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redsummermoon · 5 months ago

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Pretend?

Charlie Dalton x reader CW: female reader, use of Y/N, making out, Knox and Chris, slight underage drinking [2.7k words]

“You guys gotta help me! It’s an emergency!” Knox burst into Charlie’s dorm room, breathless and frantic. He barely noticed the way Charlie and Y/N were laughing over some inside joke, their textbooks abandoned on the desk. He knew Y/N would be there; she always was.

Charlie looked up, his eyes narrowing with a mix of curiosity and concern. “Whoa, slow down, Overstreet. What’s the crisis?”

Y/N’s smile faded into a slight frown as she turned to Knox. “What happened, Knox? Are you okay?”

Knox took a deep breath, knowing this was a long shot but feeling like he had no other choice. “I need you two to fake date each other,” he said in one breath.

Y/N blinked, her frown deepening as she tried to process what Knox had just said. “Wait, what?”

Knox pressed on before he could lose his nerve. “Chris thinks we have something going on. You know how we flirted at one of her parties so I could make her jealous? Well now she thinks you and I are a thing, Y/N, and I need her to know that we’re not. Because you’re with someone else.” Knox took a breath. “I don’t care if it's Charlie you fake date. Hell, I can ask Cameron if you want.”

Y/N gasped at the thought of even fake dating Cameron, “Do you really think so low of me?”

Charlie raised his eyebrows, curious to see how Knox could get out of the grave he's digging for himself.

“No, I don’t. I promise,” Knox whined. “I’m just a guy in love making stupid decisions. So please, help me out, would you?”

Y/N opened her mouth to tell him he’s out of his mind, but before she could get a word out, Charlie’s lips curled into a mischievous grin. “You know what? We’ll do it,” he said, cutting her off, his tone filled with a teasing edge. He shot Y/N a wink, his eyes sparkling with amusement.

Y/N’s initial shock faded as she caught on to Charlie’s playful mood. A slow grin (and a lot of blush) spread across her face as she realized this could be a lot more fun than she’d initially thought. “Alright, yeah,” she agreed, turning to Knox with a smile. “We’ll help you out.”

Knox’s shoulders slumped in relief. “You two are the best,” he said, though he couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something he was missing in this whole arrangement.

“Not so fast,” Charlie said. “Our fake relationship comes with a price.”

And there it was, Knox thought, the missing piece. “Alright, what?”

“We each get a request. Only fair because this is Y/N’s second time helping your sorry ass out,” Charlie said.

Knox looked at his shoes, as if contemplating, however everyone knew he would do anything for a chance that Chris even looks at him. “Fine, but you have to decide now what you want.”

Y/N and Charlie looked at eachother and high fived. “Score!” Y/N cheered.

“Alright, I want folded laundry for a month,” Charlie requested.

“A week,” Knox retorted.

“Two weeks and I’ll give you a pick-up line pep talk.” Charlie shot a wink towards Y/N. “Angels should be in heaven. How'd you escape?”

Y/N giggled and put her head in her hands to stop them from seeing her face blush. It wasn’t even that good of a line, but it was Charlie delivering it.

This got Knox to reply quickly. “Deal. And for you?”

“Hmm. Twenty dollars so Charlie can take me out,” she responds.

“Done and done.”

Charlie pauses to argue, “Hey wait, how come you didn’t negotiate with her? Twenty bucks for one date? That’s so much!”

“Can it Charlie, he already agreed,” Y/N hushed. “And aren’t I worth an expensive date?”

“You know that's not what I meant,” Charlie pleaded.

“She’s worth more than you and has helped me out multiple times,” Knox explained.

“Fair enough,” Charlie shrugs. “Okay, so. How is this gonna work?”

“Well…” Knox starts.

The plan was simple: Knox and Y/N were both invited to one of Chris’s parties as usual, and this time, they invited Charlie to tag along. The idea was that Chris would see Y/N with Charlie and realize Knox was available, and maybe, just maybe, Chris would stop thinking there was something going on between Knox and Y/N and then make a move on Knox.

The night of the party, Knox was a nervous wreck. Charlie tried to help calm his nerves when he gave his Flirting 101 Pep Talk, but Knox still felt a knot in his stomach as they arrived at Chris’s place, a large, bustling house filled with students and the sound of music booming from the speakers. Y/N and Charlie walked in together, Charlie's arm slung casually over Y/N's shoulder, their smiles easy and relaxed. Knox followed close behind, trying to keep his cool.

