Chapter 5: The Move
Charlie drove home in his new blue car. It wasn't a convertible or anything fancy, but it was still nice. He drove up in front of the apartment building and looked up at the window he knew looked into Jody's room. He could she her yelling at a tall, slender figure, probably Cooper. Charlie quickly parked his car in the parking garage and took the elevator up to the 6th floor. He reached the door and took out his key.
He ran into Jody's room and saw both Jody and Cooper crying and yelling at each other. "STOP IT!!" Charlie yelled. "If me going out with Jody and you two breaking up is going to cause this much trouble, then screw the idea! It's obvious you guys love each other more than you know, or more than you are willing to admit. Hug, kiss, whatever, just make up and get back together. I'm going to go rent a hotel room for the night. Good night, and don't try and change my mind!" Charlie said, and stormed out of their room and locked himself into his. He quickly packed a small suitcase for the night.
When he came out, he saw Jody and Cooper making out on the couch. He sighed, grabbed his coat, and left. He put his small suitcase into the passenger seat of his new car and drove off. He found a hotel within ten minutes, and got a room there. He took a shower and got settle into the double bed. He turned on the tv and watched reruns of 70s tv comedy shows until he fell asleep.
He woke up the next morning around 10 am. He paid the hotel and drove back to the apartment. He knew that neither Jody nor Cooper would be home at this time, so he felt better about going back. When he got there, he packed up his 4 suitcases and put them in his car. He ran back to apartment to leave Jody a quick note.
========================================================Dear Jody,
I'm glad that you and Cooper got back together. I'm sorry about what I put you both through. I was just being extremely selfish. Sorry again. I'm going to go back home. Call me someday, and maybe we'll be able to get together again in the future. Bye. I still love you, Jody.
Love,
Charlie
========================================================
He placed the note on the clipboard on the back of the door, where he knew that Jody would find it. He kissed Jody's pillow, and then left.
He drove the whole 9 hours back to his old apartment. He went inside and looked around, same as he had left it. He hadn't packed any furniture, he also hadn't sold the apartment, in case something this happened.
He lay down on his own familiar bed and fell asleep immediately.
When her woke up the next morning, there was a new message on his answering machine. He pressed play and listened.
"Charlie? Hey, it's Jody. How are you? We miss you already. Cooper says "Hi", and he says that he's very sorry for the punch in the nose. We miss you a lot, so come visit us soon. Oh, and Charlie, you weren't being selfish. Well, call me. Bye. Love ya. Bye, Jody."
Charlie smirked to himself, rolled his eyes, and ate his breakfast. Ten minutes later, his phone rang.
"Hello? Charlie here." he said.
"Hi. It's me." Jody's voice said. She was crying.
"Jody? What's wrong?" Charlie asked, concerned.
"Charlie. I miss you. I love you. Please come back."
"Look, Jody. I can't. If I come back, then I hurt you and Cooper. If I don't come, back, I hurt you any way. Sorry, but there is no good way out of this. But I don't want to hurt anymore people than I have to, so I'm going to stay here. Please don't cry. I'll visit.' Charlie said, and then hung up in a hurry. He sighed and watched 3 hours of tv.
Then his phone rang.
"Hello?" Charlie said, turning off the tv.
"Hey Charlie. It's Cooper. I just wanted to say thanks. For Jody and all, she realized that she loved me, so we are back together. I'm not bragging or anything, I'm jus thanking you. Well, I gotta run. Bye."
"Bye." Charlie said, and they both hung up. Charlie sighed again and went back to watching tv.
***************************** 3 Years Later ******************************
Charlie woke up early on Saturday. Still wearing his boxers, he stretched and ate a banana.
His phone rang. He wondered who would call him at 6 in the morning.
"Hello?" he answered.
"Charlie!" the voice squeaked.
"Jody?" Charlie asked.
"Yes!"
"Hey! Wow, you haven't called me since I moved out." Charlie said, remembering the event and getting a little sad.
"Oh, yeah." Jody said, frowning. But she quickly brightened up again. "How soon can you get out here?" she asked.
"Excuse me?"
"I'm getting married!" Jody squeaked. "And you're invited to the wedding. How soon can you get out here? Or, do you even want to come?" Jody asked hopefully.
"Well, I mean, if you are gonna marry Cooper, I don't think I want to came, it'd just be depressing."
"I'm not." Jody explained.
"You're not what?"
"I'm not marring Cooper." Jody said.
