Carrying on the Torch

Disclaimer: I don't own Good Luck Charlie

A/N:

Chapter 46 (Lesson to be Learned)

"Is that the guy?" Brittany asked, pointing to the blue belt in the center of the room. All in the studio were lined up against the wall as the Blue Belt, Randall, sparred with a green belt. Charlotte folded her arms across her chest and sighed, she didn't really want to discuss this matter any longer. Irritated that the man kept pestering her, she just wanted to be left alone. "You know, the one that keeps trying to get you to go on a date with him?"

"Yes, that's him." She turned her head away and frowned, thinking only of Mason. She knew with him being comatose, there was that chance he wasn't going to make it. She accepted it now, but moving on was not an easy thing to do. She cared the world for him, even if she had dated him for a short time. "Mason always knew the right things to say. I just…I'm not ready to accept that he might not make it. Even if he wound up with irreversible brain damage, for crying out loud. I just…"

"Relax." Brittany put her hand to her shoulder. She lifted her eyebrows sadly and gazed up to the girl. "Take a deep breath," she instructed. Charlotte did so and held on until Brittany had her release it. "Okay. Now bear in mind, you don't need to date anyone until you are ready, and anyone that's going to pressure you into giving up on Mason to date them, isn't worth keeping around. Believe me, guys like that are the lowest of the low, pure scum, and as you well know, what do we do when we see scum on something?"

"Get rid of it?"

"Exactly. So don't even bother with this guy. Rather…wait for Mason, as long as you feel that you can. You're young, and you probably know there will be many guys that come around in the future. Or maybe there won't be so many, but right now, Mason's still hanging on to something. So there's still a chance he'll wake up. In that case, why let guys like Randall screw that up?"

Charlotte smiled halfheartedly and glanced over as Randall floored the green belt. This was a tournament style day, and he'd just taken out several people, he often boasted about how strong he was, and that's why he pressured her. He didn't think anyone else could be 'strong enough' to take care of her like he could. "Yeah, you're right…and besides, the guy's an egomaniac. Thinks he can take out anyone and thinks he's better than everyone…"

"Oh yeah?" As Randall called on his next challenger, Brittany locked her fingers together and cracked her knuckles. Charlotte's eyes widened as the girl stepped out and raised her hand up. "Oh Randy, I'll take you on." Randall laughed as Brittany started walking towards the center, winking at the red belt boy she was interested in.

"You think you can do better than someone two or three belts above you?" Randy asked while belting out a laugh. Charlotte saw Miss Keener shaking her head and smirked, Randall would go down due to his own pride if he wasn't careful.

"No, but I most certainly can try." Brittany placed her hands together and bowed for respect. He did the same. As they moved into their fighter stances, Brittany cracked her neck from side to side. She started off with a light bounce at her heels as Jo started off the countdown. "I got a lesson to teach you, and you're most definitely going to learn." Randall rolled his eyes and stared at her once Jo said to fight.

"What? You're not going to make the first move?" Charlie saw the smirk cross Brittany's face and waited as Randall prepared himself. "Oh come on Randall, make your move. Come on!" Randall growled at her as he narrowed his eyes. "What? You think you can push people into doing what you want them to do, but when they do it to you, you don't like it? It's called, your own medicine, now either start or I'm going to start for you."

"Would you shut up already…" He lunged forward and performed a frontal kick. Brittany leaned back and twisted her body to the left, bringing up her right leg and sweeping it into his side. He gasped for air and let out a loud shout as she moved forward and thrust her fist into his chest, knocking him to the ground. Before he could even look up, she was upon him, grabbing his collar and leaning forward, glaring into his eyes.

"She's already had someone stalk her, she's been dating this guy for a while and he's in a coma now, so if you would so kindly back up…we all would appreciate that so much. You don't know what she's gone through, and she doesn't need any more stress, certainly not from the likes of you. Got that?" Randall whimpered and sweat started dripping along his face. Even Charlotte would have been scared to be under Brittany's deadly gaze right now!

"Okay! I got it! I'll leave well enough alone…just don't hurt me."

Brittany smiled cheerfully and released him, letting him sigh and faint on the ground. "Good." She turned back around and lifted her hand to the stunned viewers. "I win, Sensei!" Jo lowered her arms, just as shocked as the rest. Who could have possibly foreseen Brittany kicking ass?

"I-I don't believe I'm saying this, but Brittany's the winner!" Everyone started their awkward claps and Brittany put her hands to her hips, glaring. Charlotte clapped her hands and started walking towards her, chuckling softly. She was just as surprised, and grateful that Brittany put the fear of god into Randall. Maybe now the asshole would quit bugging her so much.

Although she did feel bad for him, she wasn't too sure that he didn't have it coming. "Did you have to scare him so badly? I think he might have wet himself in the process." Brittany glanced back and started laughing. As she did so, the red belt she'd been eyeing, Christopher, came up to her, rubbing his neck. Charlotte gasped and breathed in, holding back a smile as she pat her friend's back.

