Cool with Charlie and Androids ;) chapter 2

JUNE.

It was June and I was at the airport with Mom, Chris, Leo, Alice, and Geoffry.

We waited by the baggage claim with a sign that said 'Charlie and James'. Those were the exchange students' names.

Soon enough, we saw two college-age boys. Maybe nineteen, twenty years old, even. They were dressed like they were from the 1800s. You know, earth-tone vests and white shirts, etc.

Chris started waving frantically to them and I tried to pretend I didn't know him.

Leo leaned over and whispered to me, "I didn't know they dressed like that in Ireland."

I shook my head and whispered, "Shh, don't be rude."

The exchange students came toward us and smiled warmly. 

One of them had brown, neatly brushed hair and blue eyes. The other, who was a bit taller, had wavy, bright red hair and brown eyes. To tell you the truth, they were both on the hot side. Yes, I just went there.

Leo whispered, "Do they speak English?"

I elbowed him and whispered, "They're Irish, not German or something."

I turned to the guy with brown hair and said kindly, "It's nice to meet you. I'm Angie, you'll be living with my Mom, my brother, and I."

The brown-haired guy smiled politely and shook my hand. He said, "It's nice to meet you, Angie. I'm Charlie."

Oh my gawdddd. Irish accent! 

I smiled stupidly and Leo eyed the exchange students suspiciously.

I shook the red-haired guy's hand and he introduced himself as "James."

Charlie shook Chris' hand and they both smiled politely.

When James shook Chris' hand, Chris smiled dreamily and looked like he was going to pass out. So, I wasn't the only one who noticed how freaking gorgeous they were!

We all shook hands with them, etc etc.

They shook hands with Geoffry and Chris said, "Charlie, James, this is my boyfriend, Geoffry."

Charlie and James exchanged a look and Chris looked like he regretted telling them he had a boyfriend. 

But, the exchange students just smiled sweetly and Charlie said, in his charming irish accent, "It's nice to meet you, Geoffry."

James nodded politely to Geoffry.

I exchanged a questioning glance with Alice and she shrugged.

Charlie turned and looked at the baggage claim. He said to James, "Oh, we should get our bags, Seamus."

James nodded and said, "Excuse us for just a moment."

We all nodded and they went to get their bags.

Seamus? I mouthed to Alice, who shrugged again.

We all went to a coffee shop on the way home and talked.

"So," I asked, "What's it like in Ireland?"

Charlie and James exchanged a look.

Leo eyed them suspiciously and Charlie said, smiling sweetly, "Um, it's not bad. Better... Than it was. We've been good lately.... It's nice to see America."

He and James smiled at each other and Leo narrowed his eyes.

I stood up, "H-hey, I'll be right back."

Everyone nodded and I grabbed Leo's sleeve, "Leo, can I talk to you for a minute?"

He nodded and I dragged him outside.

"What is your issue?" I asked Leo.

Leo shrugged and said, "N-nothing. I was just trying to figure out..."

I eyed him and he said, "Ange, I think they're gay."

"Aw, really?" I said, disappointed.

Leo looked at me weird and I said, "Oh."

I smacked Leo in the head and said, "You pig! That's why you've been so rude?"

"No, no, of course not!" Leo said, rubbing his head where I had hit him, ".... Well..... Yeah. That and the fact that they've been acting really weird."

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"Well," Leo said, "You asked them what it was like in Ireland and they looked like they were hiding something."

I eyed Leo curiously and said, "Like what?"

Leo shook his head, "I dunno."

I sighed and mumbled, "Well, that's helpful..."

"So, Leo." I said, crossing my arms, "Do you think their secretly gay serial killers that have come to murder us all?"

Leo shook his head, "No, but-"

"Then we're fine," I said, patting his shoulder, "Good work, detective."

Leo sighed and we went back to the table where our friends were sitting.

We sat down and stuck cheesy smiles on our faces.

After that, Mom, Chris, and I took Charlie and James home.

We showed them their room, which was separated by a room divider. Mom apologized that they had to share a room.

I glanced at Charlie and thought about what Leo had said at the coffee shop.

Charlie bowed his head and I could've sworn I saw him smile. 

James cleared his throat and said politely, "It's no problem, Mrs. Harper."

He shot a quick smile at Charlie and I glanced at Chris.

Chris gave me a confused look and I mouthed, I'll talk to you later.

Chris and I smiled at the exchange students and we all said goodnight.

Charlie and James went to their separate beds and Chris, Mom, and I left the room.

Chris and I rushed to my room and we closed the door. We sat down on my bed and I said, "Okay, so, Leo was giving Charlie and James nasty looks today, so I pulled him aside when we were at the coffee shop..."

"Yeah?" Chris said anxiously.

I said in a hushed voice, "Well, I asked Leo what was up and he said he thinks Charlie and James are gay."

Chris' eyes lit up and he said excitedly, "What? Really?"

I raised an eyebrow at my brother and said, "Chris, you have a boyfriend."

Chris sighed wistfully, "And they're like six years older than me...."

We were both quiet for a second and I said, "Now, now, Chris, don't be ageist."

Chris eyed me and said, "You like them too, don't you?"

I shrugged, "James doesn't really appeal as much to me, but Charlie is hot."

"Really?" Chris said, "I think James is the cutest! With his red hair and his accent..."

"They both have accents, Chris." I said, a bit ticked off that Chris had a better chance with them than I did.

Chris looked at me, looking like he had an idea.

"What?" I said.

Chris said, "Ange, what if Charlie and James are boyfriends?"

Wow, I hadn't even thought of that.

I blinked stupidly and said, "You think so?"

Chris nodded, "Maybe."

"How will we find out?" I asked.

Chris cocked his head to the side, "Find out? What do you mean?"

I gave him a 'you know what I'm talking about' look and he said, "Oh, geez, Ange... You're not serious, are you?"

I gave Chris the look again and he sighed, "Fine, okay, I want to know too, I guess."
I grinned and said, "Okay, so here's what we're gonna do..."


At about 4 A.M., Chris and I crawled on our hands and knees to Charlie and James' room.
"Ange, we shouldn't be doing this." Chris hissed in a whisper, "We can't just go into their room."
"We're not gonna go in," I said, "We're going to open the door and peek in."
Chris shook his head, "Ange, we can not do this!"
"Yes, we can!" I whispered, "You want to know if they're gay or not, don't you?"
"How can we tell by looking in their room?" Chris asked.
I narrowed my eyes at him and opened Charlie and James' door a crack.
"Ange," Chris hissed as I crawled into the room a few inches, "Get back here!"
"Come on, you big baby." I said, gesturing for him to follow me.
Chris shook his head and crawled after me, "I can't believe I'm doing this. We'll get in so much trouble!"
"Shh!" I said, slowly standing up.
My jaw dropped.
"What?" Chris said, standing up next to me.
His jaw dropped too.
Charlie and James were sleeping in James' bed, all snuggled up. James had one arm draped over Charlie's side and Charlie's hand rested gently in his.
I gave Chris an 'I told you so' look and we got the hell out of there.