charlie dalton 𝒙 reader

xv. HENLEY HALL

CHAPTER FIFTEEN!
( HENLEY HALL. )

   NEIL HAD TOLD you earlier that he got the lead role of Puck in the play at Henley Hall. Today he was heading out for rehearsal, as the play was tomorrow night. You along with everyone else were extremely happy for him. Neil was too lively to go to medical school. Neil, like the rest of you, had parents who were always putting too much on him, only for him it was worse. Mr. Perry was insufferably unsympathetic towards the wishes of his son, and you didn't know why. You could all blatantly see that it was hurting Neil, but Neil wouldn't ever say a word about it. He'd only brush it off and continue on.

"What's for dinner?" Violet asked you as you filed into the dining hall.

"Spaghetti and meatballs!" you grinned.

"My favourite," she smiled, taking a seat at the long table. After you were served, you noticed Neil walk into the dining hall with a sad expression on his face. Every so often Neil would have the very same expression, tight-lipped and glossy-eyed. You stood up to walk over to him but Violet grabbed your arm.

"Not a good idea. Let's talk to him later," she warned. You nodded and sat back down. You watched as Neil took a seat and was quickly greeted by his group of friends. You smiled softly, he was lucky to have so many people who cared. Sometimes it's just not enough.

As soon as dinner ended, you and Violet caught up to the boys. You decided not to say anything about his father, in case it was too sensitive.

"How did rehearsal go?" you asked.

"It was great. The rehearsal was great," Neil smiled cynically. "It's what happened after. My father told me to quit the play."

You sucked in a breath and immediately felt anger rise in your chest. You clenched your fists and breathed deeply. You didn't know what to say. None of you had an easy ride at home, but Neil had it worst of all.

"You should talk to Keating," you said. He was the best mentor any of you had ever had, surely he would know what to do.

Neil looked at you and wrapped an arm around your shoulder in a half-hug. "I think I will," he stated decidedly.

❦

The school bell rang loudly and you grabbed your books.

"Get out of here, Cameron, you fool," Charlie laughed. You looked over at him and shook your head, laughing. As you did you caught sight of Knox, who had just gone to give Chris some flowers and read her a poem. Which was your idea, only you didn't know he planned to do it at her school. You only hoped he did it privately.

"Charlie, look!" you said, turning Charlie's shoulders to face Knox. Charlie grinned and grabbed Knox's jacket.

"Hey, how'd it go? Did you read it to her?" he asked excitedly.