The end is VERY near! nods...What? I said that 20 chapters ago?
....o.O...Well...umm...about that...hehehe...This time I'm serious!
Sarah- I'm glad it made you happy. Tee hee.
Banksiesbabe99- never struck me as one to hold in her thoughts. I'm glad you like it; I'm trying hard not to rush it. I haven't done much romance at all, and I'm a bit clumsy with it. I'm tryin', though. Lol...you should get a prize for sticking with me this long. :P
Rach- I'm glad you like. Yeah, I'm try to balance out themounds of angst now and wrap things up...It's really almost over....::chin wobbles:: I don't know what I'll do with myself...Thanks, as always.
Spunky-hyper-girl- ::laughs:: It's all good. Ha, you could so take on Weezer! Lol. :P Heh...I'm glad you like the Charlie/Julie goodness. Ooh...a nickle, you say? ::smiles:: Shiny...
Adriana- Heh...well, they have teeth, so surely they can bite if they want to. How would they eat the grass? Lol. Hehe...I mean, of COURSE they don't bite. Lol...:P ::laughs:: He's getting better... You'll just have to see...dun dun dun...::dramatic music:: Heh. Thanks again.
Preciousbabyblue- ::laughs:: Thanks for the review...
Katie- Lol. I'm glad you liked the chapter. And thanks for the compliment about it being "natural." That means a lot to know I'm not rushing it...I'm a bit of newbie at the whole "relationship-writing" thing.
Tiff- Thanks bunches! ::grins::
French Chipmunk- Of course. I'm a sucker for happy endings...oops...did I give something away? Lol.
Nicole- Thanks. I'm glad you're liking the chapters. Enjoy!
Warrior of the Shadow- I'm glad you took the time to read it all. Heh. It got pretty long...lol...I hope you like the chapter, and more reconciliations will come soon...
Emmy- OMG EMMY! ::hug-tackle:: You're alive! I miss you too! ::breaks down sobbing:: :( ::laughs::...Ooh! Shiny? Where? ::looks around:: I'm glad your Charlie Angstus Withdrawlumna was cured! It's a MIRACLE! ::dances:: Yes, I put the Connie/Guy-ness in there for you because I know you love them. ::grins::...::blinks::...happy angst...that's a new one. Heh. Miami? How cool! I'm still at home...in Texas...lol...I wanna go to Miami...Maybe you'll see Luis! Surely he's back from Eden Hall by now. Lol. :P I'm a dork. o.O Ooh, Connie/Guy angst? Fun. Lol. OOH! Campfire! ::gets excited:: Yay! ...::pulls a marshmallow out of hair::...::shrugs and eats it anyway:: I'm so glad to hear from you! ::feels a warm fuzzy feeling inside:: Love you LOTS!
Nebula- It's all good. I have LOTS of chapters to catch up on for both you and Kel...but I've been lazy...I really need to do that. o.O I'm glad you liked the graveyard part. I figured he needed it too. Yes...rooftop Charlie is good and has a smidge of humor. Lol. :P He's starting to behave again. Yeah, I could have done Adam and Connie, but I was thinking that I might give him and Charlie a scene. He and Adam had it roughest and haven't really talked since Charlie told him about his dad, so it might be slightly different. ::laughs:: Thanks again. Much love!
Disclaimer- Sorry about my last disclaimer...The rabid moo-cow within got upset about all the disclaimers. It's not a very pleasant thing. I still don't own the Mighty Ducks.
-Chapter 68-
A few days seemed to fly by, passing faster and faster as summer threatened its end.
Fulton and Connie had yet to discover what exactly was going on with Julie and Charlie, but they had enough common sense to let it be...until later. What they DID want to know is why Charlie continued to avoid them, though it seemed he wasn't dead-seething mad at them. That much was evident on the roof. Yet he still seemed to close off and keep his distance. It baffled them, but neither dared ask.
So now they sat amongst their group of friends, continuing to act as if everything was perfectly normal.
But no matter how they tried, it wasn't something that easily slipped their minds.
When Connie glanced at Julie, it seemed as if the blonde girl was in another world. The faraway look was not at home on her face, and it took every ounce of Connie's self-control not to blurt out "what's wrong, Jules?"
