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      When you have a head like Charlie's and a heart like mine your bound to get into trouble. It's inevitable. He comes up with the ideas and I hate saying no so I just go with it.

      You could say the bet we made a few week ago was an example of this. We hadn't figured out all the logistics of it. How would we hide it from Cameron? Neil? Any of the others. We hadn't thought that far ahead.

    So when Knox burst into my room Wednesday morning, panicking because he couldn't find charlie and saw us kissing we knew we were fucked. It also didn't help when Cameron toddled in behind him and the first thing Knox blurted out of his mouth was

     "Ch-Charlie and Sophie were kissing" I pulled them into the room and Charlie slammed the door shut behind them. Both of them were staring at us in shock at the revelation.

"Y-you and Charlie?" Knox asked me

"You and Sophie ?" Cameron asked Charlie

       I moved quickly to cover their mouths but only got to Knox when I looked between them desperately.

        "Look please don't tell anyone, Neil doesn't know yet and I was hoping to tell him before any of you found out"

       "How long?" Knox asked sitting on my bed before jumping up quickly "you haven't"

       "No Knox, Jesus" I said as he nodded and sat back down. "It's only been three weeks"

     "Well finally" Charlie's face mirrored mine as they both contorted in to confusion at Cameron's words "Pitts owes me five dollars"

     "Oh that reminds me, Meeks owes me ten" Knox chimed in as Charlie and I stood beside each other with our arms crossed

     "You bet on us?" Charlie asked them looking between the two

     "Yeah, I figured it was time to put money on it since you started sneaking out at night" my eyes widened at bit as Charlie scoffed

"You knew about that?"

      "Oh cmon, Dalton, your the clumsiest person I know, do you know how many things you knocked over sneaking out? And don't think I didn't notice you gone in the mornings"

    "Well how did you know I was coming to Sophie?"

"Well you were hardly climbing into Hager's bed" Cameron scoffed as I put the back of my hand up to my mouth to stop a laugh.

"And what about you? What made you place a bet" Charlie nodded towards Knox

"Please, I knew something was up from the day Meeks and Pitts thought you were naked in here" I put a hand on my hip nodding thoughtfully, Charlie still looking between the two boys with his eyes slightly squinted.

"Well why didn't yous say anything sooner" Cameron shoved his hands in his pockets.

"Didn't have any concrete evidence, I mean you two have always been like this. How were we meant to know you two had begun sticking your tongues down each others throats" I made a face of disgust at cameron

"Ew really Cameron?"

      "Hey it's the truth, don't go getting annoyed just because we found out" he said putting his hands up, making his way towards the window to lean against it.

      "When were you planning on telling us?" Knox asked clasping his hands between his knees, leaning forward.

      "After I told Neil" I told them walking towards my desk, and sitting up on it.

       "And when were you planning on telling Neil?" Cameron asked from the window crossing his ankles.

       "She's still figuring that out, ain't ye Soph" Charlie said walking by me, patting my knee and walking towards my bathroom.

      Charlie thought it was a good idea that I tell Neil sooner rather than later. I had yet to tell Charlie  what my brother had told me. Was I afraid that if I told charlie about what neil said, he would end whatever was happening? Possibly. Was I now suddenly terrified to tell my brother? Yes.

      "Well what am I supposed to say Charlie? 'Oh hey Neil, just so you know your best friend is sleeping in my room and we're also making out?"

     "Well something like that, at least then we wouldnt be sneaking around"

      "Okay if it's so easy you go tell him" he went quiet and looked to the ground "yeah that's what I thought" Charlie shook his head with an unimpressed look before shutting the bathroom door.

     I sighed, annoyed, and crossed my arms. Both Cameron and Knox were looking at each other with wide eyes, Cameron looking a bit more scared than Knox "I don't like it when they fight"

"We aren't fighting, we're just-"

       "Having a disagreement" Charlie said walking. Out of the bathroom, the sound of the water flushing through the system sounds through the wall. Knox began to laugh from his seat looking between the three of us

      "Okay mom and dad" Charlie and I looked between each other as Knox stood from his seat "look whenever you decided to tell neil, that's up to you, we won't tell anyone anyway" he said making his way towards the door, Cameron following behind him.

