Phoebe only just caught side of her older brother as he practically flew into the bathroom after her. The sight made her a giggle a little as she swiveled around to see the bathroom door almost closing. Charlie had this habit of making a fool of himself more times than not, and it was simply adorable. Phoebe knew that if Charlie only felt more comfortable around other people, he would not be single. He was too sweet, caring and thoughtful. These traits were the main reason she loved him as much as she did; he was among the very most important people in her life. Especially lately when heād become a shoulder for her to cry on. She was so grateful to him, because if she had to be honest, she knew Charlie hadnāt been entirely comfortable with this at first. Even Phoebe could tell as much.
Her eyes, however, widened when he stuck his head back out, commenting on her pajamas. She gasped, horrified. āOops, sorry!ā She immediately squeaked, running over to take her nightwear from Charlie. Her pajamas were silk, and therefore rather slippery. She wouldāve felt so bad if something had happened to Charlie because of her. Sheād simply forgotten about them because sheād been so busy, not wanting to take too much time from Charlie; it was his home, after all. She was only a guest. Not that she wouldnāt have hurried as much if itād been her bathroom. She wouldāve felt exactly the same; the wish to not take up too much time and space.
She bit her lower lip as he shut the door and she sighed, looking down at her attire. She needed a new hair colour. Surely that would make her feel better? She shook her head, smiling mournfully as she put her pyjamas on the side of the bed she usually slept in. She would probably come get it later and take it to her own room, only to spend hours trying to fall asleepā¦ and then sheād once more sneak into Charlieās cabin. She then took the hairbrush sheād left at his place from the bedside table and began brushing through her blue, thick locks. She wasnāt too sure she actually wanted to do much of anything today. She had classes, yeah, but maybe sheād just go find Christian and Nolee afterwards. Fortunately she had classes with Christian this year. The thought made her smile genuinely. Sheād missed her friends so much over the summer.
Then again, she could go find Ness and ask to play with Ellie. Her smile widened at the thought of the little girl. She could hardly believe Ness had a little girl now, and that was with Mr. Hensleigh. It was all so unreal, but amazing at the same time. As long as her Latina friend was happy, so was Pheebs. She threw the hairbrush onto the pyjamas once she was done and then she ran her hands through it, making it a little messy and slightly puffed. Itād have to do. She didnāt want to keep Charlie waiting, so there was that. Plus, theyād be late for class if she did anything much with her hair, so it remained slightly wavy, stretching to her mid back. She needed a haircut.
Sheād packed her bag the other night, so when Charlie hurried out of the bathroom, practically bursting through the door, Phoebe laughed and went to pick up her own bag. She paused when he spoke to her, standing with a grin plastered on his face. āCharliiieee,ā she tskāed, giggling before she threw her bag over her shoulder and went to stand in from of him. She reached up, skilfully brushing her hands through his hair to make his curls fall down a little. Then she stood back, watching him for a little bit before running into the bathroom. āJust a second!ā She squealed over her shoulder, coming back with a bit of soft wax in her hands which she massaged between her palms.
āYou canāt go to class looking like you just got out of bed, Mr. Teacher.ā She laughed softly, glancing at the clock. Yep they still had four minutes. She hurriedly styled his locks in a matter of second, the look messy still, but now really cute at the same time. It was veryā¦ Charlie. And it looked good. Happy with her work, Phoebe smiled up at him, not saying a word until she was back from the bathroom once more, having washed off the remaining stickiness.
āThere, ready,ā she quickly chirped as she took his hand and hurried out the door, running down the halls with the mythology teacher in tow. No one even quirked a brow ā after all, it was just Phoebe.
Nathan Hensleigh was a rather complicated man at times, he would admit that much. In fact, he rarely even knew what he felt himself, and as he looked at his girlfriend, rousing from sleep, he felt that little kick again. It was part fear, part love. Because he did love Vanessa, but thenā¦ he couldnāt quite shake the feeling that he was in someone elseās life, like he didnāt belong here, in this family life this way. Like he wasnāt supposed to have been a father, like being in a committed relationship was as wrong for someone like him, as it was for a wish to breathe above water. He didnāt show it, but rather just smiled.
That didnāt mean it wasnāt there though, but as the son of Poseidon looked down at his daughter, the love he felt for her over shadowed everything. She was the gem of his eye, and he could no longer imagine life without her, no matter how many times heād considering leaving Ness during her pregnancy. Now, however, he was thankful that heād pulled through, because his little girl was worth it. She really was. Little Noelle was nothing but smiles and giggles, and somehow she always managed to chase away the doubts. They still popped up regularly, however, not that heād ever let it show, nor would he ever tell anyone. It would remain his own little secret.
It wasnāt like he would act on those doubts anyways. He didnāt want his daughter to live with parents being apart. It wasnāt that children were torn apart by it, but rather that he was worried she wouldnāt see both of them equal amounts of time. Besides, he didnāt want Ellie to have that image of him when got older; that he was just a charmer who slept around. His daughter deserved better than that. Frankly, she deserved better than him, and so did Ness. Still, however, Nate plastered on a smile when Ness greeted him. āLook Ellie ā you woke up mommy,ā he chuckled, kissing the girlās forehead as Ness called out to the little creature.
As Ellieās head flew up, her back straightening to look in the direction her motherās voice had come from, Nate couldnāt help smiling ā genuinely. The girl had her trademark grin glued to her face and she squealed, jumping in Nateās arms. He laughed at her, looking over at Ness. āI definitely think Ellie would like a morning cuddle,ā he noted, another laugh emitting from him when Ellie bent forward, trying to get to the bed. He held her firmly in his arms though, not wanting her to fall over and hurt himself. As he neared Ness, Ellieās smile widened and the history teacher let the girl into the bed, placing her by Nessā side.
He smiled to himself, watching the two girls who defined his life, Ellie squealing in delight, her legs kicking into the air, arms stretching out for her mother to pick her up. Only once Ellie was safely in Vanessās arms, did Nate lay down next to the couple, putting an arm around his girlfriend to pull her close, smiling at her and Ellie. āHowāre you feeling?ā He asked her, a little concerned, āyou didnāt get much sleep. Are you sure you wouldnāt like to sleep another hour? We donāt have to be in class until ten oāclock, and itās only eight.ā He brushed a couple of strands of messy morning hair out of her face.
Nathan Hensleigh was indeed a man of contradictions, but what could he do except let events unfold? He knew this place, however, and drama always found its way into his life. Especially since heād found Jules was back there too. He didnāt particularly like the thought of that, if he had to be entirely honest.