Drumming her fingers on her lap, Connie hummed something to herself as she rested her head on Guy's shoulder absently, the fingers of her other hand intertwined with his.
A movement caught her gaze; she saw Charlie walk right past them and into the kitchen. He acted as if they weren't even there...well, except for something that might classify as a glance in Julie's direction...but it was hard to tell.
Casually slipping her hand out of Guy's grip, she stood up. "I'll be right back."
"Where're you going?" Guy asked, no one else paying attention to their conversation.
"Just into the kitchen for a minute. I need a drink anyway. I'll be back, don't worry," she said, giving Guy a reassuring smile before planting a kiss on his lips. "Be right back."
With that she walked into the kitchen, her hands in the pockets of her jean shorts. "Hey Spaz."
Charlie hit his head on the roof of the refrigerator.
"Oops. Sorry," she said, walking the rest of the way in.
"Hi," he said, turning to face her and absently rubbing his head. "Did you need something?"
She shrugged and sat down. "I dunno. I guess we haven't really talked in awhile, and it's been bugging me. Yes, I know. You're probably sick and tired of us, but what can I say? Isn't that what we're here for?" When he was about to respond, she held up her hand and continue. "Nuh! No. Don't answer that question. It was rhetorical. Frankly, I've got some questions that need answering, and you've got some answers that need questioning. So we might as well get it over with."
He raised his eyebrows and took a drink of milk straight out of the carton, wiping his mouth with the sleeve of his shirt. "Is that so?"
"Yes. I'm afraid I can't allow Julie, Adam, and Fulton to get the dirt when I'm left high and dry. It simply isn't fair. So for your sake, I suggest you answer," Connie said with just enough force to mean something, but not so much that it was particularly threatening.
"For my sake, eh?" he asked, taking another drink before closing it and stuffing it back in the fridge. "And how exactly is this for my sake?"
"It just is. You shouldn't question me. Now...we can either do this here, or we can do this elsewhere. It's your call, but it's going to be done."
"So basically I can ignore you WITH and audience or WITHOUT an audience?" he asked lightly, leaning against the counter.
"Well, I was actually think more along the lines of we can TALK with an audience or without and audience," Connie said, raising her shoulders. "Come on. We haven't talked in a long time. It doesn't have to be long."
He let out a sigh and shrugged. "Fine. I guess." His gaze darted briefly to the living room before switching back. "But not in here."
She gave him a smile. "That's what I thought. I'm going to go tell them I'll be back later so Guy doesn't a send a search party. Trust me, there's no getting off the hook now, my friend."
Charlie let out a sigh of mock exasperation. "So bolting out the door now wouldn't be in my best interest?"
"Nope. Remember, I know where you live," she said jokingly.
"You don't say..." he said, a half-grin finding it's way to his face.
"Shocking, I know."
With that, Connie walked back into the living room and gave Guy a kiss on the cheek. "I'm going to go have a nice chat with El Cap-ee-tan. I'll be back in awhile."
"Okay," Guy said warily. "Have fun?"
She smiled and gave him another kiss. "Don't worry. I promise to return with all limbs intact. Bye Guy," she said, noticing that Julie was still zoned out and no one else was paying attention.
She walked back into the kitchen. "Alright, Charlie. You're stuck with me until my questions have been answered to my liking. Let's go," she said, and he saluted her, leading the way out of the house.
"How do I let myself get talked into this?" he asked, shoving his hands in his pockets.
"Because I've known you since we were shoving crayons up our noses in kindergarten, and you know that I know that I won't let you off the hook for more than a certain amount of time," she replied simply. "This self- destructive pattern you have going here really doesn't suit you."
"You think?" he asked, staring forward.
"I don't think, Charlie. I know," she said pointedly before an air of silence came between them.
"So was there any particular point to this little walk, or was that it?" he asked, occupying his attention with everything but Connie.
"No, there's a point. It's just up to you how long it takes for us to get there," she replied. "I could do this for awhile, you know. I have all the time in the world."
"Hmm..." he said, giving her a skeptical look. "Way to put on the pressure."
