𐙚˙ ༘ ⋆｡ ˚( DECODE ! )
❛ A NIGHT TO REMEMBER ❜
CHAPTER SIXTY-ONE !

PROM DAY FINALLY ARRIVED, the day charlie had been looking forward to for years. Now, she was sat on a stool in front of Monique, while Carmen styled her hair, making sure to sort every curl.

Carmen had never experienced the excitement of preparing a daughter for events like these so, of course, Charlie asked her to come over and help.

"Are you excited?" Carmen teased, her shoulders wiggling playfully. Over at the counter, Miguel stood with Johnny, watching the two women do the finishing touches to charlie's look.

Charlie shrugged, trying to mask her disappointment. "Yeah, just wish the after-party wasn't canceled."

Just then, Ellen walked out from another room, coffee cup in hand, eavesdropping on their conversation.

"Oh well, at least you'll have fun at the venue," Monique chimed in, gently applying mascara to Charlie's lashes, "Do you have a date?"

Charlie felt a blush creep into her cheeks. There was no use hiding the truth now. "I do indeed."

"What?" Miguel shot up from his spot, eyes wide with surprise. "You didn't tell me you had a date! Who is it?"

Charlie's let out a small giggle, "Eli," she revealed, and the room broke out into smiles. Everyone was glowing with happiness for her — everyone except Ellen, whose shocked expression spoke volumes as she froze mid-sip of her coffee. "What?"

In that moment, realization crashed over Charlie like a wave. How would she have missed such an important message from eli if it hadn't already been deleted? The pieces fell into place; she remembered that day vividly. After returning from Eli's, she had immediately hopped in the shower, leaving her phone on the kitchen counter — right where Ellen had been.

It had to be her. Ellen's hatred for Eli was well-known, but to delete a message that meant so much felt like a betrayal. Charlie's anger bubbles, and she was determined to show she knew.

"Yeah, actually," she said, her gaze locked onto Ellen's, a challenge in her eyes. "He sent me this really long message, but I missed it. Not sure why." She waited for a reaction and she got just that - she could physically see the tenseness ellen felt.

"Well, at least you guys are close again. I'm happy for you," Monique said, her smile bright as she finished Charlie's makeup, placing the mascara tube down.

Carmen stepped back, admiring her work, and gave Charlie's shoulder a gentle pat. "All done!"

Charlie twirled in her dress to sarcastically show off, the fabric swirling around her.

"Okay, picture time before you head to the LaRusso's!" Monique exclaimed, darting off to fetch her old camera from her bedroom.

As she busied herself, Charlie walked over to Miguel, a smirk on her face, "Think I outshined you?" It was more of a rhetorical question though he answered anyway.

"No way," he protested, shaking his head with mock seriousness just as Monique returned, camera in hand. "Okay, children first!"

They positioned themselves against the wall, laughter breaking out as they struck poses for a few formal shots before doing silly ones too. Soon, all the parents gathered around, and Monique turned to Ellen. "Can you take the photo?"

"Okay, smile."

【☆】★【☆】

CHARLIE, JOHNNY AND THE DIAZ'S made their way to the LaRusso house to pick up Sam. They'd taken a few photos then one big group photo with the help of Louie's sister.

And now, the moment they had all been waiting for had finally arrived: prom night. Johnny drove the three teenagers, and Charlie stared out the window with her leg bouncing. She didn't know why it was, or why she was nervous, she just couldn't wait to see Eli.

Johnny parked outside the venue and watched as Sam and Miguel hopped out of the car. Charlie did the same, before Johnny rolled down the window to speak to her.

"Listen, no funny business," he warned, his gaze flickering to the building behind her.

Charlie let out a nervous laugh, her brow furrowing in confusion. "What do you mean?"

"Hawk." he replied, his tone serious yet teasing.

At the mention of his name, Charlie rolled her eyes, waving her hand dismissively as if to brush off his concern.

With a small smile, she leaned over to wrap her arms around Johnny's shoulders through the car window, giving him a soft squeeze. "Thanks for driving us, Dad. And for everything you've done these past couple of months."

Johnny's expression shifted, a hint of guilt flickering across his face. "I should've stepped up a long time ago."

