DANCING ON MY OWN (Charlie Puth)

T H R E E

"See you later, Camila." I shout as I sling my bag over my shoulder and grab my coffee cup before heading out of the door. As odd as it may seem, Camila and I have still gotten even closer since we talked the other night. I put my earbuds in as I walk across the campus to my first class of the day. The crisp autumn air is very refreshing, especially in the morning. It definitely helps wake me up before my first class, not that it matters, I'm so distracted in that class that I may as well be sleeping. I always catch myself staring at Charlie, and I'm not sure why. It bothers me that I'm so intrigued by him, but at the same time, I don't mind that I'm more focused on him than I am on my classwork. However, the last couple of days he hasn't been in class, so instead of nonchalantly staring at him, I just think about him. Oh my gosh, what is my deal? Thinking about some other dude all the time when I'm in my own relationship. 

I walk into class shaking my head to myself, confused by the thoughts that have taken control of my mind lately. I plop down into my normal seat, and sip my coffee, trying to remember what I even learn about in this class, when Shawn sits next to me. Great, maybe I can chat him up about Camila. I giggle to myself, knowing that she and I would have a fun conversation later. 

"So, I hear that you've been following girls to Starbucks, creeper." I turn to look at Shawn only after I've said this, only to realize that it was definitely not Shawn who was sitting next to me. Oh God. Oh God. Oh God, what have I done. Charlie looks at me confused.

"What are you talking about?" He asks me with a concerned expression. 

"Uhm... Sorry, I thought you were someone else." I can literally feel my face turning into a tomato, and I stare down at the speckled wood of the desk. 

Charlie just laughs, it was a nice sound, but right now I'm too embarrassed to appreciate it. "Well, I'm glad that I'm not the guy you thought I was, that would be awkward." Not sure how to respond, I just laugh at the awkwardness between the two of us.

"Hey guys, the party has arrived." Shawn sits on my other side and flicks his wrist like a sassy girl. I roll my eyes at his goofiness, unprepared for his lame jokes this early in the morning. Charlie catches me, mid eye-roll, and smirks. Great, I've embarrassed myself again. It would probably be different if he wasn't literally best friends with Shawn. However, he doesn't say anything, which I'm thankful for. 

Our professor seems to be running a bit late, and though Charlie and I are both quiet, Shawn keeps it from being awkward by telling us about how he slipped in the shower this morning. I have a hearty laugh at Shawn's expense, knowing he wouldn't mind. Charlie is actually laughing pretty hard at his friend as well.

"You're so stupid Shawn." He wipes a tear of laughter from his cheek. I smile at their friendship. 

"Hey Mia, what are you doing for lunch?" Shawn asks me while holding up his middle finger in Charlie's face. 

"I don't have any plans..." I begin, but get cut off by Shawn's impulsive behavior.

"Good, then you're coming to McDonald's with us. I mean, only if you want to?" He asks after his initial demand. I giggle and nod my head in agreement. Wait, why did I agree to that, isn't that weird? No, they're just my friends, it's perfectly fine. 

.  .  .  .  .

After my morning classes were finished, I go back to my dorm in the student accommodation to wait for Shawn and Charlie to arrive. I walk in to find Camila sitting on her bed criss-cross-applesauce, about to open up a bag of chips. 

"Hey, I thought you were having lunch with your friends today?" I ask, surprised to see Camila in the dorm room. 

"Yeah, I was supposed to. I don't know, I guess something came up. I'm beginning to think that I don't have the greatest friends, other than you of course." She adds. 

Suddenly, an idea pops in my head, one that I know Camila would love. "Well, it's your lucky day, because I just happen to have found some pretty good friends for lunch, and I'm willing to bet that you will definitely enjoy yourself." I giggle. Camila rolls her eyes as if it's the most ridiculous thing she's ever heard. "Mia you don't even have friends outside of this room." She laughs at my inability to be social. I laugh too, knowing that she's painfully right. 

"Okay, well I made new ones today, and I'm sure they would LOVE to have you join us." I put much emphasis on the word love and try my hardest to wiggle my eyebrows, even though I know I  probably just look stupid. 

"If you insist." She sighs dramatically, but a smile forms on her lips. Just then I receive a text from Shawn, telling me that he and Charlie are waiting outside of the student accommodation building. Shawn and Charlie don't live in a dorm, they share a rented apartment just off campus, so they stopped by to pick us up. 

I quickly grab Camila's arm and pull her out the door and to the elevator with me. "Who are we going with, again?" Camila asks, even though I never told her in the first place. 

"You'll see." I smirk, and Camila's face just becomes even more confused. When the elevator dings, indicating we are on the ground floor, I flee out of the doors with Camila close behind me. I'm just so excited, Camila and Shawn would be so cute together, and right now, it's my personal goal to make that happen. I spot Charlie and Shawn in a decent looking silver car, Charlie in the drivers seat. I run up to Charlie's open window, and greet them.

"Hey guys, is it okay if I bring a friend?" I motion to Camila, who suddenly looks a bit nervous. 

"Of course!" Shawn exclaims with a HUGE smile on his face. Camila and I crawl into the backseat, and buckle up. 

A short while later, we are sitting in McDonald's eating our fast food meals. It was honestly kind of awkward between everyone, and I didn't like it. I'm not exactly a social creature, and I would usually depend on Camila to keep things from being awkward, but she's too busy blushing at everything Shawn does. Shawn is the only one not being awkward, but that's because he's such an extraverted, goofy person. He's comfortable in any situation. Charlie is just quiet. We're sitting at a table, Camila and I next to each other, with Shawn and Charlie across from us. Camila is absorbed by some story Shawn is probably trying to impress her with, Charlie is scrolling through social media, and I am just popping fries into my mouth. Charlie stops scrolling to look up at me after a moment. 

"Hey Mia, can I ask you a favor?" He looks skeptical of my answer. 

"Uhm... sure, what's up?" I answer him with hesitation.

"Well, I had the flu a couple of days ago, and I missed class a few times." I nod my head, so that's why he wasn't in class. "Anyway, I'm pretty behind on homework, and I don't have any notes or anything from the last few days. I was wondering if you could help me get caught back up. I would ask Shawn but I don't trust him." He whispers the last part and winks at me. Shawn immediately rolls his eyes and elbows Charlie in the ribs. 

"Ow, quit. I'm still sore from puking." Charlie laughs. 

"Yeah, I'd love to help out, just let me know what you need!" I answer a little too enthusiastically after I finish laughing. 

"Awesome, thank you so much Mia." He grins at me. "Here, what's your number so I can text you about it later?"

I blush as he hands me his phone to put my number in his contacts. Not even a minute after I give his phone back to him I receive a message on my phone that says:

Charlie :)

"Now you have my number too." He smirks. 

. . . . .

A/N: Hello Lovely People!

I hope you are enjoying thus far. Please let me know what you think about my story and if you have any suggestions or questions or anything at all. I would love to hear from you. Okay, Have a super fantastic day! 

- J.