AUTHORS NOTE: I am so sorry it took me so long to post a new chapter, I have been so freakin busy! I hope you liked chapter 2! I need more reviews! I think that it would be SO GRAND if you reviewed me! Tell me how I am doing! Tell me what your favorite part was!
Chapter 3
Charlie's POV:
It was only my fourth or fifth week of school, and I already missed Mike like crazy. I was in physics when I got a text from Mike asking how I was doing. I had gotten several texts from him, so it was normal, but I almost started to cry when I got this one. I closed my eyes hard and looked down. I opened my eyes and saw a blurry version of my lap. I swiftly wiped the tears dropping from my face, and looked up. I looked over, and saw Moose lift his head from hitting it softly on the desk, I'm guessing cause physics sucks ass. I laughed a bit, then my eyes filled up again. He caught my eye and I saw him give me a confused look, with sadness he mouthed, "Are you okay?" He tilted his head.
He is the only one I know at MSA. After he spilled a slushie on me a couple weeks ago, I got on bad terms with the rest of the school. Sophie spread some pretty gnarly rumors about me. Apparently I kissed Moose and then tried to punch her, but I slipped on the slushie and hit my head, and made a fool of myself. That was all in two weeks, I hope it's done. I think it is done because I went to lunch with Moose and Sophie the other day. Me and Sophie agreed we started off bad, but we will both work on it, and that made Moose smile.
I mouthed back to him,
"Yeah, I just yawned, that's all." I made a yawning gesture, then suddenly pictured Mike laughing and doing his half smile with that messy, sandy blonde hair of his, and that cute way he would never let go of my hand. Okay, this can NOT be happening. I NEVER cry. I was still looking at Moose, when all too soon my eyes fuzzed up again, and I turned away quick and rubbed my eyes. I quickly got up while everybody was working quietly and made my way over to Mrs. Hanes's desk.
"Mrs. Hanes, uh, could I use the restroom?"
She saw my face and you could tell that she could tell that I had been crying. Did that make sense?
"Oh yes hun, but don't take too long. I know how that time of the month can be." She said as she comfortingly touched my hand. I wasn't on my period, and Mrs. Hanes is like 82. But I just went along with it, cause it was a way to get out of that damn class.
"Uh, yeah, can I just go?" I said convincingly. She gave me the hall pass, and I walked out. As soon as I was out I ran down to the west stairwells where nobody goes. I sat down at the bottom, and looked at my phone and started bawling. I shut my eyes and pressed my hands on my eyes. I rubbed them gently and then opened my eyes and saw black smears all over my fingers. I wiped it on my loose purple shirt and my jean shorts. Great. Now I have to go back to class like this.
I texted him back, and told him that everything was going great I already have a bunch of friends, just so he wouldn't get worried. I started to cry, and put my knees to my face. Then I looked at my phone and saw the time. Shit. I have been out of class for twenty minutes. I stood up, and wiped my tights off, then fixed my leggings. I started stepping up the stairs and turned the corner to go up the next flight of stairs, and ran straight into someone. My knees buckled and I started to fall, but before I made contact with the ground, I wrapped my arms around their arms and they caught me.
"We gotta stop meeting like this." I heard a familiar laugh and I knew who it was. I got my balance and I immediately let go of him, and ran down the stairs. I ran down 3 flights of stairs down to the janitors basement and sat down on the last step. I heard rapid footsteps and my name was being called behind me.
Mooses POV:
I hate physics so much. I hit my head against my desk repeatedly. Mrs. Hanes is so boring. I looked up, and wiped my face. I glanced over and saw Charlie with water in her eyes.
"Are you okay?" I mouthed to her. She mouthed something and made it looked like she yawned. But I didn't believe her, because right after that her chin quivered and the water in her eyes swelled. And she turned away from me. I scrunched my eyebrows, and almost got up from my chair. She went up to Mrs. Hanes, they exchanged a couple of words, then she walked out. I got up from my chair, and stood there staring at the door. I was up for at least 10 seconds before I realized what I was even doing.
"Do you have something to share with us Robert?" Mrs. Hanes's voice carried through the whole room. You know for an 80 year old, she sure was loud. I shot my head in her direction, then replied,
"Nope. Sorry Mrs. Pains.." I sat down then replayed what I said to her in my mind. The blood in my face drained. Damn. Right when I'm starting to get on her food side. Her head shot to me, a venomous look wrinkled on her face.
