we are GOLDEN~ (Brandy Candy!)

[CHARLIE BLITZER]

Gah why did she have to be so stupid?!

Of course. Charlie Blitzer had just haaaaad to fall asleep at the computer, passing out like a drunkard. With once quick glance at her right arm, Charlie could see that the imprints of a keyboard were still tattooed there. Besides, it wasn't like Charlie was talking to just anyone, she was talking to Brandon, her lovely Brandy. Not that she liked him. With a quick shake of her head, Charlie scattered those scary thoughts away. They were just friends and Charlie was fine with that. One day she'd find a great guy and Brandy would find a great girl and they'd be friends forever. Nothing would change and, honestly, Charlie was okay with that.

But...were there little nagging thoughts of maybe something more? Yes, Charlie would be lying to herself if she said there wasn't. Even though it had embarressws the absolute shit out of her (and that was a hard thing to do), Liam's comments about "young love" and all that crap had made little butterflies flirt all about her stomach. Could there be something more there? Besides the typical flirting, was there a little truth hiding behind their words? No. Charlie wasn't going to think about this now. Quickly, she banished all such thoughts from her brain.

Yesterday had been the last night of her week at her parent's house. While she was going to miss her freshly splatter-painted walls, Charlie was almost...happy to be back at Baum. Actually, Charlie was ready to be back in her dorm and find a new roommate. Hopefully one nor as bad as Missy. Just the thought of her name sent a hiss through Charlie's mind. While Charlie embodied everything a stereotypical cheerleader was NOT, Missy (hissss) embodied the very reason cheerleaders have a bad reputation. Missy was a bottle blonde, green-eyed, tall, anorexic, tan MONSTER. Charlie didn't have anything against pop, but Missy's strict top-40s listening span made Charlie want to puke all over the she-demon's Jimmy Choos. When they had first moved in together, Charlie tried to be nice. After all, they were both on the Baum squad together, and you never wanted dissention in the ranks. Then, when Charlie accidently knocked a tube of glitter glue all over Missy's new Prada, the war began. It was small things like short-sheeting each other and putting conditioner in the shampoo bottle, but then Missy touched Charlie's MCR poster. That she had had signed. By Gerard Way. That thing was like a fucking SHRINE to everything Charlie loved. And then Missy fucking Thurber had DRAWN ALL OVER THEIR FACES AND SCRIBBLED OUT GEE'S AUTOGRAPH. At that moment, something in Charlie snapped. Besides pouring purple hair dye all over Missy's stupid Taylor Swift (yuech) concert tshirt, Charlie added orange dye to her tanning lotion, glue to her toothpaste, GREEN HAIR DYE to her shampoo and Charlie ended the assault by hiding all her clothes and only leaving Oompa Loompa costumes in her closet.

No one fucking touched Charlie's most prized possesion and got away with it.

Missy had left in a whirwind of tears and green hair, leaving Charlie roommateless. After depositing her bags and getting dressed into something other than pjs (yoga shorts and an Alabama tshirt, comfort at its finest), Charlie decided to ditch her roommate hunt for a while and go see her Brandy. He promised to have candy canes, after all.

Now Charlie was walking down the hall towards Brandy's dorm when..."BRANDY!" Charlie had spotted him just ahead and had nearly shrieked with delight. Charlie ran up and pounced onto his back, knowing that he would catch her. It was so natural, such an effortless thing. Charlie, only three inches past five feet and weighing nearly nothing, fit perfectly onto giant-Brandy's back. Just as a precaution, for it was a long way down for someone like Charlie, she wrapped her legs around his stomach and her arms round his neck. "Now Brandy...give me the candy and no one gets hurt." Charlie growled in her most menacing voice (so of course it wasn't very menacing at all).

[BRANDON FAEMEN]

Today had been an increasingly productive day Besides dodging detention for gluing his teacher to her chair, Brandon had successfully cleaned out his dorm room. It had been nearly a year since he thought to clean anything besides his clothes. It wasn’t until Charlie mentioned coming over to his dorm building soon that he realized, it was a horrid mess. He spent the rest of the day cleaning up everything and organizing all of his practical jokes. He was a bit of a collector of classics. The whoopie cushion, the fingersnap gum and the hand buzzer were all proudly displayed in their packages on his shelf. He could even see the floor.

