Bittersweet

Ryder

To say I'm a happy duckling would be an overstatement because right now I'm not a happy duck at all.

I'm sitting at the back of the drama hall burning a hole in the back of Harrison Nelson's head as he blatantly flirts with Charlie.

"Here you go." Harrison says as he hands Charlie bottled water, his hand lingering longer than I'd like them to.

If it was up to me he wouldn't have his hands. I'd cut them off and feed them to him.

"Thank you." She smiles up at him. That smile is mine. Charlie Simmons belongs to me and only me, and Harrison won't get in the way of that.

I watch as Harrison gets a bit up close and personal with Charlie, nudging and fooling around with her. I'm overcome with jealousy watching him make her laugh. Her smile is meant for me.

I shoot up out of my chair and storm down the aisle before taking the stage steps two at a time. Coming up behind Charlie I grab her by the waist and spin her around so she's facing my way. She looks up at me wild-eyed and with a shocked smile on her face.

"You were amazing." I murmur as my lips descend down onto hers and I take her into a passionate kiss.

Charlie raises her hands and places them on my chest as she tilts her head to the side allowing me to deepen our kiss.

I can sense Harrison's presence as we break from each other. My eyes flicker up as I see the deadpan expression on his face. He is not happy. I let a grin form on my face letting him know who Charlie belongs to.

"What was that for?" Charlie asks as she pats my chest and smiles up at me.

Charlie's smile is contagious and I can't help but smile with her, "because you were amazing." I say pecking her on the lips again, "you're always amazing." I kiss her again.

Her breath hitches in her throat at my words and I can tell she wasn't expecting me to say that.

"Come with me." I grab her hand and direct her to the exit.

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"Can I ask you something?" Charlie asks turning around in her seat.

"Of course." I answer taking a bite out of my burger and facing her.

I took Charlie and me out to a burger shack west of the school and now we're sitting in my car in the parking lot.

"What are we?"

I didn't expect that.

"I mean..." she pauses, "we kiss... and then we kiss again and today with your compliments and the way you've been acting with me and it's just- it's confusing." Charlie takes in a steady breath.

I look down at her and set down my burger on the dashboard before wiping my hands and mouth, "I think-" I pause to think.

What are we? When we first kissed I didn't think she'd be the one to initiate it. I also didn't think that would be our first kiss... given the fact that she pushed me off her balcony a second later.

But then I kissed her again outside of the class before we got into trouble with our parents.

Aaaand the 'friendly' kisses I place on her head every chance I could.

And then that incident with Becky that ended with Charlie wearing my shirt as a dress.

Oh and don't forget that I declared my undying love for her just a couple days ago. Fun times.

So... what are we? The answer is: I don't have a flying clue.

"I think... I don't know what we are."

Charlie groans, "that's helpful!"

"I think I don't know what we are but I want to explore what ever it is we have..."

I look back at Charlie who is now staring up at me jaw slack and breathing harboured.

"We can't do that. Our parents hate each other..." her voice is nothing but a whisper.

"I think you've forgotten that fact that I sneak into your room most nights and I haven't gotten caught yet."

Charlie's smiles at me, "you almost got caught last week."

"Yeah but then you scared your brother off with 'urges'"

Charlie puts her head in her hands and shoulders start to shake. Panic surges over me thinking that I've upset or embarrassed Charlie.

"I'm sorry-" I shut up when Charlie's head comes up and I see that she's laughing.

I laugh at her laughing and we're sent into a fit of laughter as we sit in my little cooped up Mini, completely forgetting the fact that we're meant to be in school.

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