".. What. Did you call me?" She crinkled her nose as if the foul stench of her armpits had finally reached her nose. I mean how hard is it to glide some deodorant under your arms once? Or even to shower?
"I didn't mean to say that! I just, you, I mean I said Mrs. Hanes! I swear I did! I didn't say-" "I heard what you said to me Robert Alexander." She cut me off, and scribbled something on a detention slip, and ripped it off of the others. She waved it in the air, so I got up from my seat and a chorus of "ooo"s came from the class. I grabbed my back pack and walked over to her desk.
"I didn't even mean to say that, I'm-"
"Just, go Robert." I stared at her with a 'really?!' Look plastered on my face.
"NOW." She slithered between her teeth. I jumped at how scary she became. I snatched the note out of her aged hands cautiously and walked out the door.
I looked left and right, looking for a certain purple shirt, but the halls were empty. I walked down the hall and down the stairs. I stopped halfway down the second staircase I was on, because I heard something. I listened intently and realize that someone was softly crying. I walked a little further and looked around the corner. I saw Charlie's head buried in her hands. I backed up and for some reason felt awful, I just wanted to go up to her and give her a huge hug. I wanted to make sure she was okay.
I heard some rustling and then heard slow steps up the stairs. I had to think quick, she was coming right to me. So I started to walk down towards her, hoping that I would walk faster, to pass her.
WHAM. That did not go as planned.
I hit right into her, and she grabbed my arms to keep her from slipping and making another goose egg on the back of her head. I wrapped my arms around her waist and held her steady.
"We gotta stop meeting like this." I said while giving my signature laugh to lighten the mood, but she didn't look at me. She let go of my arms, and burst out of the hold I had on her, and ran down the stairs. This is serious. After I processed what had happened, it all happened very quickly, I ran after her calling her name.
Charlie's POV:
I curled up in a corner of the basement, where I hoped he wouldn't find me. I still heard my name being called several times. My curls were damp and consumed my face. I looked back down at my phone, and saw that I've been out of class for half an hour. I didn't know why this was such a big fuss. I didn't realize that I missed that hell hole so much. This was more than just Mike, this was about the house I was born in, the life that I was used to, and I just left it all without a proper goodbye. I tried hard not to make a sound, but I couldn't hold it any longer. I cried out, still with my eyes squeezed tightly shut, I threw my head back and cried. I stuffed my face into my knees, and my body shook while I was exhaling cries. Then I felt a hand on my back, and then gentle arms caressed my weak body. I broke out of my position and hugged him intensely. I buried my face into his chest and he ran his hand through my bush of hair. I suddenly felt safe in his arms.
My cries died down, and soon enough I was just hugging him while we leaned on the wall. My eyes still shut, I inhaled a deep breath through my nose, and took in his scent, and kept it in my memory. Then I opened my eyes and looked up.
"I'm so sorry. You don't have to be here. I'm usually not like this! I swear, I never cry." I sat up to face him. "I'm so-" he was asleep. How long was I crying? I saw on his serene face a half smile, and on his shirt where I bawled was black mascara streaks. Oh shit! I got mascara all over him! Well wait, that means we're even now, so I don't have to worry about it, right? Sure. I looked at his face again, smiled, and then leaned on the wall next to him, and yawned. I was pretty tired too. My eyes grew very weary, and I put my head on Mooses shoulder, and like that, I was out.
I woke up to the sound of Mooses voice. He was on the phone with someone trying to explain himself. I looked over to his voice, and he was turned away from me, trying to be silent, but obviously it wasn't working. I stood up very quietly and tip toed towards the stairs. I tried to be as quiet as possible.
"No no no no no! I'm so sorry! I fell asleep!... Well I will make it up to you!.. What about tonight?... Rehearsal? Oh.. Um tomorrow?... Rehearsal.. Uhhhh.." Moose said in hushed tones, when really he was quite loud.
"What about right now? Right now? Yeah! I can come over! To your house? Okay, I will be there in.." I looked back and he was looking at his watch, I was still tip toeing, and the stairs came too early. I tripped and twisted my ankle, I let out a squeak of pain. I stretched out my arms, to protect myself from any other bruises I could possibly get, and caught myself on the stairs.
