Kidnapped

Chapter 5: Charlie

"What were you two talking about?" Charlie repeated. "W-we were talking-" Luke stammered. "We were talking about the field trip," I blurted. "What field trip?"

Charlie asked. "The field trip to the museum," Luke answered. "We were discussing if we should bring money or something."

Charlie leaned his large body against the doorway. "When is the field trip?" "Next week," I answered. "The trip costs fifteen dollars." Convinced, Charlie reached into his pocket and pulled out the money. "I'm putting it on your desk," he said, laying the money on my desktop.

"That's fine, Charlie." I said. "I've already-" "It's my treat," Charlie interrupted. "Come downstairs, your mother has already picked the movie." "Okay," I said.

Luke looked at me then followed to the living room. The popcorn bowls were filled, Mom was putting the disc in the DVD player, and the boxes have been put away.

"What's the movie called?" I asked. "It's a French romantic comedy," Mom squealed. "So, what's the title?" Charlie asked. "Something French," Mom shrugged. Luke gave me a questionable look. In return, I gave him a nervous smile.

Charlie turned off the lights and sat next to Mom. I sat next to Luke and stared at the blue screen. Within a few minutes, the movie appeared in the television. The scenery and the characters were black and white. A woman with dark hair and a white dress said something to a man who is supposedly her husband. He laughs at her comment then starting yelling.

Mom and Charlie were leaning next to each other like they're teenagers again. Charlie whispered something in her ear and Mom laughed. I moaned and took Luke by the hand. "Let's hurry," I urged. "Before they start making out."

Mom kissed Charlie on the beard. "Ew!" Luke whispered. "Welcome to my life," I said sarcastically. "Come on, your parents might be looking for you." Eagerly, Luke followed me back upstairs and shut the door.

As I opened the window, Luke marveled my room. My room had periwinkle blue walls, purple carpet floors, and a large canopy bed. Photos of my family were perched on my desktop and drawer, Sherlock Holmes novels stacked neatly on the bed, and my closer was halfway open, revealing my clothes. "Nice place," he said, pointing at my Scooby Doo rug. "You're a fan of the Mystery Incorporated?"

"No way," I said. "You like Scooby-Doo?" Luke nodded. "The dog was my favorite," he chuckled. "Mine is Daphne," I said. He gave me a confused look. "I have always thought of you as Velma," Luke said.

"I'm the smart one?" I asked. "Pretty much," Luke said. "You already knew that I was lying, you wear clothes that girls don't like, you like to observe..."

He picked up a Sherlock Holmes novel then added, " ..., and Velma likes to read these books." "I'm obsessed with mystery and crime," I shrugged. "Mom hates them and wants me to focus on making friends."

"You don't have to care what other people think," Luke advised. "You like mysteries and solving puzzles. Don't change that." You never told me what do you want to be when you grow up," I said. "A researcher," Luke answered. "Or a forensic scientist."

"You're a Dr. Watson?" I asked. "First of all," Luke sighed. "He is a writer and a doctor, obviously. Second-" "I was just joking," I giggled. "You more of a Sherlock type." "Ha ha," Luke said sarcastically. "You are so funny."

"You are like Sherlock," I continued. "You're quiet, humorless, and a lone wolf." "Please stop," Luke groaned. "You are killing me." "Have you read Sherlock before?" I asked. "I have read it up until the Scandal of Bohemia." "Whoa," I said. "I have only just started reading Study in Scarlett."

"You want me to spoil the books for you?" Luke offered. I gave him a playful push. "Don't you dare," I jokingly threatened. Luke laughed. "It's getting late," I said. "Oh," Luke said softly. "I better get home before Mom screams like a bat."

"Wait," I said. "Before you go, did you actually use your deduction skills on my family and me or did you just eavesdrop?" "It was obvious," Luke admitted. "But I wouldn't call it deduction, I call it an observation." "Did you come up with a conclusion?" I asked curiously. "I knew that your mom isn't married to that deadbeat lowlife," Luke explained. "Your mom wore an old wedding ring on her index finger and Charlie doesn't."

"I knew that you guys came from Michigan because of the sticker on your luggage." I was surprised. I never realized I had a sticker on my luggage. "What did it say?" I asked. "Made in Michigan," Luke stated. "And lastly, I made a deduction of you: you are seventeen year old teenager like me, you seemed to be a smarty pants, and you dress like a Smurf."

"I don't dress like a Smurf!" I cried. Luke nodded very slowly. "This morning, your clothes were practically blue." I scowled at his insult. "Blue is my favorite color," I sniffed. "And so is purple."

He went up to my closet and peered at my clothes. "Purple shirts, purple jeans, and purple boots?" Luke scoffed. "What are you? Barney?" "Shut up," I groaned. "I don't see you having a cool wardrobe."

"At least my wardrobe is not the Fifty Shades of Blue," Luke teased. I marched towards my closet then shut its doors. "Stop looking in my closet." I mumbled. After Luke had stopped laughing, he checked the time on his phone. "Almost nine thirty," he said. "I have to go before my mom screams like a bat."

"See you at school," I said. "You too," said Luke as he slipped out of the window. I heard his footsteps on the ground as he hurried straight home. I closed the window, changed into my pajamas, and collapsed on my bed.

The force knocked the stack of books onto the ground, but I didn't care. After I turned off the lights, I closed my eyes then drifted off to sleep. The next morning, I woke up groggy. I brushed my teeth and washed my face.

As I came downstairs, Mom and Charlie were still asleep and the television screen blacked out. Sighing, I woke Mom up then quickly prepared cereal. "Ugh," Mom groaned. "What time is it?" "Six thirty," I replied, dumping the dry pieces of cereal into the bowl.

Mom stopped groaning then rushed into the bathroom. I opened the fridge door, plucked out the milk carton, and dumped the white liquid in the cereal. That's when Charlie stretched his arms and waddled over to me. His face scrunched as he saw my breakfast.

"Do you want anything to eat?" he asked. "No Charlie," I responded. He gave me a worried look, but I ignored it. I took the bowl to the kitchen table and ate it. "Cole," Charlie sighed. "You know that's not going to keep you full."

"I'll be fine," I said. "Oh by the way, can you sign my permission slip?" I handed him the pen and slip out of my jeans pocket, and Charlie signed it. "Do you have the money?" he asked. "It's in my homework folder," I told him. All of a sudden, someone knocked on the door.

Cast

Robbie Kay as Benjamin Hamilton

Cole Porter as Zendaya Coleman

Elizabeth Mitchell as Willow Porter