Chapter 2

The light had fully disappeared when Charlie climbed back into the window. As he pulled the window close he wondered if it would have been better if he hadn't given Chandler the extra day. A shrill squeak escaped the window as it locked into place.

"She didn't say yes I'm guessing," The teacher from the classroom closed her door and stuck a key into the lock before sealing it closed with a loud klak.

"Something like that," Charlie said with a thin and fragile voice.

The teacher pulled the key out and walked towards him. She rubbed his back a little before giving it a light tap, "There'll be others," she said before walking ahead of him and leaving.

Charlie reached down and pulled his backpack onto his shoulders. The backpack felt heavier as he adjusted it. As he left the hallway he shook his head, getting the thoughts out as he entered the common area.

"It's better this way," he said to himself as he walked past one of the halls, "it's better."

He continued walking, keeping his head low. As his mind started going blank and thick fog settled, keeping all thoughts hidden and away. The loud talking of two boys disturbed that fog. They rounded the corner of the left hallway in front of Charlie and started walking towards him. They were football players returning from practice. They're practice jerseys and pads were still on and in their hands were their helmets and cleats.

"I heard you broke up with your girl?" said one of the boys.

"Yea, I told her I needed to train more and that spending time with her isn't helping me." said the other.

The fog in Charlie's mind cleared a bit. He recognized the voice and turned around to look at the two boys. The one on the left stood a head taller than him while the one of the right stood two. The boy on the left had jet black hair and the boy on the right's hair was blonde but looked more yellow.

"That committed to the team, are we Gray?" said the boy on the left.

"I just need someone who I don't always have to hang out with," Gray said.

"Someone who's ok with being second?" the boy on the left asked.

"No, just someone who's not going to be so annoying…" Gray's voice trailed off as they walked down one of the many hallways.

Charlie wondered if a person like that existed. Someone who would let a person be as selfish as they wanted while they dated. The fog was still heavy as it let no answers through and not wanting to think too hard Charlie shrugged and continued walking. All Charlie wanted to do was get tomorrow over with.

  ***

"Charlie Sites," shouted Mr. Liev from the front of the class.

The class had been given twenty minutes to read whatever they wished silently and after watching for fifteen of those twenty Mr. Liev had yet to see Charlie open the book that sat on his desk. He'd been doing nothing but staring at a large nearby tree through the window and despite getting the class's attention with his shout he had yet to get Charlie's.

He decided it was better not to disrupt the class any further and stood up before walking slowly towards Charlie's desk. He tapped the cover of the book on his desk with a heavy knock, getting Charlie's attention, "come outside with me," he said before walking towards the door and opening.

It took a moment for Charlie to understand. He looked around the classroom and found the students covering their faces with the books and tablets in their hands, pretending to be lost in their novels while their eyes were focused on him. Only Nathan sat leaning backwards with his hands behind his red hair and a smirk on his face. With no other choice Charlie pushed himself out of the chair and followed Mr. Liev out.

The two walked until they reached the balcony of the common area. Between classes the place was crowded with barely any room for anyone to move through but now it looked deserted, as if no one had been here in years. Mr. Liev walked to the wooden railing and pressed his back against it. He took a wide stance, getting comfortable and crossing his arms.

"What's the matter now?" He asked.

Charlie looked at him with a puzzled look.

Mr. Liev sighed. He let his arms drop and tugged on the sleeves of his blue and white striped shirt before running his hand through his long and wavy black hair that he let flow backwards. After he had finished adjusting himself he stuck his hands into the pockets of his beige pants and stared through Charlie with his crystal blue eyes.

"You were in space yesterday and today you were in that tree," he motioned towards the classroom, "What's going on man?"

Charlie shrugged, "Sorry, I just haven't been sleeping, playing games late," Charlie lied.

Mr. Liev brushed his fingers through his hair once again, "You're a horrible liar you know that," he smiled before pushing himself off the railing, "I won't force you to tell me whatever's worrying you but just know I'm always willing to lend you an ear."

He patted Charlie's shoulder as he walked by. With a nod to himself Charlie followed him back to class and as they entered the bell rang and now it Mr. Liev who gave Charlie a shrug. When Charlie made it to his desk he had found that his bag was already packed and Nathan was standing behind his chair holding it.

"Thinking about what happened yesterday?" Nathan asked as they made their way to the first floor of the commons.

Before Charlie could speak Nathan hit his shoulder with the back of his hand, "Speaking of what happened yesterday, we had to leave cause the bell rang so what happened?" He asked.

"I'll tell you when we get downstairs." Charlie said.

After they had met up with the rest of the group he explained what happened the day before and his conversation with Chandler. Nathan and Jack did their best to suppress their laughter but after a few moments they couldn't hold back.

"So you'll get the final answer today?" Chloe asked.

Charlie let out a heavy sigh. He looked towards the middle of the commons where he had met with Chandler yesterday. As he expected she wasn't there. "I think I already know the answer," he said.

