(AN: thank you for all your lovely reviews/comments, I suck at using this site so I'm not sure how to reply, just to say I'm highly appreciative and it's so sweet of you all! Hope you enjoy this chapter, sorry it's a little short, but I promise to post tomorrow!)
Charlie had one of the worst nights of her life. It was the kind when she was desperate for sleep, when all she wanted was to feel unconscious and not think. But her brain just wouldn't let her. Her bed felt foreign and she just couldn't get comfy, she craved the smell of her sheets and the feel of her pillow. The ceiling became a canvas for every worry and every thought to explode onto and even when she shut her eyes tightly all she could see was Quinn's expression. It was too complicated to think about, it was like giving a five year old a senior's maths paper. It just didn't make sense. So Charlie asked herself the most basic question that she could, and as she didn't see any point in lying to herself she blurted out the answer before she could process it. Do I like Rachel Berry more than a friend? Yes. It felt stupid, not because Rachel was a girl (Charlie had a very adventurous and broad minded friendship group back home, and even though she wouldn't label herself as anything, one of her best kisses had definitely been with a girl) but because she'd just met Rachel. But before she could think of a reasonable reason to her feelings she started thinking about kissing Rachel – yes, she was definitely not getting any sleep that night. When she woke from a wrestles one hour of sleep at the most Charlie was sure of two things. Even if it sounded stupid, she liked Rachel more as a friend. That and Quinn probably hated her, back to square one. She was too consumed with those thoughts to even begin to wander why Quinn could hate her for talking about Rachel. Quinn was straight, straight as a pole. Charlie was in for a road of surprises.
Skipping breakfast since she really didn't feel like a bacon fight or any deathly stares from Quinn, as well as the persistent eagerness of Judy - Charlie left a note on the kitchen table and grabbed a bagel as she headed out from a school an hour early. She wasn't bored though, she had her camera. When Charlie had her camera it felt like she was discovering a whole new planet, but in truth she was just seeing the same world around her with different eyes. She'd expected to get a few good landscape shots of the early morning, but what she would find instead would be much more beautiful. She perched on the pavement as soon as she found the perfect lighting angle, the sun was streaming right through the branches and it was perfect. Manual focus on, something caught Charlie's eye in the lens before she could even press down the button. Rachel Berry was on a jog, and as her feet padded the road so did the beat of the blonde's heart. After last night, she really didn't need this. Plus dressed in simple jeans and a vintage band hoodie with ruffled hair didn't exactly suit "bumping into your crush" attire. Wait is Rachel my crush. It was too late, she was heading towards her.
"Charlie!" fresh faced and a little out of breath Rachel jogged over, unplugging her ear phones and beaming a bright smile. "What are you doing here?" she asked in that optimistic tone, Charlie felt a little ashamed for her groggy attire and lack of Carpe dieming it and all that. She flimsily pointed to the camera with bright eyes.
"I guess I just wanted some fresh air, and it looked like a nice time to check out the neighbourhood" she confessed softly. "I would ask what you're doing but..." she chuckled glancing at Rachel's state, the girl blushed a deep rose and Charlie bit down on her bottom lip roughly, an old habit that hadn't treated her well. She could see the light fading across the horizon, the scene completely changing around her. But then something happened, maybe it was the way the honey morning light dappled on Rachel's skin or perhaps how her profile shadowed the dark tarmac, but Charlie was tempted with such a desire to take that photo. The moment was going to pass any second now. I should ask. You should always ask. But there was something about the way Rachel didn't know what was happening that perfected the shot Charlie snapped, Rachel's expression exploded in horror.
"Charlie! NO! Look at me, I'm all sweaty. Delete that, please" She fumbled for the camera with a grin but Charlie tore away with the giddiest smile.
"Oh come on, you have to at least see it – please?" she kept running circles around Rachel who teasingly tried to grab the camera whenever it came close enough. Placing her hands on her hip she arched her eyebrows up expectantly.
"And if I don't like it?"
" I delete it."
"Promise?"
"Maybe..." Charlie smirked. Rachel's eyes widened and Charlie sighed dramatically "Okay, okay. Fine" She clicked the right button and the photo came onto the screen. She hovered silently for a second, trying to see if Rachel liked the photo, but she wasn't sure of what to make from her expression. "...So?" she asked to break the silence, suddenly nervous of what Rachel would think of her photography. Rachel looked up at her with the tiniest of smiles.
"Charlie...you're an amazing photographer. Fine. You can keep it. But, just for you. Okay?"
"Okay." They held each other's glance for a moment. And in the fresh morning sun and with the sweet light smell of the neighbours sweet pea's Charlie knew all the answers to her questions. "See you at school, Rach" she said, even though she didn't want to leave. That was why she loved photographs, a photo could live on forever even when the moments passed. She could never relive this moment again. No matter how much she clung onto it.
"Hey that's not fair, you got to take a photo of me, now it's my turn" she protested with a knowing smile. Charlie rolled her eyes and handed her the camera, she didn't really like having her photo taken, she much preferred being the one behind the camera. But somehow she thought she'd make an exception for Rachel.
"Can it be of both of us instead?" She compromised with hopefulness in her eyes. Rachel nodded in defeat and turned the camera to face the two of them, steadily getting both the girls in the shot with their heads together.
"1." Rachel began, Charlie smiling widely to show her teeth as she usually did, Rachel doing the same between her counts. Make this moment last, Charlie. "2." Don't let it pass you, just grab it. "3-"
The shutter snapped. Charlie's lips went to Rachel's. A kiss. The kiss. Two girls one heart. Now they would always be infinite.
(AN: Don't worry Charlie/Rachel fans, Rachel will definitely reminisce about the kiss in more detail next chapter so I will give their first kiss justice! And sorry it was short I'm a little busy)