       "And don't bother sneaking out after you think I'm asleep anymore, you've woken me every time" Cameron told Charlie before shutting the door behind him.

         I walked towards the window and opened it letting the fresh air circulate the room. Charlie got changed into his uniform, both of us stayed quiet not wanting to talk about the previous conversation.

      "two down, four to go" he finally said breaking the silence. I rolled by eyes pulling on my shirt, my lips in a tight line "sophie, neil has to be the next to find out"

"and he will be"

     "When?!" I spun on my foot turning to face charlie

    "When the time is right!" he let out a scoff pulling his tie around his neck "Charlie this isnt Knox or Cameron. Its my brother"

"Well dont you think it would be easier then?"

"no!"

      "Why?" I shook my head, shoving on my shoes as I grabbed my blazer

     "I'm not talking about this now, if we're late for the school newspaper, Mr. Donnelson will have our heads" Charlie turned to look at the clock on the bedside table before sighing

     "Fine. But this isnt over soph" he said following me out of the room

"great"

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     "Why do you only have church clothes. Don't you have a pair of jeans?" I asked inspecting the brown trousers that had been thrown back at me.

"Shut up, Sophie"

       "Hey you wanted my help" I said dodging the other pair of brown trousers that were coming my way. I was currently sat on Knox's bed by Charlie as Knox tore apart his wardrobe looking for something to wear to chets party.

      "Insulting my clothes doesn't count as helping Sophie" I chuckled and leaned back against the wall as Charlie hugged into my waist, trying to get some sleep.

      We hadn't been talking all that much today. When we left my room earlier. When we got to the newspaper room he went one way and I went the other. It wasn't until lunch when he came and told me he only had two chapter left of pride and prejudice that I felt a weight sourly lift from my chest.

        I hadn't realised before but the thought of Charlie and I not talking practically twisted my stomach and for every half hour that went by it got tighter and tighter.

      While we weren't completely fine and I knew that we'd have to talk about it again, it was nice to just sit here and know he wasn't angry at me. Well as far as I could tell.

      "Knox, it's just a Party with a bunch of footballers. Don't over think it" I said leaning my head back against the head of the bed when Knox let out a frustrated groan. Charlie made a noise of agreement beside me.

     "Yeah chances are none of those will be thinking at all"

      "Yeah but first impressions are everything" Knox said looking in the mirror attached to the back of his wardrobe door with a shirt held up against him

        "Yeah they are. But haven't you forgotten that this isn't the first time you've met her? It's not even the second" I said raking my fingers through Charlie's hair as he chuckled from beside me.

"She's got a point knox"

        "Oh these are good" I said catching the beige pair of trousers her threw back at me. I got up from the bed detaching myself from Charlie as I came to stand infront of Knox.

      I handed him the trousers and looked through his wardrobe finding a plain white shirt.

       "Here. Wear this and this and then Put a jacket over it. Just stay away from the brown trousers. Please" Knox nodded and placed the clothes over on his desk as I sat back down on the bed.

      "Knox don't be too nervous okay. She's just a girl" Charlie said from behind me.

      "That's easy for you to say Charlie. You never had to pick out your clothes to impress Sophie. And you never had to plan out a whole conversation in your head before you spoke to her just so you wouldn't sound like an idiot" Knox said collapsing into his seat

      "If it helps, sometimes I wish he'd think before he spoke" I said as Charlie's arms wrapped around my stomach pulling me back to him "look Knox. Just be yourself.

    "And she doesn't mean creepy stalker Knox that you've turned into"

     "Charlie" I said slapping the boy. "I mean the Knox who everyone here knows" I looked back to Knox who was looking between Charlie and I with a smile.

