Chapter 2
EIGHT MONTHS AGO
Charlie stared up at the ceiling, laying on his floor quite bored. Nothing new. His parents were on their way to the airport for a trip, a business trip. And his summer had just started and he didn’t want to spend the whole time in his boring house.
But he couldn’t hang out with Neil because Mr. Perry insisted on Neil taking summer classes. Which just meant Neil shadowing his father at work for the whole summer. Todd was visiting his brother and Charlie thought it would be awkward to ask him to hang out. Knox picked up some shifts at his dad’s broom shop and that was a few hours away. Pitts and Meeks were spending their time at a summer space camp for muggles. And Cameron, well he’s Cameron.
Charlie sat and fantasized how he and Cameron would spend their time together alone but Charlie knew that it wouldn’t go the way he’s thought about for years. He was too scared to ask.
He thought that the two of the could go out for dinner and Charlie would make some extravagant romantic gesture and Cameron just pulled him in for a kiss. Or that the pair could catch a movie and reach for the popcorn at the same time and their hands accidentally meet. Or he could take Cameron out for ice cream and they somehow end up sharing.
Charlie decided to stop watching muggle romance movies.
His feelings for Cameron have been there since third year and each passing year it gets worse. So, Charlie decided to try and shake these feelings, any way possible. There’s always the teasing and the jokes. He’s tried to avoid Cameron on multiple occasions. He’s even dated multiple people but the only problem is that they aren’t a short bossy red head.
It was common knowledge that Cameron’s family owned a laundromat just a few blocks away from the Dalton residence. That was enough for Charlie to find himself walking down the street. The poets knew where it was due to having to pick Cameron up a few times to hang out. However, Cameron never invited any of the poets in and Charlie knew why.
Even though he had no reason to, Cameron was just embarrassed. Must have been the cause of growing up in a muggle school Charlie assumed.
“Charlie?” The panicked red face of Cameron crashed Charlie’s train of thought. He didn’t even realize he made it and that he knocked on the front door of Cameron’s house, which sat perfectly next to the laundromat.
“Hey Cam.” Charlie smiled. “I’m bored.”
“What are you doing?” Cameron shouted.
“I’m bored. You’re my only friend who is available and nearby, which I would say is very lucky.” Charlie smiled.
So, that’s how the two spent almost every day of the summer together. At first, the two would go out and actually do something. Charlie suggested the movies and if they happened to get one popcorn, he wasn’t complaining.
But eventually Cameron was comfortable enough to let Charlie into his house. Charlie would have dinner with Cameron’s family, who loved him to pieces. Cameron’s mom was always bragging about her son and his accomplishments on becoming a wizard.
Charlie found Cameron’s dad to be hilarious and his younger sister, too. She had pretty red hair like Cameron and always talked about a movie she watched. Cameron’s older brothers were hardly ever home but when they did stop in, Charlie knew that they were fun.
As summer progressed Charlie found himself less interested to go home every night and more in love with Cameron everyday. The pair sat in Cameron’s room, as the sun went down, reading over some school books. Charlie mostly glanced at the pictures and they’re descriptions.
“Well Cam, looks like it’s time for me to get going.” Charlie sighed, shutting the book in front of him and tossing it onto Cameron’s bed from the floor. He pushed himself up.
“You can stay if you want?” Cameron suggested. “I know your parents are out of town again, it just sucks having to be home alone.”
“Really?” Charlie ignored how his heart skipped a beat.
“Yeah. You can sleep on my bed and I’ll sleep on the floor or the couch.”
“Oh, you don’t have to do that.” Charlie laughed. “I’m not kicking you out of your bed.”
“Well I’m not letting you sleep on the floor, it’s uncomfortable. And our couch is small.”
“Just shut up and come sleep in your bed.” Charlie said with such courage it surprised both of them.
“Okay.” Cameron agreed, also surprising the both of them.
So that’s how the two of them ended up sleeping in the same bed for almost the whole summer. Neither of them minded and it just became a habit at some point. And Charlie couldn’t tell who was more excited that he was there, himself or Cameron’s mom. Cameron stopped asking if Charlie could come over but started telling his parents instead.
“Oh! Charlie! You can go grocery shopping with us!” Cameron’s mom shouted excitedly as he and Cameron walked down the stairs for breakfast.
“Oh yeah!” Cameron’s dad smiled, reading the morning newspaper. “Charlie gets to know all the family secrets.”
Charlie smiled. He liked being here, at the Cameron household. It was just a normal household, no talk of magic or plans for the future. There was no talk about Hogwarts houses and Wizarding jobs. The Camerons loved him and everything about him. And then there was always Richard.
“Just us three today?” Richard asked his mom and she smiled, giving an eager nod.
“I love muggle grocery stores!” Charlie nearly shouted.
The three of them were about halfway down with their shopping when they got to the produce. Richard and his mom were looking over some avocados and Charlie glanced around. He liked people watching, it was fun. He saw a lady pushing her shopping cart with her baby. There was a man debating on which fruit to buy. And then there was a guy looking at all the flower bouquets.
Charlie wondered what it would be like to be able to buy flowers for Richard. To not be afraid of rejection and to get Cameron flowers that he would like. Like actually like, like the type of flowers people put in vases and leave in their room and they last a couple of weeks.
Charlie knew he had to tell Cameron, he had to. Even if it kills their friendship.
“Charlie?” Mrs. Cameron pulled his attention back. “You okay?”
