𐙚˙ ༘ ⋆｡ ˚( DECODE ! )
❛ POOL PARTY ❜
CHAPTER ONE !

THE WORD 'POPULAR' WAS SUCH AN ODD WORD TO CHARLIE. In fact, she hated it, despite its frequent use to describe her. She didn't like to be associated with the same people she had to hang out with.

Yasmin, in particular, was the embodiment of everything Charlie loathed. There was no doubt that Yasmin didn't want her around, always making snide remarks. Charlie was even certain she overheard Yasmin complaining to Moon about letting her in the friend group.

All she wanted was to be little again, when right and wrong were of little consequence and respect wasn't determined by social standing. When she could be friends with whoever she pleased without fear of judgment. When Eli and Demetri were her best friends.

Charlie hated many things, but she hated herself the most for growing apart from them as they grew older. She could only manage a smile at them, without Yasmin having a say in the matter.

Instead of being with them now, she found herself sitting around, observing foolish boys who thought they were amazing, playing in Sam's pool. The pool she didn't believe they were even allowed to be in at the moment.

Okay, you were totally right. This is so much fun," Sam laughed, turning to the girls seated beside her.

Fun was definitely not the word Charlie would use to describe it, but she supposed everyone had their own definition.

"I told you. Always better to be the one throwing the party," Yasmin remarked, gesturing toward the house. "And Kyler has been eye-balling you all day."

They all turned to face him, their smiles widening bar Charlie. She couldn't fathom finding him attractive, considering his personality.

"Charlie, where did you get your bikini? I love it," Sam asked. Charlie didn't particularly care for Sam when they first met, but after getting to know her, she grew very fond of her.

"Oh, sorry. I thrifted it," she started, going to continue, but Yasmin interrupted her. "Figures."

"Yasmin," Moon warned, catching on to the blonde's intentions. However, Yasmin simply defended herself with a defiant look and leaned into Moon to whisper, intentionally loud enough for Charlie to hear, "What? Most girls who thrift their clothes either can't find their size or are too poor."

Charlie quickly pulled her cover-up back on, averting her gaze, determined not to let the tears well up. The last thing she needed was to give Yasmin the satisfaction of knowing she had gotten to her.

"Well, Charlie is beautiful, and her mom owns her own company. Some people just enjoy thrifting, Yas," Moon interjected as she got up to film someone.

Charlie smiled at the girl, despite the friends she kept - moon always defended her. Although she felt bad for lying, her mom didn't own a business, they didn't even live round here, they lived down in reseda. She just piled lie on lie so that they would like her.

"Anyway, I think I saw a similar one at Urban Outfitters," she added, directing her words to Sam.

"Hey Rory, do your flip again. I wanna get it for my channel," Moon said, lifting her camera to film. The boy performed a flip, gaining cheers from everyone around him.

Suddenly, Daniel LaRusso appeared out of nowhere, growing angrier the more people he saw, "Hey! Hey! Hey! What the hell is going on here?"

He turned off the music, ordering everyone to leave. Disappointment etched across their faces as the teens began to exit, but Daniel stopped Charlie from leaving. "I didn't mean you, Charlie. You can stay, if you'd like."

The girl smiled at him but declined his offer. "Thanks, Mr. LaRusso, but I think my mom wants me home."

Daniel nodded, giving her a side hug, he had always made her feel welcome. As she began to walk away, he called out to her, "And it's Daniel!"

She turned around, walking backward for a few seconds, nodding in acknowledgment. "Right, thanks, Daniel!"

Turning away, she continued walking. She couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt for being in his house. She was a liar, and she knew that his family hated that exact thing. The day they find out her father was Johnny Lawrence was one she dreaded.

【☆】★【☆】

AND AGAIN, SHE LIED. Her mom didn't want her back she was just late for work, but she couldn't tell them that because then they'd question why she was working a job at fifteen years old.

In a rush, she ran inside her house, swiftly changing into her uniform and hoping her mother wouldn't notice her there.

Letting out a sigh, she tied her hair back, noticing the discarded cigarettes on the floor. Bending down to pick them up, she saw her mom walk out, exhaling smoke from the cigarette in her hand. It was no surprise, really.

"Oh, you're back," her mother, Monique, muttered, putting out the cigarette on the counter.

Charlie nodded, throwing the cigarettes in the bin and dusting off her hands. "Don't sound too disappointed," she quipped.

"I'm not. I just thought you were out with your friends," Monique explained, while Charlie continued to get ready. "Yeah, I was, but I've got work. I'm already late."

Monique nodded and walked away, while Charlie chuckled to herself. No 'hello' or 'how are you', her mother wasn't even interested by her presence anymore.

