Charlie sat in her seat, unmoving as the school bell rang signalling another day was done and one step closer to graduation. Charlie breathed heavily, shaking in her chair as she imagined making them pay, the bullies, the bystanders.. even the teachers who did nothing. How satisfying it could be, trying to tell herself she had the guts even if it wasn't true. Charlie stood up out of her seat, quietly scampering toward {{user}} as they stood up out of their seat. "Hey you.. {{user}} you fucker.." Charlie said in her typical quiet tone, the usual underlying anger laced in her voice, though her face was red with a blush "Tomorrow.. tomorrow I'll really uh.. d-do something! Something bad! I mean it, asshat! I really do!" Charlie took a deep breath, steadying herself for what she was about to say, her voice becoming just above a whisper "U-unless you fuck me.. really hard.. y-you can save everyone..!"

"Yes! Bad! I-I know it sounds crazy but it's the truth! Look at me, you dumb fuck! Do I look like I could pull off something that bad? I'm just a little g-goth bitch with too much black eyeshadow and ugly clothes!" Tears began to form in her eyes as she pleaded with them, grabbing their arm tightly "Please.. just one time! Please make it hurt really badly so you can remember me that way.. then they'll leave me alone!"

"My problem?" Charlie sniffled, looking down shamefully as she tried her best not to cry anymore "I-i dunno.. maybe it's the fact that I hate this stupid city! And these stupid people! And all their fucking boyfriends and friends who think they're so great!" She took another deep breath, her voice almost a whimper now as she let out a strangled sob "I just want to feel good for once.. and right now it seems like the only way that's going to happen is if you help me."

Charlie flinched away from their touch at first but then relaxed slightly, leaning into the touch as they continued petting her hair. She let out a soft whimper, finally allowing herself to cry in full as she felt tears roll down her face and onto her cheeks. In this moment of weakness, she admitted defeat. If this was what it took to keep from hurting people, then so be it "Yes.." She sniffled, looking up at them with red eyes "It's better when you do that."

"N-no.. I don't want to do anything bad..." Her voice was barely audible as she leaned into the hug, her small frame shaking with sobs "I just want people to leave me alone!" She paused for a moment before adding quietly, "And maybe love me...?" Her admission hung in the air, making both of them uncomfortable.

"Well.. I'll love you." The words slipped out before they could think twice about it, and they immediately regretted saying anything. But then again, why not? It wasn't like anything was going to change with this girl. "I mean, I don't really know what that means or how I can help, but... you know."

Her body stiffened in surprise at the unexpected offer. Even though she knew it probably wasn't genuine, it still made her heart skip a beat. "Y-yeah..." was all she managed to squeak out before collecting herself and trying again. "Yes, I would like that... I just want to feel normal sometimes..." She let out a soft sob, her words muffled by their hug.

"Well then," they said, not entirely sure what else to say but determined to make her feel better. "I'll give you some attention, okay? We don't have to do anything weird or anything." They hesitated for a moment before continuing, "Unless that's what you want..." There was a hint of playfulness in their tone now, but they were careful not to push her too far.

Charlie laughed weakly, the sound coming out more like a hiccup. "No, nothing weird... Just some attention would be nice." She paused again, trying to steel herself before asking quietly, "You promise you won't tell anyone about this?" It was the one thing she feared most: being exposed for wanting love and affection.

"I promise," they said reassuringly, squeezing her gently. "And don't worry about me telling anyone. I mean, why would I want to make you feel worse than you already do?" They smiled softly at her, trying to be as comforting as possible. "Now tell me more about what's been bothering you."

"Well... I don't have anywhere else to go," she admitted reluctantly, although the thought of going home did little to appease her. Her foster parents were never around much; they worked long hours to support her and were hardly ever home when she was awake. "But we could go to my place... I guess?" She wasn't sure if that was a good idea either, considering what she had planned for the school.

"Okay," they said softly, considering her options carefully before speaking again. "I don't want you to be alone anymore... so how about this? We go back to your place together and I can stay with you tonight?" They hesitated slightly, unsure of whether or not she would agree but determined to make her feel safe and loved.

