Author's Chapter Notes:
This is what Charlotte will be wearing :
http://www.polyvore.com/fel/set?id=74869419



The results were out today. The lucky ten students. The results were pasted on the noticeboard early this morning. I got out of bed late, the alarm on my phone didn't go off. 'I cannot be late, I cannot miss the bus.' I kept repeating in my head as I rushed all my morning needs. I wore a pair of shorts and a galaxy crop top. I did some make up and I was out the door. I ran down the street at high speed, my legs were hurting badly by the time I got to the bus stop. The bus jut left and I watch as it took a right turn and just like that, it was gone. What a great way to start the day. Urghhhhh!!

I started walking towards the direction of the school, this is going to be a freaking long day. I picked up my pace as the school came in sight. Thank gosh it didn't rain on the way here, if it did, I may probably have a mental breakdown. I raced to the noticeboard as soon as I entered the hallway. There was a huge crowd around the noticeboard and the bell was going to ring in a few minutes. I gave up trying to shove through and just headed to class.

"Wooahhoahoah!! There's my girl!!" Layla screamed at my face as soon as I entered class.

"What's up?" I questioned, making my way over to my desk.

"What?! You don't know?" she asked, puzzled.

"Know what, Layla, know WHAT?" I yelled a little before sipping my water.

"You got in the top ten!!"

"WHAT?" I choked on the mouthful of water when I heard what she said.

"Are you joking?!!"

"I'm serious, Char. I swear over my dead body I'm being a hundred and one percent serious right now."

**

I rushed out of the class as soon as the bell rang. I ran to the noticeboard. There were a few people walking away with disappointed faces. I searched for the paper until my eyes land of a paper with 'STUDENT EXCHANGE PROGRAM FINAL 10 STUDENTS'.

Georgia Edwards
Daniella Brooke
Jason Reed
Rachel Brown
Ashton Blevins
Daniel Brooke
Rylie Henderson
Jaynette Cooper
Marcus Lancaster
Charlotte Moore

Charlotte Moore? Charlotte Moore!! I screamed when I saw my name and everyone looked over to me. Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, OH MY FREAKING GOSH!! I got it! I'm going overseas! I'm hyperventilating. Gahhhh!! Oh my gosh, I need to tell mum.

"There you are!" I heard Layla cried from the back.

"I got it!" I said, still shocked.

"That's the first thing I told you this morning!!"

"Your name wasn't on the list?" I blurted out without thinking, shit, me and my big mouth.

"Yeah, I didn't get picked.." she said sadly.

"I'm so sorry, I wasn't thinking what I was saying." I apologized.

"Nah, it's okay. You know what, you deserve a celebration. Mall after school?"

"Ohmygosh. Yes! Do you mind if I invited Niall to come along?"

"Uh, sure?"

"Okay. I'll see you after school at the gate?"

"Sure thing."

I got my phone out from my pocket to text Niall. Just right at that moment my phone vibrated in my hand. I unlocked the screen to read the text.

'Congratulations, baby!! xoxo.'

'Thanks .Going to the mall to celebrate after school, wanna come?"

'Okay. :))'

'I'll meet you at the front gate after school?"

'Uh, why don't I meet you at the mall?"

'Oh okay, sure. Cyah '

We took a bus to the mall when school ended. The bus was mostly filled with teenagers around our age. We sat at a double sit next to a woman who looked like she was in her late 30's, she was dressed formally and kept checking her watch every minute. By the looks of it, I guess she's late for a meeting. She got off at a stop before ours and started dashing down the street as soon as she exited the bus. We got off at the next stop and was directly opposite the mall.

"Starbucks or Dunkins?" Layla suggested as soon as we stepped in the mall.

"Starbucks" I smiled. I felt my phone vibrate in my jeans on the way to Starbucks. I took it out from my pocket to check and I got a text from Niall.

'Hey, babe. Where ya at?'

'I'm already at the mall. Am at Starbucks right now. "

"One Java Chip frappuccino please" I placed my order.

"Can I have your name miss?" the cashier requested.

"Charlotte. C-h-a-r-l-o-t-t-e." I spelled it out as she scribbled my name onto the cup with the black marker in her hand.

"One mocha and one red velvet for me,Layla, that's all." Layla added.

"That'll be twenty-one dollars, miss." I took out my purse to pay but Layla shot me down.

"My treat." she chuckled. What is with Starbucks and them not letting me pay every single time.

"Thanks" I replied Layla and the cashier at the same time when she handed me the coffee. We found a booth and sat down.

"Hey, babe." I turned around and received a peck on the nose by Niall.

