dancing like she way out
(George Daniel x xcx!stepdaughter!r x some Charli)
warnings: mentions of absent father but we all know r don’t gaf, yay George, r is 11, pretty fluffy no angst omg who is sheeeeee
The rhythmic cadence of a knife meeting the cutting board resonated through the kitchen, blending with the low hum of the refrigerator. The air carried the fragrant aroma of fresh herbs and the rich scent of something simmering on the stove, casting a warmth over the room that defied the chill outside. You stood beside Charli, your sleeves rolled up to your elbows, methodically slicing a carrot into uniform rounds, carefully minding your fingers. Cooking together had always been a shared ritual, a quiet and unspoken bond that required neither forced conversation nor expectation. The steady rhythm of chopping, stirring, and the occasional clink of metal against ceramic made up the comfortable symphony of your time together.
Still, when your mother’s voice broke the silence, your stomach tightened.
“Can I ask you something?”
Her tone was light, casual even, but you weren’t fooled. Charli never asked questions without intent. There was always something beneath her words, some deeper contemplation she had been turning over in her mind. You flicked your eyes toward her, trying to read her expression, but she remained focused on her task, slicing with steady precision. Her knife moved effortlessly through a sprig of parsley, the small green leaves scattering like confetti across the cutting board.
“Sure,” you replied, aiming for the same effortless tone.
She hesitated for just a moment before speaking. “Why’d you put the father-daughter dance flyer in the trash?”
Your hand froze mid-slice. The knife hovered over the cutting board as your heart lurched in your chest.
You turned to look at her, eyes wide, like you had been caught doing something you shouldn’t. Charli, however, merely smiled knowingly. Her gaze flicked to you for a brief second before returning to her chopping. “You’re not in trouble, duh,” she assured, smoothly transferring the vegetables into a bowl with a practiced flick of her wrist. “Just wanted to know what was up.”
Your throat tightened as you lowered your gaze, suddenly hyper-focused on the symmetry of the carrot slices. “I dunno,”you muttered.
Charli didn’t push. She let the silence stretch between you, waiting to see if you would fill it on your own. When you didn’t, she chose her next words with care. “Did you want to… ask George at all-”
“Mom,” you interrupted swiftly, your voice bordering on pleading.
“What?” she said, her soft laughter laced with amusement. “I’m just putting it out there. I think he’d love to go with you.”
Your stomach flipped. “For real?” The idea sounded almost ridiculous, like a thought you had shoved away before it could fully form.
Charli shrugged. “I don’t see why not.”
“Because I’m not his daughter?” The words came out blunt, as though stating a fact rather than revealing the vulnerability laced beneath them. You carefully set the knife down and rubbed your palms against your jeans, as if the motion could dispel the nervous energy coursing through you.
Charli paused, considering her words carefully. “Well, you’re close enough, no?” she countered, raising an eyebrow. “You didn’t even want to ask anyone else? Terry? Grandpa? Me? You always found yourself a date. You were so determined to find a ‘dad for the night’ when you were little.”
You exhaled sharply, your face heating up. “Well… I’m not so little anymore.”
“No,” Charli agreed, her voice gentler now. “But you’re also not as ‘dad-less’ anymore.”
You shot her a warning glance. “Mom.”
“I’m not pushing you,” she assured, reaching for a lemon and slicing it cleanly. The citrusy tang filled the air, sharp and fresh. “But the fact that you’re suddenly unsure about who to ask this year tells me that you already have someone in mind, and maybe you’re just afraid to act on it.”
You hated when she did that - when she unraveled the thoughts tangled in your mind so effortlessly and laid them bare in front of you. It was infuriating, how well she knew you. She could always tell when something was weighing on you, no matter how tightly you tried to hold it in.
You didn’t respond right away. Instead, you focused on the steady motion of your fingers as you nudged the carrot slices into a neat little pile, as if arranging them into order would somehow help you organize the thoughts racing through your head. The kitchen clock ticked steadily, filling the silence between you, the weight of her words settling into your bones.
Finally, you mumbled, “Stop being a good mother.”
Charli laughed, the sound warm and affectionate. “Just sayin’.”
You hesitated, then glanced at her out of the corner of your eye. “Don’t ask him. Please?”
Charli’s hands stilled, and when she turned to face you fully, the teasing glint in her eyes had faded. She studied you for a moment, her expression unreadable, and then nodded once, solemnly. “I won’t say a word.”
Somehow, that made you feel both relieved and even more uncertain all at once.
The scent of the simmering sauce on the stove filled the air, rich and familiar, grounding you in the moment. The father-daughter dance was just a school event - just another thing on a calendar full of forgettable dates. But as you stood there, feeling the weight of something unspoken settle between you and your mother, you couldn’t help but wonder if, maybe, it wasn’t as small as you had tried to make it seem.
George sat on the edge of the bed, tugging off his socks with a sigh while Charli stood by the dresser, rubbing moisturizer into her hands. The quiet hum of the house settling around them was a familiar comfort, the kind of silence that came with years of shared space.
“What are you doing Friday night?” Charli asked, voice casual as she climbed onto her side of the bed.
George shot her a wary glance. “Oh, God. What’ve you got planned this time?”
Charli rolled her eyes. “Not me. Y/N.”
His expression shifted, curiosity replacing suspicion. “Oh. Then what’s up?”