Moose's head shot around, he had concern in his eyes. He made a face and mouthed the word, "OUCH!"
"Soph, uh I don't think I can come over!.. I'm sorry! I will call you later.. I have to go, cause- I am pooping?.. Yes. I have go. Bye." He hung up the phone and ran over to me.
"Oh my god, are you okay?" He said with a little chuckle, yet in all seriousness.
"Yep! I'm fine! Don't worry about me, I got this." I replied with no pain in my voice. This is where my acting skills come into play.
"Don't you lie to me, Charlie. I think we need to get you to the hospital." He said, trying to pick me up. I started laughing.
"What's so funny?" He stopped and looked at me, with a curious smile on his face.
"Are you gonna try and carry me? I'm heavier than I look Moose."
I chuckled. He looked me, and had 'are you kidding me?!' written in his facial expression.
"I can carry you! And not because I'm strong, I mean I am strong-" he flexed his arms an winked"-see? anyway, its not cause of my muscles, it's cause you're teeny weeny!" Moose looked me up and down.
"Moose stop checking me out, this is just awkward, haha, I know you want this, but it's taken." I gave him a cheeky smile. He laughed but the light in his face dimmed a bit. I started to stand up, but I remembered I couldn't fully stand up. I extended my injured left foot, and this is where I hoped that my acting skills would come in handy. I put weight on it, and put on my best normal-nothin-is-wrong face. As I stepped on my foot, the nerves activated all at once, it felt like piece of wood covered in nails was smashed into my ankle. It was definitely sprained. I hoped with all of my heart that it wasn't broken.
"Look, I'm fine! Go be with your girlfriend! It sounds like you missed an important date." I said with a little question in my voice. I looked at him and he looked at me with regret, he backed up and sat down next to where I was standing. I sat next to him, still looking at him. Their was a quiet moment then he glance at me and then looked down at his hands.
"You know, I can't help if you don't tell me what's up.?" I told him, and gave him a shoulder nudge.
"I don't know what I'm doing wrong. I'm trying to be a good boyfriend, but she just is always mad at me, for some weird reason." He said and then looked at me. I gave put my hand on his thigh reassuringly.
"I'm sure your doing everything right, how long has this been going on?" I asked.
"Well, she, I don't know, I don't really wanna talk about it.." He replied and looked back at his hands.
We sat there for a while, in silence. There was no sign of awkward in the air, just a humble awareness of each other, and my hand was still on his thigh.
"Hey." I broke the barrier and he looked up at me.
"Thanks. For comforting me and all that shit.. I'm sorry I stained your shirt.." We both looked at his shirt simultaneously, and then looked back in each others eyes. He laughed, which made me smile, my goofy smile, and then he smiled at me. We were still looking into each others with smiles plastered onto our faces. I suddenly became aware that my hand was still on his thigh. The smile weakened on his face, and turned to intensity. I felt the smile wipe off my face. Our faces started to close the gap between them. Only inches apart, his hand intertwined with mine. Everything around us became foggy, and all I could hear was his breathing against mine. My mind was blank, and I slowly closed my eyes.
*RIIIIIINNGGGG*
I jumped up, letting go of his hand and bumping noses with him. He looked at me with wide eyes. I looked at him with the same expression. He shook his head and rubbed his eyes. I realized that my phone was buzzing in my pocket, and the ring that broke us apart was coming from the speakers. I shook my head and pressed 'talk'.
"Hello?" I managed to squeak out, then cleared my throat.
"Hey babe! Are you okay? You didn't text me back, and it's been what 6 hours?" I looked down at the caller I.D. And I read Mike. Who's Mi- holy hell! My boyfriend Mike! I have a boyfriend, and I was just about to kiss my only friend in Baltimore.
"Oh! Mike! Hi! ... Yeah I'm fine-" I looked at Moose and he mouthed to me, "I am SO sorry!" I shook my head and replied silently, "oh my god! I'm sorry! Hang on.."
"Yeah, I just took a really long nap, that's all. You know, I'm not used to this time zone yet.. Haha yeah I know it's been a month.. Hey can I call you back? Yeah.. Promise, love you bye."
I hung up and slid the phone in my pocket. I looked back over to Moose and he had gotten up, and he was pacing.
