Part 5 / A sh*tty movie.

Mornings are beautiful.

Especially when I almost shat myself when I saw a huge man washing his face in my bathroom before I've had my coffee.

I forgot I have a new roommate.

"Are you writing this down?!" I shout at him as he almost falls into his bowl of cereal.

"Sorry. You lost me after you said you wake up early everyday. On that note; what the fuck?" He says sleepily.

"Yes. I'm either at work,or have morning classes."

"Who the fuck chooses to have morning classes?" He groans.

"You. Since you're gonna get a job,and have to work the afternoons. And you have to take your lectures and assignments seriously." I smack his hand as he's reaching for his water.

"Are you paying attention?!" I shout again.

"Fuck,yes. I am." He shakes his head.

"Now,you don't have to pay for rent since this is my apartment,but we split the electricity,water and wifi bills." I say as he nods.

"Wait,you can afford to buy an apartment near campus?"

I quickly wash the few dishes as I talk to him simultaneously ,ignoring his previous question.

"We dust and vacuum the place everyday,and mop twice a week."

"I'm supposed to do that?" He asks.

"No,that's my maid Judie's job." I say as he stares at me for a couple of seconds.

"I'm being sarcastic!"

"I know,i know. I will gladly mop and dust ma'am." He salutes me with a smile,and I can't help it.

I smile.

"I have to go. You should go to the dean's office and fix your schedule. Then you can come over to the diner by lunch and meet Lilly and Uriah." I write down the address on a small sticky note and put it on his forehead as he rolls his eyes.

"I don't think we're close enough for you to be this mean to me." He says ad I chuckle.

"Sweetheart,I'm mean to everyone." I wink at him "I'll se you later." I say putting on my shoes.

"You have the key right?"

"Yeah."

"Don't forget to lock up." I say before closing the door behind me.

***

"Are you insane!!" Lilly says loudly,causing the whole diner to turn towards us.

"Inner voice babe." I say with a smile.

"I apologize." She clears her throat,and in a lower volume shouts "Are you freaking insane?!"

My eyes roll involuntary at how much Lilly chooses to panic over my decisions.

"He is a rapist? And you're just gonna let him sleep on your couch? While you're in your room? Alone? Are you crazy?!" She hisses.

"First of all,alleged rapist..."

"Because the girl was paid off to drop the charges."

"It's different."

"Oh please. His rich daddy paid the girl off and they didn't press charges."

"He says he didn't do it."

"Yeah? And I can say that I'm having lunch with the queen of England. People lie Charlie." She says grabbing my shoulders.

"And I wouldn't be surprised if he went i to your room in the middle of the night and force..."

"Hey!" I say moving her hand away "You were the last person I suspected to be this judgmental."

"What the heck is that supposed to mean?" She frowns.

"You are the best person to know how much a nasty rumor can spread and ruin your life." I say making her press lips together.

"Uriah is not gonna like this."

"Too bad. I've mad my decision." I pick up the tray with burgers and milkshakes.

"Table six is ready to order." I walk past her and towards my table.

We spend the rest of the day avoiding conversation and throwing each other dirty looks as we pass each other.

I know she has good intentions and is worried about me,but she can be less of an ignorant bitch about it.

"Thanks for the two dollar tip on your thirty dollar meal...asshole." I say that last part to myself as the guys walk out.

"Charlie..." Joan,the owner. Who is a bigger pain in the ass then anyone I know,warns me.

She's used to my snarky remarks after the customers pay,but still scolds me anyway every time I make one.

"Yeah...sorry." I say and walk over to wipe the counter that has sticky substances all over it.

My eyes randomly look up,and I see him from a few feet away. There aren't many giant males around campus,so he was easy to detect.

"Joan,I'll be back in a sec." I blabber quickly before I head out the door and run towards him.

Huh,if this was some shitty movie,I would have probably ran towards his "big arms" and kissed him.

But no,this was reality.

I had to stop my friend from thinking that this guy was the equivalent of Hannibal Lecter.

"Hey Char..." I pull him by his jacket behind a tree and make sure that Lilly didn't see us.

"You okay?" He says looking at me up and down.

"Yes. I just need you to do something for me." He looks down at us before I do two.

My hands are on his chest and my lower body is basically grinding it's self against him. So I pull away and offer a small smile "Sorry."

"It's fine. What's up?" He asks,putting his hands in his jeans pockets.

"That other waitress,that's Lilly." I point behind him,as he looks at her for a couple of seconds.

"Okay?" He asks.

"I need you to come in and act like we don't know each other. Order a coffee,be polite,flirt a little,ya know?"

"I thought she had a boyfriend. Besides,why am I doing this?" He asks,raising his eyebrow.