Chris greeted them at the door with a smile, but her eyes quickly darted to Y/N and Charlie’s closeness, then finally to Knox.

“Hey guys. Come on in,” Chris welcomed the group. For a moment, her face hardened with suspicion, looking mildly uncomfortable.

“Chris, hi!” Y/N called. She moved to give Chris a hug, but Chris deflected, moving to let them all inside.

“Well you all know where the drinks are. See you around.” Chris ran off into the party, leaving the three friends in the foyer of Chris’s massive house.

“What did you do, Overstreet?” Charlie asked, turning to Knox.

“What do you mean, me?” Knox said with his hands up. “It was obviously Y/N she’s mad at.”

“Yeah, I didn’t like that at all. We were really starting to be close friends too.” Y/N hugged herself, feeling shame for something she didn’t understand.

“Hey, we’ll figure it out.” Charlie reached out to rub Y/N’s arms. “It’ll be okay, angel.”

“Let’s just get to the party to carry out Knox’s plan.”

“Right, let's loosen up.”

As they made their way through the crowd, Y/N and Charlie naturally gravitated toward each other, their banter flowing easily as they exchanged inside jokes. Knox couldn’t help but notice how well they got along. Better than most fake couples he’d ever seen (which was zero). They sat down on a couch in the corner of the room, and Knox awkwardly squeezed in between them.

Chris hovered nearby, her eyes darting between Knox and Y/N before she excused herself to grab drinks. Y/N and Charlie, noticing this, looked at each other and then at Knox’s sad face.

“You know what, Y/N and I will get us something to drink,” Charlie said, standing up. He offered Y/N his hand, which she accepted.

“Yeah, you just.. save us this spot, okay?” Y/N offered.

They received a groan in response, so they made their way to the make-shift bar.

Charlie got to the bar first and started grabbing multiple different bottles and cups at once.

“Careful with that, Dalton,” Y/N teased as Charlie attempted to pour them both a drink. “You might spill it all over yourself.”

Charlie smirked, deliberately overfilling his cup. “Maybe I just need someone to clean me up,” he quipped, leaning a little closer.

Y/N laughed, shaking her head as she reached for her drink. “You’re impossible.”

“And yet, you’re still here,” Charlie shot back, his tone light but his gaze intense. He brushed a stray strand of her hair behind her ear, his fingers lingering a moment longer than necessary.

Y/N’s heart skipped a beat, and she playfully nudged him. “Don’t get too full of yourself, Dalton.”

Just as Charlie was about to retort, Chris appeared beside them, her expression unreadable. “Hey, Y/N, can I talk to you for a second?”

Y/N glanced at Charlie, who gave her a small, encouraging nod, before turning back to Chris. “Sure, what’s up?”

Chris crossed her arms, her voice edged with frustration. “It’s not fair, you know. How you’re treating Knox. Last party, you two were all over each other, and now you’re with Charlie? What’s going on?”

Y/N sighed, realizing how things might have looked from the outside. “Chris, it was just for fun. There’s nothing between Knox and me. We were just trying to have a good time. I’m with Charlie now.”

Chris looked between Y/N and Charlie, processing this new information. “So, Knox is single?”

Y/N nodded, trying to keep her voice gentle. “Yeah, he is. I didn’t mean to lead him on or anything. He’s just a friend.”

Chris’s shoulders relaxed slightly as if a weight had been lifted. “Okay. I just.. I wanted to look out for him, you know?”

Y/N offered her a reassuring smile. “I get it. But seriously, there’s nothing going on with Knox and me.” Chris looked down, bashfully. “If you like him, you should talk to him.”

Chris nodded thoughtfully. “We’ll see. Thanks, Y/N.”

Chris left quickly, leaving the two of them to watch her go.

“Do you think that solved it?” Charlie asked.

Y/N kept her eyes on Chris. “Well, she’s heading upstairs instead of to Knox or at least the party.”

“I don’t know if that's a good sign or not.” Charlie rubbed the back of his neck. “I’m starting to think that Knox’s plan isn’t going to work.”

“Well, I don’t want to upset Knox, so I think we should stick to our plan and be by his side in case things go sideways for him.” Y/N picked up her drink and took a sip. “Here, get him a drink and we’ll go back.”

“Yes ma’am,” Charlie saluted and grabbed a beer for himself and a mixed drink for Knox. They both made their way back to where Knox was seated.