The process could have gone a lot faster if Puck used a little magic to help but instead he sat and watched with a smirk. He found cleaning to be unnecessary.

So when everything was finally done Brandon showed him the difference. He looked around and smiled evilly. “Yes, it makes it so much easier to snoop!”

Brandon reminded him silently that anything he wanted to know he could just search his head for the answer.

“Yes but you’ve gotten very good at hiding things from me,” Puck added.

Brandon smirked at this comment and grabbed a towel to shower. After he showered, a creeping thought came into his mind. What was Charlie doing right now? He found he thought about her a lot. A year back, Puck had pointed out that Brandon was more fond of her than he should be. It was true. Brandon was ‘friend-zoned’ has his American friends put it. She was first, way out of his league and second, she didn’t love him as a lover. More so as a brother. The thought put a slight frown on his face as he dried his hair with a towel. But he reminded himself that he was working on getting over her.

“Yes, that’s why you have all these scribbles saved?” Puck said motioning to a pile of papers on his desk. Brandon rolled his eyes. Ever since he entered the academy, Brandon has had at least one class with Charlie. They passed notes and made doodles in their spare time. They were the snickering pair in the back of the class that teachers hated. Partners in crime.

“But never partners,” Puck added.

“Will you just go away?” Brandon snapped. It was stupid. He was fine with where he was at. He brushed off all the ugly thoughts and grabbed the cup of candycanes he’d planned to put by Charlie’s door. He walked out the door and was instantly attacked.

"BRANDY!"

Brandon braced himself for a Charles monkey and smiled. “Well hello Charles, funny seeing you on my back.” He straightened up a bit to make sure she didn’t fall. Charlie was nothing when it came to weight. At first it was a bit of an offset for Brandon when she just jumped onto him. He’d never experienced that considering his friends in England weren’t exactly like Charlie. No one was... but that was a different story.

“Now Brandy...give me the candy and no one gets hurt."

“I’m feeling a hostage situation going on here,” he said with a chuckle. He let Charlie get done and handed her the cup. “Here you go Charles. Now. don’t eat them all at once love.” He meant that to be a joke but knowing Charlie she might have considered it.

.

[CHARLIE BLITZER]

It was going to be a good day, Charlie could just tell. Not only was she glued to the back of her bestest friend ever, but he had CANDY! A squeel errupted from Charlie as she gave a quiver of excitement. Already the pepperminty taste of candy canes was exploding in her mouth, causing her tastebuds to sing with joy. Well, not really. Tastebuds can't sing. Now that'd be cool.

As she clung to Brandon, Charlie could feel the tight definition of muscle all over him. With a squeze of his bicep (which was particulary pleasing to her), Charlie said "You been workin' out, chap?" In a bad immitation of Brandon's Londoner accent. To her dissapointment, her English accent hadn't gotten any better as her Alabama twang still seemed to ring through. "Dang flabbit I'm just bad at that." Charlie harumphed. As much as she loved her twang, especially in the North, where no one seemed to have a certain way of maring the English language, it could just get right in the way sometimes! Like now times!

Just as her internal rant on accents ended, Charlie then remembered the cup of candy canes. She let out another squek of excitement, grabbed one and started to peel off the wrapper, all while managing to hang on. Charlie was bound and determined that if they were going to be leaving the hall, he would be carrying her. Placing a big sloppy kiss on Brandy's cheek, Charlie said, "Eee thank you!!! And you really don't need ta say that. Me? Eat all the candy canes at once? Boy whatchu talkin' 'bout?" Laughing because they both knew that was a lie, Charlie plopped the candy right in her mouth. Mmm, peppermint. That was the stuff, man! Better than mari-fucking-juana. No lies.

"Inward, slave!" Charlie commanded (though it came out a bit garbled as she hadn't stopped sucking on the candy), pointing her hand towards his room. Once they got inside, she would get off his back. Maybe. Charlie could act like glue when she wanted to. Bringing her hand back to his chest, Charlie nuzzled her head at the base of Brandon's neck, feeling snug and...safe. Yes, that was what she felt. Whenever she was with Brandy, she felt safe, which was odd because Charlie believed she could knock anyone's block off. "You're warm," Charlie mumbled into his shirt. Why were they still just friends? Sure, there were people who were content with acting like this and still just being friends, but Charlie didn't think she could bare it anymore. Had it been something she had done? Had she...a gasp resounded through Charlie's mind. Good god, she had friend-zoned her lovely Brandy! That was the problem. All because she had had a crush on some jock when her and Brandon had started to become inseperable. While they turned into partners in crime, Charlie had cast him into her lump of guy friends.

