Alex's POV
I was almost going insane from anticipation by Wednesday. I was fidgety and bouncy and Rian was ready to kill me.
"Can you sit still? Jesus, Jack can sit still longer than you can," He joked. "I'm scared to see what you'll be like on Friday."
"Shut up," Was the only thing I could come up with.
When the teacher handed me my letter I almost ripped it open, but didn't so I didn't rip it. As creepy as it may be, I had kept all the letters from her which made me wonder what she had done with mine.
As I read it, I got increasingly angry with this James kid. Where does he get off treating Charlie like shit? And her parents, holy shit. How does she manage to keep it all together?
I contemplated telling her what happened before answering.
Dear Charlie,
I can't tell you all my secrets before we meet. But basically before this weekend, everyone thought I was someone who I really wasn't but now I've turned into that person. Does that make any sense?
Wow, you don't kid when you say you're innocent do you? Someone needs to teach this guy some manners on how to treat a girl. How did date number two go?
I don't even know what to do about your parents. I would go crazy if mine did that to me. What's stopping you from living your life the way you want to? They can't say no if you don't take no for an answer. Take charge of things and they just might stop pushing you around.
It's not creepy at all. I actually wanted to say the same thing but I didn't have to balls to say it first.
From Alex
I felt jealous of James. He was a complete dick and gets to go on a date with Charlie.
I stopped myself. Why was I jealous of someone I'd never met for dating another person I've never met?
Did I have a crush on someone I had just met through a letter?
I shook my head. There's no way that could even be possible.
But why was getting her letter the best part of my day and any other time I was bummed out? Why did I fall asleep imagining what it would be like to meet her?
I pushed the thought out of my mind like I had been since this started and forced myself to focus on something else.
This was really not going the way I planned it.
Charlie's POV
The knot of dread was back as I drove home from Sydney's. She offered to let me hide in her closet for a week and I almost said yes.
Without uttering a word to my parents I went straight up to my room and got ready. Fuck the dresses and skirts; I'll be wearing skinnies and a nice shirt.
I pulled on the only plain black skinnies my parents thought I owned and picked out a blouse. I didn't bother doing anything special with my hair. Why dress up for a date you don't even want to be on?
I worked on homework until the doorbell rang. Great, time to apologize for something I'm really not that sorry for. I slammed the textbook closed and slipped on a pair of black flats then went downstairs.
James stood in the doorway looking smug.
"Do you have anything to say?" Mom pushed.
"I'm sorry for my rude behavior on Friday," I said.
"Apology accepted," He nodded. I could tell he was holding back a smirk which made me want to stomp on his foot and go back to my room.
I followed him out to his car after saying bye to my parents. I didn't say a word to him as we got into his car and he drove off.
-x-
The date was completely terrible, I guess. He actually paid the bill this time but still all he could talk about was himself. I checked out a couple times, lost in thought about meeting Alex in less than two days which is what made me get through the date.
As he pulled up in front of my house, I was ready to jump out of the car and run into my house and never have to look at him again.
I pulled on the door handle but it wouldn't open. "Uh, mind unlocking it?"
He shook his head and leaned over, pulling my head towards his. Our lips almost connected when I pulled back.
"What are you doing?" I asked, giving him a disgusted look.
"Giving you a kiss goodnight," He stated, moving closer again.
"Uh, no. That wasn't in the agreement." I said and tried to open the door again.
"The way I see it, Princess, is either you kiss me or mommy and daddy get an earful about how date number two was even worse than the first." He said.
"But that's what we like to call lying. Just like you lied about how I left with another guy." I spat at him.
"Who are they going to believe though?" He raised an eyebrow and smirked, "Their daughter who's been in trouble recently or the perfect gentleman they think I am?"
Was he really blackmailing me into kissing him? I rolled my eyes and pecked him quickly.
"Happy?"
He shook his head, "I was a real kiss. "
He pulled my head in a third time and this time our lips connected. His were dry and chapped and I could still taste the garlic on his breath, making me want to hurl into his mouth.
I pulled back the second he tried sticking his tongue in my mouth.
"There, now let me out." I demanded. He unlocked the door and I climbed out, almost running to the door.
"How was it?" Mom asked before the door was even closed.
"Fine." I answered.
"No mishaps this time?"
"No."
She opened her mouth to ask something else but I brushed past her and went upstairs. I really didn't want to hear it.
I changed and collapsed onto my bed, letting out a long sigh. I did it. I don't have to see that fucker ever again. Now to focus on more important things, like reading Alex's letter tomorrow. I was excited as always, and also a little bit nervous.
My sub conscience told me I liked him but I denied it. There was no way I could like someone I'd never seen in person and had only been talking to for two weeks.
And even if I did, it's not like he'd like me back. Things like that don't happen to people like me. He seems like he's be the type who likes a party girl. Well no shit since he is dating a party girl, or at least a girl who looks like a partier.
I sighed again and turned off the light, thinking of what it would be like to have someone like Alex fall in love with me.
-x-
I skipped through the hallways the next morning with Hazel attached to me.
"Why are you so happy? Was the date decent?" Sydney asked as I stopped inches away from her.
"No, it was terrible." I answered.
She gave me a weird look, "Then why are you so happy?"