"I try," she replied. "So are you going to offer the information willingly, or must I pry it from your stubborn clutches kicking and screaming?"
"Depends what exactly the information you're looking for consists of." He was feeling more at ease, relieved that it was Connie and not someone else. He wouldn't have MINDED it being Julie...but that isn't the point. Connie knew him like an annoying brother that you just want to smack upside the head sometimes.
"Hm, being picky, are we? Tell me why you've been acting like a doofhead all summer. It's really not all that nice, and we were worried that your body had been taken over by some type of alien life form who's plotting to destroy the human race...or...at least that was Averman's theory. I was thinking more along the lines of something...well...more normal and less cheap sci-fi thriller. So please, do tell," she said without a hint of accusation in her voice. If she knew Charlie at all, then she knew throwing accusations would not help her case at all. He tended to shy away from those types of things before shifting into defensive-mode. Or it could be considered offensive-mode...it really depends on your perspective and how you look at it.
"Hmm...a doofhead, you say?" he replied, his eyebrows rising with amusement. "That's a new one."
"You're avoiding the question," she pointed out.
"Am I?"
"Yes, you are."
"Hm. I hadn't noticed..." he said, shrugging and allowing a small smile to appear on his face.
"Well now that you know, how about you give me some answers. You know I won't let it be, so you're only delaying the inevitable. You've been getting off lucky this summer because I have given you up until now to prepare for the onslaught. You might as well just give in and spill," she said, nodding her head at him. "There's no use. Resistance is futile."
He let out a light laugh. "Futile, huh? Well...I must say it was worth a try."
"Yes, and I commend you for your efforts. Too bad they were all in vain," she said, grinning. "Okay. Now tell me. No more stalling."
"So..." he said, his mouth twisting gently. "What was the question again?"
"Strange summer behavior."
"Oh yeah. It was just...ummm...not sure, actually," he said shrugging. "Haven't really given it much thought."
"So you've been acting strange for no apparent reason? No reason at all?" she asked, eyebrows creased with a slightly curious question.
"Well, okay...I wouldn't go as far as to say there was no reason...I just need a second to think of it. Bad habits die hard," he said. "I guess I was just angry and mad at everyone for some reason or another. There isn't really a short answer I can give."
"I didn't ask for a SHORT answer...I asked for THE answer," she said.
His mouth twitched into a half smile, half smirk. "You're really starting to get annoying. I swear, did you and Julie take interrogative classes when I wasn't looking or something? I bet you conspired with the shrink...You're his dirty little lackeys...His pawns out to make me tell so you can go and tell him!" he said, his voice taking on a joking quality that Connie hadn't heard in awhile. Come to think of it, she hadn't really heard him say much all summer.
"Oh no, you caught us!"
"I knew it all along, pawn-scum!" he said, playing on the words 'pond- scum.'
"Ha ha," she said, grinning and trying to withhold laughter. "Funny funny."
"I know," he said, feeling himself start to feel better. Remembering what it was like to have his friends there to joke with.
A sense of seriousness seemed to seep back between them after conversation halted.
"Are you still mad at us?" she asked, still keeping her voice calm and nonthreatening.
He shrugged, but didn't vocally answer for another minute or so. "I don't really know, actually. In a way, I am. I don't even really know why. I just am. I'm definitely less mad than I was about a week ago...I just don't really know why. I don't know what made some of the anger go away, and what made the reasons to be mad suddenly disappear. It's confusing, and probably makes no sense...but I'm not really sure if I'm still mad. Does that make ANY sense at all?" he asked, turning to her for the first time since before the seriousness returned.
Connie looked at him and gave him a half smile. "Not really." She shrugged. "But I do see where you're coming from. I guess it does kind of make sense, I just don't know exactly what you're talking about because I haven't felt it myself. At least not recently enough to remember at the moment." She let out a sigh and shrugged again. "I wish I could though." A few moments passed. "We miss you."
Charlie looked at her with an almost disbelieving expression. A soft, unconvinced laugh escaped his throat.
"What was that?" she asked, her eyebrows rising slowly.
"What was what?" He turned to her, still walking.
"That look and laugh of disbelief," she replied.
