Chapitre Quatre

For the next few weeks, I found myself constantly blushing and stuttering whenever Dougie talked to me. Even if it was just his outline from the distance, I could feel my heartbeat doubling.

I was starting to think that those I'm developing a stupid crush on the gorgeous new student that everyone else had their eyes on, but I'm absolutely sure that I had no chance.

A lot of girls at school were much better-looking than me…and more charismatic…and more popular…and…

"CHARLES!"

I snapped out of my thoughts, turning my head towards Lilly: probably the only student that actually talks to me and treats me as her friend…except for Dougie, that is.

Those two shared something in common: They were both weird but in a good way.

"Uh, yeah?" I answered, rubbing the back of my head as I stared at her absent-mindedly. Lilly broke into a huge grin, before hitting me with the back of her arm.

"WHAT?!" I exclaimed with an unusual increase in volume. She laughed at me, rather boisterously, and then trotted off the hallway.

"See you in Music, Charles!" She called out still with that grin on her face. I couldn't help but to smile back, it was contagious.

Music.

Oh great; Poynter was there, too.

"Charley…"

I tried not to turn my head when Dougie whispered to me during an important, yet boring, lecture by Mr. Williams.

"Charlotte…"

"Charley Marge…"

I turned my head to him almost abruptly, an eyebrow raised as I surveyed his face. He had a mischievous smirk, his eyes brighter than usual.

"What?" I hissed at him. Dougie grinned for a brief moment, his eyes checking if the elderly teacher wasn't looking, and then turned back to me.

"You play an instrument?" He asked with his eyebrow raised, his delicate fingers fiddling with the strings of the bass guitar he brought.

I stared at the small triangle I was holding rather stupidly. I turned my head to him; he had a cheeky grin on his face.

"Yeah…a triangle." I answered, blushing slightly as his grin grew even wider.

"But it's a shape, right? How'd you—"

"The instrument, you idiot!" I hissed, lowering my volume just in case Mr. Williams' eyes decided to survey us here at the back. A low chuckle escaped from Dougie's lips, his eyes fixated on the silver triangle.

"I know, I know…" he answered, his eyes trailing on the polished dark blue guitar that was on his lap.

"Is that yours?" I asked, reaching out my hand to touch his guitar. His mischievous expression was replaced by something almost childish…something that screamed "Don't touch it!".

I quickly drew my hand away, and back again to holding that stupid triangle.

"Yeah, one of my babies right here." He smiled to himself, stroking his bass like it was some kind of precious thing for him. Alright, fact number one: Dougie is extremely passionate with music.

"I see…how long have you been playing?" He lifted his head and stared at me with his unnaturally cold grey eyes, a deadpan expression on his face.

It took him quite a few minutes to recover himself, then went back to stroking his bass. It was kind of disturbing, but it was bizarrely adorable to me. That boy is seriously doing something to wreck my brain.

"Quite a long time now." He murmured, a small smile lighting up his features. I just nodded unenthusiastically. He seemed to preoccupied with that instrument on his lap even if it wasn't "time to show off" yet.

"So, how long have you been playing the triangle?" I glared at him, that playful smirk on his face. He just wouldn't stop mocking me.

"Shut up."

"No, I won't go with you." I slammed my locker door, turning to the student who was the talk of the whole campus.

"Why not?" Dougie asked, a hand on his hip while the other was used for support on the lockers. He sounded a bit disappointed, coupled with frustration and embarrassment.

"Because…" I tried to wrack my brain for an excuse, but there was nothing I could find. "Because." He frowned, his eyebrows furrowed. And without any other word, Dougie turned and left the hallway.

Obviously, that was absolutely not a plausible reason.

Nice going, Charley. You just turned down the attractive new student whom your sister is deeply interested with and who never bothered to talk properly to anyone but you.

"Charles!"

I must've been staring into space and thinking about something because Lilly hit me with the back of her hand.

"Huh, what?"

"I asked you, what do you want? The orange one, or this icky-looking green thing!" She exclaimed, that silly grin still on her face. I opted for the safer choice, the orange thing. Whatever it was.

As I sat down on the lunch table, I can't help but to get a bit disturbed at Lilly"s face and smile. That kind of smile that screamed I-Know-What-You-Did-Last-Summer, or something.

"What's the matter with you, Lils?"

"Well, you see I saw you."

"What did I do now?" I raised an eyebrow at her, only to get a smirk that was similar to Dougie's, but not quite. She bent her head down, muttering in an urgent tone.

"That thing. Charles, he asked you out, didn't he?"

to be continued. . .

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