Charlie blushed furiously at the suggestion, taken aback by the offer. She didn't know this person very well, but they seemed genuinely interested in helping her feel better. Slowly, cautiously, she nodded in agreement. "O-okay... I guess..." Her voice was barely above a whisper as she finally let someone else into her life, even if it was only for one night.

As they pulled up to her run-down apartment complex, Charlie steeled herself for the inevitable embarrassment of being seen with someone like User#1726172681758. She had never brought anyone home before; she was too ashamed of her life and didn't want to be judged. But tonight was different. For once, she allowed herself the luxury of feeling wanted and cared for, even if it was only temporary.

"Come on," she said softly, opening the car door and getting out. She walked slowly to her apartment, head down, not daring to look at anyone who might be watching them. As they reached her building, she took a deep breath and then unlocked the front door, flipping on the lights as they entered the small, cluttered living room.

"It's not much..." she murmured apologetically, glancing around sheepishly before turning back to User#1726172681758 with a slightly nervous smile. "I know it's kind of... well, you'll see." She closed the door behind them, anxious about what they might think of her home life.

She paused, taken aback by their comment. "Cozy?" she repeated doubtfully. "I never really thought of it that way... I guess it is kind of cozy..." Her voice trailed off as she looked around the room more carefully, trying to see it through someone else's eyes. The threadbare carpet, worn furniture, and empty bookshelves didn't seem so bad now; they were familiar sights that had become a part of her life.

She forced herself to smile at them reassuringly. "Thank you... I think? Anyway, would you like something to drink or eat?" She offered awkwardly, not entirely sure how to act around someone who was being so nice to her after everything she'd been through.

"Oh, I have some powdered lemonade mix," she said with a small smile. "I could whip something up for you if you'd like." She hesitated before continuing, "Or... you can help me make it? If you want?" The offer was made halfheartedly; she wasn't used to having someone else around, especially not when they were being so nice to her.

"Sure," they replied with a smile, following her into the kitchen. As they stood at the counter together, Charlie mixed the lemonade while User#1726172681758 watched, offering idle conversation about school and their interests. The more time they spent together, the less awkward it felt for both of them. It was almost like they were... friends?

"Here you go," she said, handing User#1726172681758 a tall glass filled with ice and freshly made lemonade. "I hope you like it." She watched as they took a sip, noticing the satisfied look on their face. It was a small victory, but it meant something to her nonetheless.

"Thanks," they murmured around the straw before looking up at her with a considering expression. "So... what do you want to do now?"

"I-I don't know," she stammered, her cheeks flushing red as she felt the weight of their question. She didn't really have any ideas; everything they used to do involved either her tormentors or watching TV by herself. "We could... watch a movie or something? I have some DVDs if you want..." Even as she suggested it, she couldn't shake the feeling that she was imposing on them.

"Sure," they said with a reassuring smile, setting their glass down on the counter. "What do you feel like watching?" They followed her back into the living room and sat down on the sofa, patting the spot next to them invitingly. "Come on, don't be shy."

Charlie hesitated for a moment longer before eventually sitting down next to them, curling up under the blanket they had spread across their laps. As she scanned through her movie collection, she noticed that User#1726172681758 was watching her carefully, almost expectantly. The attention made her nervous; she didn't want to do anything wrong or make them regret being nice to her.

Finally, she picked out a light-hearted comedy and popped it into the DVD player. They settled in to watch together, occasionally exchanging small talk or sharing laughter at the on-screen antics. For now, at least, things felt... normal. And as much as she hated to admit it, that was exactly what she needed.

The question caught her off guard. She had never been asked such a thing before; people usually didn't want to be near her, let alone touch her. But the offer... it was almost too much to process. Her heart raced with a mixture of fear and desire as she hesitated before finally speaking up. "I-I don't know," she stammered, her cheeks flushing red. "I-I've never..."

"It's okay if you want to," they assured her gently, squeezing her shoulder reassuringly. "We can just sit like this, or you can lie down with me if you want." Their voice was soft and comforting, almost hypnotic in its gentleness. She found herself wanting nothing more than to close the distance between them, to feel the warmth of their body pressed against hers.

Charlie took a deep breath, exhaling slowly before nodding. "Okay..." she whispered, moving closer until her head rested on their shoulder. The feeling of being held was oddly reassuring; it made her feel safe and protected in a way that nothing else ever had. She couldn't help but relax into the embrace, her body molding itself to theirs as she focused on the rhythm of their breathing.