He shrugged and faced forward again. "I guess I don't really see how you can."
"Can what?"
"Miss me."
"Why?"
"Because I've been less than nice. In most cases, mean people aren't missed all that much."
She frowned and starting picking and the hem of her jean shorts. "Charlie, yes I know that you were difficult this summer. But I assure you that isn't what we miss. I said we missed YOU, not the bipolar meanie that took over your body," she said, seeing a small smile flicker on his face before it disappeared again. "Heck, I think Banks even misses you. He tries to pretend it doesn't bother him, but we all know it does. Fulton too. Julie is a given, and everyone else does too. Guy and I, Goldberg, Russ, Averman, Portman, Ken, Dwayne, Luis. We all miss you, and I personally find it hard to understand why we can't just fix this. You definitely seem better along than before, and you said yourself that you really aren't that mad. You seemed perfectly fine the other night, and you seem perfectly fine now. What's up?"
He shrugged.
When Connie placed her hands on her hips, he let out a sigh. "I don't know...I guess it's just too weird, you know? I just don't know if I'm ready to mess with that yet."
"Ready?" she asked.
"Yeah. It's harder than one would think. It's not like I can just walk up all smiles and say 'I'm sorry I treated you like dirt and hurt you all in every way possible. Pizza?' It just doesn't work that way, and I don't know if I can find any other way TO do handle it. I mean, what does one DO in something like this?" he said, almost talking out loud to himself more than to Connie.
"Apologize. Explain what happened. I don't know what else you can do, but what can it hurt? These are your friends, Charlie. Not people out for your blood. We do care about you. The reaction may not be instantaneous, but it isn't like they'll hold a grudge forever. Trust me, it can only get better," she said with a half smile, patting him on the shoulder comfortingly.
He shrugged but became silent once more. He noticed there had been quite a few silences lately.
"But what if they can't?" he asked, not even sure why he was saying anything. He just suddenly felt the need to talk to someone, and Connie just happened to be in the right place at the right time.
"What do you mean 'what if they can't'? What if they can't what?" Connie asked, a tinge of concerning creeping into her voice.
"What if they can't forget it, Connie? It's not like I deserve their forgiveness, so what if they can't forgive me?" he asked, pain flittering in his eyes for a moment before he covered it up.
She furrowed her eyebrows in confusion. "Not forgive you? Is that really what's holding you back? Thinking they aren't going to forgive you?" When he didn't respond, she realized that hadn't come out exactly as good as it had sounded in her head. "Charlie, if that's the reason you're afraid to apologize-"
"I'm not AFRAID to apologize," he said, a slight bite to his tone.
She held up her hands "Of course not, of course not. Sorry. If that's the reason you don't WANT to apologize," she said, clearing her throat. "then you're working yourself up over nothing. You have nothing to worry about. I forgave you. Julie forgave you. Well, okay, I don't think Julie was ever really MAD at you in the first place," she continued, and could have sworn she said a hint of a smile waver on his face before he hid it. "Same with Fulton; I think he was just worried. Most of them aren't really MAD, so much as they have difficulty understanding your brain," she said, causing both of them to crack a small smile. "So don't worry about it, Charlie. Just say you're sorry and mean it. It'll be okay."
Charlie gave her another look. "I'm seriously starting to believe that conspiracy theory about you, Julie, and Dr. Shrink. Before I was just kidding, but now I'm not quite so sure..."
She mock frowned at him, placing her hands on her hips. "I go through all the trouble of making that speech and you go off and make a joke?"
"Hey, who said I was joking?"
"Very funny," she said with a smile. "Well then...now that we have all that deep, heartfelt stuff out of the way...What's going on with you and Julie?" Connie asked, a sly smile appearing on her face as she wiggled her eyebrows.
Charlie rolled his eyes and began walking a little faster, a hint of an annoyed smile on his face.
"No, really! Tell me! I wanna know!" Connie said with a large grin in her face.
"I plead the fifth, Connie. I'm not talking about this with you."
"Plead the fifth?! Does that mean there's SOMETHING you're not TELLING US about?" she said impishly.
