One week later...
I hear Mo's quiet gasp as she reads her magazine. "What?", I ask. "I would die to look like Kate Middleton", she replies, showing me a picture in her magazine. I go back to reading my book.
"What's up with her these days?", Charlie asks. I didn't even know he sat right next to me. "She had another kid", Mo replies. Mo eyes Charlie. Mo's eyes linger on Charlie for a couple of seconds, but then she goes back to her magazine.
"Hey I need to tell you something", Charlie whispers to me. "Ok", I say, setting my book down. Mo leaves the room, taking her magazine with her. "You have my attention", I say, looking him in the eye. He looks away from me. "I did something terrible and I regret it", he replies.
Flashback... (Mo's POV just for flashback)
I'm doing the dishes, the one job no one wants to have. Charlie's behind me, finishing his dinner. "Can you finish already?", I ask him. "I'm sorry that I savor my food", Charlie replies, sarcastically.
I go over to him and pick up his plate. "Hey!", he yells. I go over to the garbage can and dump all the food in it. Charlie's fake crying. "I'll miss you", he whispers. "It was for your own good, plus you'll be eating in another 10 minutes, guarantee you", I reply. Charlie gets up and comes over to me as I finish the last of the dishes. "You aren't going to slap me are you?", I ask.
He does something that I would not expect him to do. He leans down and kisses me. I immediately push him away. "What are you doing?!", I yell at him. "I-I", he replies. "Charlie, you have a girlfriend, who is my best friend!", I yell. "And I have a boyfriend!" I throw the dishtowel down and walk away from him.
I look away from him, processing the information. "Liv, can you please say something?", he asks. I stay quiet for a little longer. He puts his hand on my shoulder. I shrug him off. It feels like forever until I actually say something.
"Why did you do it?", I ask. "What made you do it? Do you like her?" "No, I don't know why I did it", he replies. I laugh at that old cliché. I look him in the eye to see if he's lying. He looks like he's on the verge of getting on his hands and knees and begging for my forgiveness. "I don't know if I can trust you anymore", I say. "You can, Liv", he replies.
I'm wondering if I should give him a second chance. "Olivia, you're the only girl I've ever had real feelings for", he says, taking my hand in his. "Well...", I start to say. "I guess I can give you a second chance, but it doesn't mean I'm not mad about this situation." Charlie smiles. I grab my book and get up from the couch.
I go into my bedroom and sit on my bed. The door closes and I look up from my book. "Hey", Wen says, sitting down next to me. "How are you holding up?" "How did you know?", I ask. "Charlie told me", he admits. "I was about to punch him."
"Wouldn't be the first time", I reply, giggling. Wen nods. "It was a stupid thing to do", he says. I'm confused for a second, but then I realize what he's talking about. "I get why you did it, though", I reply. He's staring off into space. I move closer to him and put my hand on his. I glance at the closed door.
"Wen, kiss me", I blurt out. "Does this have to do with the Charlie thing?", he replies. "Just kiss me", I find myself repeating. His lips touch mine, soft and delicate. He pushes me away. "Why am I doing this?", he asks himself. "You thought it felt right too, didn't you", I tell him.
"This isn't you, Liv", he replies. "What do you mean?", I ask. "You wouldn't do this, what is going on with you?", he replies. "Wen, I'm fine, it's just...that felt right", I tell him. Wen gets up from my bed and goes to the door. After he closes the door, I realize what I just did. "You're so stupid!", I yell.
I hear an argument between two people. I realize that the two people are Mo and Scott. The words are inaudible but I guess Mo told Scott about what happened between her and Charlie. The door opens and Stella comes in. "World War 3 again", she says. "Can those two stop fighting for a while." The yelling stops and the door opens again.
This time Mo comes in and she's crying. "We broke up", she says, between tears. I go over and wrap my arms around her, not saying a word. We stay in my room for a little longer.
I finally decide to go out to see if Scott's still there. I only notice Wen at the table. "Where's Scott?", I ask. He shrugs. "And Charlie?", I question, looking around the bus. "I don't know", he replies. "Listen, Wen, I have to apologize for what I did to you", I whisper. "No, I shouldn't have given in to you", he replies. "So you have no idea where they went?", I ask him again.
"Not a clue", he replies. I head back to my room, but I remember something. "Can we not mention that to like anyone?", I ask him. "Definitely", he replies. I bite my lip as I go back into my bedroom.
"And he thinks it's my fault and it's not", Mo sobs. "It's Charlie's fault", I reply. Mo hesitates, then nods. I hear arguing outside the door. I peek my head out. "Guys!", I shout. "Can you stop? I have a headache and you're not helping." "I'm sorry", Charlie replies. I don't really have a headache, I just really didn't want Mo to get more upset than she already is. "I need to get out of here", I say. That's when I get an idea.
