10 | Numbers

The next day came around. Charles woke up even before his phone could start singing its annoying alarms, even before the sun even rose, with a new-found determination. He was determined to talk to Sam. Even though what he spoke the previous day was very vague and Charles wasn't really a hundred percent sure why Sam was so down, he knew that Sam needed help. With June not around and his other friends being quite annoying even to Charles, he was determined to sit with Sam during lunch and talk to him and maybe get his number. We're getting too ahead of ourselves, buddy, he thought, laughing softly at himself, running a hand through his disheveled hair. But that didn't change the fact that he wanted to stop being the way he was and start doing something. Things won't just happen on their own, he reminded himself. He wanted to make Sam believe that he was someone who he could trust, someone who Sam could come to for any help.

With that in mind, Charles got off his bed and got ready to go to school. After showering, he went into his living room, where he saw his mom packing lunch.

"Someone's in a really good mood today," she noticed.

"It's a good day, isn't it? The sun shining bright, the birds chirping, the cool breeze...."

"Wh-" His mom had an incredulous look on her face. "Did you watch some cheesy movie or something yesterday? What's gotten into you?"

Charles laughed out loud. What, can he not be in a good mood and appreciate mother earth once in a while? What's so cheesy about that?

"Why do I have to have watched a cheesy movie in order to appreciate the good little things of the beautiful morning that we're able to experience now, huh?"

He looked at his mom as she visibly, dramatically gulped.

"I hope nothing possessed you, Charlie," she said, snorting. He was happy that he could put her in a good mood, too.

"Why does something have to possess me, can I not acknowledge the beauty of-"

"Okay, time to shut up. Go eat your breakfast now, or you're gonna be late for school."

Laughing yet again, Charles agreed with his mother that he had to stop and eat. He muttered, "Hm, yeah, maybe I should," and started gulping down his breakfast. Times like this he wished he could be the same way around people he didn't know. Speak with such ease, without the nervousness and anxiety of someone mistaking him as a mental patient, speak to make people's days better. He knew that he had people whose days he did make better and nothing compared to the feeling of that, but he didn't have the same comfort around people who he didn't know or even with the people he knew a little. Sighing for the first time that day, he slurped the last bit of milk in his bowl and went to his room to pack his bag.

Once he was done, he remembered that he'd be receiving his physics exam paper on that day. That brought back the smile on his face as he was eagerly waiting for it since the day of the exam (which was way before, before the holidays that indicated the end of semester one). Quickly slipping all the books he'd need for the day into his bag, he stepped out of his house and jogged his way through the narrow streets to meet up with Simon and Madeline. Midway, though, he heard someone call out to him (screech out to him, actually) and he could do nothing but facepalm when the heard what the person had to say. That person being none other than his mother.

"Charlie!! You forgot your lunch box!"

I definitely didn't learn anything from the other day.

"Sorry, I'm coming, mom!" he yelled back. At this point, he was red in the face because of how the people on the street were staring at him, but for once, he chose to ignore them. Under normal circumstances, he would've covered his face with his big hands and would've walked slowly towards his mom due to embarrassment, but he was a changed man.

Changed man my ass, he thought right after.

He ran as fast as his long legs could manage, and reached his house within a short amount of time.

"Are you serious? Again?" his mother exclaimed, placing the container roughly, but not so roughly in his arms, clearly displeased.

"Uh, sorry, gotta go! Bye!" The words rushed out of his mouth like a waterfall - fast and with full force due to ragged breathing. He took off from his house for the second time that day, racing through the streets where people were walking and cycling around aimlessly. He soon saw Madeline's long curly hair and Simon's neatly cut dark brown hair and accelerated to catch up with them.

They probably got late, he thought. He'd forgotten his watch because of the hurry he was in, so he didn't know the time.

So much for "the beautiful morning that we're able to experience."

"Wait-" he said, clearly out of breath, "Wait f-for me, I... I'm coming."

Madeline and Simon stopped and looked back at him with a look he knew all too well, the same look his mom had given him earlier that morning.

"Does this guy think he's in some movie?" Madeline asked. "W-wait for me...I- I'm coming... Don't- don't leave me...." she said, clearly mocking him.

When he caught up, he pulled her hair and said shut up with a malicious smile. The three of them laughed heartily and walked into their school just as the bell rang.

* * *

Trrrrrriiiinnnnnnnggggg

He heard the bell ring, indicating that it was break time.

Aha, it's lunch again. Yay, Charles thought, eager to talk to Samuel.

He'd informed his friends beforehand and had specifically mentioned not to stare at him and Sam while they talked, and the both of them were more than happy that his friend was being bold and was willing to step out of his comfort zone all by himself. Even if they were the people who annoyed and mocked him the most, they were the people who loved and supported him the most, too.

Taking his lunch box out of his bag, he skipped to the lunch hall, roaming here and there to catch sight of a familiar small boy with fluffy brown hair. It helped that he was a fairly tall person, but it didn't help that Sam wasn't. He wouldn't want it to be otherwise, though, he absolutely adored how Sam's height made him look like the smallest and most precious little bean. The thought of him brought a faint shade of red to Charles's cheeks and made his heart beat faster. The corners of his lips curled into a small smile which he wasn't able to hide at this point.