"Wha-" Brittany glanced to him and her eyes went wide, she immediately started brushing her hair. "H-Hey Chris, how's it going?" Christopher was thin, Asian, and wore a flame decorated uniform to match his red belt. He had soft hazel eyes and brown hair with two bangs that fell before his eyes.

"That was some good moves you just displayed. You want to practice some time?" Brittany laughed, emitting a squealing sound that made her immediately cover her mouth and flush with embarrassment. Charlie shook her head as Christopher laughed. "Cute laugh, Brittany."

"Yeah…"

"So what do you say? Maybe practice some time…how's this weekend sound?"

"This weekend?" She leaned forward and cleared her throat, quickly pulling herself from her pre-dazed state. "Yeah, yeah that sounds great! Maybe we can catch a movie after, or dinner, or something?"

"Sure. I'm game."

Deciding to give them some time alone, Charlotte walked over to the front door and leaned beside it. She watched Brittany and Christopher chatting and smiled as her heart began to beat at a steady, yet sad pace. She was reminded briefly of Mason. It broke her heart for him to be in such a sad state of life. Why? What had he done to deserve that curse? She couldn't say how she felt about him right now, it had been several months and she was still slowly moving along without him. She wasn't ready to date anyone.

Many times your first love isn't the person you wind up with in the future, make no mistake, but to lose your first love to death was a true crime. To watch them slowly dying without even knowing they were dying, now that was a real pain to have to endure.

"I don't want to lose him…" A tear slowly ran along her face and she carefully swept it away with her finger. "I have to be strong." There were so many things she'd worked to make right, so many things that held her back that she did her best to push forward. Would this be one of those things? Could she put it behind her? She didn't think so, because waiting was torture, and seeing Mason holding on to the last shred of life and not knowing if he would make it, was torture. The hard part of it all was knowing, just knowing that this kind of thing meant irreversible brain damage if he did survive, and what a miracle it would be if that happened. "Maybe I wasn't in love with him, but I know I cared about him. One hundred percent, I wanted and could see a future with him."

She heard Brittany's voice and opened her eyes to see the bubbly blonde in front of her, giggly happily. "Oh my god Charlotte, I can't believe I'm actually going to get to go out with Christopher!" She smiled at her and carefully nodded her head, she really was happy for Brittany.

"I'm so glad. You deserve it." Brittany cheered one last time, then stopped to take a breath. The girl then frowned and pulled Charlotte into a hug, taking her by surprise. "Britt?"

"You're thinking about him aren't you? Mason?"

She sniffled and felt those tears coming back. "Yes…"

"I'm sorry. It'll be okay though. You know that? You're strong. It seems tough now, but there isn't a thing in this world that you can't rise above. All of us. That's why they say humans are among the best species, right?" She smiled and hugged Brittany tighter. The girl's words were comforting to hear, so perhaps she would be okay. After all, things were looking better already for everyone. Brittany pulled back and put her hands onto her arms. "Look, I know losing Mason's hard. I don't know what I'd do if I were in your situation, but I do know that having friends is a great way to cope. You've got me, you've got Dee and Regina, then there's your family…I think you're going to be just fine."

"Yeah, I just…I hate seeing Mason in this shape." Brittany was right, she just needed to find the strength inside her to move on. One step at a time though. "Do you think he's hanging on to something? I know a lot of people say when someone's in a coma, the reason they don't move on is because they're holding on to something. Do you think that's the case?"

"I don't know. I've never been spiritual like that, but maybe. If it is the case, then I wouldn't know what…maybe he wants to make sure you're okay before he passes on."

"I don't know if it's worth his time to wait on me. I have so much drama in my life, it's insane. Though I took up this one guy's suggestion to write a little more."

"Oh?"

"Yes. David Walsh, he's in the school band, I think. He's Spencer's nephew, and that's the guy that's marrying Regina's mom by the way. We were talking, he told me that I should start picking up my hobbies, like writing, and so I did." Although it was probably not the best idea to write stories where she involved herself. She put herself in some pretty twisted situations, but when it came to using her siblings as stars of various stories, she felt it brought a little bit of them back to life. Even if that meant traumatizing herself in the process. "Anyway, it is helping me a little to pass time."

"Good. I'm glad. You shouldn't spend all your time worrying about Mason, take some time to escape from it all. Also, anyone that tells you that you need to move on, tell them you're not ready. If they keep pressing you, come tell me, or Dee, or even Regina. I'm sure we'll deal with it." Charlotte laughed as a smirk drew itself across Brittany's devious face. Remembering Randall just a bit ago, Brittany could likely scare the crap out of anyone that messed around with her.

"Maybe it will be okay…I shouldn't be so scared of the unknown. I mean, when you're so accustomed to this stuff in your life…losing your entire family, losing everyone, you just start getting used to it."

"I imagine…should we go meet up with Dee and Regina? Hanging out with them should perk you up a little, right?"

"Of course." If anyone knew how to make her laugh and smile, it was those two.

Well Jo's definitely teaching them all some good tricks, though it seems Brittany's got a few of her own. Two more chapters to go folks.