"Well,Lilly seems to be concerned about our arrangement. Thinking that you're dangerous and everything. So I just need to prove to her that you're a decent person."

He sighs "She thinks I'll hurt you?"

I frown "Don't take it personal Stefan. She's just worried about me."

"Okay. I'll do whatever you think is right." He shrugs with a small smile.

"Okay.Here." I pass him ten dollars and start to walk away,but hear my name and turn around.

"Yeah?" I ask.

"Are you concerned about our arrangement? Do you think I would hurt you?" He asks in a low voice.

I look at him for a couple of seconds but then clear my throat "No." I say with a small smile.

But,honestly. Not every part of me believes that.

But why did I want to help this guy so badly? I don't know.

Maybe because I was in this type of situation before. Not the whole charge thing,but the part where you had nobody.

"You okay?" Lilly ask with a frown on her face as I smile slightly.

Even when we're at our throats,she will still be worried about me.

"Fine." I shrug and go back to waiting tables.

"Welcome to Joan's. What can I get you?" I say with a smile to a cute little family,as my eyes focus on Stefan while he enters.

He sends a glance my way before walking toward Lilly.

"...and two milkshakes." The woman says as I write it down.

"Is that all?" I ask before they nod and thank me.

I pass the order to the kitchen and shift around where Lilly is,trying to overhear their conversation.

"...go to collage here?" She asks.

"Yeah. I actually start tomorrow.I thought i should check the coffee here,and decide If I'm going to be having it every day." He says with a flirtatious smile.

"Take it from me. It is." She also smiles as he makes his drink.

"So,what's your major?" He asks.

"Uh,English literature.You?"

"Architecture."

"That's so cool. So you're like an artist."

"I guess." He chuckles.

Calm down Casanova,you're trying to make her think you're not a sex offender,not asking her out.

"Hey Lilly."

We both turn and look at Uriah,who walks in and kisses Lilly on the cheek.

Abort mission.

I widen my eyes at Stefan but he doesn't see me as he's focused on Uriah.

"I'm sorry,do I know you from somewhere?" Uri asks him.

He shrugs "Not really."

"This is my boyfriend Uriah.Uri this is...I'm sorry,I didn't get your name."

"Stefan." He says as I face-palm myself.

"Oh,that's right.You're the guy that me and Charlie helped." Uri says as all of them turn towards me.

"Charlotte!" Lilly says crossing her arms.

***

We all sit quietly in a booth during lunch as we just look at each other.

I stir my coffee for a while before I decide to break the silence.

"Listen..."

"Shut up." Lilly says as I press my lips and quiet down.

"Look,I know you guys are concerned about your friend. And you have every right too. But I swear I didn't do what you think I did. I need..." He clears his throat " I have to get a job. And I wanna straighten my life out. And Charlie was nice enough to help me with that. But,If it bothers you,I'll be out first thing tonight." Stefan says slowly as both of them look at him.

"You're not going anywhere."

"Charlie!" Lilly says.

"What?!" I snap at her.

"Do you know what it's like to have the whole world turned against you and say you did something you didn't?! Have nothing and only rely on the kindness of others?!" I almost shout and see that Lilly is uncomfortable.

"Uriah,say something." Lilly turns to him.

He sighs "Look. You look like a nice guy. And this is Charlie's decision.And I'm gonna try and respect that. But I will be watching you." He says warningly.

"If you even touch a hair on her head,I will light you on fire."

"I understand." He says as we turn to Lilly who crosses her arms over her chest.

"Lil?" I ask bitting my lip.

"Did you rape that girl?" She ask as I widen my eyes at her.

"No." He replies quickly.

"Then why would she lie about something like that?"

"I don't know. Revenge, opportunity?" He shrugs.

"Will you hurt Charlie?"

"No."

"If you do?" She asks.

"I won't. I swear."

"Okay. But if you do. I will do more than just light you on fire. I will skin you from head to toe." She says leaning over the table and looks at him as he nods.

"Lilly Morgan." She extends her hand and Stefan shakes it cautiously.

"Stefan Finn." He replies with a small smile.

"Where have I heard that name?" Uri asks.

"Yeah,me too." I frown as Stefan sighs.

"You've probably heard my dad's name." He says disappointedly.

"Who's your dad?" Lilly asks.

"Richard Finn." He answers.

Lilly and Uriah both tense and try to stir the conversation another direction.

"Sorry Stefan,we have to get back to work. But I guess we'll se you around?" Lilly asks.

"I hope we can get to know each other better. Right Charlie?" He asks as I turn to look at him.

"Your dad is Richard fucking Finn?!"