"I'm ignoring you..." he said, continuing to walk a few paces ahead of her as she skipped along, trying to keep up. Unfortunately his legs were quite a bit longer than hers, so it was a bit difficult.
"Charlie! Come on, you know you want to! Charlie...wait, where are you going, Charlie? Hey, wait up! You're not going to leave me here, are you? Charlie?"
Sarah- I'm glad it made you happy. Tee hee.
Banksiesbabe99- never struck me as one to hold in her thoughts. I'm glad you like it; I'm trying hard not to rush it. I haven't done much romance at all, and I'm a bit clumsy with it. I'm tryin', though. Lol...you should get a prize for sticking with me this long. :P
Rach- I'm glad you like. Yeah, I'm try to balance out themounds of angst now and wrap things up...It's really almost over....::chin wobbles:: I don't know what I'll do with myself...Thanks, as always.
Spunky-hyper-girl- ::laughs:: It's all good. Ha, you could so take on Weezer! Lol. :P Heh...I'm glad you like the Charlie/Julie goodness. Ooh...a nickle, you say? ::smiles:: Shiny...
Adriana- Heh...well, they have teeth, so surely they can bite if they want to. How would they eat the grass? Lol. Hehe...I mean, of COURSE they don't bite. Lol...:P ::laughs:: He's getting better... You'll just have to see...dun dun dun...::dramatic music:: Heh. Thanks again.
Preciousbabyblue- ::laughs:: Thanks for the review...
Katie- Lol. I'm glad you liked the chapter. And thanks for the compliment about it being "natural." That means a lot to know I'm not rushing it...I'm a bit of newbie at the whole "relationship-writing" thing.
Tiff- Thanks bunches! ::grins::
French Chipmunk- Of course. I'm a sucker for happy endings...oops...did I give something away? Lol.
Nicole- Thanks. I'm glad you're liking the chapters. Enjoy!
Warrior of the Shadow- I'm glad you took the time to read it all. Heh. It got pretty long...lol...I hope you like the chapter, and more reconciliations will come soon...
Emmy- OMG EMMY! ::hug-tackle:: You're alive! I miss you too! ::breaks down sobbing:: :( ::laughs::...Ooh! Shiny? Where? ::looks around:: I'm glad your Charlie Angstus Withdrawlumna was cured! It's a MIRACLE! ::dances:: Yes, I put the Connie/Guy-ness in there for you because I know you love them. ::grins::...::blinks::...happy angst...that's a new one. Heh. Miami? How cool! I'm still at home...in Texas...lol...I wanna go to Miami...Maybe you'll see Luis! Surely he's back from Eden Hall by now. Lol. :P I'm a dork. o.O Ooh, Connie/Guy angst? Fun. Lol. OOH! Campfire! ::gets excited:: Yay! ...::pulls a marshmallow out of hair::...::shrugs and eats it anyway:: I'm so glad to hear from you! ::feels a warm fuzzy feeling inside:: Love you LOTS!
Nebula- It's all good. I have LOTS of chapters to catch up on for both you and Kel...but I've been lazy...I really need to do that. o.O I'm glad you liked the graveyard part. I figured he needed it too. Yes...rooftop Charlie is good and has a smidge of humor. Lol. :P He's starting to behave again. Yeah, I could have done Adam and Connie, but I was thinking that I might give him and Charlie a scene. He and Adam had it roughest and haven't really talked since Charlie told him about his dad, so it might be slightly different. ::laughs:: Thanks again. Much love!
Disclaimer- Sorry about my last disclaimer...The rabid moo-cow within got upset about all the disclaimers. It's not a very pleasant thing. I still don't own the Mighty Ducks.
-Chapter 68-
A few days seemed to fly by, passing faster and faster as summer threatened its end.
Fulton and Connie had yet to discover what exactly was going on with Julie and Charlie, but they had enough common sense to let it be...until later. What they DID want to know is why Charlie continued to avoid them, though it seemed he wasn't dead-seething mad at them. That much was evident on the roof. Yet he still seemed to close off and keep his distance. It baffled them, but neither dared ask.
So now they sat amongst their group of friends, continuing to act as if everything was perfectly normal.
But no matter how they tried, it wasn't something that easily slipped their minds.
