OK, here's the next chapter. I'm excited about where this is going. I hope to have the next part up within a week, maybe two.
Disclaimer: I own nothing
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Ch 2
Scarlett's mind was flooded with thoughts. She couldn't bear the thought of being Charlie's girlfriend. He'd probably suffocate her with his devotion. Then, the conversation about his job replayed in her mind. "He's got a great job lined up. Maybe if I were his girlfriend, he could put in a good word for me. Besides," she realized, "I think I remember him telling me he was going to Europe this summer. So I'll only have to bear a week with him and I won't have to see him until summer."
Her eyes sparkled with this revelation, and she purposely flashed her sweetest smile. "I would love to go out with you, Charlie."
Charlie's solemn brown eyes gleamed with a foreign joy, and his large childish smile appeared on his face. Unsure of what to do, as he was expecting Scarlett to decline, he quickly gave her a peck on the cheek and rushed off, eager to tell everyone at the party that he, Charlie Hamilton, was going out with Scarlett O'Hara.
***
Scarlett smiled and shook her head as she watched the innocent Charlie run off in his excitement. As she watched him proudly tell his friends that he was now Scarlett's boyfriend, she understood how wonderful the feeling of making someone feel good really was.
Her thoughts were cut short when Cathleen ran up to her, trailing Ryan behind her. "Scarlett!" she yelled. As she got closer, she said, "I just saw Charlie Hamilton, and he said you two were going out. Is he for real?" She looked at her best friend, understandably confused. Charlie was unquestionably not Scarlett's type; the two of them had spent hours talking about the clumsy boy, mocking his dorky personality. There was no way in hell Scarlett would ever agree to going out with him- she wouldn't be able to stand it.
Scarlett laughed, knowing how baffled Cathleen must be. "Yeah, I told him I'd go out with him."
"You've got to be kidding me," Ryan cut in. "I can't stand more than five minutes with the guy, and I have considerably more patience than you. How the hell do you think you're going to be able to tolerate dating him?"
"I know, I know, and I thought of that, believe me. But he got a job with Cantor Fitzgerald, a job with influence, and I haven't gotten a single offer. I've been trying for months to get a damned interview there. Hopefully he'll put a good word in for me. Besides, he's going to Europe in a week, and once he gets back and I have a job, or at least an interview, I'll dump him." Scarlett smiled proudly after voicing her plan, and Cathleen and Ryan nodded in understanding. She felt bad using Charlie like that, but she saw no choice in the matter. She wasn't the only one benefiting, anyway, she reasoned. Charlie hadn't been that happy in his entire life.
***
The party went on, and the sun began to retreat behind the Manhattan skyline, turning the blue sky into a canvas of purples and pinks. Scarlett viewed this beautiful scene with Charlie, who had suddenly found a new confidence. In a bold manner, he leaned in, allowing his lips to touch her soft ones, taking both her and himself by surprise.
Reluctantly, Scarlett gave into the kiss, and his arms awkwardly found their way around her tiny waist. As the kiss broke, she heard the music radiating from the building change to a slow song. Smiling with his newfound air of confidence, Charlie took his girlfriend's hand and led her into the party.
Dancing with Charlie proved to be a challenge in itself, as Scarlett soon found that she had to constantly be paying attention to ensure his large feet didn't land on hers. As she danced, she scanned the room, studying in the other couples. Her eyes became fixated on a mysterious man in the corner of the room, standing alone, a drink in hand. He was tall, and dark, with hair black as the night, and captivating eyes equally as dark. Above his small mouth was an immaculately trimmed moustache. His clothes were simple yet elegant, giving him an air of wealth. He looked much older than anyone at the party, Scarlett observed, at least ten years older. "Why would he be at a college party?" she thought.
Most captivating about his man was the fact that he was staring straight at her, a wry smile spread across his face. She turned away, pretending not to be interested, but persisted in looking up towards the mysterious man every few moments, unable to stop thinking about him and wondering who he was.