“Here you go,” Charlie said, putting a drink in Knox’s hand. “Made your favorite.”

Charlie sat down next to Knox, and instead of Y/N sitting on Knox’s other side, she sat on Charlie’s lap.

“Oh, hello.” A smile spread across Charlie’s face as he situated himself for Y/N. She sent a smirk back.

Knox leaned in toward the two of them, lowering his voice so no one else could hear. “It’s not working,” he hissed. “She’s still ignoring me.”

Charlie rolled his eyes, an exasperated sigh escaping his lips. “Knox, you can’t think it's that easy. Even if she knows Y/N and I are together, she might want to take her time with you. Relationships aren’t that simple.”

Knox frowned, his frustration bubbling to the surface. “Then what do you suggest? Because it looks like you’re just sitting there talking, and she’s still convinced Y/N and I are a thing!”

Y/N, who had just about enough of Knox’s bullshit and bad flirting ideas, finally spoke up, her voice tinged with irritation. “Maybe the problem isn’t us, Knox. Maybe you just don’t know how to talk to her.”

Knox opened his mouth to protest, but Y/N wasn’t finished. She turned to Charlie with a determined glint in her eye. “You want to see what a real relationship looks like?”

Before Knox could respond, Y/N leaned in close to Charlie, her hand gently cupping his cheek as she whispered, “Let’s give him something to believe in.”

Charlie’s eyes widened slightly in surprise, but a slow, confident grin spread across his face as he caught on to what Y/N was planning. “As you wish,” he murmured, his voice low and playful.

Without another word, Y/N closed the distance between them, her lips meeting Charlie’s in a kiss that was anything but fake. It was slow and deliberate, filled with an intensity that took both of them by surprise. Charlie responded immediately, his arms wrapping around her waist as he pulled her closer, deepening the kiss. They could feel the electricity between them, a chemistry that neither had fully acknowledged until now.

Knox stared at them in shock, his jaw dropping as he watched his friends completely lose themselves in the moment. He could barely comprehend what he was seeing. Their kiss was so convincing, so real, that he almost believed they were a couple.

As the kiss stretched on, Chris reappeared with slightly more makeup on and a new shirt, her eyes widening as she took in the sight of Y/N and Charlie locked in a passionate embrace. She turned to Knox, her expression a mix of confusion and curiosity. “Knox, can we talk for a minute?” she asked, her voice soft.

Knox snapped out of his stupor, nodding quickly as he stood up. “Uh, yeah, sure,” he said, casting one last glance at the kissing couple before taking out a twenty dollar bill and leaving it on the table nearby.

“Let’s leave those two lovebirds alone,” Chris said with a small smile, taking Knox by the hand and leading him away.

Once Chris and Knox were out of sight, Y/N and Charlie finally pulled apart, their breathing heavy, their faces flushed. They looked at each other for a moment, a mixture of surprise and amusement dancing in their eyes. And then, simultaneously, they both burst into laughter, the sound echoing through the room.

“That was..” Y/N started, but she couldn’t stop giggling long enough to finish her sentence.

“Amazing?” Charlie offered, his grin wide and unrestrained.

Y/N nodded. “Yeah, amazing.”

Little did Knox know, Y/N and Charlie had been secretly dating the entire time. Their relationship had started out quietly, both of them preferring to keep things low-key, but tonight had changed everything. There was no fooling anyone about their status anymore, not after that kiss.

“So, what now?” Y/N asked, her voice softening as the laughter died down.

Charlie leaned in closer, his forehead resting gently against hers. “Now, we stop pretending,” he said, his voice tender but firm. “No more hiding. No more fake relationships. Just us.”

Y/N smiled, her heart swelling with happiness as she nodded. “Just us.”

“So how about I take my best girl out on a date she deserves,” Charlie says, picking up the twenty dollars as Y/N’s reward.

Y/N laughed, “I don’t know, Charlie. Someone told me that was too much for a date.”

“Yeah, well, that was before the hottest make out of his life.” Charlie winked and stood up. “I think my baby could use some pampering.”

“Well if you insist.”

Charlie bent over and picked up Y/N as she squealed in excitement. He gave her a quick kiss before starting to make his way through the party to leave.

“Well, I’m glad to be out of a fake relationship and into a real one. With the same person, if I might add. Gets a little confusing, don’t you think?” They were approaching the front door and finally getting outside.

