Charlotte stares at me I can't tell if the water running down her face is from the rain or tears, I can only hope it's rain. "You know you could have told me this months ago." She sniffles wiping her eyes on the sleeve of her jacket,
"I did Charlie. I tried." I tell her, I reach out to wipe what I now know is a tear off her face but she turns her face quickly. "Please don't do this." I find myself pleading with her,
"I need to get home now." She says her voice wobbling with emotion. Even though I really want to stop her, I let her go.
September Five Months Prior-
Senior Year. The year I had been looking forward to since it seems like forever. I know I only have a few more months before I can get the hell out of Tulsa. I had already stopped by the guidance office and picked up a stack of applications for schools that were going to start accepting early applications within the next few weeks. I drop my stuff and slide into the empty seat next to Greg who turns towards me, "Did you see the new girl?" He asks, trying to whisper. Greg never quite mastered that skill his whisper comes out as a quiet yell, and at least three heads whip around towards us. I shake my head,
"No, I don't think so at least. Why?" Greg is a notorious ladies man, he has a horde of girls that follow him around the school and now that he's a senior it's larger than ever. Soda and Darry both think he's a riot. I sigh thinking about Soda, I try not too. He got drafted not to long after he turned eighteen, Steve not far behind him. They had been in basic training together, Soda ended up getting shipped to California before heading overseas. Steve had never made it out of basic training before he had gotten an injury and had been shipped home on the first bus to Tulsa. In reality Steve should have been happy to have gotten out of there alive but all it did was prove to make him even more bitter. Darry and I see him every once in a while, but not nearly as often as we used too. Two-Bit hadn't even been able to pass the physical, so he went back to his normal routine of being out of favor with the law. He's currently sitting up in county on a drunk driving charge. Greg gives an overly exasperated sigh, jerking me out of my thoughts.
"She's super fine." He tells me, "Like traffic stopping fine." Megan Fitzgerald who is sitting in front of Greg and who thinks she's God's gift to the school turns around tossing her dark brown curls over her shoulder,
"She's not all that Gregory." She spits out. Greg chuckles, him and Megan have quite a past with each other. They've been on and off since Greg discovered girls in fourth grade, usually more off than on. But God forbid if Greg so much looks at another girl, I find it funny Megan doesn't care if girls throw themselves at him but if he looks she's ready to rip his head off.
"Jealously doesn't look good on you Meg." Greg remarks. If looks could kill Greg would be dead by the dagger eyes she shoots him before spinning back around. He looks at me and mouths "super fine" at me. I roll my eyes flipping open my text book, the entire class looks up when the door opens and a petite blonde walks in. A gorgeous blonde one who is obviously new. Greg elbows me in ribs and motions towards her, "That's her." He hisses as he smooths back his hair. Mrs. O'Brien acknowledges her,
"Class this is Charlotte MacKinnon she just moved here from?" She looks at her,
"Tennessee." She fills in politely.
"Right Tennessee of course." Mrs. O'Brien hands her a text book, and looks around the classroom, "You can go take that empty seat." She says pointing to the one next to me, Greg mutters something under his breath that sounds like "lucky prick." Charlotte nods, as she sits down next to me smoothing out her dress under her. She gets herself situated than turns slightly in my direction brushing back a piece of her hair revealing the greenest eyes I have ever seen. Mrs. O'Brien is not the best teacher in the world, and as usual she gives us a chapter in our American History book to read and says a summary of it is due tomorrow before she sits back down and starts filing her nails. When the bell rings we all get up, "Oh uh Charlotte I need to talk to you for a moment." We all file out except for Charlotte who stops to talk.
"Dude you suck." Greg whines as we head towards our locker. I whip my head around when I hear an unfamiliar voice call my name, Greg and I look at each other when we realize it's Charlotte.
"Mrs. O'Brien told me to talk to you, she said if I needed any help catching up I should ask you." She smiles at me,
"Oh yeah he's the one that can help you." Greg crows smacking me on the back,
"Ignore him, he doesn't get out much." I give him a look and Greg takes the hint calling he'll see me at track practice. "Charlotte right?" I ask as she twirls the lock on the locker next to mine.
"Yup." She replies exchanging out a few books, "Did I miss a whole lot, I mean it's only a week into the school year?" She asks as we walk down the hall, I can't help but notice the looks I get from quite a few people. I had always had a lot of friends but now that the whole soc/greaser thing is over, I've accrued a lot more.
"No but she's paranoid about her job because she's a crappy teacher." I tell her. She laughs lightly, than hands me a piece of paper,
"Well if you think of anything I may need to know call me." She says smiling at me. I nod,
"Yeah absolutely." I reply. I glance at my watch, "I should go got practice." Charlotte nods,
"It was nice meeting you." She replies as she turns and walks down the hall. I take a deep breath, put her number in my pocket and head towards the locker room.