"Guys, get your bathing suits on, we're going to the beach", I one looks happy. "Come on, I need this, we all need this", I tell them. They still look at me like I'm crazy. "I'll pack some fruit and we can eat by the water", I suggest. I give them pleading eyes. Mo, despite her depressed state, nods. Stella follows her lead and agrees. I look at Scott. "I can never say no to you, Liv", he says. "Anyone else have that problem?" Wen and Charlie raise their hand. "Now, let's get ready and go!", I order, walking to my bedroom.
I search through my drawers."Shoot", I mutter. I quickly run to Mo's room. "Do you have a bikini I can borrow?", I ask her. She raises an eyebrow at me. "Don't you own any?", she asks. I shake my head. She searches through her dresser. She hands me a hot pink bikini top and a black bikini bottom. I look at the mangled pink top in my hands. "What is this?", I ask.
"A bikini", she replies. "Oh I thought it was a headband that went through a woodchipper", I say, still staring at the top. "Ha ha", she laughs sarcastically. She pushes me out the door. I go back to my room and quickly put the bikini on. "I look terrible in this", I mutter to myself. "But, it'll do." I put a coverup on, so no one sees how I look in this.
Everyone is already in the kitchen. Charlie's twirling his keys around on his finger. I grab the keys from his hand. "Hey!", he exclaims. "I've been thinking, I have my learners permit, so I can drive with a licensed adult, and ur...licensed", I state. He raises an eyebrow at me. "Please Charlie", I beg. "Fine", he replies.
"Come on guys, I am your chauffeur today", I say waving my hand for everyone to follow me. "Uh, Olivia aren't you forgetting something?", Charlie points out. "What?", I ask. "Food", he replies. "Of course he's worried about food", Stella jokes. "Food plays an important role in my life", Charlie tells Stella.
I go over to the refrigerator and search through the very little food there is. "Where's the fruit that I bought a couple a days ago?", I ask. I look at Charlie. "Fine", he replies. "We have nothing", I sigh. "A trip to the store is all we need." I look at the keys in my hand. "You guys trust me to drive to the store and beach?", I ask them. They hesitate. "That wasn't a question", I say, pushing them out the door.
I grab my wallet. "I am a very trustworthy driver", I say as I hop in the driver's seat. "I feel uncomfortable", Charlie announces. "That's probably because you're not used to being in the passenger seat", I reply. "No, I think it's because you're in the driver's seat", he jokes. "Is that supposed to be an insult?", I ask him.
"No", he replies. "Yeah, ok", I say, turning the key and backing out onto the road. Before long, I'm turning into the store parking lot. "I wanna do this independently, partly because I don't want my grocery bill to be high if Charlie goes with me", I say, getting out the car.
I quietly congratulate myself as I walk in the store. I go over to the produce, keeping in mind what each person likes. I like grapes, and I know Mo likes grapes. I don't remember if Wen likes them.
I'll get them anyway, I'll eat them. I decide to get a couple of oranges because they remind me of Wen. I text our group chat because I'm drawing a blank.
What do you guys want? - O
Cherries! - M
Grapefruit! - M
Let someone else have a turn - St
Fine, Stella what would you like? - M
Can you just get me almonds - St
No, I'm taking fruit orders! - O
Olivia, a nut is a fruit, or a type of fruit - St
Well, now I feel stupid - O
You're not stupid - C
I know I'm not - O
Wow - W
If no one else wants anything else then I'm paying - O
Kk - M
I pay for the 30 pounds of fruit that we have, having to use my card. They owe me. "You guys ready?", I ask, handing the bags to Charlie. "What is this like $100 worth of fruit?", he asks. I giggle. "It would have been $300 worth of fruit and junk if you went with me", I flick him on the shoulder. I turn the key.
Mo rolls the window down when we get near the coast. "Summer breeze", she exhales. "Not really because it's October", Stella replies. I see Mo make a face at Stella in the mirror. "Where do I park?", I ask Charlie. He points to the right. "You know, I did pretty well", I tell the others. They ignore me. "At least I didn't hit any pedestrians." Charlie puts his arm around me as the group begins down to the beach.
Mo takes the blanket out of her bag and lays it down on the sand. "The sun makes me look bad today", Mo blurts out randomly. "You look better than the sun today", Wen replies. "That didn't make any sense, but it weirdly did at the same time", Stella laughs. Mo takes off the coverup that she'd been wearing.
"Why don't you take yours off", Charlie teases me, poking me in the stomach. "You guys go, I'll be here enjoying my grapes", I say, picking up the fruit. "Lame", Stella says, heading to the water. Mo follows Stella, but Wen, Charlie, and Scott stay. "Go on guys", I tell them. "Fine", Wen and Charlie reply. I look over at Scott. "You go too", I order him. "Nah, I don't feel like it", he replies.