I shrugged, "Can a girl just not be happy? Now let's go to English!"
I grabbed her hand and Hazel's and continued to skip.
Once we got there and took our seats Sydney turned to me, "I see what this is about."
"What?" I tried to poker face it.
"Do you like Alex?" She asked bluntly.
"What? No. That's kinda impossible since I've never met him."
"It can happen," She answered, "It would just go to show that you can fall for someone's personality without knowing what they look like."
"Still, I don't like him," I denied. She shrugged and I couldn't tell if she believed me or not.
I controlled myself as I got my letter just to prove to her I didn't. It was disappointed when I noticed it was shorter than I expected.
Dear Alex,
I totally understand how you feel.
Date number two wasn't as terrible as the first but he was still a self-conceited ass clown. He even blackmailed me into kissing him and he tasted like garlic. Needless to say, I almost puked. But as far as I know I'll never have to go out with him again, thank the Lord.
I don't know what's holding me back, honestly. Everyone asks me that but there's just something there that won't let me go. I hope one day I can finally break away from them and do things my way.
On a happier note, tomorrow is the big day. Don't forget your guitar (:
From Charlie
I folded the paper and slipped it in the envelope and put his letter in my binder with the rest.
I was displeased with my response but I'm sure tomorrow will give us plenty to talk about.
What if it's awkward though? Or he realizes just how lame I really am? Or what if he thinks Jennifer or Jessica is better than me? What if he falls for one of them?
I just want him all to myself.
I ignored the voice telling me that was weird and tuned into Amber and Hazel talking about what to wear which brought a whole new set of questions to my mind.
I spent the rest of the day worrying about what to wear and what Alex would think of me. It was funny because up until this point, I had never given a shit about what other people thought of me and now it was all I could think of.
Instead of dropping Sydney off at home, I drove us both to my house.
"Uh, my house is four blocks in that direction," She said as I pulled up.
"I know, but if you had really objected to not going home, you would've said something when I passed your house," I pointed out as we walked up the drive way.
"Why am I here anyway?" She asked.
"Hey, mom," I said, ignoring Syd. "Sydney and I have a project to work on."
"Alright, have fun." Mom nodded.
We got to my room and she looked at me, "We don't have a—oh I see what this is about."
"You do?" I asked, my eyes widening.
"You need something to wear tomorrow, don't you?"
I sighed, "Sorta."
Without any other questions she went over to my closet and opened the back to reveal my clothes my parents had no idea I had. Without thought she threw a pair of plain black True Religion skinnies at me, followed by a striped shirt.
"Add a pair of low converses and you are good to go," She grinned.
"How do you do that?" I asked, astonished at her ability to make such great outfits without even trying.
"It's a gift that I abuse," She shrugged.
We sat down and actually worked on homework so I wasn't technically lying to mom. I was glad she didn't ask why I cared so much about what I wore tomorrow but before she left she gave me a look that told me she already knew without me having to tell her. I got the feeling that Saturday she'd be demanding answers.
-x-
Alex's POV
Friday morning I was so excited and nervous I almost forgot to put pants on and I drove over the speed limit to get to school.
For the first time all semester I was actually early for class and I almost gave my teacher a heart attack. I balanced my guitar case against the desk next to me and bounced my knee impatiently.
It was a long 20 minute wait for everyone to get in a settled and an even longer 15 minute lecture of behavior. Yes, I get it, don't feed Jack to the tiger and don't streak through the garden. I know how to behave at a zoo.
Finally we loaded onto the big ugly yellow bus. Jack sat next to me with a giant duffle bag.
"What're you dressing up as?" I asked.
"I don't know. I borrowed it from my cousin. He went into an hour long explanation that I didn't listen to. It's not like she'll know either."
I laughed, "Dude, I can't believe you're actually going to do this."
"Me either, bro," He laughed.
I spent the next half an hour getting Jack to tell me all the things he had told Jennifer to piss her off and fuck with her. If it wasn't for the fact that she terrorizes Charlie, I might have felt slightly bad for her, but she deserved this.
My heart rate picked up as well pulled in front of the zoo and marched off the bus. I couldn't see another bus in view. Were they here or were they running late?
My stomach did backflips while we walked through the gate and followed the teacher to the butterfly exhibit.
It was almost empty other than a few 13 year olds skipping school trying to look cool.
"I guess they're running late," The teacher said. "Make yourselves comfortable."
I sighed and sat down on a bench surrounded by flowers. The entire exhibit was beautiful. When you walked in it led straight into a huge garden with tons of exotic flowers and plants and it smelt amazing. There were paths leading around the garden and benches placed so you could just sit and enjoy it. Off to the far left was a small door that leads into where they kept all the butterflies and let them fly around freely.
I fiddled with my guitar until I heard voices and looked up to see unfamiliar faces pouring into the garden. I hid my eagerness somehow and looked for Charlie.
My eyes landed on a head of bleach blonde hair flowing from a head with a face that wore way too much make up and way too little clothing. My best guess was that was Jennifer. She looked smug and condescending. I hope she knew what she was in for.
I continued to scan the crowd until I recognized a slightly familiar smile from a picture. I automatically knew that it was Charlie.
She laughed and looked from her friend and our eyes met.