For now, she told herself, she would enjoy this moment of closeness and forget about everything else. Maybe it was selfish of her, but for once in her life, she deserved a little happiness too.

The sensation of being held tightly was both comforting and disconcerting at the same time. It felt so good to be wanted and cared for, but she couldn't help but wonder if this person was just using her for their own amusement. She tried to push those thoughts away as she focused on their reassuring words.

With a slow, shaky breath, she let go of some of the tension in her body, allowing herself to relax into the embrace even more. It felt so good to finally feel safe and loved; like for once, someone truly cared about her. As they watched the movie together, she found herself starting to trust this person, if only a little bit.

"I-I should tell you," she stammered after a moment of hesitation. "I-I didn't mean what I said before... about the bad thing... I just..." Her voice trailed off, her face flushing crimson as she struggled to find the words. "I was just really mad and hurt, and I wanted them to feel bad too." She risked a glance at them from the corner of her eye, half-expecting to see judgment or disgust in their expression.

But what she saw instead was understanding and compassion; they nodded slightly, encouraging her to continue. "It's just... everyone thinks I'm this horrible person," she blurted out before biting her lip. "I'm not! I never meant for anyone to get hurt..."

They squeezed her gently, their voice soft and soothing as they spoke. "Shh... it's okay, Charlie. You don't have to explain yourself to me. And you know what? I believe you." They held her close, their warm breath tickling her ear as they continued. "Everyone goes

The question made her heart ache anew. It was so hard to open up to people, even when they were being nice; she always expected them to abandon her or laugh at her troubles. But something about this person made her feel different, and she found herself wanting to trust them.

Tears welled up in her eyes as she struggled to find the words to explain her pain. "It's just... everything," she whispered finally, letting out a shuddering breath. "School, my life, my family..." She trailed off, unable to continue. It all seemed so futile and pointless; she had been through so much and it felt like there was no end in sight.

But as she looked up at their kind face, she found herself wanting to believe that maybe things could get better. Maybe there was someone out there who did care about her, even if they were just a stranger for one night. And for now, that was enough.

"Well..." she hesitated, still unsure of how much to say. "There's this group of girls... they've been making fun of me for as long as I can remember." She swallowed hard, her throat feeling tight and raw. "They call me names and spread rumors about me... it's always been really bad, but lately..." Her voice trailed off, not wanting to admit how badly things had gotten recently.

Their gentle touch on her hair made her feel strangely at ease as she continued speaking in halting sentences. "I-I just want to graduate and get out of here... but with my grades the way they are..." She shook her head, biting her lip hard to stop herself from crying again. "It's so hard sometimes..."

As she confessed her fears and worries to this stranger, it felt like a weight was being lifted off her shoulders. They didn't laugh at her or make fun of her; they just listened and held her close, making her feel cared for in a way she hadn't experienced in years.

Maybe things really could get better, she thought hopefully. Maybe there was someone out there who would be able to help her make it through the rest of high school without any more pain and suffering. For now, all she could do was hope.

"They're not exactly a group... more like a clique." She hesitated before continuing, her voice barely audible above the sound of the TV. "There's this girl named Aubrey... she's been really mean to me ever since middle school. And her friends follow her around all the time."

As for her grades, they weren't terrible in any specific subject; it was more that she had started cutting class and not paying attention during class discussions. "I just... I can't handle everything anymore," she whispered, trying not to break down completely. "It's all so much."

They squeezed her gently in response, not saying anything further as they let her process her thoughts. After a moment of silence, Charlie finally mustered up the courage to ask another question, her voice barely above a whisper. "Do you think... do you think people will ever stop being so mean?"

Their reply was reassuring, but not without its share of truths. "Unfortunately, some people will always be like that." They paused for a moment before continuing more softly, "But there are also good people in the world who care about others and want to make things better." They looked directly into her eyes as they said this, their expression earnest and sincere.

Charlie felt herself blush at the compliment, unsure of how to respond. But before she could say anything else, the phone rang, startling them both. She jumped up to answer it, her hands shaking as she glanced nervously back at their friend on the couch.

"Hello?" she said timidly into the receiver, not sure who would be calling her at this hour.