<<Harry's POV>>
I shook out my hair, attempting to dry it and followed Charlotte out of the water. Droplets of water sparkled on her light skin that I knew would turn incredibly freckly as summer went on. I dreaded heading back to Peter and Ben, their smirks ingrained in my mind. I hated how I froze up in front of others, but I couldn’t help it. Years of taunting made me nervous and I rarely could get out a complete sentence unless I was with Charlotte. I saw Charlotte glance back at me as she pulled off her soaking wet sweater. I flushed and looked away, embarrassed as she had clearly seen me looking at her in just her swimsuit.
“Hurry up Harry, I’m hungry” Charlotte yelled, glancing back at me yet again. I couldn’t help but notice that she looked rather pretty in the fading light of the sun, her auburn hair and hazel eyes seeming especially bright. I shook my head at these thoughts, knowing Char would only ever be my friend. I was glad to have a friend like her though, as she stuck by me despite of what others thought. I grabbed my jumper and glasses from the sand and jogged to catch up with her.
“Nice hair, curly” she said, looking at my brown hair which was beginning to dry in curls.
“Thanks” I said, not really sure how to respond. I thought I felt her gaze linger but forced the thought away, knowing I must have imagined it.
“Yum hamburgers,” she commented as we reached the fire pit. I noticed Peter and Ben glancing at Charlotte, still only in her swimsuit. I caught their eyes and frowned and they snickered, but looked away. Sighing, I grabbed a plate and hamburger and a towel and plopped down near the pit. To my surprise, Charlotte sat on my towel as well.
“You look cold Charlotte; need someone to warm you up?” Ben asked, trying to appear innocent, but Peter’s laugh-turned-cough gave it away. I rolled my eyes, hoping Char would say no.
“I’m fine” she said, but shivered. I immediately handed her my jumper and she smiled at me gratefully. I didn’t know if she was attracted to either of them, but I’m pretty sure their idea of ‘warming her up’ was uncomfortable to her.
“How was the water?” asked Ann, Charlotte’s pretty, yet vain friend asked.
“Wet” replied Jess, and she and Charlotte shared a glance and burst into a fit of giggles. I never understood why they did things like that, but apparently I wasn’t the only one as Peter and Ben exchanged confused glances as well. Ann rolled her eyes, apparently upset she was left out of the joke, and turned to flirt with Peter, who was more than happy to divert his attention.
“So what have you done this break?” Ben asked, with a hint of laughter in his eyes.
With Jess and Char talking about something to do with dresses and limos, I had little choice but to respond.
“Uh studying. Like Char. Or with her, rather.” I grimaced as my response came out choppy and pretentious, like I was trying to emphasize the fact I was a nerd.
Ben chuckled and muttered something I didn’t quite catch.
“What?”
“I’m sure you enjoyed that.” he repeated with a smirk that seemed to never leave his face when he looked at me. I decided to ignore his comment and try and see if I could fake excitement about whatever Jess and Char were talking about.
“Enjoyed what?” asked Charlotte, and I winced. Ben looked over at me and winked, and I thought for once he wouldn’t be a douche, but I guess I thought wrong.
“Snuggling up to you on your study dates.” Ben placed air quotes around ‘study’ and I flushed as Charlotte looked at me appalled.
“I didn’t even say that Char, honest!” I tried to catch her eye but she was looking down at the sand. Thankfully Jess started talking to Ben, getting him to leave me alone. I scooted over closer to Charlotte on the towel and realized she was blushing. Suddenly she looked up and I tried to look away before she could see I was staring, but she caught my gaze anyway.
“We always study?” she said simply, but it sounded more like a question.
“I know…” I trailed off, again left uncertain of what to say. She held my gaze for a few moments longer, and I felt like she could see through me, to what I really thought. Her eyes reflected the flickering flames of the bonfire before she closed them, leaning her head on my shoulder. For a moment I didn’t move, but then I shifted and put my arm around her. No one seemed to notice except Jess, whose mouth rose in a half smile.
It wasn’t really unusual for Charlotte to lean on me, but she never had when others were around and I couldn’t help but feel like something might be different about this time. I chased the thoughts out of my head, and was grateful when Ann stated she was bored.
“Well what do you want to do?” Jess asked
“I know what I want to do” Peter licked his lips as his gaze passed over Ann. She made a disgusted face, and I frowned. How did girls like these guys anyway?
“What if we play spin the bottle?” Ben suggested, wiggling his eyebrows and picking up an empty coke bottle. I felt Charlotte sit up and I became nervous again. I glanced around, and to my disappointment saw multiple nods around the circle. Ann shot a pointed but clear look in my direction. My heart began to beat faster, and I waited for the humiliation to begin.
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