“I think I’m more happy to be done flirting with Knox,” Y/N shuttered. “Do you think your pickup lines helped him at all?”

Charlie stopped walking and stared straight ahead. “Well, either that or you talked some sense into Chris to finally talk to Knox. Look.” Charlie tilted his head forward, pointedly.

There stood Knox and Chris sharing a kiss (really getting at it for a first kiss too).

“Awe. Charlie, I think we did that.” Y/N hugged Charlie tighter, pushing their heads together. Charlie slowly set her down, keeping her wrapped up in his arms.

“No, baby, I know we did that. We’re gonna have to make speeches at their wedding about tonight. They’re gonna have to repay us by naming their kids after us.”

Y/N laughed, turning to Charlie. “I hope Charlie’s a girl then.”

Charlie rolled his eyes. “Well, as long as she’s beautiful. Gotta live up to the name, if you know what I mean.”

“Oh I do know. You are quite beautiful Charlie,” Y/N said, looking at Charlie as if he was the only thing in the universe.

Charlie blushed. “You know I could never compare to you.”

“I love you, Charlie.”

“I love you too, angel.”

They both leaned in for a kiss, this one slow and tender, a stark contrast to the heated exchange they’d shared earlier. It was gentle, filled with warmth and affection, a moment that spoke of love more than anything else.

#charlie dalton x reader #charliedaltonxreader #charlie dalton #knox overstreet #chris noel #dead poets society #dead poets fandom #dead poets fanfic #dps #dps fanfiction #dps fandom #dps x reader #dps charlie #dps knox #dps chris

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redsummermoon · 5 months ago

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Conversations for Tomorrow

Charlie Dalton x reader CW: use of Y/N, female reader, drunk reader, underage drinking [3.1k words]

"They're here," Chris said, her eyes lighting up as she glanced towards the front door. Y/N followed her gaze and saw a group of familiar faces spilling into the room, their laughter and energy instantly amplifying the party's atmosphere.

Knox Overstreet was the first to make a beeline for Chris, a wide grin on his face as he scooped her up into a hug and planted a smooch on her cheek. Chris giggled, playfully swatting him away before pulling him in for another kiss. Y/N smiled, happy for her friend but feeling a flutter of nerves as she saw the rest of the Dead Poets enter.

Among them was Charlie Dalton, his usual confident swagger on full display as he walked into the room. His eyes scanned the crowd, and when they landed on Y/N, a mischievous grin spread across his face. He sauntered over to her, his hands casually tucked into the pockets of his jacket.

"Y/N," he drawled, his voice teasing as he approached. "Looking lovely as always."

Y/N felt a small blush rise to her cheeks but quickly recovered, giving him a playful smirk. "Charlie Dalton, I didn’t expect to see you upright at this point in the night."

Charlie chuckled, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "The night’s still young.”

Y/N rolled her eyes, but she couldn’t help the smile tugging at her lips. "Don’t go too hard, Dalton."

Charlie winked at her. "I’ll try my best. Speaking of which..." He glanced around and spotted the cooler filled with drinks. "Mind if I grab my first beer of the night?"

"Go ahead," she said, waving him off. "But don’t blame me when you’re stumbling around by midnight."

Charlie laughed, a sound that was both carefree and charming. "I wouldn’t dream of it."

As he reached for a beer, Y/N took a moment to observe him. She had known Charlie for a little while now, ever since their friendship had blossomed through mutual friends and shared experiences. He was always the life of the party, the one who could make everyone laugh and who seemed to have an endless supply of energy. But there was something different about tonight. Maybe it was the way his eyes kept flicking back to her, or the way his grin softened when their gazes met.

Charlie popped the cap off his beer and took a long drink, sighing with exaggerated satisfaction. "Ah, just what I needed."

Y/N took a sip of her drink, laughing. "You act like you’ve been stranded in a desert."

"Hey, a guy’s gotta stay hydrated," he replied, his tone light but his eyes lingering on her a little longer than usual.

"So, how have you been?" Y/N asked, shifting the conversation to safer ground. "It feels like we haven’t seen each other in ages."

Charlie shrugged, leaning against the wall beside her. "You know how it is. Welton keeps me busy, but I’m glad to be out and about tonight. Especially since I knew you’d be here."

Y/N gave him a skeptical look. "Uh-huh. I’m sure it had nothing to do with the free alcohol."

"Okay, maybe that too," Charlie admitted with a grin. "But mostly you."

