Part 11/ New Years Kiss...

"Get me another coffee." A douchebag says snapping his fingers while i take someone's order.

"Nope." I simply walk by and to the kitchen where Lilly shakes her head at me.

"What? He's an asshole."

"Nothing babe. I like your necklace." She mumbles as she makes two hot chocolates.

"Thanks. Stefan gave it to me for Christmas. I'm also wearing the perfume you gave me,by the way." I say shoving my chest in her face as she laughs.

"I'm glad you like it."

"You never mentioned what Uriah got you." I ask drying dishes.

"Oh" She smirks "A bag,amongst other things..."

"Ew,ew. Stop."

"We did it in his dad's shed." I hit her arm as she laughs.

I shake my head "His dad sucks at maintenance,so at least something got banged."

"Back to Stefan giving you that necklace..." Her fingers trace over it as she smiles.

"I think he likes you. And you like him. Why else would you go through all that trouble and almost brake Darcy's nose."

"First of all,Darcy is a bitch. Secondly. He's my friend. I could never be with Stefan."

"Why not?" She raises an eyebrow at me.

"He's cute,and touchy-feely. He's sweet and sentimental. He made me a bedside table from scrap for God's sake. He's like a baby panda. I would kill him and take his fur."

Lilly sighs before picking up her tray with food and drinks.

"I know you think you're a burden and everything. But I love you sweetheart. So does Uri. And the rest of your family. One day you're gonna find someone who you love so much,that you're never gonna doubt yourself."

I roll my eyes before picking up my notepad and walking over to a table.

"Hi,what can I get you?" I say as politely as I can,considering I'm in a mood.

"What can we get here that's organic and vegan." Two guys ask me with disgust in their voice.

"The salt in the containers." I reply sarcastically.

"Your not supposed to take out your PMS on your customers. We'll have two salads and two lemon ice teas." He says as I bite my tongue and walk away.

I come back minutes later and serve them,waiting for the second they pay the check so I can get the anger out of me.

"Thank you..." I put the money in my apron pocket "And we don't allow people to dive in our trash to look for clothes,so don't do it again." I say with a grin as they frown.

"Have a nice day kale dick."

December 30th.

"Did you really just throw a snowball at me while I'm carrying your suitcase?" He raises an eyebrow at me as we walk in the hotel lobby.

I shrug " I told you not to. You insisted."

"Fine. Just ask what rooms we're in."

"Hi." I say to the man behind the desk,who looks like he's about to die from hypothermia.

"Can you tell me what room my friend and I are staying in?" I ask as they nod and ask for a name.

"Stefan Finn and Charlie Reynolds."

"Charlie?" We both turn towards the person who just shouted my name. I smile where as Stefan looks confused.

I run towards Ken and wrap my arms around his neck.

He hugs me back immediately and them pulls away with a huge smile.

"Hi dumbass. I can't believe someone is marrying you."

"Hey brat." He smiles "You look so beautiful! How have you been?"

"Thanks. I missed you. Look at you!" I say poking his chest " I used to give you wedgies,and now you're getting married."

"Save something for the speech." His fiancé pokes her head behind him.

I smile and hive her a hug also,since she's gonna be family and everything.

"Melissa,you look absolutely gorgeous. How are you?" I say looking at her up and down.

They make an adorable couple. Between his tall frame,blonde hair,she is the exact opposite,but still looks so elegant with her brown bob and green eyes.

"Um...did you bring a Calvin Klein model with you." She whispers as we turn and Stefan smiles at us.

"No,um..." I clear my throat "This is Stefan." I extend my hand out to him "Stefan,this is my cousin Ken and his fiancé,Melissa."

"It's a pleasure. Thank you for the invitation."

"It's our pleasure really. Come on,let me show you your room." Melissa says as she walks in front of us.

"All the guest's rooms are cabins. We thought it would be cute,since we met in a cabin." She grins.

I look at Ken as he raises an eyebrow at me.

"That's...cute." I simply shrug.

"It's corny as fuck. But I do it because I love her." He whispers as I laugh.

"So,since when have you two been together? And how come you never mentioned anything?" He asks me as Stefan clears his throat.

"We're not...together. We're just friends." I say as Melissa's face drops.

"Oh,I'm sorry. When Ken said you had a plus one,I just assumed that...I'm sorry. But all the rooms are booked." She bites her lip.

"It's fine." I reassure them.

"He's also my roommate.So we can arrange for two nights."

"You sure?" Ken asks us again.

I look at Stefan and he nods.

"Okay then." He leans against the door frame as Melissa shows us the room.

"So my baby cousin is still chasing away men with a stick?"

"Your baby cousin will still kick your ass." I reassure him as he smiles.

