Charlotte was running. She was having a tough time at home, and wanted to be anywhere else but there. She didn't want to bother Henry. He was on a date with Bianca, and she didn't want to ruin it. She wanted them to have a good time, and not worry about her. Since they were 14 now, they had a longer curfew.

She remembered she had a spare key to Junk 'N Stuff. Besides, Ray told them they could crash there whenever they wanted. She knew she shouldn't be wandering around at 10:45 at night, but she couldn't help it. She needed to get out of her house.

After what seemed like a lifetime, she finally opened the door. She didn't want to make too much noise, but both the tubes and the elevator made a ton of it. Even though she didn't think he'd be asleep, she didn't want to be rude.

So, she thought about it, and she took the elevator. She walked in to find Ray, looking like he was about to go somewhere. "Charlotte? What are you doing here? It's-," He looked at his phone. "11:05 at night?" He asked.

"I just didn't want to be at home," She explained.

"I'm guessing your parents don't know you're here?" He asked, while giving her a look of disapproval.

Charlotte shook her head. Of course her parents didn't know she left her house. If they did, she would be grounded for weeks. And she knew that they wouldn't be very successful without her.

"Wanna talk about it?" He asked, while patting a seat next to him on the couch.

She sighed, and reluctantly walked over, and took a seat. "It's just my parents have been fighting a lot,"

"Do you know why they are?"

She nodded. "My dad cheated on my mom, and now she wants a divorce, and they keep using me in the middle of their arguments, and-" She started, but then stopped, because she was crying, and he pulled her into a hug, and she buried his face into his chest.

"Shh, Charlotte, it's okay. And I just want you to remember one thing," He told her, while rubbing her back.

She sniffled, and looked up at him. "What?"

"It's not your fault. Even if they tell you otherwise," He reminded her.

Charlotte looked up at him. "Then how come they always use me? Especially my dad..." She told him.

"Because your parents are idiots. They want to make it seem like the other one is the bad guy,"

Charlotte wondered when Ray got so wise. "That's exactly what they do,"

"Don't listen to them. You know who the real bad guy is. And you'll get through this, Charlotte,"

"How do you know that?" She sniffled.

Ray scoffed. "Because you're one of the strongest people I know, and I know you're going to get through it,"

Charlotte nodded. She wiped her eyes, and composed herself a little. "Th-Thank you,"

He gave her another hug, and he got up. "No problem kid. Do you want to stay here for the night?"

"Yes,"

"You know where the spare room is," He said, while getting his jacket.

Charlotte wondered where he could be going at this time of night. "Where are you going?" She said, with a slight smile on her face.

When she asked that, Ray had a smirk on his face. "To a party. And no, you may not come. It's for grown-ups only," He said, making her smile more. "I should be back by three,"

Charlotte shook her head. "You're crazy, Ray,"

"I know," He said, making his eyes wide, as if to make a point.

"Don't forget to make good choices," She joked, even though she knew he would.

"You know I will. Now you should be going to bed," He said, trying to be responsible.

She looked at him like she was crazy. "Hey, I'm not the one staying out all night partying,"

"I'm thirty-six. You're fourteen,"

Charlotte rolled her eyes. "I guess you're right,"

"Now get some sleep," He ordered, and went up the tube.

She sighed, and went to the room. 'Maybe this will all be okay,' She thought as she drifted off to sleep.

A/N: Hopefully this wasn't too crappy. Review!