddie. She smiled back, worried.
''I thought you were spending the night at home.'' Katie said, closing the door.
Charlie shook his head and sat down on her bed, his face falling into his hands.
''They...they got worse. I had to...I just had to-'' he voice was getting emotional.
Katie gave Maddie a look, to which Maddie nodded and left the room. Katie sat down next to Charlie, putting a comforting hand on his shoulder.
''What happened tonight?'' she whispered.
He muffled voice began. ''I got home, and they were acting civil to each other. Way to civil, I should have realized but, it was nice. Then, after dinner, Mom told me to go watch TV instead of doing the dishes. I walked into the living room, but I was thirsty, so I went back into the kitchen. Mom was snapping at him, about work, asking if he found any yet. He snapped back, wishing she's stop riding him. Then she made a comment, something about him wanting other women riding him...''
He lifted his face out of his hands and looked at Katie, tears forming. ''He's cheating on her. The son-of-a-bitch is cheating on her...and I can't get myself to hate him.''
Katie hugged him tightly as he started to sob. She knew exactly how he felt, how his whole life was crumbling down. The same feeling she had last year.
''Shh, it's ok. It's ok.'' she murmured softly.
Minutes past and Charlie slowly stopped sobbing. He sniffled once or twice before pulling away from her.
''Kat, I'm sorry I-''
''Don't. It's ok, I'm here.'' she whispered.
''I love you, so much.'' he whispered back.
He kissed her, softly. As the kiss grew more passionate, he started pushing her back onto the bed.
''Charlie.'' she whispered.
He stopped, his eyes closed. ''I'm sorry. Stopping, stopping.''
He made a move to get up, but she grabbed his hand. ''Stay.''
His eyes met hers, shocked.
''I meant to sleep.'' she explained.
He grinned softly and lay back down, wrapping an arm around her. She tucked her head underneath his chin and pulled her blanket over them.
''I love you.'' he whispered.
''I love you too.'' she whispered back.
Katie woke up first, wondering why there was an arm draped over her. She blinked a couple times before she remembered it was Charlie. She sat up, careful not to wake him, and saw Maddie looking at her from her bed.
''Sleep well?'' Maddie whispered.
Katie rolled her eyes and looked down at her boyfriend. He looked so peaceful in his sleep. She stroked his cheek lightly and his eyes popped open.
''Oh, Charlie I didn't want to wake you.'' she apologized.
''It's fine.'' he whispered.
He kissed her. The coughing coming from the bed next to them broke them apart.
''So, is Charlie going to sleep here every night?'' Maddie asked.
Katie gave Maddie a look. Charlie got out of bed. "School starts soon. I should go change.''
He kissed Katie goodbye and went to leave the room. As he opened the door, he came face to face with Adam. Katie's eyes widened in panic, but Adam just smiled at him.
''Your mom's on the phone.'' he said.
Charlie nodded, smiled at Katie and left. Adam walked into the room.
''Why you no freaky?'' Maddie asked him.
''He had a rough night. Needed somewhere to crash. All he did was crash, right?'' he asked Katie.
''Maybe.'' she said, enjoying making Adam uncomfortable.
Later that Morning
Katie walked the halls of school, looking for Charlie. Maddie was helping her. They met up by their lockers.
''I don't see him, Kat.''
Katie bit her lip. ''Do you think everything's ok?''
''I hope so.'' Maddie said.
Meanwhile...
Adam and Julie were at his locker.
''I felt bad about last night. I didn't know Charlie would need to stay.'' Julie said.
''It's fine. He crashed in Katie's room.'' he assured her.
''You're ok with that?'' Julie asked.
Adam sighed. ''He looked like he'd a rough night. I was trying to be cool about it. I don't want to think about it, though.''
Julie bit her lip and smiled at her boyfriend. ''Spoken like a true big brother. You can't protect her forever.''
''I know. But, maybe I can try a little bit longer.''
Julie smiled and hugged him. ''I love you.''
''I love you too.''
Their kiss was interrupted when Katie walked up to them.
''Have you guys seen Charlie?''
Adam shook his head. ''Not since this morning.''
Katie groaned, running a hand through her hair. ''I hope he's ok.''
''I'm sure he's fine.'' Julie assured her. ''He probably went to class already.''
Katie nodded, absently. ''I hope so.''
The bell rang and Katie hurried off to class. Adam walked Julie to hers.
''Have a good day, sweetheart.'' Adam whispered.
He kissed her goodbye and she went into the classroom.
The morning went on and Katie found herself entering the lunch room, looking around for Charlie. With no sight, she walked over to the table and asked the team if they'd seen him.
''He wasn't in second hour.'' Connie said.
''I didn't see him in third.'' Averman said. Russ nodded in agreement.
Now knowing that Charlie hadn't attended any of his classes worried Katie even more. She plopped down next to Maddie and sat there, lifelessly. She listened to the other conversations going on around her.
