Shadow Author

Chapter 36 16. I Like You

?My head went numb.

'I like you.'

Repeating what the girl said over and over in my head my ears began to ring.

'I like you.'

But I could even begin to process what she meant Charlotte went on a rant.

"I know you said to wait to find out how I truly feel but I know how I felt even back then, I was just too scared to say it out loud."

'…'

"I know it's really soon but I felt us click as soon as we met. At first I thought it was just because of your pretty face and that it was my hormones going crazy. That's why I tried to throw you under the bus during the trial."

'…!'

"But even after I did that you handled the situation perfectly and made the best of it to get me to make a pact with you. Then you said about becoming a fake couple and my heart skipped a beat but I had no idea what was happening to me. I mean I had a boyfriend -- though I hated him -- yet I was having feelings for someone like you."

'What's that supposed to mean.'

"Then I realized how wrong I was, you aren't this weak and pathetic man that you outwardly express-

'Ouch.'

"- but rather a strong and powerful person that no one in this school can compare to. It's as if you have us all in the palm of your hand. Once I realized this I didn't know how to feel but after seeing what you did for me with Willow I now know that you have my best interest at heart-

'I don't.'

"-which is why I'll give myself up to you."

'Huh?'

Charlotte then caught her breath before going right back into her monologue.

"I know I'm fucked up in the head but that's what happens when you don't have a mother figure and your father is the number one crime lord who doesn't show any emotion. I know that if someone shows even the least bit of interest in me I become attached to them. I know that I'm desperate to be with someone strong enough in the hopes that they will protect me. I know what I'm doing makes no sense and that I'm probably going to get hurt but will you please keep me by your side? I swear I won't drag you down and I will let you do whatever you want just please don't throw me away like everyone else."

The raw and pure emotion I felt from her gaze, voice, and body language was too true to be made up so I knew at that moment Charlotte was being completely transparent with me.

I might have been the first-ever person that she has opened herself up to and I felt blessed by this trust.

Her misconception of me was way off in fact it wasn't even in the same ballpark yet I accepted.

"Okay, if you surrender yourself to me I'll protect you from the world."

Hearing that I agreed more tears fell from the girl's already swollen eyes.

"Thank you!"

Her gratitude was unmeasurable as a beautiful smile filled her face.

Yet while this wondrous moment occurred outwardly within my mind dark sinister thoughts erupted.

'Everything went exactly to plan.'

Meanwhile, my wrist buzzed, and the screen of my smartwatch was flooded with notifications yet I ignored them as I had to finish the last part of the scene.

Raising my hand I wiped away the tears from under Charlotte's eyes while her bright smile continued to dazzle me.

"Crazy girl, stop crying so much."

She laughed.

"I can't help it, I'm too happy."

I too laughed and she slowly started calming down.

That's when she whispered:

"Thank you."

I nodded back knowing the hidden meaning behind the message. She was thanking me for putting myself in harm's way to show her aura.

If one were to look at my chat history with Charlotte one would see that the message I sent her before the battle against Willow said:

[Watch this battle closely because I'll fulfill my part of the requirement.]

A moment passed between us in silence yet this time it was peaceful.

Finally, I decided it was time to ask some questions.

"How did your battle go? Don't tell me you skipped out on it."

She sighed.

"I tried, Miss Smith let me go to the infirmary but by the time I made my way over you were already out and someone was taking care of you. I wanted to stay but they said I wouldn't be of much help so I went back to finish the match as fast as possible. That way I could stay with you the rest of the time it took you to wake up."

"Then I can take that as you won?"

"Of course, I wiped the floor with them."

"That's my girl."

She froze then the next thing I knew her lips were back on mine.

This time though I didn't have any plans of stopping it.

If Charlotte was paying any attention she would realize that she was once again putting pressure on my wound but I wasn't stopping her. The reason was that it had long since healed.

Everything was planned.

Except for the one thing I couldn't control.

All the while our make-out session was taking place things, were getting heated. So with Charlotte still on top of me, it didn't take long for her to realize that something was pressing up against her.

She broke our lips apart and whispered:

"Is that-"

"Yes."

She turned an even brighter shade of red that I thought was impossible.

Then her breathing got harder and she made eye contact with me still only a few inches away.

It looked as if she was ready to go all the way but when she felt it twitch while still being under her she practically launched out of the bed like a cat who was just sprayed with water.

I couldn't contain my laughter and the mood was instantly ruined.

Charlotte was still as red as ever.

"Umm I'm glad you are feeling better, I'm going to go now, bye!"

Spitting out her words at a speed rappers would be envious of Charlotte scampered out of the room.

Long after she left I continued to laugh but my laughter turned from that of joy to maniacal.

'You were right about one thing, everyone is in the palms of my hands.'

Throwing off the blankets I crawled out of bed just to realize that I only had a pair of underwear on.

Had Charlotte known this she might have turned into a tomato!

Luckily there was a fresh new uniform folded in the corner which I picked up and threw on.

Checking my smartwatch I looked at the time to see that I lost a few hours yet there was still some time to make up for the day.

Satisfied with yet another part of the day going beyond expectations I made preparations for the future.

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Let me know how you'd feel about R18 scenes:

1. No to them completely.

2. Skip over details but mention that they happened.

3. Include some details but nothing too extreme (like this chapter was).

4. Smut