Lord, Charlie thought, I'm an idiot.

[BRANDON FAEMEN]

"You been workin' out, chap?"

Oh, her horrendous imitation of his accent. He bit his lip trying not to laugh at her. It was adorable when she tried but hilarious at the same time. Truthfully, Brandon love her southern accent. It always added more of a sweetness to her persona. Not that she wasn’t already the kindest persona he knew.

"Dang flabbit I'm just bad at that."

“I reckon you are darling,” Brandon said in his worst southern accent. As bad as it sounded, he knew it would make her laugh.

She took the cup without leaving his back and promptly gave him a kiss on the cheek. He reminded his pathetic crush to not get excited by this. Though it did anyway. It also made Puck snicker. His little crushes were always a thing of humor with the winged trickster.

"Inward, slave!"

“Neigh,” Brandon said dully. He walked into his room and moved a little to let Charlie slid off. Instead she nuzzled into his neck. Brandon’s mind turned into mush and he stood completely still. If it wasn’t crossing the line, he’s pull her of his back and hold her closer. But alas, towing the line was one of Brandon’s specialties and he wasn’t about to accidentally trample over it.

He could do this.

"You're warm,"

Or maybe not. Go to your happy place. Think of tiny kittens. Brandon closed his eyes and made an unpleasant face. Puck was not helping. One thing Brandon knew from the very beginning was that Puck wasn’t exactly proper or a prude. He tended to hop out of Brandon’s body and do obscene things to girls he found attractive on the street. Which was actually kind of humorous once Brandon figured out they couldn’t see him. Though laughing at girls didn’t exactly win him any dates. Brandon sighed. “Usually,” he replied before straightening up so that she’d get off.

“Nice word play,” Puck said into his mind snickering.

[CHARLIE BLITZER]

In the past, Charlie had never been one to act on crushes. Actually, she rarely even had a crush to pine for and daydream about. Growing up on a football field, the Y chromosome was something Charlie was totally used to and comfortable with. Her girl friends always wanted Charlie to go talk to that cute running back who had scored the winning touchdown last Friday or that cute senior in their math class. Never once had that been a problem, except for when Charlie had a crush of her own. The poor girl's tongue got all tied up and her legs became wobbly.

Especially now.

Brandon was not like any of her previous crushes. Those dudes had been the type of guy her parents approved of, who they wanted her to bring home. Athletes. Basically, not Charlie's type. Sure, there were a few that she dated for a brief stint, but had she ever developed feelings for them like she was for Brandon? Calm down, girlie. Charlie gulped, nerves and anxiety flowing through her body, a foreign feeling. There. She had down it. Charlie had finally admitted to herself that she liked Brandy as more than a friend and it damn well terrified her. Charlie hopped off Brandon's back and laid down on his bed, candy cane in mouth, and settled in to a comfortable, familar silence. Though typically rowdy and loud, Charlie loved and appreciated that it wasn't weird to sit in silence. For a few seconds, Charlie continued to munch on the candy cane, her breath turning into a minty rush of air.

All of a sudden, Charlie got the feeling of Christmas tree branches tickling her skin and a warm fire at her side. These were signs that Blitzen was about to talk to her. "Charlie! You gotta go after this one! He's a keeper!" Blitzen snuffed in her mind, his voice filled with over confidence, the trait his personality tended to. revolve around. But...I don't know how. I don't wanna lose him.. Charlie sighed. It was true; losing the friendship her and Brandon had scared the absolute crap out of her. If that was gone, what would Charlie have? Nothing, that's what. "Hmph, I know just what you need. A boost of Blitzen-brand con-fee-DAHNCE." The reindeer replied. Charlie was confused for a moment after he vanished, but then, all of a sudden, she was filled with bravery. Charlie fuckin' grew a pair.

