Chapter 19

Charlie and I have been dating for two years. We don't beat around the bush when it comes to honesty. We are very open with each other. There's not a thing I don't know about Charlie. There's not a thing Charlie doesn't know about me. Even with my family life, school, and my powers he treats me just like any other person. I feel so comfortable and free around him. Our families describe us as a unit. There is no more "me and you" anymore; it's " us." We are pretty much the couple to talk about, because we're still together. There were doubts that we wouldn't last but we're still going strong. Nothing can change the way I feel about Charlie, or how he feels about me. Now that we've made it this far into our relationship; while we don't want to move too fast, it was time for a very crucial talk with Charlie. It was the middle of summer and I asked if Charlie could meet me at the park. He was there in a heartbeat. See unlike normal girls, when I graduate I'm going to Plumber Academy to become a Plumber. Dad's always promised me that, and that hasn't changed.

"So you see babe, I'll be gone for a few months."

"Well I mean I'll be in college so that really isn't that much of a difference." He replied.

"Yeah but...I won't be able to call you or text you as often...the admirals are pretty strict...I'm there to learn...for intergalactic safety I can't focus on you and my training too...I just...it would be hard to do both...especially being so far away."

Charlie touched my hand.

'"Hey...it'll be alright...I know it's important to you...I'll survive without you for a few months...don't worry about me."

"I'm really gonna miss you Charlie."

"Well let's not think about it now...we got another year, right?"

He pulled my hair behind my ear. I nodded.

"Let's make the most of our time."

I smiled. He leaned forward and we began to make-out on the park bench.

"Let's get out of here." He said and pecked the side of my head. We left and parked in front of the tattoo and piercing parlor. Charlie and I had talked about getting matching tattoos.

"Are we seriously gonna do this?" He asked.

"Unless you don't want too."

"Well no...I want too, it's just wouldn't your Dad get really upset?"

"Proably, but when I got my belly button pierced here when the demon took control of me he didn't get too upset...a tattoo shouldn't be a problem."

"Yeah..."

"And it'll mean a lot to us both."

"Okay let's do it."

We got out of the car and took each other by the hand as we entered the shop. A man covered in tattoos came to greet us.

"You folks here for your first freebies?" He asked. "Or can I interest you in some jewelry?"

"We heard that your customers get the first tattoo free, and that's what we would like." I replied.

"Alright then, you know what you want or you want a couple of minutes to decide...we can sketch up whatever you'd like."

"Actually, I'll take a piercing too." Charlie piped up. I looked at him surprised.

"Okay, the tattoos are free the piercings come out to about 25 dollars."

Charlie handed the man his money up front. Charlie only got his left ear pierced, with a small stud. Charlie's used to needles so it didn't seem to bother him at all.

"So what are we thinking?" The tattoo artist asked.

"We want matching ones for our wrists." I began.

"Although on my left wrist, her right wrist." Charlie intervened. "The letter K with a heart under it, and Q with a heart under if for Harmione."

The artist did as we requested and we were both done and patched up in 30 minutes. When we went back to school that fall every one was obessed with our new tattoos.

"But why a Q though?" Irene asked as she sat next to me at the lunch table.

"Simple...I'm Charlie's Queen of Hearts and he's my king."

"Awww!" The girls cooed.

"Where is Charlie?" Deanna asked and looked around the cafeteria.

"He had to take his medicine."

I started to eat from a bag of chips, when a girl from the grade below me came running over to our lunch table.

"Hi Harmione!" She shouted.

"Hi?"

"Sorry, I'm Maci, I was just wondering if you and your friends wanted to help me with the yearbook this year?"

"Umm...guys?"

"I got cheer practice, and dance." Jaynie replied.

"Sorry Maci but I'm supposed to help the art club with the floats for Homecoming." Irene told her. "And cheer..."

"I'm in charge of the ballots for Homecoming royalty this year." Sierra replied. "I'm also student body president...I just don't think I can swing both...I'm sorry."

"What are you sorry about?" came Charlie's voice.

"Sorry I can't help Maci with the yearbook." Sierra exclaimed back as Charlie took a seat next to me.

"Well, I'll help you Maci." Charlie said with a smile.

"Really Charlie?!

