New life

I opened my eyes and sat fast on the bed breathing hard. This night the golden hair man tortured me like never before. He spoke about fear, madness and something about war, but l don't remember what. I wanted to scream in the nightmare, but l knew l shouldn't, because that would make Charlie worry about me and l didn't want to. I wanted him to be away from all that demigods' stuff.

I closed my eyes and made a deep breath trying to return my normal breath. But l couldn't. As l closed my eyes a horrible picture of golden hair man's face appeared. He was smiling and his eyes tried to burn me.

I shook my hand driving away the thought about that man. I opened my eyes and turned to the part of bed where Charlie slept this night. If l forget about the nightmare, l can say that this night was the best for me. I was cuddled the whole night in Charlie's arms, l heard him breathing and his heart bouncing, his breath burnt my neck and cooled it at one time. Charlie, l suppose, had a nightmare too and when there was some dreadful moment he pulled me closer to him snatching me from my nightmare.

So, as l was very surprised when l didn't see Charlie lying next to me. I touched the place where he slept and it was a little bit warm. Thank gods! Otherwise l started to think that l just had a dream about Charlie lying next to me.

I got up from the bed and went to the bathroom. l'm almost an everyday visitor of this house and l have my towel and my toothbrush. As l took a fast shower, l went to the kitchen where l heard some mumbling from.

"And what shall l say?... Oh my gods! Here your breakfast in bed...? Here your first breakfast in bed....? No... No! That's horrible!" Then was a little pause when Charlie cooked something. "Hi, Stef! No! Good morning, Stef! No! That's not good... Maybe 'Good morning, Stefania"? Yeah, that sounds better. Yeah, much better. That means that she means for me more than before. Wait, that means that she didn't mean so much for me all that years that we were together as friends? Wait... No! Oh my God! No! She always meant a lot to me... Hey, Charlie, l see you're confused... and you're really frightened! No! I'm a man. And men aren't confused, they are strong and manful. Yes! Charlie, you're a man! You'll just come in your bedroom holding her breakfast and as you put this breakfast on the bed you'll stoutly kiss her. Yes! She will be a little bit shocked, but... That's awful!" Charlie made a deep breath. "I don't know what to do... l love her so much... And what will be if l do something wrong?..."

I couldn't stay any long behind the wall and listen to his speech. What l heard was... so nice of Charlie. He made a breakfast for me. He made it by himself. He must have woken up earlier... And only that thing already makes my heart melt.

"What if l do something stupid or wrong, will she..." Charlie started.
"Love you whatever you'll do" I said and entered the kitchen.

Modern kitchen in white, gold and black colors was filled with tasty smell of ready breakfast that consisted of hot cup of tea with sugar(Charlie knows l only drink such tea), omelet, beckon and some chocolate sweets. In the center of the kitchen Charlie stood with shock on his face. He wasn't prepared for such a twist, he thought that l'd be still asleep when he would bring my breakfast in the bed. He cursed himself for being so slow, and stupid, and bad. He nearly hated himself.

"I-l-l... Um..." An awkward pause for Charlie. He even blushed. All his "men strength" flew away and he didn't know what to do. That's why l decided to make first step by myself.
"Good morning, Charlie." I said and as l got closer to him kissed him as passionate, as "stoutly" and "manful" as l could. It started to lack of air in my lungs, that's why l stopped the morning kiss. I looked in Charlie's eyes. They were sparkling and were full of love. I blushed.
"Good morning, Stefania." He kissed me in my cheeck. "I thought you're still sleeping..."
"I heard." I smiled and turned to the prepared breakfast. "Oh, Charlie, thank you very much for breakfast." I took the plate with omelet and beckon in one hand and the cup of tea in the other. "Charlie, take, please, two forks and these sweets" l said and went to a little table that was near the wall.
"Okay, but why two forks?" Charlie didn't understand what l was up to.
"One fork is for you and another is for me." I smiled as Charlie gave me a fork.
"Oh..." Charlie sat down and we started eating our breakfast.