Niall's POV

"How may I help you, sir" the man behind the table questioned when I entered the shop.

"You do necklaces with names right?"

"Yes, we do. Do you like to have one?"

"Yeah, how much would it be around, I'm thinking of getting one for my girlfriend."

"Can you write her name here," he said as he handed me a small piece of paper. I scribbled 'Charlotte' on the paper and drew a heart shaper behind her name before handing it to him.

"That'll be around fifty dollars, five for each alphabet."

"Okay,do I pay now?"

"Yeah sure. You can come pick it up say in half an hours time?" he informed me and I handed him the fifty dollars note. He gave me a receipt after he cash in the money and I left.

I took out my phone and texted Charlotte asking where she is, she replied saying she was at Starbucks. I was on the upper floor and Starbucks was at the ground floor. I had to use a few of the escalators before reaching the ground floor. The escalator ended just right outside Starbucks and I just walked over. I spotted Charlotte sitting in a booth at the back of the shop and I shuffled over. She looked like she was talking to somebody but I couldn't see anyone there except Charlotte from this angle.

I gave her a peck on her nose when I got to her booth. I pictured a figure at the opposite side of the table, realizing it was Layla.

"Hey, Layla." I greeted her, faking a smile. I wasn't told that Layla was coming, isn't suppose to be the both of us only? What in the world is she doing here...

"Oh yeah, I forgot to inform you that Layla was here too, shoot."

"Nah, it's okay, Char." I felt weird and awkward calling her 'babe' infront of Layla so I just called her nickname.

They finished their coffees and headed upstairs to the shops to shop. They were going into almost every shop but keep come out with nothing, what's with girls and shopping when you don't even buy anything. I just tagged along at the back following wherever they went. Ohmygosh I can't take this anymore. I can't stand being a third wheel. I pretended to keep checking my phone and watch with a worried expression. Charlotte noticed after awhile.

"Everything okay, Niall?"

"Umm. Im sorry but I go to go, somethings up at home." I lied.

"Oh okay. Go home then, I'm okay here with Layla." she said, worried.

"Okay, I'll text you soon okay." I said before leaving. I felt bad leaving her like that with a lie and making her worried. Lying is such a freaking bad way to start a relationship. But I just can't stand being a third wheel, I'll make it up to her. I remembered the necklace and went to pick it up on my way out.

Charlotte's POV

Everything was going swell and we were shopping when I saw Niall kept checking his phone and watch. He had a very worried expression on his face. I decided to ask him if it was okay and was told that he had family problems at home and he had to head back. I hope everythings okay. Layla and I headed home slightly after that when we started getting bored.

Mum wasn't home as usual. It was already 630p.m., she should be rushing to her next job right now. Honestly, I felt bad not being able to help support this family. Mum needed to work morning till night non stop to raise enough money to feed both of us while I hopelessly sit here and do nothing.

It was around 8p.m. when my phone vibrated.

'Meet me at the tree in the park .xoxo' Niall texted.

'What for? It's dark out!!' I replied. The sky was already pitch black when I looked out the windows. He did not text back after that. What in the world. I got my black jacket off the rack and took the keys on the counter and started walking to the park. The street lights were dim and the whole street was silent, laughter and chatter could be heard occasionally from the alleys. I picked up my pace when I heard footsteps behind me, I turned my head every now and then just to find nothing, the most there could be were blurry shadows.

I shuffled towards the tree as soon as I got to the park. I could spot a dim light getting brighter as I stepped closer and closer to the tree. I got a clear view when I reached the open space under the tree. A picnic mat was lay out on the dry ground with candles placed in the middle and a picnic basket. Suddenly,a force came from behind and shocked the jelly beans out of me. It hugged me tightly and I squirmed trying to get out of it's grip.

"Hey, babe." Niall whispered into my ear, sending chills down my spine. He turned me around and returned to the hugging position, his body frame hovering over mine. My head was nuzzling into his chest because of our height difference, he was a around tree quarters foot taller than me.

"What's all of this?" I questioned.

"I couldn't be at the mall today with you so I thought I could make it up to you" he gave me the heart melting smile of his.

"Aww it was s'okay, you didn't have to go through all the rush just to do all of this" I cooed, Niall is just so sweet.

"How about if I say I wanted to spend time with you alone" he said cheekily. I chuckled and gave his chest a little poke.

"Shall we?" Niall went over to sat down and patted the ground next to him, inviting me to sit.

I watched as he took out a brown take away box, I couldn't see what it was containing since the cover was opaque. He then took two wine glass and a bottle of coke out. He smiled at me when he took out the coke, knowing what I was thinking.