A pause. "Why did you break up with Mo?", I ask him. "Why didn't you break up with Charlie?", he asks. "Because I believe in second chances", I reply. "And you should too." He doesn't say anything.
I see Charlie and Wen heading for me. Probably trying to get me in the water. I take my coverup off. When they reach me, Charlie grabs my legs and Wen grabs my arms. "No, don't you dare", I warn. I know exactly what they're doing. "If you love me, you wouldn't do this", I say, as they start swinging me back and forth. Before I know it, I'm being thrown into the water.
I surface the water to see their laughing faces. "You guys are going to be dead men", I scold. "Charlie, I shouldn't have forgiven you." That makes him shut up. He puts on the Charlie Delgado Puppy Dog Face. I trudge back up and glare at the two of them. I walk back up to my towel and plop down. Scott opens his mouth.
"Don't say a word", I wave my finger. "At least you went in", Scott half-smiles and shrugs. I cross my arms, resembling a 4-year-old when they don't get their way. Stella and Mo walk over to me, they were originally wading in the water. "What happened to you?!", Stella exclaims. I open my mouth but Scott answers first. "The boys threw her in", he replies.
I glare at Charlie and Wen as they're still cracking up. Mo and Scott look at each other for a moment. I give Scott a pleading look. "Can I talk to you?", Scott asks Mo. She hesitates but then nods. "Drama", Stella mutters, when Mo and Scott are out of earshot.
Charlie and Wen walk toward me. "We call a truce", Wen says. "I'm sorry", Charlie whispers. "Who's idea was it?", I ask. Wen and Charlie both point at each other. I sigh. "You know what I don't care anymore", I mutter.
After the fiasco with the water, we decided to have a nice fruit picnic. Wen drops a bomb. "So...I told Shelby that we would meet at the pizza place tomorrow", he announces. I choke on my grape. "Why?", I ask when I get done coughing. "Why not?", Wen asks. "She wants to formally meet you all." He looks at me.
"Especially you, Liv", he says. I cringe. "Tomorrow, you said?", I ask. He nods. I put on a fake smile. "Yay", I say, with extra fake enthusiasm. "Great", Wen smiles. It's like he doesn't care that he cheated on his own girlfriend. He catches my eye and winks. I focus my attention on peeling an orange.
I notice Scott has his arm around Mo, so I assume they patched things up. Stella sighs and lays back on the sand. "I'm bored", she declares. I poke her. "Aww does little Stella wanna go back?", I tease. She nods. Everyone else nods as well. "Yes, I get to drive again", I giggle.
Charlie takes the keys out of my hands and stands up. I hate that he's exactly 6 inches taller than me. I hate it, even more, when he raises his arm over his head so I can't reach whatever he's holding. He tosses the keys over to Wen and he stands up. Wen's worse, he's 8 inches taller than me.
"Come on, guys", I whine, as I look from Charlie to Wen. Wen tosses the keys back to Charlie. "What are you gonna do? Fight me with your little girl fists?", Charlie teases. "I can bite you", I reply. "Uh oh", Wen says. "Kinky!", Stella exclaims. "I drive and that's final", Charlie says. "Fine", I reply, crossing my arms and pouting my lip. "But I call shotgun." "Not if I get there first!", Wen exclaims, already running to the car. I sigh, not wanting to argue with him.
All of us walk to catch up to him. He's out of breath, sitting in the passager seat. "And that, ladies and gentlemen, is the only exercise Wen has gotten in a long time", Stella announces. Mo giggles, but I stay silent as I climb in the back. "Seat or lap?", Scott asks me. "I don't care", I reply.
Stella and Mo slide into the two empty seats beside Scott. "Great", I mutter. "Don't make any moves on my girlfriend, Scott", Charlie warns him. "Yes sir, just don't make any moves on my girlfriend", Scott replies. Stella and Wen "Oooh" and I just lay back, embarrassed.
The ride actually took less time than before, granted I rested my eyes and laid my head against Scott, I hope he didn't mind. Mo bolted out of the car as soon as Charlie parked, saying she had to update her feed. I feel sick, I just wanna have a nice relaxing evening, hopefully, it's just a carsickness thing. I'm about to head to my bedroom when Scott calls my name. "Hey, Liv thanks for you know the talk you gave me", he starts to say.
"Uh...yeah, no problem", I reply. "It really means a lot to me", he says. "Don't blow it up this time Scott, you and Mo are like the ultimate couple", I reply. "Are you ok? You look like Death killed you", he studies me. I feel like it too. "I'm just tired", I reply, heading to my bedroom once again. Now let's rest up so I can go see Shelby tomorrow...fun?