I thought l would burn on that chair! We ate in dead silence! And when Charlie was looking at the plate with food, l was looking at him, restudying his face that l used to know for nearly 14 years and questioning myself how I was so blind all these years. But when Charlie looked up and caught me on looking at him, l looked down on the plate with my cheecks burning. And then l looked up and Charlie looked down. We played this game like small kids who are frightened of each other. But how that could be, if l've just kissed him passionately? Oh, Hades, l don't know what l'm doing...

"So, um..." Charlie decided to break the silence. "You know it was worth it..."
"Worth what?" I looked up and met blue eyes. Some kind of coolness went through my whole body.
"I woke up today at 9 to make you some breakfast..." He looked at me without blinking. "And then as it was nearly prepared, l thought that it was the worst idea l've ever had! But l decided if l started, l should finish. So, l continued cooking. But then l didn't know how to enter the bedroom. And then you appeared. And all that feelings that l had while cooking and waking up earlier were worth seeing your face, kissing you, sitting like that and eating with you..."

What could l reply on that one? Well, nothing. Exactly. These words made my heart melt and my mind going away. I felt like this guy was taking the whole me in his control, like l'm not mine any more, like l'm his from now and forever. Yeah, l should understand that yesterday, but yesterday l made another discovery, the discovery that l loved Charlie.

Charlie moved his chair closer to mine and l started to think that he wanted to kiss me. But he didn't do that. He took my hand and squeezed it with his. He didn't have to kiss me. He held my hand and that was enough to understand what he felt.

I looked at our hands bound together and then back at Charlie. He has bright blue eyes in what l can look forever, bright blue eyes that always envelop me with warmth and care, that a few weeks ago were full of pain and now are full of joy, love and happiness. He has brown short cut hair that has a cute curl in front. He has red, soft lips that always smile, that l already had loved to kiss. Yes, he has some imperfections, but they are perfect imperfections that l also love. Yes, l love this guy. I love Charlie Moore. (But this whole speech l'll tell him a little bit later...).

"So, Stef, do you have any plans for today?" Charlie asked getting up and taking the plate and the cup to a dishwasher.
"Um... No?" I got interested in what Charlie would say after.
"Great!" He turned to me with a badass smile. "Let’s go!" He took my hand and led me to the front door.
"Wait, Charlie, where are we going?" I looked him in the eyes.
"You will know when we arrive there." He kissed my cheeck.
"Uh, okay." I theatrically rolled my eyes and smiled.

We sat in Charlie's car and set out on the road. His racing car went quickly. Trees, bushes, houses, people were passed fast. All of them were like blurred spots, the sky l could only clearly. Small air marshmallows captured the blue sky today. Every cloud looked like some kind of the subject: you could see a crocodile, and there was a small kitten next to a running dog, submarines and balloons floated over us.

Soon we saw the city and I started to listen to its sounds as l opened the window. Somewhere quite close there was a dog barking at a passing person. A man and a woman were arguing on an old vase broken by someone. I could hear the roar of cars, swearing pedestrians and a cry of a child penetrating from the city center. And songs of birds and a river`s rumbling could be heard from afar.

"We nearly arrived." Charlie said and l came back to reality.

After few minutes the car stopped near my parents' house.

"Charlie, no." I said looking at him.
"Stef, yes." He nodded.
"No." I turned away from him and looked at the road.
"Stefania..." Charlie made a pause. He was saying by this pause and by using my full name that this was really important and that l needed to listen to him. "You need to go. They are your parents. They worry about you."
"I don't want to see them. They have been lying to me all this time!" I closed my eyes with the hands. "Charlie, they have been lying for nearly 18 years. I don't want to hear their lies anymore."
"Hey," Charlie took my hands away from my head and looked in my eyes. "Stef, you need to tell them that you know the truth. If you tell them, there will be no lies."
"Charlie, you just don't understand how l feel right now..." l turned away from him and looked at the house.
"Stef, don't say like this. Just don't. Okay? I understand. And l know you agree with me somewhere inside. Do you?"
"I...l..." l made a deep breath. "Yes, l agree, Charlie." I turned to him. "Sorry, l didn't want to say so, l just didn't want to talk to them, l just want all this to be over..."
"Everything will be fine." Charlie squeezed my hand and l understood that this gesture meant "l'm beside you, don't worry".
"Then... let's go." I said and went out of the car.

