EREN

After what Toby told me yesterday, I started to think about if I really did like Charlie. Not just "friendly talks" like but "crushing on" type of like. I looked out the kitchen window. It's sunny for the first time in what feels like forever. It rains a lot during the summer surprisingly. I get up since I've finished eating my breakfast. My sister comes running down the stairs and into the kitchen.

"Eren!" She shouts as she enters the kitchen. I look at her and raise a brow. "Can we go play? Please, please, pleaseeee!!!" She says, tugging on my shirt. Our mom has work so I'm stuck on babysitting duty. I honestly don't feel like going out but maybe it'll be a good idea. Maybe I could meet Charlie. Oh my God. MAYBE I COULD MEET CHARLIE. It'd be the perfect time to do it. 

"We can go to the park to play." I respond. I hear her stomach growl. "You wanna eat too, I'm guessing?" She nods up at me. I chuckle and ruffle her hair before walking over to the stairs. "Let me text someone and then we can head over to Melly's." Melly's Cafe is one of the best cafes in town, y,know out of the two cafes in our town. I go there with friends a lot. 

I text Charlie and put my phone in my pocket while I wait for a response. I look over at Eli who is putting on her shoes. Sometimes when I look at her, I see myself when I was little. I was a lot happier. I still am, just not as happy as I used to be. I smile all the time when Eli's around. When she was born, it was like a light lit up. After dad left, she was the one to keep mom and I from breaking down. She's so excited and ready for everything. It's almost like I envy her happiness. 

"Ready!" She shouts, sliding off the chair. I feel my phone buzz and it's from Charlie asking where we should meet. I text the address of Melly's Cafe and open the front door. Eli ducks under my arm, running out the door and we're off. Although this town has become like second nature to me, it's still has nice scenery. The residents here like to keep nature going so there are a lot of houses with open woods in the back of their yards. If not, some have greenhouses or gardens. My house has woods. It's not uncommon to see deer, bears, foxes and other woodland creatures running around so we try to be careful when driving in neighborhoods. 

Some people think it's better to get rid of more trees so we don't have as many run-ins with animals but the woods are important to a lot of people here so it's been staying up all these years. We pass by the mini market and I think about going there before heading back home. We're low on milk and eggs.

We finally make it to Melly's and I open the door to let Eli in. I walk in after her. "Hey, Eren!" I hear someone call out. I look over and see Michael at the counter, waving. I smile at him and wave back. I forgot he works here during the summer . Saving up for college. I walk over to him and chat while Eli looks at the menu. 

"Hey, Michael." I say as I lean on the counter. "How are you?"

"I'm pretty good!" He responds. "Workin' hard, you know how it is. What's the occasion? You usually come here with a group." 

I chuckle and explain how I came to meet someone. Speaking of meeting someone, where's Charlie? I've seen pictures of him and I haven't seen anyone who looks like him so maybe he hasn't gotten here yet. I hope he didn't get lost. 

"Oh, so you're meeting a boy~ Is it the one Toby told me about?" He asks, smirking. Dammit Toby, you told Michael. I hope he didn't tell anyone else.

"Yeah...I wanted to meet him in person." I say, rubbing the back of my head. 

"Well, be careful, you know how meeting someone you talk to online can be." He says, laughing. I chuckle as the cafe door jingles. I look up and there he is. As cute as he was in the pictures he sent me. Charlie, in the flesh, holding his hyperactive kitten.