"Look Moose, I am so sorry! I just got caught up in the moment, and I have a boyfriend... Whoa.. I have a boyfriend." It finally hit me, and he looked at me.
"Whoa, I have a girlfriend..." He paused for a moment to take it all in.
"Okay, I am really sorry! Lets not have this happen again, deal?" He stuck out his hand, I stood up to walk over and shake it, but as soon as I put weight on my left foot, I yelled, then fell. He caught me, and lifted me up.
"See, I knew you were lying! I'm takin you to the hospital."
"No really I'm fine, that was just a test for you-"
"Ah ha, no, you can't trick me anymore!" He squatted down, an said, "Alright, piggy back ride! Hop on Charlaaaaayyy!" He called back to me. I started to laugh uncontrollably.
"Hahaha! Alright! Are you sure, Moose?" I raised my eyebrows, and looked forward to him. His head snapped back.
"I have never been so sure in my LIFE!" He called back again with a fake lisp. I laughed again, and hopped onto his back. Then we galloped out of the school towards the hospital.
"You should be okay, these X-rays show that it's only a sprain, so you should be up and running by Wednesday." The doctor had a distinct old flower smell to him.
"Okay, thanks, uhh how's my friend?" I said remembering that when we arrived at the hospital Moose collapsed saying,
"Where did you get that clown wig?" To me and pointing to my head, well and then he fell over.
"He'll be fine, just a little dehydration, that's all." He replied.
"Okay, so can I visit him?"
"We have to keep you and him over night just for contract reasons. Do you want me to contact your parents?" He talked very slowly and loud like I couldn't hear him at all.
".. Uh sure? But don't scare her too much." I told him. He looked at me, then smiled and gave a raspy laugh.
"Do you want me to bring your friend in here so you two can be together?" He asked me, in the same loud slow voice.
"Sure, why not?" I said, as he started for the door, then right before he left he turned back, and smiled really big. Then off he went to go get Moose.
Wow, Moose carried me 10 blocks all the way from the high school. Oh shit, he was supposed to go be with Sophie, then I had to go sprain my ankle. I have to tell him that he's my best friend and that we have to stay that way. As soon as I thought that, a female nurse rolled Moose in, and he was sound asleep. He looked happy, and out of it.
"You know, he was really worried about you. He kept asking about Charlie, and so I asked him who Charlie is, and he described you just as you are, beautiful and brown, haha! He was awfully worried about you." She looked at me and set him where he was supposed to go. His bed was about three feet away from my bed.
"He's one lucky boy to have a girl like you!" She said to me shaking my arm a bit. This lady is probably in her mid 50's.
"Well actually, he's just my friend, his girlfriend should actually be here soon." I said back to her very quickly and kind of slurred. Just then Sophie came rushing through the door, and looked at me in a way that should only be meant for when you look at Hitler. She then rushed over to Moose's bed and sat down in the chair next to it.
"Moose, honey, are you okay? I came as quick as I could. Moose can you hear me?" Sophie shook his hand a little bit, and Moose stirred.
"..hmm.. Sophie? What are you doin' here? What's going on?" He looked at Sophie, then around the room, and then his eyes went to me. I gave him a smile, and he smiled back sincerely.
"Oh yeah.. I remember what happened." He looked a Sophie, then shot his head back to my face and his cheeks flushed. I assumed he remembered that we almost kissed on those school basement stairs. I widened my eyes, and turned away from his stare.
"So, what happened? Tell me what's goin' on." I looked back over there and he looked at Sophie and replied nonchalantly.
"Charlie sprained her ankle, and she couldn't walk, so I gave her a piggy back ride to the hospital, then collapsed, from lack of water."
"Oh my god, are you okay? Baby, I'm here. Do you want a private room, Moose?" Sophie asked him glaring at me.
"Sophie, she is not bad, okay? In fact she's like my best friend. She's got a boyfriend back in Colorado. And she doesn't like me, and besides! I'm your boyfriend, okay?" Moose assured her as best as he could. Sophie looked over at me.
"I'm really sorry for being pushed onto Moose. I didn't mean to start things off terribly." I said to Sophie in my most sincere voice. She looked at me and broke.
"I'm sorry I spread that rumor about you. It should go away soon.. Did you say that you are from Colorado?" She seemed welcoming all of the sudden. I didn't know if it was real or just an act she was putting on for Moose.
