Charlie

You ever had that feeling?

When your friends have been talking about you behind your back?

The two-faced bastards.

Can you tell I’m bitter? I am. I heard them today.

I was passing the kitchen when I heard voices.

“You reckon we should ask him?” Matt asked.

“No!” James argued. “He’ll just ruin it all! He always does!”

I felt hurt; it was obvious they were talking about me. But, I thought they liked me!

“But it might hurt his feelings…”

“Since when do you care about him?” James’ voice was cold; I felt tears come to my eyes.

“Okay, so maybe I don’t, but Charlie might disagree…”

“Why would he? He knows we don’t like him!”

“But they are going out!”

“He’ll understand!”

“Will he?” I opened the door and saw their shocked expressions.

James recovered first, “Charlie! We need to talk to you! It’s abou-!”

“Don’t bother…” I said quietly. “I heard it all…”

“Really?” James looked relieved. “So you understand?”

“Oh, I understand all right! I understand that you both hate me!”

What little colour Matt may have regained after seeing me in the doorway was drained again, “What?” he stammered. “Chaz!”

“Don’t bother!” I turned and ran upstairs into my room, not hesitating to slam the door loudly behind me.

That brings me to this dilemma:

Had I misheard? Or not heard the entire conversation?

OR

Had I heard correctly and they hate me?

I don’t know.

I don’t know anything anymore…

James

We’re going to a party tonight, and we were trying to work out who to invite. Me and Matt were in the kitchen; Charlie was up in his room, no doubt writing another amazing song.

“We should invite Danny!” Matt enthuses. “He’s always a laugh!”

“Yeah…” I agree. “Tom and Harry too! Together they’ll have us in stitches!” I frown, “What about…” I take a breath. “Dougie?”

Matt’s eyes darken, we’ve never liked Dougie, which is kinda unfortunate as he’s going out with Charlie just now… “He’s a knob!”

“He’ll make it worse!”

“You reckon we should ask him?” Matt asks uncertainly.

“No,” I say firmly. “He’ll just ruin it all! He always does!”

“But it might hurt his feelings…” Matt bites his lip.

I frown again, “Since when do you care about him?”

Matt sighs, “Okay, so maybe I don’t… but Charlie might disagree.”

“Why would he? He knows we don’t like him!” I’m stating facts, Charlie’s fully aware that we don’t like his boyfriend. He isn’t happy with it, but he accepts it.

“But they are going out!” Matt argues.

“He’ll understand!” I insist.

“Will he?” the door opens and we see Charlie standing there. How long had he been there? Matt went pale; I know he’s thinking the same.

“Charlie!” I say in what I hope it a warm voice. “We need to talk to you… It’s abou-!”

But he interrupts me, “Don’t bother…” he whispers. “I heard it all!”

“Really? So you understand?” I say hopefully.

“Oh, I understand all right!” he sounds mad. I glance at Matt in cautiously. “I understand that you both hate me!”

This hits me like a hammer blow, what’s he on about?

“What?” Matt cries. “Chaz!”

“Don’t bother!” he says again and turns and runs out of sight.

“What was that about?” I asked Matt. He shrugs.

“He must’ve misheard!” his voice is hollow.

I sigh and stare at the spot in the door where he was a few seconds ago.

You shouldn’t assume Chaz!