7. Invitation

Charlie stared at the board, copying down the history notes as fast as the teacher spoke, but every few seconds, he felt her eyes on him again.

It was like being watched by a small, mischievous animal.

A raccoon. A raccoon with glitter lip gloss.

He didn’t need to look up to know she was planning something. Her expression said everything. Wide grin, eyes slightly narrowed, shoulders tensed with excitement. That was Sky’s I’m about to make someone miserable face.

Great.

He already knew who the someone was.

Charlie finished a sentence, set his pencil down for a moment, and checked his watch. If she had another tantrum brewing, he’d have to warn her father. Again. He did not enjoy those phone calls.

He risked a quick glance at her.

Sky was now scribbling furiously in her notebook. She paused, looked at him again, smiled a little too long, then continued writing. Jonah was smirking at him.

Charlie sighed silently.

She was not going to give up. That was obvious. She was stubborn, impulsive, emotional…and it was Charlie’s job to make sure she remained alive. Those two things did not go together well.

He adjusted in his seat.

Sky’s arm stretched casually, and she peeked at him again.

Charlie met her eyes this time.

Her smile widened like he’d just walked into a trap.

Wonderful.

What was the princess planning?

Charlie forced his attention back to the lesson, but the moment he picked up his pencil again, someone leaned forward from the row behind him. A sweet, airy voice brushed the back of his ear.

“Hey, Charlie.”

He turned slightly. Elisa Campbell smiled at him like she had rehearsed it in the mirror.

She looked like what you call… “conventionally attractive.” Perfect hair, perfect nails, perfect lip gloss and sparkly smile.

“Yeah?” Charlie asked, tilting his head toward her.

Her smile brightened, mistaking politeness for interest. “So… a few of us are going to a party this weekend. Really exclusive. You should come.”

Charlie hesitated. It wasn’t the first time he had random invitations like this and it won’t be the first time he will have to say no.

“Eh…no thanks. I don’t like parties,” Charlie said dryly.

Elisa pouted. “Oh, come on, Charlie. You never come when I ask. It’s like you don’t even like me or something.

Charlie didn’t blink. “That’s because I don’t.”

Elisa froze, mid-pout. For a second, her eyelashes fluttered like her brain couldn’t decide whether to be offended or confused.

Sky, several desks away, choked on absolutely nothing. A cough turned into a snort, and she slapped a hand over her mouth. Jonah buried his face in his notebook to hide a grin.

Elisa stared, still processing. “You… don’t like me?”

Charlie looked down at his paper again. “That’s correct.”

There was something almost beautiful about the silence that followed.

Elisa finally forced a giggle, like she thought this was flirting. “Well, that just makes me want to try harder,” she said, touching his shoulder before leaning back in her chair.

Charlie pressed his pencil harder into the page, fighting the urge to pinch the bridge of his nose.

He didn’t have time for this. He didn’t want time for this. He was here for one reason only:

Keep Sky out of trouble. Keep her safe.

Unfortunately, Sky looked like trouble was exactly where she wanted to live forever.

Elisa leaned forward again. “Is it because of Sky?” she whispered.

“No,” he said simply.

Elisa smirked like she had just uncovered a scandal. “Are you sure? Because you two always walk together. And you always sit near her at lunch. And you always stare at her like…”

“It’s none of your business, Elisa,” he barked a bit louder than he meant to.

“Mr. Hale.”

Charlie’s jaw tightened. He turned slowly toward the front, where Mrs. Dalen stood with her arms crossed, glasses perched dangerously low on her nose. She looked like she was ready to fail someone just for existing too loudly.

“If your conversation is more important than the French Revolution,” she said, “then perhaps you’d like to teach the lesson?”

Charlie opened his mouth. “No ma’am, I…”

“Wonderful,” she continued. “Then I will proceed.”

Mrs. Dalen turned sharply toward the board, clicking her remote with unnecessary force. The projector jumped to a slide full of angry-looking French peasants.

“Now, as I was saying before Mr. Hale’s social hour,” she announced, stabbing a finger at the screen, “the people of France were outraged by the monarchy’s abuse of power.”

The class chuckled under their breath. Charlie sank a little lower in his seat.

Sky didn’t bother hiding her smile. She looked absolutely delighted.

Elisa tossed her hair, pretending she hadn’t just been shut down on a global scale.

When the bell rang, half the room rushed out like someone yelled Fire. Sky packed up her things and got up. Charlie packed his notes neatly, waited three seconds, then stood. Not too close. Never too close.

He didn’t hover. He didn’t stalk. He simply existed near her.

For safety.

That was all.

He walked to his locker, which happened to be in the same hall as Sky’s. He glanced down, spun the lock, and listened. Just listened. That was subtle enough.

Sky pulled her books out of her bag with dramatic flair. Mila was beside her, whispering something and giggling. Jonah leaned against a locker, eating pretzels.

Charlie kept his eyes on the inside of his locker, pretending to reorganize his binders.

He tried to be discreet, he really did. He didn’t want to ruin her social life even though she always claimed he did.

“Sky! Hey, Sky!”

Elisa Campbell bounced over, swinging her ponytail like it was trained to attract attention. Sky turned, eyebrows raised.

“Oh. Hey,” Sky said flatly.

Elisa twirled a strand of hair. “So I heard you like parties.”

Sky blinked once, then twice. Her lips curled slow and dangerous. “I love parties.”

Charlie shut his locker a little too sharply.

Elisa clapped her hands, delighted. “Great! Then you should totally come to my party this weekend. It’s going to be huge. Everyone is going to be there.”

Sky didn’t hesitate. “Yes.”

Elisa smiled wider. “Perfect! I’ll text you the address.”

Sky nodded, and Elisa pranced away, already planning who she would brag to first.

Mila squealed. “Girl! That’s like, the biggest party of the semester!”

Jonah shrugged. “Just don’t get carried out like roadkill again.”

Sky shot him a glare. “That was not my fault. That was the caveman.”

Charlie ran a hand slowly down his face.

Now she was going to Elisa’s party. A giant party. Where there would be older kids. Drinking. Possibly boys hitting on her. Danger. Chaos. Every single thing Sky adored and Charlie was paid to prevent.

He took a slow breath. Elisa probably did this on purpose because she knew if Sky was going, he would be too.

Mila leaned toward Sky. “Elisa’s parties are crazy. Everyone gets wasted. Someone almost broke an arm last time.”

Sky smiled like someone told her she’d won a free vacation.

Charlie exhaled. He had no choice now.

He was going to the party too.