The guy came closer, I could hear him laughing but couldn't see his face. Then I did what I wanted to do for a long time I punched him in the face
"aaahhhh" the guy screamed.
"hurts doesn't it? Now tell me who you are" I shouted.
The guy turned on the lights and guess who was that, August Fernando. I didn't regret punching him in the face, maybe because I've always wanted to do it or maybe because he almost gave me a heart attack. Either way I'm proud of what I did.
"you...?" I asked.
"are you mad?" he asked.
" excuse me, you scared me out of my skin acting like some serial killer and your asking me if I am mad? You almost gave me heart attack"
"urghh" I appreciate his vocabulary, seriously that was a long reply and a perfect one.
Mom and Dad burst into my room.
"Charlie what's wrong we heard you screaming and..." Mom noticed August.
"oh my goodness! Charlie what have you done? " mom asked.
"and shouldn't you be asleep?" dad asked me.
'August....oh my, what happened?"
"I brought Charlie cake and she punched me in the face"
"wait, what? You brought me cake? You?" I looked at the table near the switches and saw a cake, a chocolate one and two spoons and plates.
"and the knife?" I asked.
"to cut it of course. I thought we could eat it together."
Oh... That's so sweet. The guy bought a cake for us to eat. I mean 'us' in which I'm included. I hugged him, he hugged me back. We were having our perfect sister-brother moment (for the first time) until he spoke
"you smell didn't you bath?" I softly punched him in the chest.
"oww... First you ruin my handsome face and know your trying to kill me". We laughed, when your elder siblings are friendly to you for the first time, it feels like the best moment in your whole life.
"thanks" I said.
"I know I'm awesome"
"shouldn't it be welcome" I asked.
"okay now have your brother-sister moment and all but, you thought of eating cake without us!" Mom complained.
We cut the cake and ate it together talking and laughing together. We became one sweet family. August tucked me into bed.
"good night" I said.
"don't let the bed bugs bite" he said.
About an hour ago I wasn't able to sleep but now I could and I did. Luckily my left arm was injured so I could write my exams. I passed my exams with a really good score, not a surprise, I mean I'm such a brilliant and smart girl. August helped me with my studies. Here's a free tip if August ever offers to teach you say no the guy is too strict, he wouldn't even let me hear songs.
A day after the results came out Alex called me, then it became a group video call.
"hey Charlie, how are you now?" Benjamin asked.
"better, thank you Benjamin for saving me"
" 15"
"what"
"it's the fifteenth time your saying thank-you, you would've done the same for me" he said.
"so which school?" Alex asked.
"I don't know" I said.
"my Dad was asking if we're going to the same high school then it should be August's because we'd have someone to keep an eye on us" Eleanor said.
"one, since the KTV incident our parents are acting like we're some kindergarteners" Jacob said.
"and two, August's school? For charlie and August to fight 24/7?" Alex asked.
"excuse me we don't fight that much nowadays, he even helped me in studies, but still I don't want to study in his school last time it was Eleanor's cousin and now AUGUST, never" I said.
"miracle, August and Charlie don't fight anymore, oh my God,so it's true then there are miracles" Jacob teased.
"very funny, anyways we could talk to our parents about it" I said.
We talked about our time with parents after the KTV incident I even told them how I punched August in the face et cetera, et cetera.
It was lunch time so I went downstairs to eat we sat around the dining table, me, August, Mom and Dad. I told them about what Eleanor's father had said and asked them which school do they think is the best.
"that's a really good plan" Mom exclaimed.
"you should go to August's school" Dad said.
"no" August and I said unison.
"why not? I say you should join August's school, It's for your own good Charlie and your friends'."Dad said.
"how can you do this to me dad? Don't you love me?" I asked.
"please don't do that" August requested. But my dad was too stubborn. August looked at me and sighed. What's wrong with him? He was starting to sound suspicious. I later called my friends and found out everyone had the same opinion and was super mad about it.
One more week and my hand was almost healed completely. I was sitting in my room idly watching YouTube when mom entered.
