DANCING ON MY OWN (Charlie Puth)

T H I R T Y O N E

"So what's on the agenda today?" I ask, balancing myself with one crutch and applying mascara to my eyelashes.

Charlie, still not fully awake slowly pulls his toothbrush out of his mouth and spits in the sink.

"Therapy, then food because we're fat, and then a road trip..." He looks at me through the mirror and smirks.

"What road trip?" I demand.

"Um... surprise!" He giggles through a mouthful of toothpaste.

"Charlie, tell me!" I whine, holding the mascara brush up as a threat.

"Well, I was thinking you could meet my parents." He smiles softly like it's nothing, but I'm panicking on the inside.

"Your parents?" I breathe.

"Well yeah. I mean, you are my girlfriend."

"I know, I just don't know how to feel. My own parents don't even like me, how am I supposed to expect yours to?" I joke with underlying concern. What if his parents hate me? It will literally be the end of the world.

"They will love you. I promise." He cups my face.

"What if they think I'm just another Megan?" He rolls his eyes.

"You're not Megan. You're way different, way better, okay?" I gulp, still not sold on the idea.

"You also don't have a choice because I already told them we were coming." My eyes go wide and he plants a toothpaste filled kiss on my lips.

"Charlie eww!" I yell as I wipe my mouth clean, he just laughs as he rinses his mouth out. 

"Pack a bag, babe." He says as he leaves the bathroom. 

. . . . .

"How have the crutches been going?" The therapist asks, prepared to write notes down in my chart. 

"They've been great!" I smile, making eye contact with Charlie. 

"Yeah, she's been doing so good with them." Charlie tells him with a nod. 

"That's very good to hear! And how are your muscles and joints handling the extra work?"

"Good, I think. Not too much pain, I've been trying to not over-exert myself, Charlie doesn't let me." I joke. He shrugs with a smile.

"Oh yeah? That's awesome Charlie. You'll make a great father someday." He winks at Charlie before leaving the room and announcing that he'll be back momentarily. 

Charlie suddenly turns to me as soon as the therapist steps out and smirks extra big. "You hear that? You can go ahead and start calling me daddy now." 

"Excuse me?" I choke out a laugh. 

"You heard me. It's daddy to you now, princess." He winks and I feel my face go red, but die laughing anyway. 

"I will not be calling you daddy. Not now, not ever." He snorts.

"You will be soon." My jaw involuntarily drops and I let out a gasp. He tosses his head back in laughter on the other side of the room, arms crossed across his broad muscular chest. 

Thankfully the therapist walks in, saving me from further sexual awkwardness. 

"Okay, Mia. We're gonna attempt something new today. How would you like to try to walk without crutches?" I squint in confusion. 

"I mean, I would love to... but I can't just do that." I cringe at my own words since I sound like such a pessimist, but it's true. I can't just walk, I hardly even 'walk' with the crutches.