     "I'm happy you two are finally together. You deserve to be happy" he said catching us off guard. "I'm just not too pleased that I wasn't told sooner"

       I knew this was going to turn sour quick when Charlie sat up from beside me "Well be happy you walked in this morning or you probably wouldn't of been told for another month"

       I rolled my eye at the boy beside me before looking back To Knox who was looking at me wearily "any idea when you're gonna tell Neil?" I felt a scoff from beside me

       "Soon. But you've got bigger things on your mind so we're gonna leave you to get ready okay" I said standing from the bed and making my way towards the door "come see us before you leave okay" I said pulling open the door and walking out.

     "Good luck man" I heard from behind me and it wasn't until the door shut that I realised it was Knox saying it to Charlie.

      It made sense because we had only made it into the room when Charlie took a seat on the bed and it all began "Soph, We need to talk"

      "Charlie can we not?, I'm not in the mood to argue right now" I said taking my hair down.

      "I just want to know why it's taking you so long to tell Neil"

       "You said I could wait until I was ready to tell him and that's what I'm doing" he leaned his elbows onto his knees and clasped his hands together looking at the ground

     "Sophie I need you to be honest with me right now" my eyes brows pulled together as his head lifted and his eyes met mine "is the reason your not telling Neil about us because your ashamed of him knowing your with me?"

      "What?" My eyes widened as I made my way towards his "no of course not" he stood up looking down at me, with a fire in his eyes that I've never seen before.

      "Look I know I've done some stupid things in the past and have a bit of a reputation so if that's why tell me now"

"Are you crazy? Charlie that is not the reason"

      "So what is the reason Sophie? The real reason. Because I can't for the life of me come up with any other explanation for why you don't want him to find out. And don't say it's your bubble theory because that's been popped since Cameron and knox found out"

      "Because there is a good chance that if neil finds out, he's gonna hate us and not speak to us" I told him both our voices beginning to raise a bit

"You don't know that Sophie!"

      "Yes I do. He told me" the room fell silent as Charlie looked down at me

       "When?" I stayed quiet as I registered just what I had said but Charlie took another step forward and his voice became dangerously low "When, Sophie?"

"Tuesday" oh god.

"Why didn't you tell me!"

       "Because I was afraid that If I did, you would agree with him and end things"

       "You still should've told me, Sophie. He needs to be told. Now" Charlie's voice was reading and he was now practicing hovering over me he was so close.

        "Charlie can you just think about this. If we tell him, it's gonna ruin the relationships we have with him!"

      "Yeah well you not telling him is beginning to ruin this relationship." I didn't say anything but I took a step back from him. I knew he didn't wanna keep it from Neil but I didn't know he felt it was ruining us.

      "Is that so?. Well then I'll go find him and tell him right now, would that make you happy Charlie?" he took a step back from me and grabbed his jacket from the bed

     "Do whatever you want Sophie" I shook my head annoyed as he pulled on his blazer.

      "Fine" I said Turing towards the door and pulling it open but stopped short when Knox had his hand raised like he was about to Knock.

      "Knox, hey." I said putting on a smile hoping he was oblivious to the fight.

      "I'm not interrupting am I? I was going to ask you if you'd tie my tie" he asked me holding up the tie in his right hand

       "No, no. Give it here" he handed me the tie as I looped it around my neck. While doing this Charlie came up to my left patting Knox on the back.

        "Dont be nervous" he said before moving out behind him and making his way down the hall. I refused to look after him and focused on Knox's tie

       "Everything okay?" I glanced up at Knox before focusing on his tie again letting out a small chuckle

"Yeah of course, why?"

      "Because I've never seen Charlie Dalton leave a room and barely look at you" I finished his tie and tightened it a bit as I smiled up at him

      "Everything is fine dont be worrying. Go and enjoy your night" I said patting his chest as he smiled down at me pulling me into a hug

      "Thank you Sophie, I really dont know what id do without you" he said as I pushed him back laughing

"You'd manage"

      "No" he said seriously "I wouldn't" not being able to take the sappy side of Knox I pushed him back lightly

      "Get out of here. Go get em" he smiled brightly before turning and making his way towards his room.