Charlie shook her head, "I'm just happy you have now."

As they pulled away he glanced back at the venue once more, "Right, go have fun. You need me to pick you up?"

"Nah, I'll find a ride." She waved her hand at her dad, her excitement showing as she held her hands together, "I love you, Dad."

"I love you too, Charls," he replied, watching as she walked away from the car, her dress flowing around her. She held it up slightly so she didn't tread on it before turning around to wave goodbye.

On the other side of the door, Eli was stood with Demetri - both of them bored out of their minds as they watched all the couples dance together. Eli's mind raced with anxiety; Charlie was supposed to be his date, but she hadn't really spoken to him today other than a simple text to wear black. What if she didn't show?

Just then, Yasmin walked in with a red dress, instantly getting Demetri's attention. "Oh my—Jessica Rabbit, what are you doing here?"

"I just flew in," she said, stepping towards him to close the distance between them.

"W-what about your dad's wedding?" he stammered, his heart racing as her hands found their way to his shoulders.

Eli rolled his eyes and blocked them out to scan the crowd again, still not spotting the girl he desperately wanted to see.

His fingers tapped against the edge of the table where he stood, before turning back to the couple, "You really do like me, huh?" Demetri teased.

"Oh, you have no idea," the blonde replied replied. She grabbed his face and pulled him into a kiss that left him breathless. Pulling away, she smirked. "Mm, come on. Let's go dance."

"Yes, my queen," he breathed out, a grin spreading across his face as she grabbed his hand, pulling him toward the dance floor. Demetri shot Eli an apologetic glance, and Eli just laughed it off. At least one of them was already having fun tonight.

Demetri dashed off with Yasmin, leaving Eli lingering on the sidelines. He took a small sip of his drink, letting the cool liquid soothe his nerves, when the sound of the doors swinging open caught his attention.

He turned, and his heart dropped. He swallowed hard, nearly choking on his drink as Charlie stepped into the room. She wore a stunning long black dress that clung to her curves, with a few of her curls pinned back. A bit of light makeup was on her face and Eli felt his breath hitch — she looked beautiful.

As she scanned the crowd, he could see the uncertainty in her posture as she wrapped her arms around herself. When her eyes finally landed on him, a smile broke across her face.

He took a step forward to close the distance that felt like miles, when her voice pierced through the music. "Eli!"

She maneuvered through the couples dancing, tilting sideways so she didn't bump into them and ruin their moment.

As Eli and Charlie finally reached each other, time seemed to pause for them, each taking in the sight of the other.

"You look . . . beautiful," Eli managed to say, trying to keep his voice steady.

"Thank you," Charlie replied, her cheeks flushing as she cast her gaze downward, she never knew how to take compliments, "You don't clean up too badly yourself."

Eli chuckled nervously, his hand instinctively rubbing the back of his neck. "Well, you asked for this color, and Mom wanted to make sure I looked formal."

Charlie's laughter rang like music, and it sent Eli's heart into a flutter, he loved the sound, "Well, mission accomplished. You look really good."

He took a second before finally asking her the question he'd been wanting to since she arrived, "Do you want to dance?"

"You're not going to step on my feet like the practice ones, are you?" she teased.

Eli rolled his eyes dramatically, grinning. "I'll try my best." He extended his hand, and she took it eagerly, their fingers intertwining as they made their way through the group of couples swaying to the music.

They found a spot that had enough room for them before turning to face each other. It was like they were back in that corridor during the Halloween dance, or back in Demetri's living room as they practiced. Charlie lifted her hands, wrapping them around his neck, while Eli's hands settled gently on her waist, drawing her closer.

Her stomach fluttered with a thousand butterflies as she gazed deeply into his eyes. She leaned in, their foreheads nearly touching, and their breaths mingling as they studied each other's features.

"I'm glad you came over yesterday," Eli murmured. They still remained extremely close, as if challenging the other to make the first move and the temptation was there.

"Me too," she replied softly, her voice barely above a whisper as she looked up at him, "I know now why I didn't get the message."