Stopping the absent-minded picking of her sparkely nail polish, Charlie moved her gaze to Brandon. Gosh, she loved his eyes. They were the most beautiful, clear blue she had ever seen. And the mischevous glint they would get when Brandon was planning something? It made her stomach flutter. The shape of his nose, curve of his lips...all of it was way too appealing. Charlie had the brief urge to just yell "OH KISS ME ALREADY!", but she shook it off. Charlie knew that her Brandy Candy would be too shy to act on that, so she had to think of something to break the ice. Let him know that she was thinking about the possibility of them without saying it outright. He had to guess, to work for it.

An idea popped into her head and Charlie rolled onto her side, propped her head up with her hand, and looked at Brandon fully. "So Brandy. We all know how gorge you are and that you're Baum's most eligible hombre. I mean, tú eres muy guapo, but there are a lot of girls saying this. You got one in particular that you like most?" Charlie cocked her eyebrow and gave the candy cane a small nibble. "I actually know personally of one girl who really fancies your fine self. Poor thing is too afraid to get shot down, though, so she wanted me to talk to you," Charlie shrugged, as if this was totally ordinary, and waited for his response. God, if he liked some other girl...Charlie would die on the spot.

[BRANDON FAEMEN]

Brandon wondered what was going on in Charlie’s head as she lounged so naturally on his bed. Puck snicker a mere pixie on his shoulder. He whispered, “Thou suitor’s flame has been enternally snuffed young lover boy.” Brandon let a scowl flicker across his face and had the very intention to flick the fae off of his shoulder but Puck quickly reminded him of her presence. He sighed and knew Goodfellow was just teasing him about his ill fate.

He watched her under his fringe curiously. She seemed deep in her thoughts with a solemn look about her. In an instance, however; that look changed into one that Brandon could hardly endure. She looked him straight in the eyes and began on a dangerous subject.

"So Brandy. We all know how gorge you are and that you're Baum's most eligible hombre. I mean, tú eres muy guapo, but there are a lot of girls saying this. You got one in particular that you like most?"

He had to remind himself that she was saying this as a friend. Puck strangely went silent as Brandon struggled to find words for her question. Sadly, the most obvious answer couldn’t be said and yet he couldn’t lie to her. The only reason he didn’t tell her about Puck was because she’d probably thing that he was mad or something of the sort. He took a deep breath and said, “Well... I--,” but then was thankfully cut off.

"I actually know personally of one girl who really fancies your fine self. Poor thing is too afraid to get shot down, though, so she wanted me to talk to you."

“I... see...” he said with only a slight frown. He knew that this girl was not his type right off the bat. Though his type was in love with candy canes and had more confidence in one pinky than London had rain in a year. Though he might as well humor Charlie and see if this girl was anyone he could think about much less fancy. “What is she like?” He said avoiding her look. Charlie was almost painfully beautiful to him when she was gleaming with confidence.

[CHARLIE BLITZER]

Charlie paled, her eyes widening in panic for a brief moment. Shit! He wanted to know who she was, that meant he was possibly interested in going after a nonexistant girl and fuck! Her stomach dropped to her toes and her heart rose to her throat as she attempted to keep the heat out of her face. God she was so stupid for thinking they could ever be more than friends. What was her problem? Motherfuck. Charlie thought, trying to come up woth something to say when an idea struck her. What if Charlie described herself? There was still hope!

The confident gleam back, Charlie smiled. "Well...she's super cool, in my opinion. Hmm...she's funny and into pranks. A catch, really." Charlie popped the rest of the candy cane into her mouth. "And she really likes Christmas, so I approve." Charlie added with a bit of a slur (the candy was a bit large to be shoved to the side. She knew it wasn't the most attractive but hey, if he didn't like her now she wasn't changing), wondering if it was overkill.

Moving into a sitting position, Charlie crossed her legs and waited for an answer. The surge of confidence Blitzen had given her was still there, but it had changed a bit. Charlie decided that if Brandon proved to have no hint of interest in her, Charlie would give up instead of dragging herself through the wringer any more. If you love something, let it go, right? Charlie just didn't know if she'd be able to.

[BRANDON FAEMEN]

Brandon slightly didn’t hear Charlie when she was describing the girl. To be frank, he didn’t give a damn what this girl was like. He was sitting across for the object of his affections. And if looks could talk, Charlie would know right away.

