co-written by RatedrKjErIcHo.

Charlie woke up early the next morning and showered and changed. She walked back into her bedroom to do her makeup and hair and she saw that Jaycee and Natalie were awake.

"Morning." She said smiling as she adjusted her necklace around her neck.

"God, I swear since you started dating Phil, you could get diabetes from just being around you." Natalie said. Charlie laughed.

"I'm in the shower next." Jaycee said getting her stuff and walking out. She ran into John in the hallway.

"Hey."

"Hey, I was just on my way to get ready."

"Why do you always run away from me? I'm not going to attack you."

"I don't always run." She sighed. "And I know you won't attack me." She walked to the bathroom door.

"You do run from me. Unless I corner you somewhere, you go in the opposite direction." He said as he put his hand on the door to keep her from opening it.

"That's because we don't really have anything to say to each other."

He moved closer to her. "Or is it because it's too hard for you to be near me because you want me."

"Get over yourself. Now I need to get ready so I'm not late."

"I will show you that you mean something to me." He kissed her on cheek and headed to his room.

She sighed once she got into the bathroom. She was never going to stop loving him or wanting him. She would just have to stay away from him. But that was a hell of a lot easier said than done when Charlie was her best friend. She started the shower and let the warm water run over her hoping it would clear her thoughts. It did just the opposite. Instead of clearing her thoughts, it made her think of John even more. She could still feel his fingers on her skin and his lips on hers. He was in her head and it was torturing her. She finished up her shower and got dressed.

John sat in the kitchen after his impromptu meeting with Jaycee. He was having the hardest time controlling his feelings and thoughts around her. It was time to tell the truth. Mike was right about that. He wanted to be with Jaycee and it was time for him to do something to get her. Forget everything and all the stupid people he had wanted to impress. They didn't matter anymore. All that mattered was making thing right with Jaycee and being the big brother that Charlie deserved. He looked up when he heard voices coming down the stairs and smiled to himself when he saw Natalie and Mike talking.

"Let me know when you get your dress and what color it is." Natalie nodded. "You wanna go grab some breakfast before school?"

"Sure, that would be great." She said smiling before she noticed John standing there. "Hey John, did you want to join us for breakfast?" He shook his head.

"Nah, you guys go ahead. I'll see you at school. If you don't mind us sitting with you at lunch."

"I'm fine with that." She said. "See you at school." John looked over at Mike and smiled before he shook his head a little. He looked up when he heard Charlie come down the stairs.

"You look nice this morning." He said. "Phil on his way?" Charlie looked at him as if he'd been abducted by aliens.

"Yeah, he should be here in a few. Are you feeling okay?" she asked. He nodded.

"Yeah, I'm alright. About last night, I wanted to apologize to you."

"You haven't apologized to me since you were 12."

"Well, I am now. I'm sorry. You're right. You're a big girl and you can take care of yourself. Just please promise you'll be careful." She looked at him for a moment. She hadn't seen this side of John in a long time. "Promise?"

"Yeah, I promise." She said. He wrapped her in a hug and she smiled despite herself. "Are you dying or something?" she asked when she pulled away.

"In a matter of speaking, yeah I am." He said. He looked out the window and saw that Phil had pulled up. "You better go. Phil's here." John said as he hurried back upstairs.

"Jaycee, are you coming?" Charlie yelled back up the stairs.

"No, I'm hitching a ride with Lexie and Randy. I'll see you there." Jaycee yelled back from Charlie's room.

"Alright, see you at school." Charlie said as grabbed her book bag and her purse and headed out to Phil's car. She smiled as she slid into the passenger seat and kissed him.

"Good morning." Phil said to her. "Where's Jaycee?"

"She's riding with Randy and Lexie." He nodded and they headed off to school.

John walked out of his room and into Charlie's. He saw Jaycee getting her things together. "I can give you a ride to school if you want?"

"Thanks but Randy is coming to get me and Lexie."

"I don't mind."

"I appreciate the offer but I don't think it's a good idea. I'll see you at school." She said as she started to walk out of the room. Lexie was downstairs getting some breakfast.

"Wait, Jaycee, I want to make this right. I talked to Charlie. I told her I was sorry for everything. I'm going to be nice to Phil because they love each other."

"That's great. That you're making things right with your sister." She said as a car pulled up and she heard Lexie yell.

"I'm going to make things right with you also."

She sighed. "Those are just words. Actions speak louder." She quickly made her way downstairs.

John sighed. She was right. And when he got done with his big announcement, she'd know that he really meant what he said.

Phil and Charlie pulled up and the diner and parked and went inside."So, how was the rest of the sleep over?"

"It was good. I think Natalie and Mike are going to end up together. And we're trying to get Lexie to ask Randy out."

"Girls, I don't understand you."

"We're not meant for you to understand." She said smiling. "Gotta keep you on your toes right?" He smiled and rolled his eyes as he looked over at the table with the popular kids.

"Well, our local fan club seems to be having a meeting."

"Probably talking about John and Mike because they quit the football team."

Phil laughed. "Cena and Mizanin quit the football team? Never thought I'd live to see the day."

"Maybe John's realized there's more to life that being the most popular guy in school."

"Right. And I have purple monkeys flying out of my ass."

"Sounds painful."

"Haha! It's all an act. He's the same tool he's always been."

"Maybe John's changing. I mean yeah, he lied to impress those imbeciles but he's distancing himself from them. Just lay off him, okay?"

"Yeah, okay. I don't know why you're defending him anyway. It's not like you guys are close."

"And you're an expert on family togetherness? You only invited Jaycee anywhere to get to me. I just think John's going through some stuff so just let it be, okay? For me?"

"He's going through some stuff? Well, good. It's about time. Karma is finally biting him in the ass for everything he did to Jaycee and every other girl in school."

"Can we just drop it, please? I don't want to fight with you about this."

"And I don't want to fight with you. If your brother, the self proclaimed king of the school, wasn't such a douche bag, I wouldn't have to insult him." She put her fork down and grabbed her purse before walking out to the car. She grabbed her book bag and walked over to Mike and Natalie as Phil came out.

"Charlie, wait. I'm sorry."

"I don't want to talk about this right now okay? Just, I'll see you at school. Mike, can I hitch a ride to school with you guys?" Mike nodded.

"Let's just get in the car and head to school okay? I'm sorry I insulted your brother." He said, his voice dripping with sarcasm at the last part.

"No you're not. You are always insulting him and if we're going to last, it's got to stop. Despite his faults, he's my brother."

"And he means so much to you because... I mean my insulting him never bothered you before."

"Well, it bothers me now."

"Oh c'mon Charlie." She reached up and unclasped the necklace and held it out to him.

"You're right Phil, maybe I should be closer to him. And if we're together, that's going to be a problem."

"Are you breaking up with me?"

"I don't want to. But if you're going to keep insulting my brother, then yeah. I guess I am." He looked at her for a moment before he snatched the necklace out of her hand and stalked away to his car. She climbed in the backseat of Mike's car and slumped down with her face in her hands. Natalie and Mike just looked at each other and climbed into the car. Neither of them spoke for a few minutes until they heard her sob softly.

"You okay Char?" Mike asked. She shook her head and scoffed.

"Peachy fucking keen Mikey."

He didn't say anything else as they drove to school. Charlie headed to the bathroom immediately. She couldn't believe Phil. Yeah she and John didn't always get along and she had listened to Phil insult him for a while. But he was her brother and she really believed that he was changing.

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