A brief silence settled between them before Annie said, "Don't worry, I'm sure whatever happens you'll get through it. You always do."

Her words brought a warm comfort to Charlie. He let a faint smile appear on his face and nodded. "Yea, I will," he said with a bounce to his voice. A bounce that he had lost since yesterday.

The bell rang yet again, signaling the end of their brief meet up. As Charlie walked to his next class the sinking feeling in his heart remained present but he didn't feel it as much as before, as if something was pulling him up. The rest of the day went by quicker than he had anticipated and before he knew it he was standing in front of the window again, in the empty science wing.

He pushed it open and walked outside, just as the other students were entering their buses. From this distance they all seemed like large ants, scurrying here and there and forming lines. He could hear the shouts of the teachers as they tried to organize them. Among the teachers he found Mr. Liev quickly. He was standing alone against one of the walls. It was as if a barrier had surrounded him and no one could go near. Every student and teacher stayed away and Charlie found it strange.

"Were you waiting long?" asked Chandler. Her tone was hard and piercing. It almost sounded like a different person entirely when Charlie heard it.

When he turned around to face her he saw that she was wearing black leggings and an oversized t-shirt. She was standing in a slightly wider stance with her hair tied back into a ponytail. Her chest was puffed out slightly more than usual and her hands gripped her long t-shirt as they rested on her hips.

"No, I just got here a few minutes ago," Charlie lied.

"Good then," she said as she approached him.

The apprehensiveness she was showing the day before had all but disappeared. Charlie watched as each step she took was filled with confidence. It would have been off putting for him had he expected something else.

"Have you thought about your answer?" Charlie asked when she was about three feet in front of him.

She looked him in the eyes and let out a puff of air from her nose. She quickly raised her hand to it, covering her mouth, "sorry there was something in my nose," her tone changed again. It was warm and inviting, like it had been the day before.

Charlie's eyes flicked around her frame noting how her body language had suddenly morphed into that of a different person. Her shoulders curved in slightly and her head dropped a little. Her wide stance shrunk as she brought her feet close together and her hands suddenly came to life, fidgeting with the end of her long t-shirt before finding their way behind her back and resting there. She had become who she was the day before.

"I thought about it for a while and," her hands began fidgeting behind her back but her gaze pierced Charlie, "I'm so sorry but I can't go out with you."

Charlie knew it was coming. He had expected her to say that from the moment she had asked for a night to think yesterday. He took a step backwards and leaned against the fence letting his head drop for a moment. He let the sinking feeling take over for a moment and the empty pain that came with it. Then he gave himself a slight shake and looked at Chandler.

"So what now?" he asked.

She began fidgeting and her eyes fell to the ground. "I know this is rude and a horrible thing to do but," her hair fell forwards, hiding her face but as she spoke there was a slight change to her tone, a change that Charlie recognized, "could you help me get with the person I love?"

Charlie pushed himself off the fence and grabbed his backpack in a smooth motion. He grit his teeth and stepped heavily as she marched past her and towards the window.

"The Love Guru," Chandler said as he was about to throw his backpack through the open window.

He froze, letting the backpack fall back down to his knees., "Where'd you hear that?" he asked.

Chandler raised her head and turned around, "I've been looking for him and it took a while but I think I've found him," Her tone had changed once again. It was harder, heavier and sharper.

Now Charlie turned around and pushed up his glasses, "Can you stick to one persona? The constant shift is getting annoying."

A jolt ran through Chandler's body. "What are you talking about?" she asked with a slight waver to her voice.

Charlie watched how she crossed her body with her arms and how her eyes flicked from the window to the ground to the fence, never looking at one place for more than a few seconds and never meeting his gaze.

Charlie sighed after seeing her freeze up, "I'm not gonna tell anyone as long as you don't say anything about The Love Guru stuff," he said as he tossed his backpack through the window and began climbing through it.

"I thought The Love Guru was always there for people who needed help with love," she took a step forward.

Charlie placed a foot on the window sill, "he 'was'."

Chandler grit her teeth as she watched Charlie climb through the window and slip his backpack on. This was a golden opportunity for her and she wasn't going to let it slip by. She was ready to do whatever it took and ran towards the window sticking her head through it.

"Three years ago you and four others were suspended for three weeks for bullying and forcing someone to cheat," Chandler shouted through the hallway.

Charlie closed his eyes and drew in a deep breath. He calmed his mind, doing his best to prevent any memories from that day from resurfacing.

"What if I said I could get that off your academic record."

Charlie's eyes flung open. His heart started racing as a possibility he had long forgotten about resurfaced.

"Could you wipe that off four records?"

Chandler furrowed her brow. She wondered for a moment why four and not five before saying, "yes."

Charlie drew in yet another deep breath before pushing his glasses up and running his fingers through his bangs.

"I'll let you know tomorrow."

"Tomorrow's Saturday."

"Then I'll let you know on Monday."

Charlie started walking through the hall. His hand had found his way to his heart and he clenched his t-shirt tightly there as he left the school.