Athazagoraphobia | Adam Banks (3)

Always the third wheel

It had taken a little while for the girl to fully calm down and a lot of pleading for Charlie not to tell Adam what Lexi had told him, she wasn't ready for him to know yet.

"Hey", Charlie spoke softly, getting the girls attention, suddenly his face widened in a grin and the girl couldn't help but smile back, she didn't even know why he was smiling.

"Golden trio sleepover?" he suggested, causing the girl to squeal excitedly and pull him into a hug, the relief she felt that her brother and boyfriend got on again was astronomical.

"I'll take that as a yes" Charlie groaned out as the girl squeezed him tightly, frantically nodding her head, she hadn't told Charlie that Adam had been staying with her because of what his dad did, so the boy would be coming anyway. Lexi was surprised he hadn't beaten her and Charlie here.

Before the girl could verbally respond she heard her front door open, "Cutie, you home?" the voice spoke loudly, causing Lexi to smile, her eyes were slightly puffy still from crying but she didn't care as she raced towards the stairs.

"I'm almost at the bottom step, catch me" the girl singsonged, Adam from the front door widened his eyes and took off in a run.

The boy arrived at the steps just as the girl jumped, catching her as she wrapped her legs around his waist, he was breathing heavily due to his panicking and the girl couldn't help but giggle.

"Must you do that every time, you're going to give me a heart attack" the boy said as he placed a kiss on the girl's cheek, he looked at her eyes and frowned.

"You okay?" he asked softly, "I'm sorry for letting Charlie go after you, I thought I was helping, I knew you missed him. I didn't realise he'd upset you so much, I thought he was better now" the boy rambled on.

Lexi kissed him on the lips, silencing him before pulling away, "had to shut you up somehow" she teased, "if that's how you shut me up, I'll talk more often" Adam stated softly before leaning in and kissing the girl once again.

As if on cue Charlie walked down the stairs, jokingly groaning as he saw the girl still wrapped around the boy "great, so I'm back to being the third wheel"

His voice startled Adam as he looked towards the boy. He looked between the pair a few times, noticing the siblings share a smile.

A smile overtook his features as he placed the girl back on the ground. "Wait, you guys are good?!" he said happily, his grin grew larger as the pair nodded, he looked to Lexi.

"Why were you crying then?" he questioned as he gently touched her cheek.

Lexi was quick to respond, telling him they were happy tears, Charlie nodded in agreement having his sister's back. The boy looked between the two siblings, still unconvinced but nodded.

"Yo Cake-Eater, I'm staying here tonight, stay here and we can have a much-needed group sleepover, you just got to home to get your stuff, not like you live far" Charlie proposed.

Lexi and Adam exchanged looks, seemingly communicating with their eyes, Lexi wasn't sure if Adam wanted to tell Charlie what had been going on, but she decided to leave it up to him. The girl softly took his hand, giving it a squeeze as she saw he was about to start talking.

"I've been here for a while now, my dad hit me, and Lexi saw and gave him a piece of her mind and told him I was staying with her. My Mom has come over a few times to visit but Dad hasn't bothered" the boy informed Charlie, shrugging as if it was nothing.

Charlie looked down, seemingly for the first time in his life lost for words. "I'm sorry you guys, I wasn't there for either of you, but I'm here now and I have your backs" the boy stated. Lexi smiled and pulled both boys in for a group hug.