Her glances, though she attempted to make them furtive, were quite obvious to the observant man, and after a few times, he waved at her, a broad smile crossing his tan face.
Scarlett's face reddened, and she averted her eyes, embarrassed that he caught her. She continued to dance, and turned Charles around so she would face the other way. However, when the current slow song finished, and the first beats of the classic party song, "Baby Got Back," sounded, her mind was still flooded with thoughts of the puzzling man in the corner.
Charlie, undoubtedly not brazen enough to attempt dancing to this song, broke the dance with a kiss on his cheek, and made his excuses for a drink. Scarlett, who wasn't thirsty, left his side, and found Cathleen, who was sitting in folding chair at the side of the dance floor, talking to Maybelle Merriweather.
Maybelle, who hadn't liked Scarlett since she had gone out with Brad Jensen, Maybelle's ex-boyfriend, left the table as she saw Scarlett approaching. Her coldness didn't faze Scarlett, who wanted to ask Cathleen about the man in the corner. Her best friend knew every tidbit of gossip, and if she didn't know the identity of the dark man, she undoubtedly would be able to quickly acquire the information.
When she reached her friend, Scarlett immediately got to the point. "Cathleen, do you see that man over there? The one with the dark moustache and the unsettling smile."
Cathleen followed her friend's gaze, and as she saw the man Scarlett was referring to, a strange smile appeared on her lips. "Oh, that's Rhett Butler. Why do you ask?"
"I caught his eye while I was dancing with Charlie."
"He graduated from Duke almost ten years ago. He's a friend of Ashley's new boss, and for some reason he accepted Ashley's invitation to the party. Apparently, he made a fortune when the "dot com" businesses failed. He comes from an old Charleston family, but they don't accept him as a son. Sally Jackson told me his father was ashamed of having a son who associated with whores." Suddenly, Scarlett detected a change in Cathleen's eyes. "Scarlett, he's coming over!" Cathleen laughed and left Scarlett to a curious Rhett Butler.
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Well, that's it. Please respond with any criticism, ideas, etc. I love I t and need it.
Disclaimer: I own nothing
****************************************************
Ch 2
Scarlett's mind was flooded with thoughts. She couldn't bear the thought of being Charlie's girlfriend. He'd probably suffocate her with his devotion. Then, the conversation about his job replayed in her mind. "He's got a great job lined up. Maybe if I were his girlfriend, he could put in a good word for me. Besides," she realized, "I think I remember him telling me he was going to Europe this summer. So I'll only have to bear a week with him and I won't have to see him until summer."
Her eyes sparkled with this revelation, and she purposely flashed her sweetest smile. "I would love to go out with you, Charlie."
Charlie's solemn brown eyes gleamed with a foreign joy, and his large childish smile appeared on his face. Unsure of what to do, as he was expecting Scarlett to decline, he quickly gave her a peck on the cheek and rushed off, eager to tell everyone at the party that he, Charlie Hamilton, was going out with Scarlett O'Hara.
***
Scarlett smiled and shook her head as she watched the innocent Charlie run off in his excitement. As she watched him proudly tell his friends that he was now Scarlett's boyfriend, she understood how wonderful the feeling of making someone feel good really was.
Her thoughts were cut short when Cathleen ran up to her, trailing Ryan behind her. "Scarlett!" she yelled. As she got closer, she said, "I just saw Charlie Hamilton, and he said you two were going out. Is he for real?" She looked at her best friend, understandably confused. Charlie was unquestionably not Scarlett's type; the two of them had spent hours talking about the clumsy boy, mocking his dorky personality. There was no way in hell Scarlett would ever agree to going out with him- she wouldn't be able to stand it.
Scarlett laughed, knowing how baffled Cathleen must be. "Yeah, I told him I'd go out with him."
"You've got to be kidding me," Ryan cut in. "I can't stand more than five minutes with the guy, and I have considerably more patience than you. How the hell do you think you're going to be able to tolerate dating him?"