Y/N rolled her eyes again, but the warmth in her chest was undeniable. Charlie had always been a flirt, but there was something more genuine in his tone tonight, something that made her wonder if there was a bit of truth behind his teasing.

They continued to chat, the conversation flowing easily as it always did between them. Charlie told her about some of the pranks he and the other Dead Poets had pulled at Welton, each story more outrageous than the last. Y/N found herself laughing more than she had in a long time.

As the party buzzed around them, it felt like they were in their own little world, where the only things that mattered were the playful banter and the way Charlie’s eyes seemed to sparkle when he looked at her.

As the night went on, the party grew wilder, the music louder, and the laughter more boisterous. Charlie and Y/N had split apart to hang out with their respective friend groups, but Charlie found his attention increasingly drawn to Y/N. She was having the time of her life. Laughing with friends, dancing, and singing to the music. But as he watched her from across the room, he noticed that she was starting to get a little too tipsy.

Y/N was currently with Chris, who had somehow convinced her to join in on a round of shots. The two of them were at the kitchen counter, giggling as they prepared their drinks. Chris handed Y/N a shot glass, and they clinked them together before downing the contents in one go. Y/N winced as the alcohol burned its way down her throat but laughed anyway, leaning on Chris for support.

Charlie frowned slightly, his mood shifting to a sense of concern. He had seen Y/N drink before, but tonight she seemed to be going harder than usual. Deciding that he’d had enough alcohol for the night, Charlie set down his half-finished beer and made his way over to her.

“Hey, Y/N,” he called as he approached, trying to keep his tone light. “How about taking a break from the shots and having some water?”

Y/N looked up at him, her eyes a little glazed but still sparkling with that familiar warmth. “Charlie! Come do a shot with us!” she said, waving the empty shot glass in his direction.

Charlie chuckled, gently taking the glass from her hand and setting it on the counter. “Maybe later. Right now, I think you could use some water.”

She pouted, but there was a playful glint in her eye. “Aw, come on, Charlie. I’m just having fun.”

“I know you are,” he said, his voice softening. “But I want you to still be having fun tomorrow, not dealing with a massive hangover.”

Y/N giggled, leaning in closer to him. “You’re such a worrier, Charlie. But… you’re kinda sweet, you know that?”

Charlie felt his heart skip a beat at the unexpected compliment, but he kept his focus. “Well, if being sweet means making sure you’re okay, then I guess I’ll take it.” He handed her a bottle of water. “Drink up, Y/N. For me?”

She looked at the bottle for a moment before taking it from him with a mock-serious expression. “Fine. But only because you asked so nicely.”

As she took a sip of the water, Chris winked at Charlie. “You’re a good guy, Dalton. I need to go find Knox. Keep an eye on her, will you?”

“Always,” Charlie replied, giving Chris a grateful nod.

Y/N finished drinking some of the water and handed the bottle back to Charlie. “Okay, Charlie, I did as you asked. Now what?”

Charlie glanced around the room and spotted Neil sitting on the couch, deep in conversation with Todd. “How about we go sit with Neil and Todd for a bit?” he suggested. “Give your feet a rest from all that dancing.”

Y/N tilted her head as if considering his offer, then smiled. “Alright, lead the way.”

Charlie kept a steadying hand on Y/N’s back and guided her over to the couch, where Neil was animatedly talking to Todd, who nodded along, listening intently.

“Mind if we join you?” Charlie asked, already helping Y/N onto the couch next to Neil.

Neil looked up and grinned. “Of course! The more, the merrier.”

Y/N plopped down beside Neil with a giggle, immediately resting her head on his shoulder. “Neil, you’re so smart. What’re you talking about?”

Neil laughed, clearly amused by her tipsy state. “I was just telling Todd about a play I’m thinking of auditioning for. It’s this new drama they’re putting on in town.”

“Drama,” Y/N repeated, her voice dreamy as she looked up at him. “I bet you’d be amazing in it.”

Neil chuckled, patting her hand. “Thanks, Y/N. I’ll do my best.”

Charlie stood nearby, watching with a smile as Y/N engaged Neil in a somewhat incoherent but entirely endearing conversation. It was obvious that she was trying her best to follow along, even if her thoughts were a bit scattered.

He reached out and took Y/N’s hand. “How’re you feeling, Y/N?”

She looked up at him with a sleepy but content smile. “I’m good, Charlie. Really good.”

“Good,” Charlie said softly, his thumb brushing fingers. “Just let me know if you need anything, okay?”

