Charlie told Loralie everything.

She knew about Ben.

He laid on his back, she laid next to him, letting it sink in. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"I want to." he forced his guilt. "It was just.... I didn't know how to."

"Did you feel like you couldn't trust me?" her forehead pressed into his shoulder with an inhale.

"Of course not." Charlie reassured her. "Just....Nick was the only one to know. I felt like if I'd explained it to you, it would just come out wrong. Like, it was my fault and you'd think I was just trying to sabotage your date. I mean, he was my secret, kinda, boyfriend, it wouldn't be-"

"Boyfriend or not, you told him to stop and he didn't." Loralie placed her hand on his hand. "It wasn't your fault, and i'd have never thoughts that."

"If I told you, what happened could have been avoided." he stated the obvious, but admitting everything to her out loud was what he had to do. From now on, he had to do it, no matter how hard it was.

"Yeah." she agreed, because there was no sugarcoating it. Charlie was right. If he'd told her, she wouldn't have liked Ben as much as she did, and she'd never have gone to the movie. "Doesn't mean anything, though. I can understand why you didn't tell me. I just wish you would have."

"I wish I did to." he exhaled loudly, placing both hands over his face as she sat up. "I'm so sorry."

Loralie leaned in, laying her head down on his chest as her arms wrapped around his waist. "It's okay, Charlie. I should have known better then to fall at a guys feet when I didn't even know him. Quite literally. I very much fell at his feet."

He had to laugh, removing his hands to turn so they were face to face. "You know I really love you."

Loralie smiled, taking his hand. "More then anything."

She stared at his gentle eyes. "Which is why i'm not gonna let you destroy what you and Nick have."

"I've already destroyed it. I've turned him against all his mates." he rolled his eyes at himself.

"So?" Loralie gave a look of disbelief. "You didn't turn him against anyone. You just made him realize that guys like Harry Greene aren't good company."

"He's getting in fights because of me." Charlie gave a sad look her way. "It's not fair to him."

"He's getting in fights for me too. And I don't think he wanted to make out with me and be my secret boyfriend." she pointed out as Charlie laughed. "Point is, he's getting into fights with guys that deserve it because their stupid piece of shits."

"You should know Tao also got into a fight with Harry." Charlie's words made her gap. "You better hurry. Pretty sure he's falling off the rocker without you."

"Oh my god, i've made Tao go unhinged." she climbed over Charlie quickly. "Don't go anywhere, i'll be back in no time!"

"Look who it is." Elle announced as she saw Loralie walked down the hill, in orange.

"Come to yell at us?" Tao rose his eyebrows, Elle elbowed him.

"Not yet." Loralie walked over, pushing to sit in his lap, facing right toward Elle. She didn't say anything, reaching for take her hand while laying her head on the side of Taos. "Sorry for being a mean lady yesterday."

"It's okay." Elle gave her a little smile. "You wanted to be alone."

"Yeah, but you guys were just trying to be there for me." she argued slightly.

"True. I brought you food and everything." Tao scoffed slightly. Loralie smiled, sitting up some to place an amount of kisses on his forehead, always in the same spot. "Okay, all is forgiven now."

"Knew that would work." Loralie grinned, moving some to lay her head on his shoulder, her thumb rubbing the top of Elle's hand. Tao hesitated, placing his hand over their clasped hands. "I'm going back to school tomorrow."

"Oh, good." Elle sighed in relief. "I was very bored today without you."

"Welcome to my world." Tao mocked.

"Do you guys feel like staying at my house?" Loralie exhaled loudly. "Wanna fall asleep fast so i'm ready for tomorrow."

"Something big happening tomorrow?" Elle looked over, seeing a grin go across her face. "No. No, Loralie. I don't like that look."

"There's something evil cooking in there." Tao took her head, shaking it slightly. "I think I made it worse."

Tao looked over at Loralie, she'd been laid next to him, her forehead against his shoulder. Elle was downstairs getting more blankets and falling into a deep conversation with Becca. He cracked a grin at her, nudging her leg. "You're being oddly quiet."

"I'm just thinking." she turned some with an exhaled, her chin pressed into his shoulder as they locked eyes. She gave him a smile, making him return it. "Did it feels good to punch Harry Greene?"

"You heard about that?" he jaw dropped slightly. "I don't know. I liked throwing my drink in his face."

"How come you did it?" she hummed with a curious look, turning her head some so her chin didn't stab him in the shoulder bone.

"He spreads lies about you." Tao turned his head more to look at her. "I know you didn't do those things."

Loralie felt relived, smiling. "You do?"

"Duh." he gave a snort. "If you had, we'd know all about it."

Loralie laughed, rolling over some so she fell on the side of him. Tao sat up, looking over her. "Just...don't go out with any more Truham lads, yeah? If you wanna go on a date.... i'll take you on a date."

Loralie smiled. "Can Elle come?"

"Obviously." Tao rose his eyebrows, holding his pinkie out. "Deal?"

"What are we making a deal to?" Elle walked into, dropping the extra blanket and two pillows on the end of Loralies bed.

"That you and Tao will take me on dates to make up for the fact that i'm not gonna be dating Truham boys anymore." Loralie held her other pinkie out. "Wanna make it official?"

"Fine." Elle moved in next to her, locking her pinkie and taking Taos with her other. "Deal."

"Deal." Loralie hummed, the trio grinning for a moment before letting their pinkies go. "Can I be in the middle?"

"Figured you would be." Elle moved over for Loralie to get in the middle of them, fixing the new blanket and tossing the extra pillow at Taos head. "I love you guys."

"Love you too." Loralie and Tao said on sync, he laid down first and wrapped his arm around Loralie. The brunette reached back, pulling Elle in closer as her arms managed to loop around the both of them.

•

kylie speaks

if that wasn't a moment of
realization idk what is