Trusting My First Love

Chapter 16: Just friends

Charlie's POV

I wasn't sure if I was more grateful or disappointed that Braya showed up when she did. By the look on her face and the look on my mothers face, i knew i was in for a double lecture today and all before i could finish a decent cup of coffee.

I pulled Braya all the way up the stairs. I was still in my robe, and my hair was still a knotted mess. Matt, seeing me like this twice is two times more than i ever imagined or have liked.

We got to my bedroom, and as soon as Braya heard the door click shut, she went off. "Why on earth was Matt here this morning, and why did you let him see you looking like this?" She patted some of my hair down.

I swatted her hand away. "I know I'm a mess. I went to bed with my hair wet, and I must have done nothing but toss and turn, and it created this master piece." I gestured around my head. " I didn't know when i woke up that Matt and Eddie would be waiting down, staris. My mom let them in."

Braya looked as shocked as i did. "She did? What did they want? Did they make fun of you?"

I fell backward on my bed and covered my eyes. I was really trying not to think about it or ever mention it out loud. "They may have seen me in my hello kitty underwear."

Brays snorted. "Shut up. That would happen to you."

I uncovered my eyes and stuck my tongue out at her. "They both were here to ask me to go to the beach with them. I was honest about that. I just wasn't expecting Matt to come back alone when i told them no. "

She jumped up and down like a giddy cheerleader. "What did he want. I knew something must have happened by the way he was looking at you when i got here. What happened and tell me everything! Dont you dare hold anything back, or you will die."

I shook my head at her in disbelief. It really shouldn't shock me how excited she was about this. "After dinner yesterday, I ended up hanging out with them, and unfortunately, with Sophie and Sally. Anyways, we ditched them, and the three of us went for a walk in the woods. Did you know there was a cave on our property?"

She nodded. "Actually, I did. I've never been, though. What is it like, and how weird was it to be just the three of you? Im shocked Matt even went along with taking you there. I thought he hated you. He must have really felt bad over what happened with Damon."

I hated what she said, but she wasn't exactly wrong. Matt did act like he couldn't stand me up until yesterday. "Something almost happened."

She titled her head in confusion. "With who? Matt, Eddie, or both?"

I shook my head at her again in disbelief. She would suggest something happening with both of them. "No, definitely not both. I had to change into Matt's T-shirt to go swimming, and when it was about time to go, Eddie went to get my jumper. It left Matt and I alone. I'm not sure what happened. Things got weird when I had to admit that I was completely bare under my jumper, so one of them would give me their shirt to wear. The one time I go commando, I get taken somewhere to go swimming. Anyways, we got to talking, and one thing led to another, and he almost kissed me..... and i didn't exactly try to stop him. I think the only reason we didn't kiss is because Eddie came back."

She squealed. "OH MY GODDESS. I knew something was going on. I honeslty was expecting something to happen between you and Eddie, not Matt. But hey, Matt is sexy. His dark hair and his piercing blue-gray eyes. He is every girls dream. Except is moody attitude he's got going on. So are you guys a thing now?"

I shook my head back and forth rapidly. "I wouldn't consider an almost kiss a thing, and I dont plan on repeating it. It was a mistake for letting things get as far as they did. It's not a good idea to get involved with someone before i turn nineteen and someone who is not my mate."

Braya looked almost astonished by what I was saying. "Charlie, people are age are always dating or hooking up. It's not like it's unheard of. What are you so worried about?"

I stared up at my ceiling. "What if he's not my mate? What if I'm that stupid girl who falls head over heels for him, and then he ends up not being my fated mate and I'm left with a broken heart when he finds his. It would be my own fault. I dont want that happen to me. I dont even know why im obessessing over it after one day of him being nice to me. Im seriously being "that girl," and i hate it. I'm officially like all those girls that throw themselves at him just to get a bit of his attention. I'm pathetic, and I know it. I always thought he was jerk, and suddenly he bated his eyelashes at me, and I forget he's ignored me my whole life. This is humiliating."

I growled out at my own stupidity and pulled a pillow over my head.

I felt the bed dip down. Braya took the pillow off my head. "When have you ever been scared of taking a little risk? You don't take s**t from anyone. So what if you end up broken-hearted? Isn't it worth the risk? What if you guys are fated mates? It would be a hell of a story for your future kids. I saw the way he was looking at you and they way you were looking at him. You never know.... Or Eddie could be your mate.. He gives you a similar look."

I reached for the pillow again and whined. "That's not helping."

I could feel her eye roll. "Right. I'm just saying see where it leads. It may be nothing, or it may be something really great."

"And if it's not? If i hurt my fated mate because I'm in love with someone else, then what do I do?"

Braya was usually the more logical one. I'm the one who gets in fights on impulse. It was weird for her to encourage me to take such a risk. "Then you make a choice. There's so many wolves out there that take a chosen mate. They all seem happy. Why would that be any different for you? Besides, it's high school. The worst that comes from it is you and Matt end up being great friends."

"I'll keep it as friends. Being his friend would be a hell of a lot better than being ignored by him."

Friends i can do friends. Besides, there is no guarantee that he will talk to me. Come Monday, he might go back to ignoring me, and things can go back to nomal, and all this teenage talk of love and mates can be forgotten.

We laid in my bed in silence after that. I just kept over thinking everything my mom and Braya had said. Somehow, my mind kept drifing to that almost kiss, and that stupid earthy smell of him. I swear it changes every time I see him. This time, I felt like it smelt a little more like cinnamon and cedar. I think I'm officially losing my mind.