“Yes ma’am.” He smiled, looking around for Richard.
“Oh, Rich went to grab some strawberries.” She let out a small laugh.
“They are his favorite.”
“I can tell you’re contemplating something.” She placed a gentle hand on his arm. “And I feel like you should go with your gut.”
“I would, if there weren’t consequences to think about.” The two of them began walking towards the checkout line. Charlie felt at ease talking to her, like he’s known her his whole life. Like he can trust her, and he can. Mrs. Cameron had a sort of softness to her and a trusting demeanor.
“Nothing good comes easy.”
“Are you guys ready?” Richard asked, walking up to the pair. “I have all the reusable bags.”
“Oh!” Mrs. Cameron dug around in her purse. “I have coupons.”
“Mom.” Richard said quietly, a little red in the face.
“Oh! Can I scan them! I never get to scan anything.” Charlie smiled. The muggle technology was nothing new to him but when he would go grocery shopping his nanny would always get to scan everything.
“How was shopping?” Mr. Cameron asked once the trio walked through the door.
“So fun! I got to scan all the groceries and I was even allowed to buy like three candy bars.” Charlie smiled, holding up three different candy bars.
“Lucky.” Mr. Cameron sighed.
“Here dad.” Richard handed his father his own separate candy bar.
Richard smiled to himself watching Charlie and his father celebrate their small, small victory. His parents always bought each other small gifts when the other would go shopping, like a bottle of their favorite soda or their favorite candy bar.
Rich was actually really happy that Charlie spent most of the summer with him and his family. And for the first time in a long time, Rich wasn’t embarrassed about his family when other people were around.
Dinner went by fast and with a lot of laughs and smiles. Rhea, Rich’s little sister, went on about a muggle movie about time traveling and everyone was invested in the conversation, something Charlie was very fond of. Richard mentioned a little bit about school, something about how excited he was to take a potions class.
Then it was Charlie’s turn. “So Charlie,” Mr. Cameron said. “Richard says you like movies, do you have a favorite?”
“Yes.” It took a minute for Charlie to think, and to finish swallowing his food. “Pride and Prejudice? That’s a good one.”
“Oh! I love that movie and book.” Mrs. Cameron gave a nod of approval.
“You would like Pirates of the Caribbean.”
Dinner went by and the dishes were washed and put away. The table was wiped down and the floor was swept. Charlie and Rich went upstairs to get ready for bed, the pair fixed their blankets and left the pillow in the middle.
They crawled into bed and the only light they could see was the moonlight peeking in from behind Rich’s curtains. There was no tv in the room to keep the awkward silence at bay. And Rich was just not a fan of keeping his record player on. So, the two of them stared quietly at the ceiling, and everything felt alright.
Then Rich turned on his right side, facing the door, because Charlie had to sleep by the wall. “Rich?” No response. “You’re sleeping and that’s fine but I have to get something off of my chest because if I don’t, I’ll end up like Neil. Just a love sick bastard who’s too nervous to do anything about his crush. But Rich I like you, I really really like you and I need you in my life now like you’re the only person for me.” Charlie sighed. “Damn it. I'm just as bad as Neil.”
Then Charlie turned to his side, both of them with a single tear rolling down their cheeks.
The next morning Richard woke up before Charlie, like he always does. He knew he had to say something to Charlie about whatever the hell that was last night. Because no way Charlie thought Rich was sleeping and just word vomited a bunch of nonsense.
“But it’s true Rich!” Charlie pleaded.
“It’s not.” Rich sighed, fixing his bed. “You can’t sit here and be rude to me and make fun of me for years, show up at my house and hang out for a couple of months and then pretend to be in love with me. That’s rude.”
“I’m not pretending-“
“You’re such a liar!”
“Rich, I’m not lying, okay? I promise.”
“No-“
“How else would I know every little detail about you?”
“What?” Cameron snapped back.
“I know that you go by Cameron because you’re named after your grandfather and you don’t think you’re good enough to have his name.” The fact that Charlie stated the sentence with a matter of fact tone made Rich want to throw something at him. “But you are good enough.”
“Stop-“
“How would I know that strawberries are your favorite but you only like to eat them if they’re dipped in sugar.”
“Charlie-“
“How would I know that you constantly overwork yourself and constantly need a nap. But you can only sleep with a blanket and holding a pillow.” The two of them were red in the face as the room fell incredibly silent. Neither of them know what to say or do. Because despite everything Cameron was thinking, Charlie was right.
“I can’t-“
“Please Cameron, I’ll even take Veritaserum.”
“I just need some time, please.”
“Take all the time you need, but please don’t let this ruin our friendship.”
It was three days, three days was all it took for Cameron to storm over the Dalton household and nearly began banging on the door. When the door opened, Cameron saw a woman who he’s never seen in his life. It wasn’t Charlie’s mom, maybe it was his maid.
“Hello.” He said awkwardly. “May I speak with Charlie please?”
“Cameron?” Charlie rushed to the door, thanking the maid. “What are you doing here?”
“I couldn’t sleep.”
“What?”
“I couldn’t sleep because I got so used to you sleeping in my bed with me. And I am tired.”
“Okay? Cameron-“
“What I’m trying to say,” Cameron sucked in a deep breath. “I like when you’re sleeping in the same bed as me and eating at the same table as me. I like when you go grocery shopping and when we watch the same movie.”
“Cameron.” Charlie smiled. “Thank you.”
“Can we figure everything out? Please?”
“Of course we can.”