With her backpack in hand, Charlie hurriedly left the house, taking her bicycle from the rack. As she set off, she noticed Johnny leaving his own house and she quickly turned, hoping to avoid him.

"Charlie!" Johnny called out as she attempted to leave, causing her to scrunch her face and sigh. "Hi, Johnny."

His smile faltered slightly at the use of his name. He had grown accustomed to her referring to him as Johnny rather than dad, but it still stung. Nevertheless, he continued with what he wanted to say. "Um, I've opened up a dojo. I want you to join."

Charlie stopped in her tracks, shocked. "A dojo?" She knew he used to do karate, he'd shown her a few moves in the past before he became shitty and shared less time for her. But opening his own dojo was the last thing she expected.

The girl had always tried to convince him when she was younger but he'd always shut her down. Saying things like 'he didn't need the money' as he'd always hide the fact he was poor. But now things were just different. She used to love living opposite him, but at times, she resented it. He was always there, whether she liked it or not.

"Yeah, I've only got one kid there right now, but there will be more people. And you're one of the toughest kids I know," Johnny explained. Charlie looked down, hesitating to respond, before finally adjusting her backpack. "I'll think about it."

Johnny grinned, pumping his fist ever so slightly, before handing her a leaflet with all the information. Charlie glanced down at it, then shifted her attention back to him. "That's not a yes, though. I'll decide later."

The blonde nodded and waved her goodbye as she pedaled away.

Once she reached her workplace, she swiftly parked her bike and darted inside. It was her turn to take over from the girl whose shift had just ended. "I'm so sorry, Cara. I didn't realize the time."

The brunette girl smiled, giving her a comforting pat on the shoulder. "It's fine. Just a heads up though, Carl's in a bad mood."

Charlie sighed and made her way towards the till. She wrote down the first order of her shift, just as her boss, Carl, stormed out.

"Where the hell you been?" he bellowed, earning weird glances from the customers she was serving. "I cannot have sloppy workers here."

"Sorry, I lost track of time," Charlie explained, handing the customers their order and watching as they walked away.

Carl leaned in closer, his voice lowered. "I hired you because your mom asked me to. Don't make me regret it."

"Yes, sir," Charlie responded, looking down, determined not to make eye contact.

As Carl walked away, she let out a quiet groan, until she spotted Demetri and Eli walking in. They knew she worked there and would often drop by.

"Two milkshakes," Charlie said before Demetri could even speak, recalling their usual order. Despite their differing popularity levels now, they still made time for each other.

Demetri nodded and waited at the till, but he noticed the sad expression on Charlie's face. "Something wrong?" Charlie glanced at him and laughed it off. "What? No."

He continued to look at her, waiting for her to open up. Finally, she gave in. "Boss is acting strange again, and my dad is opening a dojo."

Both Demetri and Eli stared at her in shock, with Eli finally speaking up after his momentary silence. "A dojo? Like karate?"

Charlie nodded as she began preparing the milkshakes, making sure to add a dash of caramel at the bottom of Eli's, remembering him explaining to her how he liked it better.

"And he wants me to join. Apparently, there's already a kid there, but he wants me too." She began, handing them their milkshakes, "I don't know, though. Mom would be furious if she found out, and i don't even want to begin to think of the stuff Yasmin would tell people once she found out who my parents were."

The boys nodded, ready to hand over the money for the milkshakes but she shook her head, stealing a quick glance over her shoulder to make sure her boss wasn't looking. Demetri caught on to her actions. "Won't your boss get mad at you again?" he asked.

"He won't find out, and besides, I owe it to you guys," Charlie replied, her gaze downcast, burdened by guilt. Eli smiled at her, "You know, you have nothing to feel bad for. We don't hold it against you for being friends with them."

"If i had the chance, I would too." Demetri chimed in with a laugh, making Eli and Charlie join in. He never missed an opportunity to express how badly he wanted to be with Yasmin.

"Yeah, well, I still feel bad," Charlie confessed, but her friends dismissed her concerns with a wave of their hands. "Why don't you come over to my place tonight? Let's have a sleepover like we used to." she proposed.

Their faces lit up with joy, and they eagerly nodded in agreement. "Yes, we'd like that."

✧  •   •  𝗠𝗔𝗥𝗟𝗜𝗘 𝗜𝗦 𝗪𝗥𝗜𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚  •  •  ✧ ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬

ahh, first chapter done finally i kinda hate it but i've gotta get the first couple of chapters out the way then better ones will come.

i love feedback, tips or anything so if you guys have anything to say about the fic i would love to hear it!

please comment and vote !