"Yeah, I'm from Boulder, why?" I replied to her, and she freaked out, in a good way.
"Oh my god! I use to live in the town that is like an hour away from there! I dated this guy that was from Boulder, god, he was a terrible kisser." She didn't take one breath when she said that back to me. Then she turned to Moose and gave him a kiss. When she kissed him my stomach felt fiery and I was jealous. Of course just jealous that Mike isn't here with me.
"Well, I will leave you two love birds to your loving, and I'm gonna have myself a good nights sleep." I looked over at the clock and it was 9:37pm. Four hours ago Moose carried me in here. It's been a LONG day.
"Okay, we'll try to keep it down." Moose said in a very loud whisper.
I laughed a bit, then turned to face my back to them. My eyes felt like cement, they drooped closed and I was dreaming before you know it.
Moose's POV:
Charlie turned her back towards me and Sophie.
"Well, I will leave you two love birds to your loving, and I'm gonna have myself a good nights sleep." She said to both of us.
"Okay, we'll try to keep it down." Charlie laughed at my not so quiet whisper. Then you could hear her peacefully and heavily breathing in less than a second. It had been a long day. First, when I heard her cries in the stairway, then when I comforted her when she was crying. I couldn't forget it. The way I felt when she was in my arms, mixed with the citrusy smell of her soft, gentle hair, made me drift into an unforgettable abyss of sleep.
I remembered dreaming of Charlie and Me walking down the park sidewalk and eating our ice cream cones. Then Charlie turned to me and looked meaningfully into my eyes, I leaned into her body and she pressed her body into mine. She placed her hands on my chest as I gently slid my hands on her neck and thumbs on her cheek. I pushed back some hair, and leaned in. We were about to touch lips in this dream, but that's when reality was buzzing and ringing from my pocket. I answered the phone and talked to Sophie. Realizing how long we had been asleep in one another's arms, I began to repeatedly apologize to her. Then that's when Charlie tripped an yelped, then everything went down.
"Moose! Did you even here a word I just said?" I snapped out of my deep thought and snapped my head toward Sophie. She looked at me, and looked slightly annoyed. I stared at her face for a while and realized how gorgeous she was. I was the luckiest man at MSA because I had her! But why am I constantly thinking of Charlie?
"Oh, no I'm sorry! I'm just exhausted, it's been a really long day. I think I need some sleep that's all." I pushed the hair in her face behind her ear. She smiled at me genuinely.
"You get your sleep! But I won't be able to see you till thanksgiving, but that's only a week away!"
I looked at her, confused in all aspects.
"What? But we had plans this weekend! Now I have to wait to see you till next Thursday? Why?" I felt hopeless, and suddenly felt relieved when she let me in on that fact.
"Well babe, I have rehearsal in New York until the day before thanksgiving. So I will be down here with you just in time. It'll be fine! Don't worry! We can do what ever you want to do on thanksgiving, how 'bout that?" She told me thinking that I would be happy with her gone all week. Surprisingly I was completely fine with it, and the fact that I can pick what we for thanksgiving?! That's even better!
"Well I hope you have some fun! Don't worry I will have something fun planned for thanksgiving! It's gonna have peo-" the sound of Sophie's ringtone cut me off. Then she looked straight to her phone and answered it without a pause.
"Sophie Donovan. What's up?" She looked at me.
"Hun I'm sorry, I have to go, mwah love you bye." She made her way out of the room chattering away on her phone, and soon enough out of the hospital with ease. I watched her make her way out. I laid there feeling weak from not getting enough water in me. I looked over at the clock and it shined 9:59pm. I stared at the clock until it turned to 10:00pm, and saw Charlie stir, and flip over so that her face was lit towards me, in the dim fluorescent light. I examined her face, every crease and freckle I could find, just so I could store this moment in my memory.
Her skin was a light, chocolate milk kind of brown, yet darker than my own. She had chubby cheeks, and a slightly "m" shaped top lip. She had a slight smile on while she dreamt of things. She had a little patch of freckles on her button nose. By her eyes were smile lines, which by the look of those, she was always happy. I looked away from her serene expression, and gazed up at the ceiling, putting my hands behind my head. I closed my eyes and grinned. What a great day.