My parents, as they had told me, met each other in New York and then after they got married moved here. My mom was an accouter till some time when she decided she wanted to be a housewife. My dad was always a layer who hoped that his little girl would become a layer too (but l didn't want to and he was always upset with that). My parents as they moved here bought a little flat with two rooms, one bathroom and a kitchen and, of course, they wanted a little child, a little running and yelling happiness that soon became me. Yes, l was little "happiness" who always crying. But as l grew up, l stopped the crying thing and became shy till someday l met Charlie(but it's another story, now l'm telling you about my parents). My mom and dad always cared about me and always loved me. They were kind and sometimes strict when it was necessary. So, all this years l have been leaving with a really nice couple who have been lying to me.

We went up to the third floor and when we knocked in a flat we heard approaching steps. In a second the door was opened by... by my mom. She wasn't beautiful or ugly, no, she was just, you know, normal: she had blonde hair that was always braided in the pigtail, her grey eyes were full of love and happiness, she had a big mouth and a small nose that was dotted with pale freckles. She wore a light summer dress and sleepers that were the same yellow color as the dress. She was a little shinning sun that was the main ruler in our family.

"Stef!" she took my hand and lead me inside the flat, Charlie went after us. "Hello, my dear!" She hugged me. "Charlie, you are so handsome! Come here, l'll hug you too!"
"Good morning, mrs.Crossman" Charlie was squeezed by my smiling mom.
"Oh, why didn't you phone me? I was really worried about you, Stef! Firstly, you didn't call me after a party! And then you didn't tell me you were on the Bahamas with Charlie and his family! Why, l`m asking you, didn't you phone me?!" She nearly shouted and l understood her why she did it. What would l feel if my daughter was somewhere for two weeks who even didn't call her?...
"Well..." l looked at Charlie. "Firstly, l'm sorry, l didn't call you. When l woke up in the morning after the party and talked with dad, l was offered if l wanted to go to the Bahamas. And, well, l said yes. And then l was really busy, mom, sorry... And, secondly, these weeks were really great! Love Bahamas!" I high lightened the last sentence looking at Charlie. He blushed a little-he remembered l answered no to his offer.
"Cool! I'm glad you've liked it!" My angry mom was gone and now she was smiling and looking at me and Charlie. "Oh, do you want a cup of tea and a chocolate muffin?" She asked.
"Um... Yeah, l want two muffins." I smiled. Her muffins were the best of the best.
"I'd like just one, thank you." Charlie said.
"Okay, l'd be right back!" My mom went to our kitchen.
"Stef, when are you going to tell her that you know you aren't their child?" Charlie turned to me.
"I just need a little more time to get ready. I'll tell her, just give me a minute till my whole world will roll over." I said and turned to the wall in the lobby.

"Here l'm four. I remember that day. We were going to the zoo, but a rain started and that's why l'm so upset. Oh, here l'm three. It was the first day when l went to the nursery and met Charlie. And here is my sixth birthday. I'm so small here and so happy. I'm trying to blow out the candles. Why were you trying, you can ask. I tried to do it because l was always interrupted by little Charlie who laughed at me because, as he told me later, l looked funny while blowing out the candles. And here is the first day of school and Charlie and l are sitting in my kitchen and smiling at the camera. And here is the whole my family at my 16th birthday(me, my mom and dad and the photo was taken by Charlie)... Family. Lies. Feelings are hurt. Pain. Why? Oh... l need to talk to mum. Yes. But... yes! I'll tell her. And we'll be a family again. I need to hear why they didn't tell me that l'm not theirs..." l closed my eyes and felt that Charlie took my hand.