She nodded, her eyes closing as she leaned further into Neil’s side. “I will, promise.”

Y/N shifted a little on the couch, still leaning against Neil. Her head felt a bit heavy, but there was a pleasant buzz running through her, making her giggle at almost everything.

She turned her head slightly and looked up at Charlie. “Hey, Charlie?” she called, her voice a bit softer than before.

Charlie leaned in closer, his brows raised. “Yeah, Y/N? What’s up?”

“Could I actually get some more water?” she asked, her words slurring together just a little. “I think… I think I need it.”

Charlie smiled warmly, always patient with her. “Of course. I’ll be right back, okay?” He stood up, giving her shoulder a gentle squeeze before heading toward the kitchen.

As soon as he was out of earshot, Y/N turned her attention back to Neil and Todd, who were still chatting quietly. She nudged Neil’s arm, her eyes wide with a sudden burst of excitement. “Guys,” she whispered dramatically, as if sharing a big secret, “isn’t Charlie just… so cute?”

Neil chuckled, clearly amused by her drunken confession. “Charlie? Cute? I guess you could say that.”

“No, no,” Y/N insisted, her voice rising a little with her insistence. “Not just cute. He’s, like, really cute. His eyes—” She paused, her hands making a fluttering motion as she searched for the right words. “They’re like… I don’t know… stars or something. So bright and… and sparkly!”

Todd smiled shyly, glancing over at Neil with a knowing look. “Yeah, he does have nice eyes.”

Y/N nodded vigorously. “Exactly! And the way he looks at you, it’s like he’s really seeing you, you know? Not just… like, seeing you, but really seeing you.”

Neil laughed, trying to keep his voice down so they didn’t attract too much attention. “I think I know what you mean, Y/N. You’ve got it pretty bad, don’t you?”

Y/N sighed dramatically, flopping back against the couch. “I can’t help it. He’s just… ugh, he’s so dreamy.”

Todd and Neil exchanged amused glances, both clearly entertained by Y/N’s tipsy ramblings. “Have you told him how you feel?” Todd asked gently, his voice soft.

Y/N shook her head, her eyes fluttering closed for a moment. “No… I can’t. What if he doesn’t like me back? I’d be so embarrassed.”

Neil patted her hand reassuringly. “I wouldn’t worry too much about that, Y/N. Charlie’s a good guy. I’m sure he likes you too.”

Y/N opened one eye, peeking at Neil with a hopeful expression. “You think so?”

“I know so,” Neil said with a confident nod. “Just… maybe tell him when you’re not so, uh, tipsy.”

Y/N giggled, snuggling deeper into the couch. “Yeah… yeah, maybe I will. But his eyes… Neil, I can’t get over his eyes…”

Neil chuckled again, shaking his head as he glanced toward the kitchen, wondering when Charlie would return. Todd just smiled, watching Y/N with quiet amusement.

Charlie came back from the kitchen, a glass of water in hand, and spotted Y/N still nestled on the couch next to Neil and Todd. As soon as she saw him, her face lit up as if he had been gone for an eternity.

“Charlie!” she exclaimed, her voice bright with excitement as she practically launched herself off the couch. She stumbled a bit as she stood, but Neil quickly steadied her with a laugh.

“Whoa there, Y/N,” Neil said, amused by her sudden burst of energy.

Charlie chuckled as he approached her, holding out the cup of water. “Miss me, did you?”

Y/N beamed at him, her eyes sparkling as she took the water from his hand, though it was more of a half-grab, half-snatch. “I thought you were never coming back!” she said with a giggle, swaying slightly as she leaned into him.

“I was only gone a few minutes,” Charlie teased, grinning down at her. “You doing okay?”

Y/N nodded enthusiastically, taking a big sip of water. “I’m great! Just having the best time ever.” She waved her free hand around the room, her movements a little uncoordinated. “This party is so much fun, and you’re here, and Neil and Todd are here, and—” She paused, looking up at Charlie with wide eyes. “Did I mention how cute you are?”

Charlie’s grin widened, a flush creeping up his neck as he tugged at the collar of his shirt. “I don’t think you mentioned it yet tonight,” he said, his voice playful as he watched her sway a little on her feet.

Y/N giggled again, stepping closer to him, her balance wobbling as she tried to keep herself upright. “Well, it’s true,” she declared, her tone full of bubbly certainty. “You’re just… the cutest.”

