REAL LIFE

"Argh, this is bullshit."

     Charlie tugged on the ends of his jet-black hair in the shoddy dorm building bathroom, pulling it up until he reached the split ends that mocked him with their presence. He brought the scissors to the ends and was careful not to prick himself like he did last time. The things he did to keep his hair in tip-top shape. He desperately missed his buzz cut but he promised to stick to his very old New Year's resolution of growing his hair out and attempting to like it. It wasn't too long, and it didn't hit that "awkward length" stage, although everything felt like an awkward length stage when his hair grew four inches and he hadn't reached for his razor yet.

     He knew he didn't have to stick to his New Year's resolutions since they were bullshit most of the time, but since he wasn't really surfing anymore and was more of a surf coach during the summer anyway, he figured why the hell not. It was just hair.

     Snip. A few strands fluttered into the bowel of the sink as Charlie cut away the split ends, always careful not to cut away too much. Sure, he'd be one step closer to having his buzz cut, but it wasn't worth the uneven chunk in the front that would take forever to grow out.

     Charlie's hair had been like this for an entire year now, a couple of inches off of his head with a close crop around the nape of his neck, and it had taken him a lot of getting used to. He remembered that one time when he was fourteen when he had tried growing out his short hair for the first time, and Conrad saying it looked nice that way, all growing pains and gangly limbs and the like.

     Conrad.

     Shit.

     Charlie also remembered that the little fucker needed to call him back.

3 WEEKS AGO

Charlie woke up in the guest room of the Fisher beach house, checking his phone to see it read 7:30 a.m.

     With that information, he rolled out of bed to get the coffee started, knowing that everyone would probably want a cup. It had been a rough night last night for everyone knowing the news surrounding Susannah. Charlie considered himself fortunate to be let in on something as life-changing as this, considering that Susannah and Laurel were like a second set of moms to him. While Susannah, Conrad, and Jeremiah talked in the living room, Charlie found himself pacing upstairs so they could have a little privacy.

     Then, Conrad creaked the door to his room open, standing in the doorway rightfully looking like a kicked puppy. So Charlie did what he did best, beckoned him over, and pulled him into a hug. He could feel the tears wetting the side of his neck as Conrad sobbed into him, hearing a choked laugh that made Charlie think that Conrad was surprised he had any tears left in him. So he just chalked it up to the dam having finally broken. After that, he silently walked Conrad back to his room, and Conrad croaked out a quiet, "Stay."

     "You should get some sleep," Charlie encouraged him before walking back to the guest room.

     When Charlie got down to the kitchen, he found the coffee pot already half full, noticing that someone had already made use of it. Shrugging, he grabbed himself a mug from the cupboard, and poured himself some, making sure to leave enough so he didn't look like an asshole who left only a drop of orange juice in the fridge.

     "You can have the rest," said a voice from the living room. Charlie peeked his head around to see Susannah sitting on the couch, nursing a cup of coffee herself. "Just be sure to start a new pot. House rules."

     Charlie nodded. "I was going to do that, anyway. You don't have to worry about me, Sue."

     "I'm a mom. It's my job to worry and care."

     "Touché." Charlie raised his mug in surrender before padding over to sit down on the couch beside Susannah.

     "Are you excited about college? I'm sure Conrad's thrilled knowing you're going to Brown with him. Ugh, it's like you guys were always two peas in a pod."

     Charlie tapped his mug, mulling over what he wanted to say. But he kept it simple with, "I think so, too." As he took a sip, the side door opened with Belly and Conrad coming in, and Charlie couldn't help but hone in on the fact that they were holding hands. Susannah smiled knowingly, and Charlie hid his reaction behind his cup—if he even had one to begin with. Conrad's smile quickly began to falter at the sight of Charlie on the couch, whom he made eye contact with on the way in.

     "Charlie, didn't think you'd be up," Conrad's voice had the nerve to squeak as it went up in pitch.

     Charlie shrugged nonchalantly. "When the sun's up, I'm up."

     Conrad simply nodded, Belly letting go of his hand so the two of them could talk. Susannah snuck away some time ago, so it just left them alone, Conrad standing idly by the door while Charlie was still on the couch. It wasn't like Charlie had any sort of claim on him, but the two of them clearly had something going on at this point, the tension so palpable that it could've been cut with a knife.

    "You seem happy," Charlie finally spoke, clearing his throat as he set his mug down on the coffee table and sat up, unnervingly calm about what he had just witnessed.

    "Yeah," Conrad replied, "I am."

     "Good. That's good." Charlie made his way towards the kitchen, but Conrad blocked him, catching him by the crook of his elbow.

     "Charlie—"

     "Look, I said what I needed to and it's clear you made your choice. I'm not the one who needs convincing here."

     Conrad sighed, closing his eyes as Charlie silently sidestepped him and set his mug into the sink before leaving him to be alone in the kitchen in his suit from last night.