When Connie glanced at Julie, it seemed as if the blonde girl was in another world. The faraway look was not at home on her face, and it took every ounce of Connie's self-control not to blurt out "what's wrong, Jules?"
Drumming her fingers on her lap, Connie hummed something to herself as she rested her head on Guy's shoulder absently, the fingers of her other hand intertwined with his.
A movement caught her gaze; she saw Charlie walk right past them and into the kitchen. He acted as if they weren't even there...well, except for something that might classify as a glance in Julie's direction...but it was hard to tell.
Casually slipping her hand out of Guy's grip, she stood up. "I'll be right back."
"Where're you going?" Guy asked, no one else paying attention to their conversation.
"Just into the kitchen for a minute. I need a drink anyway. I'll be back, don't worry," she said, giving Guy a reassuring smile before planting a kiss on his lips. "Be right back."
With that she walked into the kitchen, her hands in the pockets of her jean shorts. "Hey Spaz."
Charlie hit his head on the roof of the refrigerator.
"Oops. Sorry," she said, walking the rest of the way in.
"Hi," he said, turning to face her and absently rubbing his head. "Did you need something?"
She shrugged and sat down. "I dunno. I guess we haven't really talked in awhile, and it's been bugging me. Yes, I know. You're probably sick and tired of us, but what can I say? Isn't that what we're here for?" When he was about to respond, she held up her hand and continue. "Nuh! No. Don't answer that question. It was rhetorical. Frankly, I've got some questions that need answering, and you've got some answers that need questioning. So we might as well get it over with."
He raised his eyebrows and took a drink of milk straight out of the carton, wiping his mouth with the sleeve of his shirt. "Is that so?"
"Yes. I'm afraid I can't allow Julie, Adam, and Fulton to get the dirt when I'm left high and dry. It simply isn't fair. So for your sake, I suggest you answer," Connie said with just enough force to mean something, but not so much that it was particularly threatening.
"For my sake, eh?" he asked, taking another drink before closing it and stuffing it back in the fridge. "And how exactly is this for my sake?"
"It just is. You shouldn't question me. Now...we can either do this here, or we can do this elsewhere. It's your call, but it's going to be done."
"So basically I can ignore you WITH and audience or WITHOUT an audience?" he asked lightly, leaning against the counter.
"Well, I was actually think more along the lines of we can TALK with an audience or without and audience," Connie said, raising her shoulders. "Come on. We haven't talked in a long time. It doesn't have to be long."
He let out a sigh and shrugged. "Fine. I guess." His gaze darted briefly to the living room before switching back. "But not in here."
She gave him a smile. "That's what I thought. I'm going to go tell them I'll be back later so Guy doesn't a send a search party. Trust me, there's no getting off the hook now, my friend."
Charlie let out a sigh of mock exasperation. "So bolting out the door now wouldn't be in my best interest?"
"Nope. Remember, I know where you live," she said jokingly.
"You don't say..." he said, a half-grin finding it's way to his face.
"Shocking, I know."
With that, Connie walked back into the living room and gave Guy a kiss on the cheek. "I'm going to go have a nice chat with El Cap-ee-tan. I'll be back in awhile."
"Okay," Guy said warily. "Have fun?"
She smiled and gave him another kiss. "Don't worry. I promise to return with all limbs intact. Bye Guy," she said, noticing that Julie was still zoned out and no one else was paying attention.
She walked back into the kitchen. "Alright, Charlie. You're stuck with me until my questions have been answered to my liking. Let's go," she said, and he saluted her, leading the way out of the house.
"How do I let myself get talked into this?" he asked, shoving his hands in his pockets.
"Because I've known you since we were shoving crayons up our noses in kindergarten, and you know that I know that I won't let you off the hook for more than a certain amount of time," she replied simply. "This self- destructive pattern you have going here really doesn't suit you."
"You think?" he asked, staring forward.
"I don't think, Charlie. I know," she said pointedly before an air of silence came between them.
"So was there any particular point to this little walk, or was that it?" he asked, occupying his attention with everything but Connie.
"No, there's a point. It's just up to you how long it takes for us to get there," she replied. "I could do this for awhile, you know. I have all the time in the world."