"Really?" Eli's eyes widened slightly with curiosity, and Charlie nodded, careful not to break their closeness. "It was my aunt. I guess she still had that thing against you and deleted it while I was in the shower."

Charlie could see the annoyance run across Eli's face with his jaw clenching. If it hadn't been for her aunt's meddling, their kiss could've happened sooner — even if it was only a few days, ellen still wasted time.

"But it's okay now," she reassured him, her fingers gently massaging the nape of his neck, sending shivers racing down his spine. "She's going home tonight. We already said our goodbyes, and she knows I'm mad at her."

Eli's gaze remained locked on hers, his teeth grinding together as he replied, "Good."

A small laugh left Charlie, lightening the mood and just hearing that made Eli's anger disappear.

"Do you remember when we were little and used to practice for this?" Charlie asked, a nostalgic smile lighting up her face.

"Of course I do," Eli replied in a quiet tone.

Charlie joined in his quietness, her words only for them to hear, even if the music was loud enough to block them out, "I think we both knew Demetri was right in the end."

"I'm glad he was," Eli whispered, as his hands rubbed the area they were resting on. Charlie could feel her heart pounding in her chest as they got even closer.

Eli's breath hitched, his eyes sweeping over her. "You really do look amazing tonight." He'd always thought she did, but she needed to know that too.

"Thank you," she replied, "I wanted to look nice for you."

A wave of warmth washed over him at her words. "You always do."

For a moment, the music seemed to blur out, like it was muffled. Eli's mind raced with the urge to kiss her again, to lose himself in her warmth. "Can I kiss you?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

"You don't have to ask, you know," Charlie giggled, leaning in closer. Their lips met, and she caressed his cheek as she deepened the kiss, drawing him in. Around them, the world faded away; couples danced, laughter echoed, but in their bubble, nothing else mattered.

Eli tightened his grip around her waist, pulling her even closer, feeling the smile tugging at his lips as their kiss deepened. Her heart raced, doing somersaults in her chest, until suddenly, they were jolted apart by a collision from behind.

Charlie didn't let go of Eli, only shifted her head slightly to see who had crashed into her. Alyssa appeared, twirling with Moon, her eyes widening in surprise.

"Charlie?!" Alyssa gasped, taking in her friend's stunning appearance. "Bitch, you look amazing!"

Charlie beamed, pulling both girls into a hug, showering them with compliments in return. But then Alyssa's gaze landed on Eli, and her expression shifted to one of guilt. "Shit, did I interrupt again?"

"You're fine," Charlie giggled, though Eli's face told a different story. Turning back to him, she offered a small smile, "Can you grab us a drink?"

He shot a small irritated glance her way, annoyance flickering across his features at the interruption. Yet, for her, he'd do anything—even if it was just to fetch a drink. With a reluctant nod, he turned on his heel and walked toward the drinks.

"Stingray's throwing an after party, in case you didn't know," Alyssa quipped with a teasing smirk. Her gaze flickered to Eli, who was still walking away, then back to Charlie, her eyebrows wiggling, "Just a heads-up."

Charlie shook her head, preparing to fire back with a sarcastic retort, but her words trailed off when the crowd began walking towards the exit, voices yelling over the music about heading to Ray's house.

"Go grab your man's and meet us there," Alyssa commanded, wrapping Charlie in a quick hug before she reached for Moon's hand, and lead her out the door.

Charlie's eyes darted around the room until they settled on Eli. She quickly approached him as he turned, drinks in hand. Before he could hand it to her, she took one from him and chugged it, "Come on!"

Still confused, Eli let himself be pulled along as she hurried away. "Where are we going?"

"Stingray's. He's hosting the after party," Charlie explained, and she could feel the tension in Eli ease as he grasped her hand more firmly, quickening his pace to match hers.

Fortunately, Stingray's house was just a short walk away. They entered, fingers entwined, and were greeted by familiar faces. Demetri and Yasmin were on the couch, and so Charlie and Eli decided to join them — grabbing a drink before sitting down.

Eli sank into the couch first, and Charlie followed, settling beside him. He instinctively draped his arm behind her shoulders, his fingers playing with a loose strand of her hair. He tucked it behind her ear, and her lips curved into a soft smile.

