Follow Charlie Jones

Charlie Jones watched his older sister run up to her room, and then listened as the door slammed shut.

Charlie ran up the steps after her, wondering who he had to fuck up now. He had already beaten the crap out of Chad a couple weeks back, and it had felt good doing it. Never could stand the prick. He stopped at her door and listened in for a second, hearing his sister crying he knocked, "Courtney? Are...are you alright?"

"Go away. Please go away." he heard from inside.

"No, open this door. Who hurt you?" Charlie said, his anger rising.

"N-no one hurt me. Please...just...just..."

"I'm not going to go away, and that's all there is to it. I want to know who made you cry on your birthday, and I will find out. If I have to get a screw driver and take the hinges off this door, I'll do it."

"God damn it, Charlie!" he heard Courtney scream, but he also heard her bed squeak as she got off it. A moment later his beloved sister opened the door, tears streaked her face. "You want to know who you have to hurt? You want to know who hurt me?"

"Yes. Yes I want to know who I have to put in traction!"

"First off, this is very endearing and I love you for being protective, but it may get you in a lot of trouble someday." Courtney said, concern in her voice and her face. That's why Charlie loved his sister, always putting other people's well being ahead of hers. "Second...the person that hurt me IS me. I fucked up today. I did it. No one else."

This stunned Charlie as to the best of his knowledge she hadn't even left yet. "What do you mean?"

Courtney sighed, "Sharon and Jeremy did some things a couple months back." Courtney searched her brother's face, and luckily for him he seemed surprised as well. It would have been more than she could handle if he had known as well. "And...and then Jeremy calls me for my birthday, and...I hung up on him. It's my fault."

"But...I'm confused..."

"I LOVE HIM, Charlie. With all my heart. And I hung up on him today. Do you think he's going to want to talk to me? See me?"

'This is a rhetorical question isn't it? You've known each other practically since birth." Charlie asked.

"No. I fucked my whole life up...in one fell swoop. I don't even want to live..."

"WHOA. Those words right there? Never utter them in my presence again, understand?" Charlie said, deadly serious, causing Courtney to flinch. "You think this is about you?"

"Uh...it is about me. I don't think everything is about me, but...this right here? It is about me."

Charlie paused, "Point. But how do you think he's feeling right now? You hung up on him."

"I know..." Courtney answered miserably.

Charlie pulled his sister into a hug, "You know he loves you."

"Not the way I want him to." Courtney answered, hugging her brother back. "Look, I'm not going to do anything stupid, okay? I just want to be alone for a little bit."

Charlie held her at arms length, "I have your word now, not a scratch?"

Courtney broke into a grin, "Would you get going, you old pirate?"

Charlie laughed, and kissed his sister's forehead, "And happy birthday."

Courtney smiled her thanks as she closed the door. Charlie stood at her door for a couple seconds, until he heard her flop onto her bed. Then with a sigh he left. He and his father were going to the pub to do some inventory, and to set up for Courtney's birthday lunch. He hated leaving her alone in the house, but he knew his mother would be home soon so. It would be okay he figured as he got into the car.

He looked over at his dad, "Everything alright?" his father asked as he put the car in gear.

"I hope so."