Get Ready Chapter 3

Elle's POV:
We got to the hotel and checked in. Aunt Hope and Macy were sharing a room, while Charlie and I got our own. Charlie had ignored me for the whole ride. I wondered what was up with him.

I got settled in, before heading back down to the cybercafe. I sat at a computer and followed the instructions to get started. I opened Facebook, and read the comments on my changed relationship status. Everyone wanted to know what happened between me and Derek, but I really didn't feel like offering an explanation.

Charlie came and sat next to me. I debated whether or not to say hi, but then decided against it. After all, he was probably just going to ignore me.

"So, Derek tells me that you broke up." He said.

I glanced at him. "Yeah."

"Why?" He asked.

I sighed. "You're his best friend. Didn't he tell you something besides the fact that we broke up?"

"Nope, just that your aunt interrupted you guys." He looked at me.

"I was just his hook-up buddy. When he got bored, he ended it." I explained.

"Oh." He said.

"You're not going to defend him?" I asked, surprised.

"Derek's my friend, but I don't agree with everything he does." Charlie replied.

I stared at him. His freckles were adorable, and his green eyes were so distracting.

"Okay." I finally said, looking away.

"Has anyone ever told you that you have really pretty eyes?" He asked.

My eyes were gray, sometimes seeming ice blue. "Thanks, I apparently got that from my mom."

"Why do you live with your aunt anyway? You don't have to answer." He asked.

I turned to face him. "My mom died when I was 2 or 3. My aunt's raised me my whole life, even when she was at college."

"Oh, I'm sorry. Yeah, my mom mentioned that she met your aunt at some parenting thing." He said.

"So what's your story?" I asked, hoping that he would answer this time.

"My mom and dad were high school sweethearts until she got pregnant, she had me, moved away, reconnected with my dad, but he wasn't ready for me, so it ended there." He turned away.

I put my hand on his arm. "I'm sorry."

"When we were at your house, my mom mentioned Brad. That's my dad, and he tried to come back into my life."

"Oh." I said.

"Yeah." He said.

I logged off, and then turned to him. "I'm going back up."

"I'll come with you." He said, logging off.

We talked about things that weren't serious, and when we got back to our rooms, he turned to me.

"I guess I'll see you later." He said.

"Yeah." I said, getting lost in his green eyes again.

We both took a step closer. He leaned down and gently kissed me.

"Sleep well." He said, going into his room.

I went into mine and smiled. I wondered if this was the start of something between Charlie and me.