AN: This has been bashing around the inside of my skull for ages, so I finally decided to put it down on paper, even though honestly, I'm way too busy. This has changed from the original version a lot. But I finally think it's right.

Connor was trying to set her up. Again. But this time was different.

"Let me get this straight. You're trying to hook me up...with your dad?"

"... When you say it like that it sounds weird."

"It sounds weird no matter how you say it, Connor. Because it is weird."

"Look, he's not really my dad. I met him like a year ago -"

"He's still biologically related to you."

"And," Connor ignored her, "he's really hot."

Charlie stared at him. "I'm going to give you a moment to reflect on the wrongness of that statement."

"Oh, shut up Char. It's not an incest thing, it's an I have eyes thing. He's hot. He's also your type."

"Old and rich. Wow. Thanks for making me sound like a hooker. I appreciate it. Really."

"You know I didn't mean it like that. You like it when you have someone like you. Lonely. Secretive. Won't make you talk about your past."

"Yeah, that's what you're for."

"Sorry, but I'm not enough. You, Cristina, are fifty shades of fucked up." Charlie winced when he used her fake name, but he didn't notice.

"I told you not to use my full name."

"Also, I can't give you a screaming orgasm."

"Well, I'm sure you could."

"I'm gay, remember?"

"That doesn't mean you lack the ability."

"Come on Charlie. Just come back with me for Christmas break. You're going to mope around campus otherwise. If you don't like him I swear I won't push it."

"Yes, you will." Charlie grumbled, rolling off her bed anyway. "Where's my suitcase?"

Letting out a very girly squeal, her best friend hugged her.

"That's great, Charlie. Just hold and... Got it. Now - oh, that's great. With your skirts pooling around you like that? Perfect. Gorgeous. Very damsel in distress."

Nora clicked away as Charlie fell to her knees dramatically, letting her translucent white skirts flow around her. Modeling might not be the best job, but it paid enough to cover what little of her tuition wasn't covered by her scholarship, as well as the rent for the apartment she shared with Connor. They also let her keep the clothes, which was a definite plus. Although, she wasn't sure where she would wear today's outfit. A tight black skirt under a black leather corset and a long skirt made of layers of floaty white gauze paired with high black boots, it was vaguely princess like and completely over the top.

Other than Connor, Nora was probably the closest thing to a friend that Charlie had. She was her both agent and photographer, since she claimed that she knew how to get the best pictures of Charlie.

"Okay - what's wrong?"

"What?" Charlie looked up at her. "Nothing, I'm fine"

"Really? I finished ten minutes ago and you're still sitting on the floor."

Looking up, Charlie saw that all the camera equipment was packed up. She got to her feet, wincing at the stiffness in her legs. "Sorry. Lost in thought."

"Obviously. Care to tell?"

"Connor's trying to set me up."

"Doesn't he do that every other week?"

"With his dad."

Instead of being shocked, like Charlie expected, Nora tilted her head and looked at her. "You and Monroe? Yeah, I can see it."

"Wait, you know him?"

Nora nodded, bending down to pick up her bag. "We went to high school together. I dated his best friend for a while."

"Really?" Charlie paused, then, "Is he hot? Connor said he was hot."

Nora laughed. "He's gorgeous. And he knows it. You'll have to tell me what happens between you two. Merry Christmas!" she called as she walked out the door.

"How are you?"

Broken, sad, lonely, hurt, upset, alone, depressed, suicidal, angry, hateful, breaking down, screaming, dead, empty, nothing, crying, shouting, giving up, hiding, wearing a mask, horrible, down, hollow, worthless, misunderstood, incapable, distressed, lost pathetic, ashamed, bitter, fake, uneasy, tense, dominated, pessimistic, distrustful, tearful, crushed, offended, aching, wronged, shaky, timid, wary, victimized, tortured, pained, lifeless, cold, dull, nervous, scared, suspicious, alienated, numb, stressed, bruised, jaded, gone.

Like always, all of these answers flashed through her mind, and like always she just said, "I'm fine. What about you?"

"I'm good. But you know that. Come on Charlie, how are you really?"

"I'm okay, Danny. Don't worry. I'm going home with Connor over winter break, and I'm fairly certain that I passed all my finals. They don't know that you know where I am?"

"No. All that's great Charlie, really."

"And they don't - they haven't -"

"They haven't hurt me Charlie." Like they hurt you. They both thought it, but neither said it out loud.

"They... Mom and dad... Maybe they changed. Maybe...you could come back?" Danny suggested timidly.

"No!" It came out harsher than she meant. Softening her voice, she added, "I can't go back there. Not now. Maybe not ever."

"I get it. I do. I just miss you."

"I know kid. I miss you too."

The front door opened and Connor yelled down the hall. "Food!"

"Listen, I've got to go. I love you."

"Love you too."

Hanging up, she walked into the kitchen. Connor tossed a carton of Chinese food at her. "Hurry up and eat. We leave in half an hour."

She grinned at him. "Not giving me a chance to back out?"

"Of course not."