"Charlie I know your hand is not completely healed and all but I have a tiny request to make"
"and that is"
"aunt Marie's caretaker had some emergency so she'll be alone I just wanted to ask you if you will stay with auntie until we come" she asked.
Now aunt Marie wasn't my favorite. To be honest she's not even my aunt she's Dads Aunt. So you would've understood that she's old so she always needs someone to care of her and I can't say no to that.
"OK mom I'll go" I said.
"oh, thank you sweetie" Mom said.
"what about August where's he" I asked.
"he's in his friend's house" Mom said.
Mom went out of my room and I was about to to go to bath when my phone rang.
I picked up the phone. "hello"
"hey Charlie, it's me Alex. We were thinking of going to the cafe near old school. You coming?"
"oh yes... Wait I have some work to do so won't be able to come" I said sadly cause it's been long since we went to places together.
"isn't there any way you'd be able to come?"
"no, I have to go to aunt Marie's house because she's alone there"
"that's a bummer, then we'd better cancel the plans"
"no, you guys can go"
"were not going without you"
"okay then, just a few minutes no more" I said.
"OK I'll pick you up then"
"You?" I asked. But no reply. She hung the phone.
"this girl" I said. I went and had a bath, got ready and went downstairs.
"you ready" Mom asked.
"yeah"
"OK let's go we'll drop you" Mom said. I was pretty sure she wouldn't let me go to the cafe so I had to lie.
"no, I'll walk. I need some air, I've been inside the house forever" I said.
"one week is not forever Charlie and your hand hasn't healed completely" Mom said.
"Mom I don't walk with my hands, and never stay inside home for that long, never" I complained.
"okay, just be careful" Mom sighed.
Mom and dad left. I locked the door and started walking I was feeling very bad for lying to them, well actually it's not a lie I just didn't tell them anything. I was thinking about how my parents would react if they knew that I went to cafe without telling them when Alex came riding a bike, it was her cousin's bike.(now you shouldn't ride bike until you get licence so don't do that, me? I'm not driving Alex is and I'm determined to enjoy my life, not that she wouldn't listen, certainly not...)
"we're 14, no licence girl" I said.
"coming or not" she asked
"no"
"okay then" she said and was about to leave.
"wait" I said.
"I thought you weren't coming" she mocked me.
"oh shut up, but Alex it's not safe what if we get caught?" I asked.
"that's the reason I brought my cousin's licence" it's weird but Alex's cousin looks very much like you would think they're twins not the photocopy twins but there is a little difference.
I climbed on the bike and we left for the cafe we reached the cafe within few minutes. We saw that Eleanor, Benjamin and Jacob were already there.
"Charlie how's your hand" three of asked together.
"better, almost completely healed"
"I'm here" Alex said.
"oh Alex we didn't notice you when did you come?"Jacob teased her.
"so actually we thought your parents wouldn't let you come, you know after the injury and all, but they let you come?" Eleanor asked me.
"actually I didn't tell them" I said. Guilt started building up inside me. They all looked at me.
"I have to go to aunt Marie's house. She's alone there so I'll be here just for a few minutes" I said.
So basically it went more than a few minutes after about an hour and half, I left the cafe Alex dropped me to aunt Marie's house I climbed down from the bike just to find aunt Marie's house burning. We ran towards the house.
"no no no..... Please" I sobbed searching for auntie. People were crowded around the house when we reached the house the fire force reached the place. I saw them bringing a burnt body I couldn't move.
"no" I said barely a whisper.
Alex grabbed my hand and said "Charlie we should go" I pushed away her hand.
"Alex is it her? What did I do? I should have come earlier. This..... Alex....." tears rolled down from my eyes. I couldn't see any thing but the ambulance in which the body was taken into. Mom and Dad reached the place. I ran at Mom, hugged Mom and started crying
"I'm sorry mom this is all my fault... I shouldn't have....mom...its" I cried. I felt empty I couldn't do anything it's all my fault I shouldn't have gone with Alex to cafe. I'm never forgiving myself.