CHARLIE'S POV

"LOUIS!"

Sitting upright with a cold sweat covering me from head to toe and finding myself in the comfort of my own bed, in my own room - daisy covered curtains fluttering gently with a warm breeze creeping through the cracked window in the dark; I spotted a figure sitting at the end of my bed, motionless - black - unanimated. Shuffling until my back touched the headboard and rubbing my hands up and down my arms and over my body, things felt.. different. My nails were painted a bright shade of hot pink and the ends of my hair fell over my shoulders and collarbones which they hadn't since...

"Charlie?"

My head snapped up to the door to see Ruby and Louis looking through at me and I knew this had to mean I was dead. Eyes fighting to look at the alarm clock beside me which tortured my mind with time - 11pm. Something didn't make sense.

"Charlie, thank god you're awake"

My sisters hold was warm, a little like what I'd figure heavens touch would feel like. Her glossy blue eyes sneaking love and hope into mine stayed still as she smiled and let a giggle escape her lips. Speechless and heart stopping, my glance flickered between the two of them as I could hear chit-chat coming from downstairs. A party perhaps? There was the sound of old records playing and glasses clinking to cheers and good health phrases. I wanted to keep my distance, I couldn't understand what was happening, I.. I just..

"I told you she'd be fine", Louis smiled, scratching at his arm before playing with the hair at the back of his neck. His arms were clean, no tattoos, no scratches, no marks. This was unusual. This was weird. This was all.. alll..

"Charlie, Ruby, Louis.. come downstairs!"

My mothers sickly sweet voice danced up towards us and I could feel my eyes getting heavy, feeling sleepy, feeling sick. I wanted to look into a mirror and just scream in disgust at my reflection but not while I had company. Not while I was with people. A few more footsteps came to join us and soon after Harry and Bella had made it to the door.

"She feeling alright?", Harry asked, clearing his throat. His green eyes told no lies when I glanced at them, they showed no pain, no suffering, no hate.
"Looks like it", Bella cheered on with a red party cup in hand.
"What happened?", I asked quietly, pushing my legs over to hang from the side of the bed.
"I think you ate something you shouldn't have kiddo", Ruby explained, "You've been passed out since almost midday."
"Oh.. I.."
"We were worried", Louis added.

Brushing some hair back from my eyes and swallowing hard, I could hear my fathers voice downstairs; about celebratory days and teenage memories. Was he? No.. he couldn't have been. Pushing myself off the bed and rushing down into an open kitchen and people filled loungeroom, it was like the world was alight and spirits were on fire. My mother drunkenly placed an arm around me, kissing my temple and introduced me to another family friend who I'd met years ago and most likely forgot about. Where was dad though? Dad... dad.. dad.

"Hey kiddo!"

I spun around to see the old mug standing, beer in hand next to Uncle Ian and Aunty Beth. My heart continued racing.

"Dad you're alive!"

My father gave me the strangest of looks before shaking his head and letting out an infectious laugh that filled the room. My aunt and uncles seemed to play of perfectly in tune and sync.

"Why wouldn't I be kiddo?", he asked, looking down and resting a hand on me.
"I just.. the phone and.. Ian and.."
"You've always had a colourful imagination."

Surrounded by friends and family, I couldn't tell if I'd fallen back into a comfort zone or still needed to keep my guard up. Louis snapped a shot of Bella, Ruby and Harry together which Ruby stated she'd keep in her forever diary and adults seemed to consume more alcohol than necessary as the night went on. I found my way into the kitchen, grabbing a glass of water to try and equate everything inside my head and had company by my side within minutes.

"You should be back inside, enjoying yourself", Ruby let out, elbowing me in the side gently. I laughed and put my glass down, turning to her to see the truth. She was whole, not dead.. even though I still think I was. Just as gorgeous as I last remembered her. "By the way, we're going up to the cabin tonight for.."

"NO!", I cut in sternly.
"Charlie, just live a little.."
"Ruby no. I need to keep you alive."
"Char, what are you on about? Dad's going with Ian for a hunting trip and I thought we cou--."
"NO!"

Was this a bad case of dejavu?

"Where's Louis?", I asked quietly, tapping my feet against the tiled floor and sighed quietly.
"In the loungeroom with Harry; why?"
"I just.."
"You have a thing for Lou. Oh my god!", she exclaimed in a whisper."
"I do not.. just.."
"LOUIIIIISSSSS!"

Before I could get my hand over Ruby's mouth, the boy had made his way through without accompaniment.

"Someone called?"
"Charlie has something to tell you", Ruby smirked before leaving us be and bouncing off to the rest of the house. Our eyes fell on one another and glances turned into smiled which turned into awkward silences I felt comfortable in.
"So you had something to tell me?", he asked quietly, stepping in a little closer.
"I um.. I had this um.. weird dream and, you.. you were in it and", I found myself pausing, maybe it only was just a dream.


LOUIS' POV

"I was in your dream?", I questioned her quietly, pushing some hair from her face behind her ears. Charlie nodded quickly and before I knew it, we'd both closed the gap between one another, my fingers under her chin to bring her head up, eyes on the prize.

"Y.. ye.. yeah", she choked out.
"Well it's nice to know you think of me kid."
"But.. it.. you and I and Ruby and.."
"Shh..", I cut her off quietly, a finger to her lips which caused her to smile.

Before our lips could meet and a kiss could even me made or suggested, the phone in the kitchen began to ring, breaking off any kind of romantic gesture and intimacy we'd so quickly built up. Charlie dropped her head gently and shuffled her feet against the tiled floor.

"I should get that..", she offered.
"Just let it hit the answering machine.."
"Louis..", her voice pleaded as if she knew ignoring the call would be a bad idea.
"Fine.. I'll get it", I agreed, who ever was calling probably wouldn't want to deal with a voice they didn't know.

Picking up the handset and pushing the answer button, I held the phone to the side of my face and said a few repeated hellos not getting any replies or acknowledgment.

"There's no one on the line", I told Charlie, who was busily tapping her fingers on the kitchen counter top.
"Just hang up then."

"Hello..", I repeated for a final time. Taking the receiver away from my ear, I could hear the quietest of murmurs catching my attention...




"A new victim wow, now can't you see; with this much fun you're killing me.
She played the game and won instead, you know have 7 days until you're dead."

Notes

I'm not sure whether I'm happy with this ending. I had something else in mind, but I couldn't remember what I'd planned to do with Liam and well, that ruined everything :( Ughhh the heartache! Hopefully either way, even if I disappointed you (and it wasn't all too much) you still enjoyed this.

I am planning on writing another one up along side It's All In You Head; something either school/college aged tormented or possible a classic zombie/lost style romance/adventure/comedy (think Zombieland + WarmBodies). Let me know what you think and if you'd have any interest reading these xoxox Or, what else you'd like me to write <3

& a huge thank you too all those who commented and told me to keep going. I really appreciate the support xo