Distance makes the heart grow fonder

Charlotte St.Clair



Peter "Petey" Carmichael

Charlotte looked around the lobby of the airport, not spotting her father. 'GreT' she thought to herself. She would have time for a cigarette before she was thrown in to the chaos of that household. It had been a while since she saw her dad, and even longer since she saw the rest of her step family, but she had no doubt in her mind her Dad was gonna be pissed that she got kicked out of school, whether he was happy to see her or not.

Once outside the door she sparked up her cigarette, taking a large puff when she suddenly noticed her dad walking toward her, a convoy of people behind him. "Shit" she mumbled, quickly tossing the cigarette to the ground and turning to try and get rid of the smoke before he got close. "Dad!" She exclaimed happily, by the smile on his face she assumed he had not seen the cigarette. "Charlotte, why are you out here? Peter is waiting for you inside?" He asked with a soft laugh. "Oh uh, didn't see him.. just wanted some fresh air you know!" She offered, biting her lip gently.

@ Aoibhe

Peter was sat in the arrivals lounge at the airport, his step father had told him to head inside to meet Charlotte. He was scanning over the crowd, looking for his step sister. It had been years since he'd seen her, and it had only been briefly over the summer before she was sent off to school.

Peter was still finding it hard to fit in with the St.Clair's, he'd always felt a little bit like an outsider. His only step sibling that really welcomed him, back when his Mother married Mr St.Clair, was Charlotte. They were the same age, or near enough to it, and both old enough to struggle with the situation.

Peter sighed as his phone chimed, and his saw his step dad's name flash across the screen. He opened his phone, fully expecting to read the next set of orders from the man. Instead it was simply to inform him that Charlotte had met them outside. Peter slipped his phone in his pocket, and made his way to the exit, annoyed that he hadn't had a chance to speak with Charlotte alone, to see where her head was at.

@ Aoibhe

Charlotte sighed gently, she had really wanted that cigarette. She figured she would just have to find somewhere back at the house where nobody would see her. She said hello to her step mother with a soft smile before looking down at the baby in the stroller. "God she's gotten so big since the last picture you sent me! I can't believe it's my first time meeting her!" She said with a gentle laugh, cooing at the baby before straightening up again. It felt a little weird to her that his father was starting all over again with a new baby.

As Charlotte looked around her, she smirked softly at a guy coming strolling towards them. He was handsome, but in a completely understand if handsome way- exactly her type. Charlie hated pretty boys. It wasn't until the boy grew closer that Charlotte's jaw dropped a little bit, beginning to feel embarassed. "Petey?" She asked as the boy got close enough to hear her.

@ A Drop On the Window

Peter moved towards the group, noticing the tall woman standing with his step family. He smiled when she called him Petey, a name very few people called him. "Hey Charlotte, sorry I missed you inside," he said softly. He came to a stop keeping a small distance between him and the rest of the family. Subconsciously, it likely represented how he was beginning to feel less and less part of this new family.

He looked Charlotte over, "It's been awhile, hasn't it,' he said admitted. He had promised to visit her a school over the summers, but he'd never been allowed too. His mom wanted help with the younger kids, and wanted her own break. He sighed lightly, before moving to carry Charlotte's bags to the car.

@ Aoibhe

Charlotte let out a bright laugh, stepping forward to give the boy a tight hug. "You never came to see me" she teased, pouting at him slightly. She couldn't believe how much he had changed in the few years they had been apart. She wondered if she had changed as much in his eyes. Charlie didn't think she had, but of course you never do when you live with yourself every day.

So how have you been?" She asked as they walked towards the car, eyeing her dad and step mom as they walked. She wondered just how close of an eye they'd be keeping on her. She hoped if she just acted as sweet and innocent as she could for a little while they would back off and she could do her thing.

@ A Drop On the Window

Peter hugged her back, he was stunned by how attractive she'd grown. He pouted back slightly, and whispered in her ear, "I'll tell you about it later." He pulled back from her, with a smile.

"I've been well, just working through things," he said softly. He walked with her, and carried her bags. "How was school?" he asked casually. He could sense she was holding something back, but could tell she didn't want to talk about it in front of their parents.

@ Aoibhe

Charlotte nodded gently toy when he said he'd tell her everything later. She watched him as he put away her bags, pulling her arms around herself. "I forgot how cold it gets here, shit" she said with a soft laugh as she shivered.

Her eyes narrowed at him slightly as he asked how was school, assuming he knew the whole story of why she was back here in the first place. "Don't bring it up" she snapped quietly, her eyes glancing toward her dad as she offered him a bright smile before slipping in his direction. "I missed you so much Dad" she said loudly, wrapping her arms around him. She was playing this game as far as it would get her.

@ A Drop On the Window

Peter nodded softly, when she snapped at him. He was sure they'd catch up later. He noticed her shivering slightly, and took his jacket off offering it to her, "here," he said softly. He was glad to have someone back, whom he could talk to.
He sighed softly, "shall we get going? I'm sure Charlotte would love to get home proper, and relax," he suggested lightly, to recieve annoyed tones from his parents.

