Distance makes the heart grow fonder

Peter smiled and carried boxes across to his room. He worked with her, "So excited to be home again?" he asked her. He found it odd, that no one had been up to check on them since they'd come upstairs, he assumed they were having another argument about him again.

@ Aoibhe

Charlotte shrugged slightly "yeah I am I guess" she stated, although she sounded unsure. "Things feel very different. I'm older, everyone is treating me differently and we'll... It's just very different here than in Europe" she said to him,placing the boxes down on his bedroom floor. "I'm really nervous to start in the high school.. I don't know what to expect" she admitted.

@ A Drop On the Window

Peter smiled listening to her. "Well, um, I don't really know, I haven't been this year," he admitted to her. He smiled placing the boxes down. "Thanks for helping me Charlie," he said softly.

He stopped in his room, once they'd finished, "so what do you want to do to kill time?" he asked her.

@ Aoibhe

Charlie placed the last of the boxes down and turned to face him, staring straight at him for a moment. "Hold on,roll back a second" she said, taking a step towards him. "You can't act like that's a throwaway remark Petey... You dropped out of school?" She asked him softly, her eyes looking over his face for clues. "why?" She questioned further.

@ A Drop On the Window

Peter looked at her, "Yeah I dropped out last year, School wasn't for me," he said softly. He didn't really feel like getting into the situation again, his parent's hadn't understood. He shifted over to his bed, "It's okay, everything will work out eventually," he said softly.

@ Aoibhe

Charlotte played with the sleeves of her top nervously, shifting her weight from one foot to the other as she watched him. She could sense he didn't want to talk about it, and she felt it might not be fair to - she hadn't been her for 4 years, she didn't know what had been going on for him.

"Well okay... I guess if you ever want to talk about it I'm across the hall" she said with a little smile before sitting down on the edge of his bed. "You wanna go for a walk or something?" She asked

@ A Drop On the Window

Peter smiled glad that she dropped it for now. "Yeah, thanks, it's nice to have someone to talk to," he said softly. He nodded gently, "yeah a walk sounds good, I'll show around the neighbourhood, let you know all the good places to hang out," he said lightly.

He stood up, and held out his hand for her. He really did just want to get out of the house for a bit.

@ Aoibhe

Charlotte smiled happily, linking her arms up with his as they left his room. She felt a little guilty disappearing from her dad so soon after r she came home but she figured he would get over it.. she would offer to babysit so that they could go out some night or something.

She let Peter lead her out of the house as she looked around, everything felt familiar in an unfamiliar way. Buildings felt smaller, closer and much more clostrophobic.

@ A Drop On the Window

Peter grinned, and led her around everywhere. He pointed out the houses of all their neighbours. He looked at her, she really was beautiful, he took her to all the hang out spots, then into the park. "So Charlie, when did you get so beautiful," he asked her.

@ Aoibhe

As they walked through the park, Charlotte smiled saying hello to everyone she vaguely remembered from when she used to stay here more. Her cheeks went red when Peter complimented her and she gave him a shove. "Are you saying I wasn't always?" She teased with a pout beginning to laugh softly.

@ A Drop On the Window

Peter smiled softly, and looked at her, "oh you always were," he said lightly. He laced his fingers with her, "Over there is were couples make out," he pointed out lightly. He felt awkward around her, she was so pretty, and he was so bad at talking to girls he liked.

@ Aoibhe

Charlotte nodded slowly, feeling his fingers lace with hers. For a second she smiled, thinking about everything he was saying and taking a look at his body language. A sudden realisation hit her and she pulled her hand back from his, her face flushing red. Had she been an idiot for only seeing it now?

She cleared her throat softly and pulled him aside under a try where they had a little bit more privacy. "Petey... We can't do that. Your like my brother.." she whispered sharply.

@ A Drop On the Window

Peter frowned gently when she pulled away. He sighed softly, "yeah I know, sorry, Charlie," he said lightly. He blushed deeply, "It's just I've missed you," he said.

He shifted slightly, "So tell me, why are you back home? what happened?" he asked.

@ Aoibhe

Charlie felt awful seeing him look that way. She didn't want to admit it, but she understood exactly how he felt but she just knew it shouldn't happen. She sighed deeply, looking down at the grass. "I missed dyou too Petey I really did... Let's just try and not confuse those feeling with liking watch other in that way" she said with a little shrug.

Her body cisibly tensed up a little when he asked her why she left Paris. "I guess I just missed America a lot, and the school was super expensive" she said with a little laugh

@ A Drop On the Window

Peter nodded listening to her, "Yeah I suppose, it could get awkward if someone found out," he said. He smiled softly, "well, I am glad you are back," he noticed her tense up, "If you want to talk about it, let me know," he said.

He patted her leg gently, "come on, we should probably head home, our parent's will have dinner ready," he said.

@ Aoibhe

Charlotte nodded gently, her cheeks visibly flushed. "Yeah it could get awkward.. thanks Petey I'll keep it in mind" she told him with a kind smile before standing up and walking alongside him with a soft smile. "Good so much has gone on in the last few years" she commented as they headed toward the house.

@ A Drop On the Window

Peter nodded lightly, "yeah I know," he said lightly. He walked with her, towards home. "Hey I'll come to school, show you around still, so you aren't overwhelmed," he said lightly. "If you want of course," he added.

Peter didn't like being at the school, and had avoided it since he dropped out, but for her, he'd make an exception.

@ Aoibhe

Charlie smiled at him, her eyes brightening as she stopped in place to look at him. "Would you really do that? For me?" She asked him insight shock. It was clear that he really didn't like the school for whatever reasons he had, and she didn't want to make him feel uncomfortable.

"It's really no issue if you don't feel up to it Petey,I'll undeestand- I'm sure I'll be fine!" She reassured him.

@ A Drop On the Window

Peter smiled gently, "of course I'd do that for you, just until you are settled," he said softly. He didn't really want to leave her to get settled alone, it had been hard enough for him to do it.
He reasoned he'd have to tell her about everything eventually, also. He just didn't want to get into it yet.

He headed inside the house, once they made it back, "I'm going to go clean up," he said softly.

@ Aoibhe

Charlie nodded and watched him as he headed upstairs, thinking for a moment as he left. He seemed, less like himself than when she had last seen him. It broke her heart a little to see him so withdrawn. She hoped he was just maybe having a rough couple of months and that he hadn't felt like this for too long.

Painting a soft smile on to her lips she headed to the kitchen, helping to set up for dinner and acting like she didn't completely know their parents had been discussing her and Petey just before she walked in. "What is for dinner?" She asked them sweetly, her face falling as her stepmother began to speak. " Oh um... I'm really sorry, I assumed my dad told you I'm vegetarian now?" She said, trying to remain as polite as possible.

@ A Drop On the Window