"Here l am!" My mom said and entered the lobby that had a little sofa and Charlie quickly released my hand.
"Mom.." l started. "I need to talk to you..." l made a sip of tea.
"Yes? I'm listening to you." Mom's eyes wanted to invade my brain to know faster what l was about to say.
"I wanted to say..." l made a pause. "That..." l took a deep breath. "We're together" l took Charlie's hand.

Silence. I looked at mom. She was a little bit shocked. She always thought we'd end up together, but l think that she just needed time to understand that what she hoped and wished finally came true. I looked at Charlie who had my hand in his. He was shocked, too. I guess he wasn't just ready to tell that to my mom. And he was... well, he disappointed and shocked about one more thing. He thought l'd talk to my mom, but l didn't. Sorry, Charlie, but l need just a little bit more time to start this conversation.

"Charlie, is it true? Or my daughter is just kidding me?" My mom looked at Charlie. He firstly looked at her and then at me. Love, disappointment, shock, happiness and love were in that look. No, he was ready to tell my parents, to start a new level, to be closer to me.
"No," Charlie paused and looked at my mom. "This isn't a joke. We are really together."

And then my mom was burst with talking.

"Oh! I knew! Charlie, come here, my dear!" She hugged him. "I always knew you would be together! I'm so happy! Don't look at me like that, Stefania. I'm happy for you!"
"You're saying so like he's just proposed to me!" I rolled my eyes.
"You'd better told your mom why really we are here..." Charlie said to me, but, l know, my mom heard what he'd said.
"What is he talking about, Stef?" My mom looked at me. I turned to Charlie. He was looking at me and l started to look at him. We had like an eye battle. "He's right..." l thought and gave up.
"Well..." l made a deep breath and looked down. "I know you're not my true mom..." l looked up.
I'd better not say that. My mom's face was pale and her eyes were full with tears. I shouldn't say that at all. Why was l so stupid? She and my dad brought me up. They loved me and cared about me all the time! I should have forgotten about these lies! I should have lived further! What have l done? She is the only mom for me! She is the best mom for me! I'm an idiot! Selfish idiot!
"Mom! Mom! I'm sorry! I shouldn't! Mom!" I said, but my mom got up and trying not to cry went to her and dad's room.
"Charlie!" I shouted and turned to him. "Ughr!" I closed my face with hands understanding that Charlie wasn't guilty. I was the only one who should be blamed.
"Stef..." He moved closer to me and wanted to press me to him as a sign of support.
"Charlie, don't" l said strictly moving away from him.
"Um... Then... I'm waiting for you in the car" Charlie got up from the sofa and was about to leave me, but l caught his hand.

So, there were we standing near each other. I didn't look at Charlie. I know l shouldn't say that and move away from you. You wanted to help. You always want to help. And l'm always pushing you away thinking l'll handle everything myself. But most of the time l can't, l just don't have strength... l know, Charlie, you're looking at me. I also know you don't know what to say. Yeah... But... Charlie, thank you that you are here...

Charlie sat down next to me and pulled me to him. What will be with our family? With me? Maybe l should go after my mom? My... mom... l'm just stupid girl. And l hate myself. Yes, l should go after my mom. I should, l have to solve this problem myself. Without Charlie.

I got up and made one step when my mom went out from the room. She had something in her hands. It was a flat long basket with some blanket inside.