“Oh my Oberon!” Puck grumbled. He hopped across the room and “accidently” knocked the basket of notes all over the floor.

Brandon refrained from scolding his invisible friend and dashed to pick them back up. He hoped Charlie would be too busy with her candy cane to help him. He began to pile them back up and started to form his reply. “Well, to be honest, I like another girl,” he said glancing up at her. He took a pause as Puck wrapped his arms around around Charlie's head and nearly screamed. “HE MEANS YOU!” Brandon looked back down and smiled at the fact that Puck couldn’t talk to others.

“She’s more than just a catch really. She beautiful and smart... I think you would approve also. Actually I’m fairly certain you’ve met before,” he added. He really hated this type f conversation. What did the Americans call it. ‘Beating around the bush?’ Of course he enjoyed messing with people as much as any other prankster, he wouldn’t be the one to get down on one knee with his girlfriend and then tie his shoe. Love was much too serious for that. It was something that he didn’t like to screw up. Puck on the other hand found love slightly amusing. Brandon was glad there weren’t any of those purple flowers in the city. Or else he might have his biology teacher falling in love with the class rabbit. “Actually, you guys are the best of friends from what I can see.”

[CHARLIE BLITZER]

When the papers spilled for no apparent reason, Charlie leaped up to help Brandon with them. Charlie couldn't help but notice and recognize their hand writing and a jolt of surprise shot through her. "You..kept all our notes?" Bits and pieces jumped out at her: "what's the answer to number 4?", "you're a such a pansy ", and "pass the gum or you'll regret it." Smiling, Charlie looked up at Brandon through her eyelashes. "I can't believe you kept them." Charlie wrapped him in a quick hug and then rocked back on her haunches then plopped down a bit hard. "Ouch.." She muttered, rubbing at her rear end. It was a minor pain, really, nothing compared to what she was about to feel.

If Charlie thought her heart was in her throat before, she was misinformed. Now she could feel the lump her heart formed as it pushed higher and higher. He...Brandie liked someone? Trying to swallow past the lump, Charlie watched him with wide eyes. Her whole world was crumbling around her, to put it dramatically. Well, it looked like Charlie was gonna have to start looking at the open market again. Sans enthusiasm, of course.

"That's great, Brandie! I'm sure she's fabulous."

Charlie curled up and went back to picking her nails. She really had no interest in the description of this lucky bitch. Charlie would approve? Hell no she wouldn't! But...wait. She was one of her best friends?! Immediately, her mind races through the long list of girls Charlie had ever been friends with. Kylie? No... Lee? Once again, no. She was pretty positive Brandon didn't know them.

"You don't need 'im, Charlie!" Blitzen rumbled, pretending to punch Brandie. Charlie sighed at the reindeer, being oddly quiet. Normally, Charlie was exuberant and loud and crazy. Now, she was silent and morose. Anyone could tell she was incredibly melencholy. Even though she wanted anything other than to hear about how beautiful this mystery girl was, morbid curiousity struck Charlie. Clearing her throat, she said, "So, who's this mystery girl? I'm dying to know." Charlie tried to keep the sarcasm from overtly dripping off her voice and sadly failed. Shaking her head, Charlie reached for another candy cane. Again deferring from typical behaivor, Charlie bit right into it, munching moodily.

[BRANDON FAEMEN]

"You..kept all our notes?"

"I...uhh..." Brandon couldn't find the words to explain it. It was an incredibly girly thing for him to do. He knew his sister used to keep notes from her boyfriend in her desk drawer. Every now and the Brandon would go in and steal a few and watch her freak out when she couldn't find them. He was a real mean kid back then. Though he still believed that his sister deserved it. Siblings rivalry was soothing that even Puck couldn't understand.

Brandon tried to hold back a blush, but it was very much like trying to hold back a rushing stream. He felt his cheeks get red and scooped up all the notes to put them back in the basket. He still had no answer for Charlie except a few that embarrassed him. Luckily Charlie moved on pretty quickly back to the matter at hand.

"That's great, Brandie! I'm sure she's fabulous."

Brandon found Charlie's tone a bit off but smiled none the less. "She is actually. More than she knows." A flutter in how chest made him squirm a little bit. It was like this when he told his friends about Charlie. But this time she was right there in front of him. It was a different experience all together. This time he didn't have to zone out thinking about her, she was right there. Good God, he had it bad.

