It was difficult to suppress the urge to squirm again. She'd thought perhaps the hand in the hair had been a accident - it was now clear that Charlie had every intention of breaking the touch barrier. As if to disperse any lingering doubts, she became aware that he moved oh-so-slightly closer. So occupied was she with these physical cues that Audrey almost overlooked his words. Almost. She was not used to the compliments of boys, and any passing remarks made by her peers this year, even in the positive, made her feel terribly awkward.
She knew by now that it was a given she was still blushing furiously, but instead of succumbing to her discomfort easily, Audrey instead tried to think of what her mother might do. She'd seen Colleen Weatherby with boyfriends often enough, when they were over for dinner or stopped by otherwise, and she was always so at ease, open and laughing and interesting. Audrey wasn't sure how her mother did all that, but she supposed now might be the time to give it a try.
So, she laughed. It was a laugh that felt entirely unlike her own, higher and faster. "Oh. Thanks...Charlie." Tentatively, she nudged his leg with hers.