She hesitated for a moment, biting her lip, silently debating whether she was about to make a mistake. She had promised you she wouldn’t say anything, but this wasn’t really breaking that promise, was it? This was just… nudging things in the right direction.
“She’s got a father-daughter dance. Was wondering if you’d be open to going with her?”
George blinked. “Why wouldn’t I?”
Charli sighed, rubbing a hand over her face. “You know why.”
His brows furrowed slightly, the weight behind her words sinking in. “Does she want to go with me? Or do you want me to go with her?”
“I’m more so just the messenger.”
“Ah, I see.” He leaned back against the headboard, arms crossing loosely over his chest. “She usually finds someone to go with every year, right? I mean, it’s never been a big deal before.”
Charli nodded. “Right. But this time… I found the flyer in the trash.”
George’s gaze sharpened. “She threw it away?”
“Mhm. I brought it up to her, just casually, and told her I thought it was funny that she was struggling to pick a date this year.”
George was quiet for a moment, processing. “And?”
“She didn’t really have an answer. But I think she wanted to ask you.”
Something flickered across his face, something unreadable. “Then why didn’t she?”
Charli shrugged. “She’s scared.”
George frowned. “Scared of what?”
His mouth parted slightly, as if the idea was so ridiculous it hadn’t even occurred to him. “Why would I say no?”
“I don’t know, George.” She sighed. “But if that’s even a possibility in her mind, then she’d rather not take the risk of finding out.”
Silence hung between them, thick and weighted.
“That sucks.” His voice was quieter now, thoughtful. “I don’t want her to think she can’t ask me for things like this.”
Charli watched him, gauging his reaction. “So, what do you want to do?”
George was quiet for another moment, then nodded to himself. “I’ll ask her.”
Charli raised an eyebrow. “And what, just randomly bring it up?”
He smirked slightly. “I’ll tell her I saw something about it. Like I got an email or something.”
Charli gave him a look. “You really think she’s gonna believe that?”
George shrugged, leaning over to switch off the bedside lamp. “I don’t know. But I’ll figure it out.”
Charli studied him for a moment, then smiled softly. “I think it’ll mean a lot to her.”
George settled back against his pillow, exhaling as the room dimmed into darkness. “Yeah,” he murmured. “I hope so.”
You’re sitting at the kitchen table, pencil in hand, but your mind is miles away. You’re trying to focus on the homework in front of you, but every time you look down at the page, all you can think about is the dance coming up on Friday. Only 3 days away now.
You’re scared to even mention it to George. You’ve thought about asking him - really, you have - but you’re terrified. Terrified that he’ll say no. Terrified that he’ll think it’s weird or that you’re bothering him, even though he’s your step dad. You’ve never really had a real “dad” to ask, and now that you do, the thought of rejection hurts worse than not asking at all.
You hear footsteps behind you, and then the soft sound of something being set down on the table. You look up and see George standing there, holding a small card, a bouquet of flowers, and a bag of candy. Your heart skips a beat.
You blink up at him, confused. “What’s all this?
He smiles at you, but there’s something soft in his eyes, something that makes your stomach flutter with nerves. He gently sets the flowers and candy in front of you, then sits down at the table, his gaze never leaving yours.
“I know you’ve been thinking about the dance,” he says quietly, his voice calm but full of affection. “And I think you’ve been trying to figure out how to ask me.”
You freeze, your mouth going dry. You didn’t think anyone knew, but somehow, George saw through it. You shift in your seat, your heart racing.
“I… I don’t know if you’ll want to go with me,” you say, barely above a whisper, not meeting his eyes. “I don’t want to bother you.”
George chuckles softly, shaking his head, and you feel the weight of the tension between you start to shift. He leans forward, his hands resting on the table, his smile kind but serious.
“Y/n Aitchison,” he says, taking your hands in his, voice steady, “will you do me the honor... of accompanying me to the father-daughter dance this Friday night?”
You stare at him, blinking in disbelief, unsure if you heard him right. “For real?” you ask, your voice barely a squeak.
“For real,” he replies, his grin widening. “I wouldn’t want to go with anyone else.”
You blink rapidly, still trying to process what he just said. “Are you sure?”
“Are you kidding?” he laughs, leaning back a little, his tone light but full of warmth. “Why would I not be sure? You’re my girl, Y/n. Can you think of another 11-year-old I could ask to bring? Or anything better I could be doing?”
You can’t help it - your heart swells, and a smile breaks across your face. You didn’t even know you were holding your breath until it’s all released in one long sigh of relief. You pick up the card, your hands shaking just a little, and finally meet his gaze.
“It would be my honor,” He says, voice near a whisper - like something sacred, only shared between you two.
George’s eyes soften, and he reaches out, pulling you into a tight hug, his arms wrapping around you like you’ve always belonged there. You let out a soft laugh, feeling a tear slip down your cheek, and you hold on tight, knowing that everything is going to be okay.
“Really?” you ask again, almost in disbelief, pulling back just a little to look up at him. “I get to go with you?”
He chuckles, brushing a strand of hair out of your face. “Of course, kid. It’s a date.”
You nod, wiping away the tear that you didn’t even realize had fallen, and the relief floods you like a wave. You feel lighter, brighter. The dance isn’t so scary anymore, and you’re not scared anymore, either. And it’s because you’re going with George.
The dance is nothing compared to what this moment feels like. It’s everything.