Charlie steadied her with a gentle hand on her arm, his heart doing a little flip at how sweet and carefree she was in this moment. “Thanks, Y/N. You’re not so bad yourself.”

She grinned up at him, her eyes still twinkling with that drunken, joyful gleam. “Did you know your eyes sparkle?,” she said, her voice softening just a touch.

Charlie’s smile turned a bit more tender. “Only for you, Y/N.”

She giggled again, taking another sip of water before looking back at Neil and Todd, who were watching the interaction with knowing smiles. “See? Isn’t he just the best?”

Neil laughed, nodding. “Yeah, Y/N, we’ve got it. Charlie’s the best.”

Y/N nodded, satisfied with their agreement, and leaned her head against Charlie’s shoulder, her balance still a little off. “I’m so glad you’re here,” she murmured, her voice slightly muffled against his shirt. “You always make everything more fun.”

Charlie smiled down at her, his heart full of affection as he watched her snuggle against him. “I’m glad I’m here too, Y/N,” he said softly, his hand gently brushing her hair as she leaned on him. “And I’m not going anywhere.”

As the party wore on, Y/N’s bubbly energy began to wane. She was leaning heavily against Charlie now, her eyes fluttering closed every so often as she fought off sleep. Charlie, noticing her growing drowsiness, made up his mind.

“Hey, Y/N,” Charlie said gently, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “I think it’s time to get you home.”

Y/N blinked up at him, her expression adorably confused for a moment before she nodded, stifling a yawn. “Yeah, maybe you’re right. I’m getting sleepy.”

With her arm wrapped around his for support, they said goodbye to all their friends and made their way out of the party. The night air was cool and crisp, a refreshing change from the warm, crowded house they had just left. Y/N clung to Charlie as they walked, her steps unsteady but confident in his guidance. The walk to her house wasn’t far, but it felt longer in the quiet of the night, the world around them still and peaceful.

When they reached Y/N’s house, Charlie carefully helped her up the front steps. He paused at the door, turning to her with a playful, conspiratorial grin. “Ready to sneak in?”

Y/N giggled, nodding. “Like ninjas,” she whispered, trying to suppress another yawn.

Charlie opened the door quietly, and they tiptoed inside, moving as silently as they could through the darkened house. Y/N leaned heavily on Charlie as they made their way to her room, her steps growing even slower as sleepiness overtook her.

Once inside her room, Charlie guided her to sit on the edge of her bed. He crouched down in front of her, gently cupping her cheek to get her attention. “Hey, Y/N, you should take off your makeup before you go to sleep.”

Y/N blinked sleepily at him and nodded, fumbling to find her makeup wipes on the bedside table. Charlie watched with a soft smile as she clumsily wiped off her makeup, her movements slow and a bit uncoordinated.

“Got it?” he asked, his voice gentle.

“Yeah,” Y/N murmured, tossing the used wipe into the trash. “All done.”

Charlie helped her find her pajamas next, turning his back to give her privacy as she changed. When she was dressed, he turned back around and tucked her into bed, making sure she was comfortable.

“Here,” Charlie said, placing a glass of water and a couple of painkillers on the bedside table. “You’ll thank me for this in the morning.”

Y/N looked up at him with sleepy, grateful eyes. “You’re too good to me, Charlie,” she mumbled, her words slurring slightly as she fought to stay awake.

Charlie chuckled softly, brushing a hand through her hair. “I’m just making sure you’re okay,” he said, his voice warm. “Now get some sleep.”

As he turned to leave, Y/N reached out and grabbed his hand, stopping him. He looked back at her, his heart skipping a beat at the vulnerable expression on her face.

“Charlie,” she whispered, her voice soft and unsure. “I have a crush on you… Just thought you should know.”

His breath caught in his throat, his heart pounding in his chest as he processed her words. He knelt beside her bed, leaning in. “Y/N,” he whispered back, his voice tender, “We’ll talk about it when you’re sober, okay? I promise.”

She nodded, a small, sleepy smile tugging at her lips. “Okay… but don’t forget.”

“I won’t,” Charlie assured her, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead. “Goodnight, Y/N.”

“Goodnight, Charlie,” she mumbled, her eyes already closing as she drifted off to sleep.

Charlie stood up, his heart full as he watched her for a moment longer. He quietly slipped out of her room. As he walked home in the quiet of the night, he couldn’t help but smile, his mind racing with thoughts of the conversation they would have tomorrow.