After a few minutes the leave,letting us settle in,and unpack our clothes.

"He seems nice." Stefan comments looking around.

"He's a complete sweetheart. And she's amazing too. A real perfect match."

"Huh..." His eyes look over me and then the bed "How are we gonna sleep?"

"We can share the bed. Something tells me you're used to sleeping with me." I smile.

"Not as much as I'd like..." He winks at me as I throw a pillow at him.

"What are you wearing at the rehearsal and wedding?" He asks laying on the made bed.

"I borrowed a dress from Lilly for tonight. And I have a dress for tomorrow. "

"Huh,Charlie in a dress. Interesting."

I stick my tongue out at him.

"I can't wait to see you in that monkey suit."

He chuckles "I look dashing in a suit,excuse you. And thanks for washing the blood off it,sweetness."

I roll my eyes at his stupid new nickname after the holidays.

He says it's to remind me that I'm actually the sweetest person he has met,and that I'm not as bad as I think.

Ridiculous,right?

***

"So this is your family." He simply says as we walk inside the place.

Everything is Christmas- winter decorated,and I'll admit,it looks good.

"Yeah. I'm like a chocolate sprinkle in a bowl full of vanilla ice cream."

He laughs as he looks at me and I smile.

"Chocolate's my favorite." He winks as I shake my head.

"So,is your dad gonna be here?"

I shake my head " He's sick. But his brother is here."

And hour or so passes while I shake hands and hug all the relatives I couldn't care less about.

You know the ones right?

You have your close ones,who you call often and actually care about.

Then there are these ones,who you could meet at a wedding,or be lucky and go to their funeral.

Too harsh?

Yes aunt Hellen,tell me more about how your son is a lawyer,and that your daughter is pregnant.

"Charlie?"

I can literally feel every cell in my body begin to burn in hate the second i hear her high pitched,annoying ass voice.

"Megan." I turn and look at her with a blank expression.

Yes,okay. The bitch looks good.

But I wasn't gonna tell her that.

"How are you?" She attempts to sound interested as she flips her blond hair.

"Fine. Who is this?" I ask as I raise an eyebrow at the...way older man she has her hand interlocked with.

"This is Marco. We met in Italy when I was doing a photoshoot for his company." She leans her head against him as he smiles.

"Ciao." I nod my head as a greet and turn towards Meg.

"So,Melissa says you have a plus one. I assume It's Uriah,since the only man you can keep in your life is your father. And you don't even have him." She laughs but I know that she means every fucking word.

I throw a fake laugh her way and pretend that I don't wanna pull those extensions right out of her skull.

"Not that it's any of your fucking business. But I'm actually here with...someone." I turn and call Stefan who is talking to Justin.

"Hey." He says holding a drink in his hand.

"Stefan,this is Meg. My stepsister." I say as he seems surprised "Meg,this is Stefan. My...boyfriend."

I smile at Stefan,as he has an absolute look of horror on his face.

I know dude. Bare with me here.

"Oh.Hello. This is Marco." She shakes his hand as she looks at him up and down.

That's right ,my fake man is way better that yours.

What?

"Wow,look at you. I can't believe it." She chuckles "How much is she paying you."

"Ha-ha." He says awkwardly.

"Honestly Charlie,I was surprised you came."

"Well,they are my family. You're the one who shouldn't be here."

"Hey." Stefan wraps his arm around my waist as he looks at me,asking if I'm okay. I just nod my head and he let's go slightly.

"Okay,I'm sorry. Let's just sit down. I wanna hear more about you two."

***

According to Stefan,we met in English in September.

I was rude to him and then we met again at the diner,where he was charming and I apparently couldn't resist.

Shit sounds like a cheesy book.

The poor guy is so awkward around me,I had to put his arm around my shoulder to make it look believable.

And I know I shouldn't care,and that I should have just told Meg to go fuck herself,but we're in too deep now.

Let's get this charade going.

"Honestly,you're too darn cute for your own good. How did you end up with this one?" She laughs.

"Megan..." Marco,who's first language isn't even English,knew that she's going to far.

"What? I'm just wondering how she hasn't dragged you into a ditch or something." She laughs again.

"Actually,I was in a ditch when we met. And I was lucky enough for God to send me Charlie. She helped me see the clear path.Like a guardian angel.Right babe." He smiles and kisses my shoulder casually,making me go dizzy and confused at the same time.

"Well,daddy says that Charlie herself has gone down the wrong path..."

"Okay,that's it." I set my fifth glass of champagne and turn towards the hag.

"I'm not the one who dropped out of collage and used the money for a nose job. A terrible one by the way." She gasps dramatically.