"I know, I know, and I thought of that, believe me. But he got a job with Cantor Fitzgerald, a job with influence, and I haven't gotten a single offer. I've been trying for months to get a damned interview there. Hopefully he'll put a good word in for me. Besides, he's going to Europe in a week, and once he gets back and I have a job, or at least an interview, I'll dump him." Scarlett smiled proudly after voicing her plan, and Cathleen and Ryan nodded in understanding. She felt bad using Charlie like that, but she saw no choice in the matter. She wasn't the only one benefiting, anyway, she reasoned. Charlie hadn't been that happy in his entire life.
***
The party went on, and the sun began to retreat behind the Manhattan skyline, turning the blue sky into a canvas of purples and pinks. Scarlett viewed this beautiful scene with Charlie, who had suddenly found a new confidence. In a bold manner, he leaned in, allowing his lips to touch her soft ones, taking both her and himself by surprise.
Reluctantly, Scarlett gave into the kiss, and his arms awkwardly found their way around her tiny waist. As the kiss broke, she heard the music radiating from the building change to a slow song. Smiling with his newfound air of confidence, Charlie took his girlfriend's hand and led her into the party.
Dancing with Charlie proved to be a challenge in itself, as Scarlett soon found that she had to constantly be paying attention to ensure his large feet didn't land on hers. As she danced, she scanned the room, studying in the other couples. Her eyes became fixated on a mysterious man in the corner of the room, standing alone, a drink in hand. He was tall, and dark, with hair black as the night, and captivating eyes equally as dark. Above his small mouth was an immaculately trimmed moustache. His clothes were simple yet elegant, giving him an air of wealth. He looked much older than anyone at the party, Scarlett observed, at least ten years older. "Why would he be at a college party?" she thought.
Most captivating about his man was the fact that he was staring straight at her, a wry smile spread across his face. She turned away, pretending not to be interested, but persisted in looking up towards the mysterious man every few moments, unable to stop thinking about him and wondering who he was.
Her glances, though she attempted to make them furtive, were quite obvious to the observant man, and after a few times, he waved at her, a broad smile crossing his tan face.
Scarlett's face reddened, and she averted her eyes, embarrassed that he caught her. She continued to dance, and turned Charles around so she would face the other way. However, when the current slow song finished, and the first beats of the classic party song, "Baby Got Back," sounded, her mind was still flooded with thoughts of the puzzling man in the corner.
Charlie, undoubtedly not brazen enough to attempt dancing to this song, broke the dance with a kiss on his cheek, and made his excuses for a drink. Scarlett, who wasn't thirsty, left his side, and found Cathleen, who was sitting in folding chair at the side of the dance floor, talking to Maybelle Merriweather.
Maybelle, who hadn't liked Scarlett since she had gone out with Brad Jensen, Maybelle's ex-boyfriend, left the table as she saw Scarlett approaching. Her coldness didn't faze Scarlett, who wanted to ask Cathleen about the man in the corner. Her best friend knew every tidbit of gossip, and if she didn't know the identity of the dark man, she undoubtedly would be able to quickly acquire the information.
When she reached her friend, Scarlett immediately got to the point. "Cathleen, do you see that man over there? The one with the dark moustache and the unsettling smile."
Cathleen followed her friend's gaze, and as she saw the man Scarlett was referring to, a strange smile appeared on her lips. "Oh, that's Rhett Butler. Why do you ask?"
"I caught his eye while I was dancing with Charlie."
"He graduated from Duke almost ten years ago. He's a friend of Ashley's new boss, and for some reason he accepted Ashley's invitation to the party. Apparently, he made a fortune when the "dot com" businesses failed. He comes from an old Charleston family, but they don't accept him as a son. Sally Jackson told me his father was ashamed of having a son who associated with whores." Suddenly, Scarlett detected a change in Cathleen's eyes. "Scarlett, he's coming over!" Cathleen laughed and left Scarlett to a curious Rhett Butler.
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Well, that's it. Please respond with any criticism, ideas, etc. I love I t and need it.