"So, who's this mystery girl? I'm dying to know."

A disgruntled face came over Brandon. He begged Charlie in his mind not to be so dense. How could she not see? Why couldn't he just say it? His mind was all jumbled and he could barely choke out the word, "Guess." Puck scoffed in his head and he willed Brandon to moved in closer to Charlie. Brandon obeyed graciously and put his hand on the bed post Charlie was leaning against. They were a mere inches apart and it was driving him crazy. Though the fear of her freaking out kept him from going any farther. Damn you fear!

[CHARLIE BLITZER]

A weird feeling fluttered about in Charlie's chest. It felt like a mixure of anticipation, need and desire. It was uncomfortable yet pleasant and Charlie was sure that if it left, she would be extremely sad. Was this...was this love? If it was, Charlie wanted to cling to it and make sure it never left because it felt good. Maybe it was just infactuation? The blond had no life experiences to base it off of, just observations of her parents. All Charlie's life she had watched her adoptive parents keep their love new and alive. Mr. Blitzer would leave occasional surprises for Mrs. Blitzer like a dozen roses or a card, which cost no money and was simple yet expressed so many feelings that a material thing couldn't. Charlie suddenly wished she had asked her mother about how the Blitzers had met, how she realized she was in love. It'd be nice to know what Charlie was feeling.

Charlie watched as Brandon blushed and put the notes away, obviously embarrassed. Charlie thought it was incredibly cute and sweet, actually, and she suddenly wished she had thought to do something likethat. But no, Charlie hadn't wanted to admit to her feelings for Brandie up until now. Then, a thought struck her. If Brandon said that he likes someone, why was he holding on to their notes?

"Charlie!! Stop being dense!!!" Blitzen shouted into her ear. A small, amused smile crossed her face. Oh, so he was on Brandon's side, now? Blitzen nudged at Charlie's side, trying to push her towards Brandie but to no avail.

"She is actually. More than she knows."

Charlie's heart fluttered like mad, letting herself believe for a moment that he was talking about her. Was she the beautiful, fabulous girl he had just talked about? Glancing down at herself, Charlie hid a scoff. Yeah, right. Her? Beautiful? Never. Maybe pretty, but Charlie thought herself too wild and boyish to be beautiful. That was what the other girls on the cheerleading squad could be called. They were girly and giggly and beautiful.

All of a sudden, Charlie's heart stopped. Brandon leaned in superclose and said "Guess". That simple word had her breath turn all ragged and shallow, her heart splutter randomly. Charlie's mind went blank and she seemed to not be in control of her own body as she leaned in and kissed him. Kissed her Brandon, her Brandie. It was a slow, gentle kiss, slightly questioning. Charlie pulled away, breathless, before she could get to into it. She realized her arms had wrapped around Brandon's neck and she quickly pulled away, a blush creeping onto her face. "Wow...Uh. I don't know what made me do that." Charlie ran a hand through her hair, and managed a shaky smile while her heart beat a fast, sporadic rhythym against her chest.

[BRANDON FAEMEN]

Brandon couldn’t breathe. He was so close to his best friend but he wanted to be closer. But then again, she was his best friend and crossing that line could mean treading into dangerous waters. Even then though his lips touched hers and she pulled away quickly. He almost cursed himself for losing control. Then he noticed Charlie’s arms around his neck. Instantly he felt like he was dreaming or somewhere on cloud nine. SHE kissed HIM! This was in a word... unbelievable.

"Wow...Uh. I don't know what made me do that."

“You wouldn’t mind doing it again how you?” he asked placing his hand on her cheek. He gazed into her warm and welcoming blue eyes and smiled. It had to be one of those dreams of his. He was going to wake up in five minutes and Puck was going to laugh at him until Brandon gave him a gesture that even Shakespearen characters understood.

But he should at least enjoy while he could. Oh wow, didn’t that sound highly perverted. He leaned in pushing away his thoughts and kissed her back. His heart was racing when he pulled away and made an effort to stop himself. Then an unpleasant expression appeared on his face. He frown and said, “For my bloody sanity’s sake I hope this isn’t a dream.”