"Stefania..." My mom started. "We, your dad and l, wanted to start this conversation a little bit later, when you'll be 18, but... Well..." Her hands and her lips were trembling. She was worried and didn't know how to tell me everything. "Um... l won't ask you how you've understood that we aren't your true parents..." She made a pause. "You know this and l can't change it... Um... How... how shall l start...? It was so long ago... Um, okay... Let's go back on 18 years." My mom looked up and met my eyes. "That day l was going to a store to buy some food for Cristofer and me. It was Saturday and we both were at home. So, l got dressed and opened the front door. I could not notice you and actually l was about to make a step forward. But l heard a tiny sob going somewhere from the ground. I looked down and saw a baby lying in this basket..." My mom stroked a blanket. "I called Cris. While he was coming, l sat down and started looking for some information about you or about your parents, for some address. But there wasn't any information except for this..." My mother took a little note out from the basket and gave it to me. The note was wet, l guessed, and the first words were wiped off, but l could read the last one "Stefania". "So... As Cris appeared and as we had a huge argument, we decided to keep you as our daughter. Yeah, we did a lot of paper work and repair in a room, but after a month you were our legitimate daughter."

Then there was a silence. Charlie was looking at the basket in frustration, as well as l was. And mom... She was watching me how l would react, what l'd do afterwards, what l'd say.

"Oh... Now l know the truth..." l swallowed. "All l can say is that l was stupid and selfish." I looked up at mom. A little smile appeared on her face. "I...l... l'm really sorry. I want to say that... that... that you and Cris are the only parents l could ever want, the only parents, the best parents who raised me as their own child with love and care... And... Will you ever forgive me for my blindness?" I looked at mom. Her face couldn't been read, even her eyes were looking somewhere inside her-she was looking for the right answer. And after a second it was found.
"Well, you took this truth so calm. Actually l imagined you screaming and being angry with us..." Ha! Yeah, l was until sometime... "But, you know... now l felt like a thousand tons fell from me..." She smiled. "How could you ever think that a loving mother wouldn't forgive her child? Come here, Steffie. Come here."

She hugged me so hard pulling me to her that l couldn't breathe. Finally, l felt warmth and calm inside me. I thought my world would roll over, but how could l even think about that?... Oh, Hades! Thanks to Charlie who drove me here... Otherwise l wouldn't decide to go here... like in forever. Why was l even frightened? Oh... Stupid, stupid me!

"Um, mom..." l said when the hug was over. "And, well, Charlie... You both need to know something about me." Two pairs of eyes were staring at me. "Um... Well, don't ask me how l got this information, l wouldn't answer you." I looked at Charlie saying by that look that this information is connected with demigods. "Um, you see these words are wiped off and l know what was written here. It was my full name. Actually l'm Andromeda Diana Stefania."

There was one more silence. I looked at Charlie. His face expression could be read as "wow! So long name... how did they even created such!? And yeah, l liked it...". Then l looked at mom. She was surprised (for the fact l knew something about a small me) and happy.

"Woah! Steffie, that sounds a little bit... Greeky..." She smiled-she always loved creating new words. "But l think this name suits you and however you would be called, you will always be my girl!"

After this conversation we decided to look through old photos. We watched how l was getting older, how we all had been changing, we recalled some incidents that had happened to me, to my parents or to Charlie, we saw happy and sad, funny and serious faces, we restudied our lives through a photo album. We drank tea in the lobby speaking and laughing, sometimes even arguing, but whole in all we had a great time together. The sad thing was that dad wasn't with us. As my mom told me, he had gone to work, because he needed to finish something. I wished he was there with us, because he needed to hear me saying that words that l said to mom. Yeah, mom would tell him about this conversation, but it'd be another effect.

After we looked through the whole album, we decided to eat firstly some soup and then to go to Charlie's house where all the seven was.

"We had a good time, l think" Charlie said when we sat down into the car.
"Yeah... Thank you that you were so persistent for me to go here." I said and Charlie pressed on the gas pedal.
"I knew you would thank me" He smiled. "Actually at first l was shocked that you told your mom... that... we are together..." He made a pause thinking to say or not what he had planned. "Um... Does it mean that... we are... officially together?..." He looked at me.
"Yeah." I said waiting for his face expression. His blue eyes sparkled at me and an infectious smile appeared.
"Cool!" He said looking at the road.
"Hate ya!" I said stirring his hair whereat he smiled cunningly. "Oh, wait... The seven is hungry, l think... We need to think about some supper..."
"No, l've told Percy everything. They ate what they wanted from the fridge. All kitchen was theirs."
"Oh, okay then."