Suddenly, the sounds of passionate kissing broke through the chatter. Charlie turned to see Demetri and Yasmin lost in their own world. "Dude, move! We don't want to see that," she called out, rolling her eyes.

The couple ignored her, too wrapped up in each other to pay any mind. Charlie and Eli exchanged exasperated glances. And when she knew they weren't going to move, a small smirk crept onto her lips. She leaned forward to place her drink down on the table before grabbing his hand.

"Let's go," she urged, pulling him to his feet, and he followed willingly, a knowing smile playing at the corners of his mouth.

Charlie approached the first door, pushing it open to find a couple already using it, "Sorry!" she exclaimed, quickly shutting the door as they shouted at her. The next few doors had the same until she finally found one.

Eli stepped inside first to hold the door open for her as she quickly walked in after. His eyes glanced around the space, wondering how Stingray had managed to score such a place, but his thoughts were interrupted by the sudden click of the door locking.

He turned around to see Charlie facing him, and he raised an eyebrow, though gaining an eye roll in response. "How many times have we been interrupted? I'm not taking that risk again."

A soft laugh escaped him, as she moved past him to explore the room, having the exact same thoughts on how stingray got the place.

But then, without warning, he felt her body tighten as his arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her close. His lips brushed against her shoulder, planting soft kisses along her skin.

A breath caught in her throat, and she leaned back into him, a smile forming on her face—one he couldn't miss. Yet he needed to be sure, so he whispered against her skin, "Do you want me to stop?"

His arms remained around her, but he paused, seeking her answer.

"No," she breathed, her voice soft yet definite, "Are you sure?" he asked again, his kisses resuming.

She turned to face him, and held her hands against his face as she looked into his eyes, "I've never been so sure about anything."

Eli's smile widened as he leaned closer, their lips brushing together softly at first, then turning into a deeper kiss. Charlie's fingers tangled in his hair, pulling him down as she leaned into him.

Eli's hands traveled up her back, pulling her closer until they tumbled onto the bed with a laugh.

His lips left hers, trailing down her neck, sending shivers racing through her. With a gentle but firm grip, he took her hand and held it beside her head, his breath warm against her skin.

"Do you think they'll notice we're gone?" she whispered, her voice barely more than a breath.

"Who?" he mumbled against her neck.

"Everyone." She managed to mutter out, though her mind was too focused on him and his mouth attached to her neck.

A grin spread across his face, and he breathed, "Let them look."

She smiled as he went back to work on her neck. His other hand played around with the material of her dress before skilfully undoing the three buttons.

With her other hand now free, Charlie loosened his tie, before tossing it aside along with his jacket.

Minutes seemed to melt away as they gave in to the moment, shedding the layers between them. They were each other's firsts, and they wouldn't have it any other way.

They now lay under the covers of a room they didn't even believe belonged to stingray while Charlie's head rested on his shoulder, tracing circles around his chest.

"Charlie," he whispered, the name hanging in the air as if he were afraid to break the silence.

Her gaze remained fixed on her hand, but she answered, "Mmh?"

Taking a deep breath, Eli gathered his courage. He'd wanted this for so long and just hoped the answer he had in mind was the same one she gave him, "Can I be your boyfriend?"

At that, Charlie lifted her head, her eyes sparkling with surprise. The softness in his gaze made her heart flutter. She cupped his face gently, leaning in to press her lips against his once more.

When they finally pulled away, Eli's eyebrow raised, "Is that a yes?"

"Of course," she smiled.

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

AHHH OKAY

FOR STARTERS, I WANNA SAY TYSM FOR 40K I'M SO GRATEFUL TO EVERYONE WHOS READ, COMMENTED AND VOTED ILYYY

next, i'm sorry to anyone who feels robbed on the last scene?? idk i don't mind writing makeout scenes etc i just feel weird writing actual sex scenes but if people really wanted one I can try.

i literally spent this whole chapter listening to sailor song I'm so obsessed with it 😭

and lastly, i wrote this chapter as quickly as I could and rushed it because I feel like I was leaving it too long with no updates so if there is any mistakes please let me know

please comment and vote !