Puck fell out of his head and pinched Brandon. He shook his head and said, “Thou art awake. Now... get sooome.” He of course made the worst of gestures that nearly ruined the moment. Why did a character made in the Renaissance period have to be able to learn modern English? It would be so much easier if Brandon didn’t know what the heck he was talking about.
Brandon push a piece of hair out of Charlie’s face and smiled. “It sure does feel like one.”

[CHARLIE BLITZER]

Oh god, this couldn't be happening. It had to be a dream, or something. Any minute now, her alarm would go off and this would shatter into a million pieces and Charlie would go on with her day pretending she hadn't dreamt about her and Brandon...again. It made no sense to her; why would he chose a girl like her? Charlie was her own worst critic, of course, but she thought there were much better choices. Brandon was straight, and therefor liked girls. Charlie wasn't much of a girl, come to the think of it, so in her own brand of Charlie logic, she concluded that she could only attract gay guys.

But then he kissed her again and Charlie's world lit up--literally lit up like, as cliché as it sounded, a bunch of fireworks. She had never subscribed to those chick flicks, but Charlie now felt like she was living one. All that mattered, in that moment, was Brandon's lips on hers, his hands on her. There had been a lot of rockin' kisses with other guys before this, but Charlie felt like those were just test runs, trials of what a real smooch should feel like. And then, they broke apart, and Charlie giggled. She honest-to-god giggled, like a girl. "If this is a dream, I don't have any intention waking up." Charlie looked into Brandon's eyes, trying to convey the emotions she felt for him without saying them. God, Charlie was never good with words, as she was cringing over the corniness of what she just said. The girl needed to see The Notebook, to say the least.

Charlie scooted into Brandon, basically in his lap, in a gesture that had always been familar but that was now intimate. Placing her head on his shoulder, Charlie looked down at her hands and sighed. "I've wanted to do for a while, you know." It was oh so true, now that she admitted it to herself. Charlie had always liked him better than anyone else; it was why she got jealous when he was with a girl...it wasn't her. Charlie reached out and grabbed Brandon's hand, tracing circles on the back of his palm with her thumb. "...How long have you liked me, Brandon?" Charlie looked up at him, into his cheerful blue eyes. Perfection.

[BRANDON FAEMEN]

With Charlie so close he couldn’t help but laugh with her. He. just. felt. amazing. Beyond amazing even. As if words could really explain love. Was this love? If not, then they’d get there. He wrapped his arms around her as she moved closer. Something that he rarely did before when she sat in his lap. Mostly he’d just tease her about how she was hurting his legs. This time it was different. He wanted to fortify the fact that this was happening. With her pressed up against him, Brandon could believe. Yes, this was happen because he definitely couldn’t dream a moment this perfect.

"I've wanted to do that for a while, you know."

Brandon’s heart nearly lurched out of his chest. His blue eyes shimmered and he smiled. He wanted to say me too but he was at a loss for words. He opened his mouth once but closed it and went back to smiling like a loon. He could hear Puck the master of words chuckle in the back of his head. The seemingly always charming character was never at a loss for words. Speechless wasn’t in Puck’s dictionary.

"...How long have you liked me, Brandon?"

“A year at least, probably longer... how long have we been friends?” he said after Puck prompted him with a “SPEAK!” He meant to say it in a joking manner but his cool was completely gone. This was the real dorky Brandon, not the person most people saw. The romantic and actually serious boy who’s emotions lay open like a book. It was a tad scary when he thought about it, but invigorating. He always felt he could be real with Charlie until he figured out his feelings. Then he had to put up a wall. Now that she was in his arms (at last!) the wall was gone. He looked up into her soft blue eyes and gazed at her lovingly. If he was one of those silly old American cartoons, his eyes would be big pink hearts. Puck found that amusing. He was quite a fan of those.

“It’s hard not to actually, you are incredibly lovable.”

Bloody hell, he just dropped the L word. Puck didn’t find it quite a problem. Back in his day(erm, setting), men were professing their love for women all the time. No big deal. But this was the 21st century and because of his never really touching the subject of love with Charlie, he wasn’t sure exactly sure how she would take it. He didn’t exactly say the eight letter statement but the way him mind was going, that would be next. He was a fool.

Puck rolled his eyes and said, “A fool in love is not much of a fool at all but a victim of Cupid’s arrow.”

Whatever that meant.