In 20 minutes we arrived at Charlie's house. In the camp everybody had been telling that it was not okay for a demigod to be in cities and that it was safer for them to live in the camp... But l think monsters just hadn't find a way to Charlie's house yet, because everybody was still alive and actually had had a great time together when we were out.

"Hello, everybody!" I shouted, so that everyone could hear.
"Finally, they are here! What are we going to say them about a broken vase?"
"Leo! Stop laughing! That's not a joke."
"Okay, okay. But l wanted to see his face if he believed me..."
"What is going on?" Charlie said entering a big living room where Leo and Hazel were.
"Nothing, l just wanted to make a joke, but this girl stopped me." Leo said resentfully like a true actor.
"I see..." Charlie looked around and l thought he was looking if there was something broken or not. "Where are the others? And what did you do while we were out?" Charlie turned to Leo and Hazel.
"Well, at first we had a little breakfast and after that we dispersed in different groups enjoying the time." Leo started.
"Yes. Percy went to the swimming pool, Frank was with us, but now..." Hazel stopped blushing a little. "He is in the toilet. Jason and Piper went for a walk and Annabeth decided to look at your library..." Hazel stopped and l understood that l didn't have to scream, because no one could hear me.

After that we decided to watch TV, but when we understood that there was nothing on it we turned it off and l asked Charlie to bring some games. After some minutes he was back with 10 boxes that were such games as Monopoly, Uno, a collection of different games in one box, cards, Twister and other.

That was the best evening. We started with Uno and when the fifth joined us decided to play Monopoly. We were divided into groups Percy and Annabeth, Jason and Piper, Hazel and Frank, Leo and Charlie and l was like a narrator. This game was funny and sometimes cruel(when Percy and Jason were competing for some street). But nothing compares to Twister, that you must understand since your birth. How many awkward moments were there with all of us? How many times did we burst with unstoppable laughter? How many times did we want to fall because of stiff muscles? Well, a lot of times...

After we ended playing games we decided to have some dinner that actually consisted of popcorn, nachos and chips-the food that can only be eaten while watching some film. And it was "The hunger games". At first everyone was joking and talking, but when the plot started to develop everyone suddenly became silent. I heard everyone breathing and everyone's hearts beating fast. I knew what was the film about as well as Charlie, but the seven heard of it for the first time that's why we decided to watch it. We all were lying on a big sofa or on an armchair("A special place for the king" Leo said sitting there) and we all had different face expressions: Percy and Jason kept aloof like saying to girls that they weren`t afraid to watch that movie, that they were involved in such battles, but in fact their hearts started pounding faster when the situation tensed in the film; Frank was a little bit shocked by the film and by Hazel who, when it was a scary moment, took him by the hand or laid her head on his shoulder; Annabeth looked like she was thinking about what the heroine did well or wrong or right and what she would do if she was on her place, but sometimes she just closed her eyes with her hands and sat like that for some minutes too afraid to look at the TV screen; Piper as well as Leo intently watched every movement of the heroine and sometimes even forgot to breathe and Charlie... I turned with my face to him. He was concentrated on the film, but he somehow felt that l was looking at him and turned to me.

"What? Are you frightened?" His eyes spoke to me.
"No." l shook my head, my eyebrows went up like saying, "and you?"

Charlie smiled and turned back to the film.

When the film was over, there was a little silence and then everybody started talking. They were shouting and nearly crying and smiling. They had too many emotions after the film that needed to be thrown away. And as they shared each other opinions on the film, everybody went to their rooms yawing and looking really sleepy.