Connie and Guy were arguing about what to do tonight. Her brother and his girlfriend were sharing food and kisses. Maddie and Dean were joking around. It all seemed so different without Charlie.
Without warning, she stood up and left the table. Maddie and Adam watched her go, then exchanged a worried look.
After lunch, Maddie, Dean and Fulton were walking down the hallway together. Well, more like Dean and Maddie were tease flirting and Fulton was feeling like a third wheel. He didn't mind though, it had been ages since he'd seem his friend this happy.
''Here's my classroom.'' Maddie said, disappointedly.
Dean was disappointed too. He was looking forward to spending more time with her.
''Mads.'' he called, before she could leave.
She faced him, smiling. ''Sup?''
''You doing anything after school?'' he asked.
Maddie shook her head.
''Wanna hang out?''
''Sure.'' she said, smiling softly at him.
''Cool.'' he said.
Maddie disappeared inside her classroom and Dean grinned. He saw the look Fulton was giving him.
''What?'' he wondered.
Fulton just shook his head and walked down the hallway.
''What?!'' Dean yelled after him.
Inside Ms. Fillers English class, Maddie Thomas was currently grinning like an idiot. Last year, she had the biggest crush on Dean Portman. Now this year, he was hanging out with her in school, and now? He practically asked her out on a date!
Her smiled started to fade as she remembered last year. He'd used her, to make someone else jealous. But they were friends now, he wouldn't do that. Maybe...maybe they were more then friends.
Maybe...
After school
Katie paced her dorm room nervously. Her cell phone in hand, she looked at it every few seconds, to see if she had any missed calls. Why wasn't he calling her, telling her where he was. Didn't he care how worried she was?
The next time she saw that boy, she was going to...
''Kat. You in there?'' Charlie's voice came from behind her closed door.
She threw open the door and kissed him with all her might. When they pulled apart, she shoved him. Hard.
''Wha-''
''Didn't you stop and think how worried I'd be! Why not call, say ''Hey Kat, I won't be coming to school today, but don't worry'' huh! Do you have any idea how extremely pissed I am at you right now!'' she demanded.
Charlie laughed and embraced her, tightly. ''I'm sorry.''
''You better be.'' she muttered.
''Look, my mom called. She needed me.'' Charlie said.
She looked into his eyes and saw the pain written there.
''What happened Charlie?''
''He left her.'' he whispered.
Katie gasped.
''Yeah, the jackass. The only thing he left behind were the divorce papers. My mom signed them already.'' he laughed, bitterly.
She hugged him tightly, knowing how much this was killing him.
''It's not fair Kat. He was like a dad to me.'' he whispered, tears forming in his eyes.
''I know. But, I'll be here. I'll help you through it.'' she whispered.
''I need you.'' he whispered, clinging to her tightly.
''I'm here.'' she whispered, rubbing his back soothingly.
Guy and Connie walked out the theater hand-in-hand.
''Admit it, you liked it.'' Connie said.
Guy grinned. ''Fine, it's ok.''
''Ok, ok! How can you think that? Landon and Jamie's romance was...amazing.''
''I still can't believe you cried.'' he teased, throwing an arm around her shoulder and bringing her closer.
''It was a sad ending.'' Connie said, while he kissed the top of her head.
''You were sobbing.'' Guy said.
''Did I embarrass you?'' she demanded. ''Is that why you're saying this?''
She tore away from his embrace and glared at him.
''No, sweetheart. I was just saying that, I hate taking you to movies that make you cry. It makes me upset.''
''Oh Guy.'' Connie cooed, kissing him.
Guy breathed a sigh of relief, thanking God none of the Ducks heard that. They'd never let him live it down.
''Connie? Guy? Is that you.''
They turned to see a somewhat familiar red head smiling at him.
''Tammy!'' Connie explained.
She embraced her old friend and fellow duck while Guy smiled.
''God, I haven't seen you guys in ages. You two are still the same.'' Tammy said, now giving Guy a hug.
Connie blushed. ''Gosh Tammy, I haven't seen you since...''
''Before the Goodwill Games. You and Tommy couldn't join.'' Guy said.
Tammy shrugged. ''I had ice skating, and Tommy was having trouble in school. We hated missing it but, well we didn't have a choice.''
''Tammy, we have to go.''
The trio turned to see her mom waving her over.
''Sorry guys, I have to go.''
Connie hugged her again. ''We're catching up. You have to meet Julie.''
''Julie?'' Tammy asked.
''Gaffney. She's the other girl duck, I know you guys will like each other. And you have to see Katie and Maddie again.''
Tammy smiled. ''Can't wait. Later guys.''
She ran over to her mother and waved to them before leaving.
''Tammy Duncan, wow.'' Guy said.
''Oh, I can't wait until the other ducks find out.''
''Why don't we wait until we have Tammy in the flesh before we let them know?'' Guy asked.
''Good idea.'' Connie said.
He took her hand and they started back to the dorms.
AN-And there be chapter three. Hope you enjoyed, now the fun is beginning. Well, for me since now I have more stuff to write about! Yippee!