God, it's been an eternity since I wrote Charlie/Brax, but I was reading a story and had some inspiration, and here's the outcome. What happens if Charlie and Brax are best friends, and one drunken night sees them turn their friendship into a friends with benefits relationship, and then a couple of months down the line, one of them ends it when they start to date someone and feelings start to fly left, right and centre? Drama, of course. Enjoy!
CHARLIE'S POV:
I made my way into Angelo's, the restaurant/bar that my best friend, Darryl "Brax" Braxton owned. Smiling at me warmly as I walked over to the bar and sat down, he poured me a glass of champagne…
"Champagne?" I questioned
"Only the best for the owner's best friend" he replied "boss would murder me if he didn't think I was treating her right"
I smiled at him warmly and took a sip… "Nice"
"Should be too. It's $100 a bottle" he informed me
"Shouldn't you be saving it for special occasions then?" I inquired, raising an eyebrow at him
"This is a special occasion" he replied "it's been forever since you and I have had a night out, so we're going to enjoy it"
"But you're working?" I questioned, raising an eyebrow at him
"Only till Liam gets here" he informed me "and then, Charlie Buckton, I'm all yours"
"Good job I still have time to escape then" I replied
He gasped at me in fake shock, a customer grabbing his attention…
BRAX'S POV:
Charlie and I had decided to spend the night at the restaurant and by the time closing time came around and Liam left after clearing up, we were both very drunk… "I think we need some food"
"Food bad, drink good" Charlie proclaimed, holding onto the table as she stood up and made her way behind the bar "ooh, vodka!"
"Charlie, no" I sighed
"Are you wimping out on me, Braxton?" she questioned
"No, I'm just thinking of how insufferable you'll be tomorrow morning" I admitted
"Excuse me?" she inquired "but are you implying I'll be hungover?"
"I think we both know we'll be hungover" I informed her "so how about we forget the vodka and I walk you home?"
She sighed heavily and eventually nodded her head in agreement… "You're right. Let's go"
CHARLIE'S POV:
Brax and I arrived at my front door ten minutes later, the walk along the beach having sobered both of us up a little. Reaching into my clutch bag, I located my keys and turned to Brax… "Thanks for walking me home"
"What sort of a best friend would I be if I didn't?" he questioned
I smiled at him warmly and crept onto my tiptoes, kissing his cheek softly. Pulling away from him, I rested my back against the wall, swallowing a lump in my throat as I felt the atmosphere heighten… "Brax…"
"Yeah?" he asked, seemingly snapping from his trance
"Do you want to come in?" I inquired, biting my bottom lip nervously
"For a coffee? Sure" he replied
"No, not for a coffee" I informed him
BRAX'S POV:
"No, not for a coffee"
I watched Charlie as she moved away from the wall again and stepped towards me. Creeping onto her tiptoes again, she wound her free arm around my neck and pressed her lips against mine…
"Charlie…" I sighed, pushing her away
"Sorry" she replied, turning away from me to face the door, putting her keys into the lock
"It's not that I don't want to, it's just…" I began
"Just what, Brax?" she questioned, raising an eyebrow at me as she turned to face me
"I don't want to ruin what we have" I informed her
"We don't let it then" she replied
"What are you talking about?" I inquired
"Friends with benefits" she informed me "no strings attached. Just fun and that's it. What do you say?"
CHARLIE'S POV:
I felt like an idiot as I waited for Brax's answer. Sighing heavily, I turned back to the door and unlocked it, pushing it open, Brax turning me to face him, his arms wrapping around my waist tightly as he pulled me flush against him… "I'm in"
Smiling at him widely, I wound my arms around his neck as he pressed his lips against mine passionately, moving us into the house…
So the friends with benefits relationship has started; what's to come, I wonder?