I was going to my room when Charlie hailed me:

"Stef, wait..." He took my hand.
"Yes?" I didn't know what he wanted. No, that's not true. I knew what he wanted, but l wanted to hear his speech about the future night.
"Um... How were you sleeping today?" Charlie started from afar.
"Well..." l blushed a little. "It was... fine, thanks. But why are you asking?" I was about to laugh or to smile, because l couldn't see that omg-l-don't-know-what-to-say face anymore.
"Um... I thought that... um... we can sleep together as boyfriend and girlfriend one more time..." Charlie said and his cheecks started to get red. As well as mine." l... l mean...l..." He ran his hand through his hair. "I... just... you can understand me incorrect..."

I couldn't hold myself anymore...

"You are laughing...! You knew what l wanted to tell you and didn't say a word! I thought l was crazy and l only make you blush! But you are playing with me!" Charlie looked at me threateningly, but seeing that I am still laughing, couldn`t hold himself and smiled.
"Let's go, my thinker" l said and took him by the hand. "But first l need to take a shower."
"Okay, take it here and l'll take a shower in some other room." Charlie said leaving me alone in his room.

As l entered a bathroom l noticed something lying on a bath. I walked toward it and took that something that actually was a package. I opened it and found there a note: "Actually l wanted this to be a part of my present to your birthday, but l decided to give it to you nowJ C". I thought for a while what could be in that package, but after a few seconds opened it. There was a big, like really big, T-shirt like footballers have. It was dark red and had "18" in the front. On the other side of the T-shirt there was my name and my years "Stefania 18". I liked it. Actually l liked big T-shirts that l could use however l wanted, but the one thing l liked the most is that these T-shirts were really comfortable for the sleep... Wait!... That means that... Charlie wants me to sleep in this... Not in my everyday clothes, but this sleeping T-shirt... Hm... Charlie saw me in the swimming costumes and in the shortest shorts and tops and l'm confused now and l'm wondering now if it's okay to wear this big T-shirt that ends up nearly on my knees while sleeping with him! Okay... Or should l wear my bra? Or shouldn`t?... Oh... l don't know! Okay, okay. First, let me take a shower.

While taking a shower and thinking, l decided what to do. So, after l turned off the water and wiped myself with a towel, l put that T-shirt on and opened the door that led to Charlie's room.
It was dark, but l could definitely say Charlie was in the room-l heard him breathing hard like he was nervous. I made few steps forward and stumbled on something.

"Hey," Charlie got up and took my hands leading me to the bed. "I thought you were dead there. It's been many minutes since you entered the bathroom."
"I was enjoying your present" l said lying on the bed and covering myself with sheets. "I really liked it. Thank you" l said.
"You are welcome" Charlie looked in my eyes (l knew that because my eyes finally adapted to the darkness of the room). "You are leaving tomorrow morning..." Charlie was certainly sure, however l didn't tell him that.
"How do you know?"
"Percy said."

There was a pause.

"Thanks for coming for these weekends. These were the best weekends in my life" Charlie said.
"Mine, too." I yawned.
"I think it's time for sleep..." Charlie was still looking in my eyes.
"Okay... Good night, Charlie..."
"Good night, Stef..." Charlie said and I closed my eyes.
"Can you cuddle me?" I opened my eyes and found Charlie looking at me.
"I thought you aren't going to ask..." l turned with my back to him and felt like in the next second his hand lightly touched my waist. I thought "Don`t be afraid, don`t be afraid," and he, as if he had read my mind, confidently pressed me to him with one hand, warming my back.

If l knew what was about to happen... If l only knew... l wouldn't lie so calmly on the bed, l would stay up all night just looking at Charlie...

Notes

Here is the next chapter, guys! Yeah! Finally! Sorry! But this is the largest chapter in the whole story! Hope you liked it... If there is smth u want to say about my story, just wrire below.

l have a few problems with writing this story, so lm going to take a break after the next chapter, but.... lm going to start a new story! Yeah... Its going to be called "My "sweet" 23, or Dear diary (№ 6)". Im going to tell you more about it later. Thanks for reading this!