Jeez, just how serious is my crush on him? Have I fallen for him?

WAIT, FALLEN? DO I LOVE HIM NOW?

...No, maybe n-not yet.

...or is it...?

Asking his brain to shut up, he focused on his current task - find Sam. He did, not too long after, and his heart acted up again. He noticed that June wasn't present again and that Sam was sitting all alone. He wondered what happened to his whole gang.

I'm gonna throw hands if they ditched hi- Wait, this is the perfect chance! No need to be awkward and pry him out of the group!

Charles excitedly went over to the table in which Sam was seated.

"Hey," he greeted.

"Hi...?" Sam replied with a questioning tone.

"So," Charles started off, not giving his nerves even a second to act up, "I noticed your friend isn't here again. Mind if I sit with you?"

"Um- no. No, you can sit here... though I can't imagine why you'd want to sit with... me of all people."

"What do you mean, 'you out of all people'? You look like such a nice person, who wouldn't want to sit with you during lunch and be friends with you?" Charles didn't know what was up with him. Where did he even get all that confidence from?

I hereby believe in you and am thanking you from the depths of my wonderful heart. Thank you, God.

"Friends... with me?"

"Yeah, why not?"

"No one has asked me that before... I don't know, maybe...?"

"Maybe what? We could be friends?"

"Yeah, maybe," he said, the tips of his ears red.

He's trying to make conversation. He's trying not to make it awkward, just like me. He's willing to make more friends. I- I hereby conclude that I may or may not have already fallen for this boy. Thank you, God.

"R-really? Okay, let's exchange numbers, then!" He blurted out, realizing what he'd said a second too late.

Mission abort mission abort mission abort mission abort mission abort mission abo-

"N-numbers?" Sam asked, his face fully flushed red at this point.

"Y-yeah, phone numbers..." Charles started stuttering again. Way to go.

He saw Sam shyly take out his phone from his hoodie pocket. He handed it over to Charles. Charles was surprised beyond words, but wasted no time in reaching out to take the phone to put his number in it. The tips of his fingers brushed Sam's hand while doing so and Charles thought he would've evaporated in thin air had the contact lingered longer.

Oh...

Oh, f**k, his hands are so soft, let me die right now, right here...

Trying not to make it seem way too obvious that he was already head over heels for the boy, Charles dialed his own number. He didn't have his phone with him at the moment, so he gave it a quick call through Sam's and hung up after not more than two rings.

After returning the phone back, they both started nibbling on their food, awkwardness threatening to hold them captive inside its bubble again. But Charles was not going to let that happen. He had something to ask Sam anyway. That something being the thing that would confirm his suspicions from the previous day.

"So, how'd that physics test go?" he asked.

He saw Sam gulp and that question. The look of pure sadness was back on his face again and Charles was about to slap himself when he heard Sam say, "Not so good... not good at all."

So I was right.

"Do you need help? I can... help you with studies if you're not so good at it."

He saw Sam think about it for a moment before proceeding to say, "No... June helps me a lot, but I- I just don't take anything seriously and don't improve at all, I'm not sincere enough and I just- get distracted by the lamest things like, I don't know-"

"Hey, hey, that's fine. Everyone does, it's not just you. Maybe one day we can- we can study together and see where you're lacking and improve...?" Charles was on a roll. He was already proud of himself for getting the boy's number, and the things he said kept coming off as a surprise even to him, but made him feel proud nonetheless.

"Um- yeah... I guess..." he didn't sound too sure or enthusiastic about it which brought Charles a bit down, but he was determined. First things first, he reminded himself, first things first. Number? Check. Hanging out? Pending, but I'll make it happen.

The bell rang again, indicating the end of lunch break and Charles bid goodbye to Sam with a huge smile on his face, to which Sam shyly smiled and waved back. It was one of the best days of his life, he was sure.

He went to his bag, where his phone was, to save Sam's number when he saw he already had a few messages.

[ Perfectly imperfect ]

_MaD_

I-

are you serious?!

number, you got his number?!

holy freaking shit, charlie, where there hell is my awkward, shy and innocent boy?

are you gonna be like this now? asking all the hot boys for their numbers and being all confident?

idk how to take this.

Simonster

ngl same

charlie's all grown up now, am I supposed to be sad or proud or what-?

*cries*

all the best, my friend, hope you don't forget us...

Charle_s

You both are a pair of idiots. stop being so dramatic.

and I'm not forgetting anyone, don't say that...

BUT AJDHSKJGDHKJDHWE I GOT HIS NUMBER YALL HIS NUMBER OMFGSJDHJSGDGSDH

I HEREBY THANK ALL THE GODS AND ANGLES WHO WERE ON MY SIDE TODAY, FOR GIVING ME THAT INEXPLICABLE CONFIDENCE I NEVER HAD. TYSM. I CAN DIE IN PEACE.

_MaD_

wow now he believes in supernatural stuff

* * *