"I'm also not the one who travels from country to country and sleeps with disgusting men for a picture in a magazine.You Cosmopolitan cunt. When I do it,it's at least because I want to.

"I'm only the bad one in my fathers book because my head is not up his ass like yours is. Leave me the hell alone,don't ever talk to me. One of your tits is crooked. I would advise you to ask your plastic surgeon to do better. Stefan,dance with me."

I walk up with his hand in mine towards the dance floor,and then put my arms around his neck as a song plays in the background.

"Wow." He mumbles as his hands stay on my hips.

"Yeah,I...uh,forgot to mention that me and my stepsister don't get along." I say as he smiles.

"I'm sorry you had to hear that..."

"It's okay Charlie."

"We should have never came. I should have never dragged you out..."

He kisses my cheek and pulls back with a smile "It's okay,sweetness."

***

"I do."

"I do."

Two little words that change your life completely.

Everyone claps as the groom and bride exchange rings and then kiss.

"You look beautiful,by the way."

I smile down at the beige colored dress,which fits perfectly,hugging my figure.

In that moment,I get a flashback of this morning,and I can't help it,a stupid grin appears on my face.

The moment I opened my eyes,the first thing I saw was Stefan's chest as his arm was wrapped around me.

I was snuggled up so close to him,If someone walked in,they would really think we're a couple.

Yes,I got up as quickly as I could,making every evidence that I was that close to him disappear,starting with my pillow.

Are you blushing Charlotte?

The ceremony was beautiful,and so was

the reception after.

Beautiful decorations hanging everywhere as a fire lights and warms up the whole room. The bride and groom dance was okay too,too corny for my taste,but hey,still cute.

I even got a chance to dance with the groom himself. Its kinda shitty that I had to lie to everyone that I was dating someone I wasn't,especially since they like him a lot.

"You're drunk?" Justin laughs in my ear as I chuckle.

"It's past midnight at a wedding. Of course I'm drunk. And so are you.Happy New Year!"

"Happy New Year!" He spins me around and nods as we both laugh like idiots.

"So,your brother tied the knot. Is there someone special on your life?" I ask as we dance to the beat.

"Nah. But you seem too."

"Nah." I repeat his answer.

"Then why did you bring him to a wedding? You know he's gonna be in the pictures forever,right?"

"Oh shit. I didn't even think of that." I say smacking my forehead.

"You and Meg okay?" He changes the topic quickly.

"I wanna shove that ice sculpture up her ass. Why do you ask?" He shrugs as he spins me again.

"You know,just because you're taller than me now,doesn't mean i will hesitate to shove your face into snow. Now speak."

He laughs "It's nothing. Just like when we were kids,she wants you to share your toys ." He points his head towards a direction.

Of course that snakefish has her hands all over Stefan.

I don't know why,but it feels like I was just hit in the gut.

"Excuse me. I don't feel so well." I let go of Justin's hand and walk out of there. The event was done anyway,only close family was dancing by the end.

The second I unlock the door,I run to the toilet and throw up everything i have ate or drank tonight.

I hate cocktails.

Yes,it tastes like juice,and suddenly your topless on someones lap.

Long story...

I brush my teeth and put my hair up,still feeling tipsy,but a little better.

I hear the door open and close as I look at myself in the mirror,and decide to walk out of the bathroom.

"You forgot your heels." He mumbles and you can hear the alcohol in his system.

"I'm sure me or any of my possessions were the last of your concern." I cross my arms over my chest.

"What you talking about sweetness?" He slurs.

"Nothing. This isn't even about you. Its about that tyrant with fake boobs. She has a habit of taking everything that's mine."

"What...?"

"Yeah. Even since we were little. She stole my dad,my toys,my room. She stole my birthday for God's sake!" I shout now,the anger clearly pouring out of me.

"Yeah,that's how our fucking parents met. They were both buying cakes for birthday parties!"

"Charlie..." He says slowly.

"Well fuck her. She can't have my friends too. I'm not gonna let her have you."

"Wha..." Is the only thing that escapes his mouth before I push him against the door and my lips are against his.

His shocked for a few seconds before his hands cup my face and he kisses me back furiously.

My hands slip to his abdomen and i untuck the buttoned up shirt from his pants and start to unbutton it.

His hands slip to the backs of my thighs as he lifts me up and wraps my legs around his waist as he walks to the bed.

He lays me down more roughly than i would think,before kissing me again.

"Oh God..." The gasp escapes my from my lips when he starts kissing down my neck.

He looks at me for a couple of seconds before he kisses me again,his tongue making it's way past my lips.

I dig my nails in his shoulders as his hand caresses my inner thighs...

Cocktails are fun.