25 Days of Insanity: Day Fifteen

Day Fifteen: Distraction

"Hey, Nat?"

The girl in question didn't look up from her paper instead giving a grunt and a small bob of the head to show that she was indeed listening to the person who spoke. Normally, at the voice the girl couldn't help but look up, but now was definitely not the time. She had a big test coming up and her English teacher was not lenient in anyway whatsoever so, for once, homework came first.

"Um…Natalie?" Charlie took a step into the room, his head tilted slightly as he looked at the girl hunched over her desk.

"Yeah, I heard you." She turned her chair a bit, though she kept her eyes on the paper, before asking, "What's up?"

"Well, Kaycee, Fred and I were gonna watch The Grinch Who Stole Christmas and we wanted to know if you wanna come watch too." He and the others knew how much she loved Christmas stuff. Kaycee had also informed the others that it was one of her sister's favorite movies.

"I'd like to, Charlie, but I've really gotta study for this test I have tomorrow." The brunette lifted her head after thinking of something and looked back at Charlie. "Wait, did you finish your homework yet? You said you had a lot earlier."

"Uh…" The boy rubbed his neck, uncomfortably. "Well, no…I-I'm just taking a break though," he added the last part quickly when his friend gave him a stern look.

She, however, only let out a sigh in response turning back to her work. "Maybe some other time, I'll see you later." She raised a hand in farewell before going back to her work.

"Oh…uh, sure…see you later." There was a pause before Natalie heard the door close followed by talking from the other room.

She stayed in her room for approximately five minutes and continued to study from the paper she had. She would have continued to do so except when she reached toward the cup she had on her desk; she found it to be empty. This was why the girl decided to get to her feet, go into the next room, and refill her glass. For some reason, she had always found it hard to concentrate on homework without something to drink.

She opened the door and was walking toward the fridge when something reached her ears and caused her to freeze. "Then the Whos, young and old, will sit down to a feast…" She turned her head to the archway that lead into the living room to see the cartoon Whos sitting down at a table, eating and sharing food with another. "And they'll feast and they'll feast… And they'll feast, feast, feast, FEAST," the Grinch's voice said, each word dripping with spite.

Natalie shook her head, heading back toward the fridge. She had a test to study for; she couldn't waste an half an hour on a movie.

*******
"Should we wake her up?" Charlie asked the others, looking at the girl laying near sideways on her usual chair and curled up into a ball. Natalie had lost all of her self-control and ended up staying and watching the movie with the others…then somehow fell asleep.

Her sister glanced over at the clock and shook her head. "Nah, it's past nine-thirty. If she wakes up now she'll just freak out," she informed them. "I'm goin' to bed." She scratched the back of her head as she headed back to her room.

"Won't she freak out in the morning too?" Charlie wondered, looking over at his brother.

Fred gave a shrug. "Yeah, probably. But if we try to move her, she might get mad and blame us for her falling asleep or something…" He suddenly let out a yawn and went to the hall toward the guest room. "I think I'm gonna go sleep too."

Charlie nodded and said, "I think I will too, after a while."

Fred glanced back to see his brother was looking at their sleeping friend with a pensive look on his face. If this had been Xander instead of Charlie, Fred would've pulled him out of the room by the ear since he knew his thoughts would be nothing good; but since it was Charlie, Fred brushed it off and continued on his way. "I'll leave the light on so you don't trip this time."

"Okay." Charlie thought a moment longer before he made up his mind. After hearing the guest bedroom's door shut, he moved in front of the chair and kneeled down near Natalie, gently shaking her shoulder. "Nat…?"

His friend let out a small groan before her eyes opened a tad and she lifted her head a bit. "Hm…?"

"You, uh, accidently fell asleep in the living room," Charlie informed her.

She still had a glazed look in her eyes, obviously still a bit sleepy. "I did?"

"Yeah, so you should probably head back to bed." Natalie nodded but, instead of getting up, she put her head back down on the arm of the chair, almost as though the last minute hadn't happened. "Uh…Nat?" No response. "Nat?"

He waited a moment and when she still didn't shift, he sighed. Fine, I guess I have no choice, he thought as he stood up. Hopefully she won't wake up…

He leaned over, carefully sliding one arm under her neck while the other grasped her legs, before standing upright and beginning to carry her, bridal style, to her room. Natalie moved her head a bit, her eyes opening a sliver. "Mm?"

"I'm taking you to your room," Charlie explained, though he wasn't sure why; she wouldn't remember anyway.

The girl only nodded drowsily and rested her head against his chest to continue to her slumber, causing his breath to quicken ever-so-slightly. "Thanks, Charlie," she mumbled.

He only swallowed nervously and nodded, even though it was pointless to do so. "N-no problem, Nat," he stuttered back as he set her down on her bed. He watched her for a moment as she curled up, once more, nuzzling her cheek against her pillow. Charlie felt his face heat up, realizing how much of creeper he seemed like, before he quickly left the room, closing the door.

"What were you doing?"

"AGH!" Charlie whirled around and let out a sigh in relief. "Fred, don't sneak up on me like that!"

"Charlie," Fred's voice sounded incredibly stern, causing his brother to frown, "what were you doing?" Charlie only stared at him, clueless, until Fred pointed at the bedroom he had just come out of.

The younger teen glanced back at Natalie's door and his face flushed darkly, realizing what his brother must have thought. "O-oh, i-it wasn't what it looks like, Fred," he assured him, stuttering. "Y-you see, I-I was only—"

"Charlie, go to bed," his brother commanded, frowning disapprovingly.

"But I...!" At the look Fred gave him though, Charlie stopped and mumbled, "Yeah, okay…" Charlie hung his head and went passed the blond toward the guest bedroom.

Fred stayed behind and, once the brunet turned the corner, sighed, shaking his head. "Hormones…" he mumbled in exasperation before heading back to bed.