Charlie didn’t like the feeling of not knowing what was going on. He knew he was hurt and upset because he saw Eddie with that girl, but he knew there was more to it. The problem was he didn’t know what was it, but everyone around him knew it. He was pretty sure even Lucy tried to tell him with her Ken dolls, but he didn’t get it -- or his brain refused to understand it in some sick brainy joke that was only funny for brains.
This whole idea of coming over was a bad idea. Charlie felt so awkward around Eddie it wasn’t even normal, and he hated it. He didn’t like being like this with his friend, he wanted it all to be okay again; but the confusing and the feelings made it all complicated. Stupid feelings.
Charlie grabbed the glass of water and downed it like he hadn’t had water in a week. But once the glass was placed on the countertop, the awkwardness was back again. He kept biting on his lower lip, looking everywhere but at Eddie and feeling like he did not want to be there. But then he spoke, and Charlie turned his attention to him; though not his eyes. He was still avoiding that. “I meant,” he began to say, looking down at the countertop. “I meant that I saw you. She was flirting and you were letting her and you completely ignored me and then she kissed you.” He was now looking at him, as his words were fueling the upset feelings which were giving him the courage he needed to face him. “And you let her.” Being upset because a girl kissed his best friend was completely normal, wasn’t it? It wasn’t jealousy or anything, right? Why would he be jealous? He was just upset because Eddie forgot about him, right?... Right.
--
Well, that had not been the answer he was expecting. He expected more of an attack on how the girls always went to him. Or how he never shared the wealth- mostly because he did not like the idea of having someone taking Charlie’s affection away from him. But there was never a time he felt like his attention was taken away from the other boy. No, Eddie had been adamant on making sure things were okay between him and Charlie. Mainly because new girl in town was not going to push him from the limelight. No, not possible. Still, the fact that he was this bent out of shape over his getting attention made Eddie wonder about things. He knew that there was no way this was happening. After all, Charlie was very much not acting like he would care in that way. Maybe the doodles were not headbutting? He watched and waited patiently for him to explain what had bothered him. Eddie’s eyes did not leave his friend as he worked through how to explain himself. It was mostly that last comment that had caught him off guard. This was all about him just letting someone kiss him?
Eddie kept watching slowly, trying to work his way around what to say. How did he apologize for something that was not his fault? This was a bit awkward now. He did not sure how this was going to g, but at least he knew why. It did not make much sense right now, but it was starting to. His hands kept running through his hair. “I didn’t forget about you,” he finally replied. That was a start, right? He had to shoot that down. He was distracted, but not why Charlie seemed to think. Yes, the girl was beautiful. but that did not mean he was instantly stuck on her. That was just silly. He may have been a Halloran and needed to at least acknowledge her, but that did not mean she was coming home with him to end up drunken sleeping in… one of the other rooms. That was a Halloran Problem he did not suffer from. “We were just talking, she’s new here. You’ve seen fans get all… obsessive touchy over us before, why did you just take off on me? You didn’t even say bye.”