"Yeah...just tell me what you need me to do."

"Thanks so much Charlie!"

"I...I'll help you too Maci." I told her. Her face brightened up. "Dee, you want to help?"

"I'm not great at photography or graphic design...I sucked at our school news paper in 4th grade."

"Harmione and Charlie...its fine if it's just the two of you helping, it means an awful lot...just meet me every Tuesday in the computer lap after school."

With that Maci walked off happily. I looked at Charlie.

"That's one way for us to spend more time together."

"Guys...guys show us your tattoos again." Deanna insisted.

Charlie and I held our wrists up.

"It's just so cute!"

Charlie smirked at me. The following Tuesday we helped the yearbook club put our yearbook together. It was still too early in the year for some of the content, so a lot of the pages were blank. As I sat typing on one of the computers, Charlie came up behind me and rested his chin on my shoulder. I smiled.

"You tired?"

"Yeah...when you get done with that page how about we go get a cheeseburger?"

"I'd really like a cheeseburger...with a milkshake."

"The milkshake you can have babe."

I continued to type.

"Do you think the band and choir's page looks alright?"

He took a good luck at the monitor.

"Maybe move the text over a tad, and make the font a little smaller."

He put his hand on top of mine over the mouse and made the adjustment. He then wrapped his arms around my neck and typed on the keyboard to make the font smaller.

We spent a large amount of our time on those Tuesdays together. When Homecoming finally arrived, I was so a ecstatic for Deanna. She was our Homecoming Queen. Instead of riding on the back of a fire truck in our homecoming parade; like all the cheerleaders have done for the past four years, she rode in her Dad's jeep.

She had on a black dress with a silver glittery top. Her hair was in mermaid waves and she had on a crown. So many kids screamed and cheered when they saw her. She waved and beamed her brightly lit smile under a shade of pink lipstick. She was a knock out, as Deanna always was.

Deanna and I spent the weekend together partying at my house, and having a slumber party just for the two of us. We played board games, ate tacos, sang karaoke and laughed until we hurt. During the middle of our laughter, she farted. Naturally, this made us laugh even more. That Friday night we laid in bed next to each other talking about the future.

"You'd still be my friend even if I was bald right?" She whispered in the darkness.

"What kind of a question is that...of course I will."

"Okay harder question...are we still gonna be friends even if you're at the Academy?"

I turned over on my side.

"Of course I will...I love you Deanna."

She looked at me.

"I love you too Harmione."

"Deanna?"

"Yeah?"

"Honestly, I'm not sure what I would do without you in my life. Best friends are there for your ups and downs and you have been by my side through it all.

When I think of what a best friend is I picture you and how you've impacted my life for the better. You bring out the real me and let me be myself without judging. You go along with my behavior even when it's embarrassing to you. You are the one that I turn to for absolutely everything."

She began to tear up. I did as well. I couldn't fight back the tears.

"You are the one who made me realize that I don't need to change for anyone and I know that no matter what you will always be there for me. I may not show you how much you do mean to me, but I know that I wouldn't be who I am today without you in my life. I love you with all my heart and wouldn't rather have anyone else as my crazy, beautiful sidekick of a best friend...Dee, I'm crazy about you...in a sisterly way, and nothing is going to ever change that."

We hugged each other and cried.

"You'll always be someone that's close to my heart, Harmione Kay...You're my sister." She said through her tears.

We fell asleep late and woke up late. We had breakfast for lunch and played video games in our pajamas. Our friendship was untouchable. I cried when she left, but I knew I'd see her again on Monday at school.

Everything with my home life, Deanna, and Charlie I was fighting within myself. I kept having second thoughts about becoming a Plumber. I wasn't sure if I'd be able to leave them. I knew it wouldn't be forever, but I wasn't sure how long my heart could bare. Though it was in my blood and in my soul to be a Plumber. And I've desperately wanted to be one since I was 10 years old. I was caught in a web. Stuck between a rock and a hard place. School carried on as normal, but I felt so lost on the inside. I just had to make up my mind and say what I truly wanted. I thought the goodbyes wouldn't be as painful if I had something to remember them by. Something to last me the trip. After hanging out with Deanna I decided then and there. I was going to do it. I was going to ask Charlie to have sex with me.