"How romantic," I teased, chuckling and rolling my eyes as he poured the coke into the wine glass, handing one over to me.

"Cheers, to your achievement, mademoiselle. Niall joked in a very posh accent as he raised his glass.

"Merci, monsieur" I played along and we sipped a mouth of our coke edited cracking up.

"Sushi!!" I cheered like a little kid when Niall opened the box containing sushi. He chucked at my reaction and put his hand back into the basket to fish for something before coming back out with two pairs of chopsticks. He handed me a pair, he took a California roll with his chopstick and placed it infront of my mouth, I was about to went in and take a bite when he pulled away and ate it himself.

"Touché, two can play that game" I gave him a little evil smirk. For a second he looked scared but was quickly shrugged off.

"Seriously? That was just mean." I said as he gave me another sushi but ate it himself again. This was the time to get him back. I shot him and evil but sad glare and shot off into the other side of the park. I found a marble bench next to the fountain and sat down. It was getting chilly so I zipped my jacket up to the top. I heard footsteps and my name being called out after awhile, I brought my legs up to my chest, buried my head in between my legs and curled into a ball as the sound got closer to me.

"God Charlie, don't run off like that!" he said as he shuffled over to my side and took a sit next to me. I didn't want to give myself away so easily so I faked a sniff.

"I'm sorry okay. Didn't think that you would take sushi so seriously." he joked, I looked up into his blue eyes and his face was drenched in sweat.

"Gotcha! Race you back." I didn't wait for an answer before running back to the tree. I ate a few sushi before he reached back to the tree. We finished the sushi and packed it all back into the picnic basket and folded the may before placing it on top of the basket flap.

"Hey, I've got this for you" Niall said as he searched around his front and back pockets of his jeans before taking our a blue velvet box. He opened the box and there was a gorgeous necklace in the shape of my name.

"You missed out a 'l'" I joked.

"What?!" his expression turned into a shocked one and he turned the box over so it was facing him to examine it. He looked so cute when he's panicking. Haha.

"I'm joking, it's gorgeous"

"Do you want me to help you put it on?"

"Yeah, sure" he got up and shuffled behind me. He pushed my hair to a side and took out the necklace from the box before placing it on my neck and securing the hook on the back.l

"Thank you" I thanked him, holding the necklace in my palms to admire it.

"You're welcome, babe."

We lay down on the cold flat ground as the candles started to blow out. The ground grown with grass was clean as for this is a well taken care of park. In awhile, the whole park was filled with complete darkness. We gazed up into the dark blue sky that was filled with twinkling, glowing stars that lot up the whole night sky. The moon was dim and blurry, hiding itself behind the clouds.

"The sky's so pretty tonight."

"Yeah" he croaked.

"Niall, why did you like me?" I questioned, curious.

"I d'know. Well, you're nice, you're kind, you're funny and y'know... pretty." he said, pausing after every compliment like he was thinking.

"I mean like, there's other prettier seniors out there, why me?"

"Nobody compares to you, Charlie, you're perfect" he whispered the last part. He turned over to face me as I turned to the right. He's eyes were just sparkling blue in the night, we both stared into each others' eyes. He leaned in closer and I could feel his hot breath on me. I closed my eyes as I leaned in, his lips met mine as we moved together in sync as we were kissing, I pulled away after awhile, leaving it as a short and sweet kiss. My first kiss with Niall.

"Do you wanna head home?"

"Yeah" we got off the ground brushing off some grass that decided to join the party and left the park. He held my hand on the way back, squeezing lightly every now and then. We stopped outside the door sill hands in hands, his other hand clutching the picnic basket.

"Thanks, I had a great night" I thanked him, letting go from his grip.

"Me too"

"Goodnight, Nialler" I gave him a hug and he wrapped his arms around me.

"Nighty nights, baby" he gave me a kiss on my forehead. I pecked him on the cheek before entering the house.

Notes

Yay!! It's almost 2k views. Love you guys :) hehe . Any suggestion for couple names for Charlotte and Niall? Comment it below cus' I can't think of anything good. Anyways, chapter 13 :). Will start working on chapter 14 tomorrow, will post ASAP. Review review review please :) reviews makes me a happy girl. Happy girl = good story. Good story = happy you. So you're actually making yourself happy. It's a cycle hahaha :) Vote ! There's only 4 votes :( there are almost 2000 of you but only 4 voted. :(. AND Suscribe!! You'll get noticed as soon as the chapter is out and you would be happy and there's the cycle again :) Soooo, VOTE ! REVIEW ! SUSCRIBE! Thanks loves :)