@ Aoibhe

Charlie smiled kindly and took the jacket from him, wrapping it around her slim frame. "Thank you, bit of a temperature change" she said with a small laugh, pulling her hair out of her face. She couldn't believe just how different he looked since she last saw him. She was looking forward to hearing about what he had been up to.

She smiled as he suggested leaving, a small frown tugging at her lips as they began to get annoyed with him. "I actually wouldn't mind getting home.. it's been a long time travelling I'd quite like a shower and to chill out for a while" she added with a kind smile.

@ A Drop On the Window

Peter smiled and nodded. He finished putting her bags in the trunk of their parents car. Before moving around to the side to climb in himself. His mother climbing in the front seat silently. It was a situation he'd gotten used to at this point. His step father didn't really like having him around, and his mother never spoke up in his defence anymore. To be honest, Peter really was ready to just move out and never come back, the trouble was, he still hadn't managed to find a job, to support moving out.

Peter looked at Charlie and gestured to the seat next to him, hoping she'd take it.

@ Aoibhe

Charlotte had been handed her dad's new baby and was swaying her on her hip as she watched the others packing up the car, smiling and cooing before she handed her back to be put in to the car. She smiled as she noticed Peter asking him to sit next to her in the car and hopped in smiling, so glad he was happy to see her. She had been so afraid their years apart would've distanced them too much- of course it was early days yet.

Charlie sat down, re-asjusting her hat on her head, giving his knee a friendly squeeze. "good I'm so happy to see you again! We have so much to catch up on!" She said with a smile.

@ A Drop On the Window

Peter sat quietly while everyone piled into the car, he was glad that Charlotte took the seat next to him. He smiled at her, "Me too, it's been too long," he said softly. He was glad that their parents had calmed down a little, "We do, have heaps to catch up on," he said. "We should talk once you've settled in," he whispered into her ear.

@ Aoibhe

Charlie looked between Pete and the adults as they drove trying to figure out the exact dynamic here. He didn't seem like the type to purposefully be pissing then off. She assumed if he was the rebellious type he wouldn't have come with them to pick her up. She let her head lean against the window, chattering absentmindedly with her Dad and step-mother hoping to avoid any of the heavier topics for now. She was delighted once they reached the home, exactly how she had remembered it only with a new lick of paint. "so where am I staying?" She asked.

@ A Drop On the Window

Peter kept quiet on the drive, only responding when the conversation involved him, in some way. which was never. It had been like this for awhile, his mother and Step-father almost entirely ignoring his existance. He shrugged lightly when she asked where she'd be staying. His mother chimed up, "you can stay in Pete's room, until we clear out the spare, isn't that right Pete."

Peter smiled weakly, "Of course, I'm happy to sleep on the couch, for a couple nights," he responded.

@ Aoibhe

Charlie's eyebrows furrowed slightly. "Oh my God no. Not a chance am I throwing you out of your room! I'll take the sofa, it's no problem" she told them with a nod, although she had to admit she was a little annoyed they didn't have a room fixed up for her- it felt like such a mom thing to do, not like her dad. "Besides, it means I'm further from the baby crying" she teased gently, looking around slightly taking in all the changes on the inside of the house.

She let her eyes meet with Peter's for a moment hoping he would get the memo. "I think I may possibly take Petey up on his offer and steal his room for a short time. I just want to gather my thoughts after all the travelling! Could you show me upstairs?" She asked.

@ A Drop On the Window

Peter smiled when Charlie, said she'd take the sofa. He knew his mother, probably would make him finish clearing out the spare room, tonight to prevent that though.

When she looked at him, and asked to head upstairs, he nodded. "Sure I'll show you the way," he said lightly. He picked up her bags for her, and began heading upstairs. He was glad to have her back, someone he could talk to about what was going on.

@ Aoibhe

Charlotte headed upstairs, knowing well where Peter's room was. She headed down the hall towards it, smiling softly as she looked around taking in his familiar smell. "So how have you been?" She asked him gently, sitting down on the edge of the bed. She pulled a piece of her hair behind her ear, her eyes scanning the room for everything that had changed.

It felt so strange to her to be back here. It wasn't like she had ever lived here properly, but there was still a sense of home in the house although she knew something felt off.

@ A Drop On the Window

Peter moved into the room and closed the door. "I've been alright," he said lightly. He put her bags down, "things have been getting a little tense lately, since the baby," he admitted softly. He made his way over to the bed, he was so glad to see her again.

"Tell me about school, what was it like?" he asked.

@ Aoibhe

Charlotte nodded gently toy, feeling a little guilty. She was sure all of her antics hadn't made her dad any less stressed and she hated that he had probably taken that out on Peter.

Charlie let herself lay back on the bed, her feet still on the ground as she stared up at the ceiling before facing her eyes towards Petey, her top riding up to reveal a little more of her tanned midriff. "Um school?" She asked raising an eyebrow slightly. She wondered how much he had been made aware of that he would bring it up. "I mean, it's great.. .so much better than over here, but of course anything in the centre of Paris is going to be better than here" she said with a soft laugh, turning her body towards him "what about you? How has high school been here?" She asked.

@ A Drop On the Window