      I shut the door behind me and made my way to Neil's room. I knocked twice before the door swung open and I was faced with a smiley Todd.

      "Hey Todd, is Neil here?" I asked as he opened the door and let me walk in.

      "He's at rehearsal until 8:30" I looked over at the small clock on his night stand that read 7:50

     I sighed and lay on Neil's bed. "You alright there Sophie?"

     "No" I shook my head looking up at the ceiling "Charlie and I are together"

      "What! No way" I looked over to where Todd was sat on his bed

       "That obvious huh?" I asked in response to the sarcastic tone

       "Only if your not blind" I groaned warning a laugh from Todd

      I rolled my head to the side to look at Todd. He was sitting back against his wall with his legs stretched out over his mattes. "God, Neil's gonna kill me when he finds out"

      "Is that why you're here? To tell him?" Todd asked playing with his hands.

      "Yeah. Charlie and I had an argument tonight about it" I said pushing myself up to mirror Todd's position "apparently me not telling Neil is ruining Charlie and I's relationship" I said looking down at my hands

      "But you told him about how Neil felt about you two being together right?"

      "Yeah. But then he got angry because I hadn't told him about it sooner. And he's got every right to be angry. I was so caught up in trying to keep my brother happy that I didn't realise how it was hurting Charlie" I said looking over at Todd

"What do you mean?"

"Charlie thought I was ashamed of him. He thought that because of how he's acted in the past that that was the reason I didn't tell Neil. God Todd I never even thought he felt that way. I was so busy trying to keep him close to me that I didn't even realise I was pushing him away" my heart was sinker with every sentence. I had hurt Charlie.

Todd and I went back I and forth on the charlie sit-up and the best way to tell Neil before changing the conversation to Todd and Neil.

It had just gone 8:30 when the door opened and Neil walked in.

"Hey guys"

"Hey Neil, how was rehearsal?" I asked standing from the bed as he unwrapped the scarf from his neck

"Yeah it was good"

Todd looked at me with a pointed stare as I nodded before speaking up "hey Neil I really gotta talk to you about something" Neil's stopped his movements and looked at me seriously.

"Phi? What is it?"

"Look it's about me and ch" I was cut off much like the last time by a knock on the door, in walked Meeks with his jacket on

"Hey you guys ready?" Looking at the small clock that now read 8:47, I looked between the boys confused

"Ready for what?"

"Hagers out tonight so dead poets meeting got moved to an earlier time since Neil's up early for rehearsal tomorrow" Meeks said. Todd made a noise beside me and looked at me

"I knew there was something I was meant to tell you"

"I can't find Dalton anywhere" Meeks said tapping his knuckles against the door "and if Sophie didn't know about the time change he won't know"

Neil who was putting his jacket and scarf back on looked in the mirror fixing his clothes before speaking up again "oh I was talking to him at rehearsal and told him"

"What do you mean you were talking to him at rehearsal?" I asked from where I was stood as Todd scooted to the edge of his bed

"Why was Charlie at Henley hall?"

"He said he had to clear his mind about something and decided to come see me rehearse. When I asked him what it was about he said it didn't matter now cause it was done" I felt my heart drop into my stomach

"Any idea what he was talking about?" Meeks asked

"I think he was talking about McAllisters Latin essay" Oh Neil how wrong you are

"Alright we'll I'm gonna go and get Pitts. Meet you by the entrance?" Neil nodded to Meeks as I made my way to the door to head back to my room and get ready. Neil grabbed onto my arm before I could leave and pulled me back

"Wait phi, you wanted to talk to me?"

"Oh yeah" I exchanged a look with Todd who was looking back with a sad smile. I forced a smile and shook my head. "It doesn't matter anymore"

"You sure?" Neil looked at me apprehensively Earning a nod from me in return. He smiled with a nod as I turned and left his room

"It's done"

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Yikes... what are you guys thinking?
How are yous liking it?
-C