Went to shit | C.D
Charlie Dalton x Gender Neutral! Reader
Warnings: None :)
Summary: Charlie just wanted things to go well. What's a more successful date than kissing in the rain?
A/N: I hope people actually want to read these and I'm not just speaking to the void. Requests are open for any of the DPS boys (including Cameron) :D!
Walking down the street away from the cinema, the air is filled with the sound of laughter, cutting through the silent night. Charlie was walking next to you, arms flailing around as he told an overdramatised version of something that happened at school - a story you’ve already heard before but were nonetheless enjoying.
You had just gotten out of the cinema, on your second date with Charlie. You had met through Neil, after a very successful performance of “a midsummer nights dream,” and had been almost instantly smitten with each other. Charlie found himself completely in awe of you as he saw you act, moving around the stage so purposefully and gracefully. He was even more in awe of you when Neil introduced you to his friends after the show, Charlie could barely mutter a word the entire time as he just stared at you.
It took him ages to work up the courage to ask you out. He would turn up after nearly every rehearsal and walk back to school with Neil, saying he was just keeping Neil company so he would “help me with my English homework,” a claim that was obviously a lie.
You could tell he was nervous around you but you were quickly falling for the charm that would poke through the nervousness and flirty remarks. In the end, after some pestering from Neil, you had asked Charlie out it yourself. To say the boy was flustered would be an understatement.
After a very successful dinner at a nice restaurant as your first date, you decided something more casual was in order for your second.
Despite the film turning out to be god awful, you still found yourself having a good time - sitting in the back with Charlie’s arm around you, both of you whispering jokes about the film to each other and laughing quietly.
Much to Charlie’s annoyance, the two of you ended up getting kicked out of the cinema, after one particularly bitchy looking woman left to complain to the manager.
“Geez I'm sorry about that Y/N,” Charlie says meekly, hands stuffed in his pockets.
You giggle up at the boy, looping your arm through his elbow, “it was a shit movie anyway.”
You both laugh as you walk through the street, deciding that you would find somewhere to get food since the night was still fairly early. You continued to walk, heading in the direction of a diner Charlie had been raving about - passing a considerable amount of other restaurants on your way.
"Trust me Y/N," Charlie says, tugging you along, "you'll be praising my name once you try these burgers."
"When have I ever trusted you that's ended well?"
~~~~
You continue to walk for what feels like ages, towards this mysterious diner, thankful at least that it's vaguely in the direction of your home. You turn the corner onto a street of dimly lit lights hanging over houses, to come to a standstill as you look up at the diner, pitch black, with a closed sign in the window.
"Oh," was all Charlie said, as he looks defeatedly into the restaurant.
You tug on his sleeve, trying to bite back the laughs about to bubble up, "it's alright, let's check out one of those places we passed earlier."
The second you step back out onto the street, the sky cracks and is illuminated with thunder, the clouds pouring down a flood of rain in mere seconds. You hear Charlie mumble a quiet explicative, as he puts his arm around your shoulder gently, using his jacket to try to shield you from the rain.
"I think I should take you home."
~~~~
On the way back to yours, Charlie was unusually quiet. The two of you made dashes from cover to cover, trying and failing, to avoid the rain, all the while you were laughing as you felt the water drip down your back. But Charlie wasn't laughing with you.
You slowed down as you found shelter under a stretch of awnings overhanging the path, and gently reached out for Charlie, "are you alright?"
He looked over at you and nodded his head, forcing a smile, but sighed when you continued to look at him with a concerned gaze, "I'm sorry things went to shit tonight."
"What do you mean?" you laugh, "it's not your fault it's raining."
"But it's my fault about the film, and dinner," he scratches the back of his neck and looks away from you, "I just wish this was better for you."
Once again in the rain, you jog slightly down the pathway, pulling Charlie along behind you, until you make the way through the gate of your front lawn and onto your porch. You take his hand gently and move yourself to look up into his eyes, "I had an incredible time Charlie, I promise."
He blushes at your words, smiling a more genuine smile now, "I just like you so much, I want everything to be perfect."
You giggle at his confession, feeling your heart swell at how sweet he is, "you don't need to try so hard Charlie, I wouldn't be here if I didn't like you just as much," you lean up and press your lips to his cheek gently, mumbling a soft, "maybe even more," as you pull away.
The two of you sit on your porch and continue to chat for a while, Charlie feeling much less nervous now. He knows he should be leaving, having to get back to his dorm soon, but you both can't bring yourself to say goodbye just yet. "Just a little bit longer won't hurt," he says, smiling at you as he rests his hand on yours, "gotta wait for the rain to die down after all."
Eventually, the rain begins to lighten, and you both know Charlie can't stay any longer without getting into trouble, so you both say goodbye.
As he makes his way down the path, back into the rain, you can't shake the dreamy smile on your face as you watch him leave. You can't explain in words, to yourself let alone him, how much you like him, even after this short of a time.
“Charlie wait,” you make your way down the steps, and towards him, once again feeling the rain against you. Charlie goes to protest, telling you to go back inside, but you loop your arms around his neck and press your lips to his lightly.
You pull away and look up at the shocked Charlie, nervous that maybe you shouldn't have done that. When Charlie comes to his senses, he smiles down at you, looping his arms around your body and pulling you in again. This time your lips meet and meld together perfectly, you feel your body heat up despite the cold rain and pull Charlie even closer to you.
He pulls away and looks down at you, eyes filled with love, “what are you doing on Friday?”