"Hmm..." he said, giving her a skeptical look. "Way to put on the pressure."
"I try," she replied. "So are you going to offer the information willingly, or must I pry it from your stubborn clutches kicking and screaming?"
"Depends what exactly the information you're looking for consists of." He was feeling more at ease, relieved that it was Connie and not someone else. He wouldn't have MINDED it being Julie...but that isn't the point. Connie knew him like an annoying brother that you just want to smack upside the head sometimes.
"Hm, being picky, are we? Tell me why you've been acting like a doofhead all summer. It's really not all that nice, and we were worried that your body had been taken over by some type of alien life form who's plotting to destroy the human race...or...at least that was Averman's theory. I was thinking more along the lines of something...well...more normal and less cheap sci-fi thriller. So please, do tell," she said without a hint of accusation in her voice. If she knew Charlie at all, then she knew throwing accusations would not help her case at all. He tended to shy away from those types of things before shifting into defensive-mode. Or it could be considered offensive-mode...it really depends on your perspective and how you look at it.
"Hmm...a doofhead, you say?" he replied, his eyebrows rising with amusement. "That's a new one."
"You're avoiding the question," she pointed out.
"Am I?"
"Yes, you are."
"Hm. I hadn't noticed..." he said, shrugging and allowing a small smile to appear on his face.
"Well now that you know, how about you give me some answers. You know I won't let it be, so you're only delaying the inevitable. You've been getting off lucky this summer because I have given you up until now to prepare for the onslaught. You might as well just give in and spill," she said, nodding her head at him. "There's no use. Resistance is futile."
He let out a light laugh. "Futile, huh? Well...I must say it was worth a try."
"Yes, and I commend you for your efforts. Too bad they were all in vain," she said, grinning. "Okay. Now tell me. No more stalling."
"So..." he said, his mouth twisting gently. "What was the question again?"
"Strange summer behavior."
"Oh yeah. It was just...ummm...not sure, actually," he said shrugging. "Haven't really given it much thought."
"So you've been acting strange for no apparent reason? No reason at all?" she asked, eyebrows creased with a slightly curious question.
"Well, okay...I wouldn't go as far as to say there was no reason...I just need a second to think of it. Bad habits die hard," he said. "I guess I was just angry and mad at everyone for some reason or another. There isn't really a short answer I can give."
"I didn't ask for a SHORT answer...I asked for THE answer," she said.
His mouth twitched into a half smile, half smirk. "You're really starting to get annoying. I swear, did you and Julie take interrogative classes when I wasn't looking or something? I bet you conspired with the shrink...You're his dirty little lackeys...His pawns out to make me tell so you can go and tell him!" he said, his voice taking on a joking quality that Connie hadn't heard in awhile. Come to think of it, she hadn't really heard him say much all summer.
"Oh no, you caught us!"
"I knew it all along, pawn-scum!" he said, playing on the words 'pond- scum.'
"Ha ha," she said, grinning and trying to withhold laughter. "Funny funny."
"I know," he said, feeling himself start to feel better. Remembering what it was like to have his friends there to joke with.
A sense of seriousness seemed to seep back between them after conversation halted.
"Are you still mad at us?" she asked, still keeping her voice calm and nonthreatening.
He shrugged, but didn't vocally answer for another minute or so. "I don't really know, actually. In a way, I am. I don't even really know why. I just am. I'm definitely less mad than I was about a week ago...I just don't really know why. I don't know what made some of the anger go away, and what made the reasons to be mad suddenly disappear. It's confusing, and probably makes no sense...but I'm not really sure if I'm still mad. Does that make ANY sense at all?" he asked, turning to her for the first time since before the seriousness returned.
Connie looked at him and gave him a half smile. "Not really." She shrugged. "But I do see where you're coming from. I guess it does kind of make sense, I just don't know exactly what you're talking about because I haven't felt it myself. At least not recently enough to remember at the moment." She let out a sigh and shrugged again. "I wish I could though." A few moments passed. "We miss you."
Charlie looked at her with an almost disbelieving expression. A soft, unconvinced laugh escaped his throat.
"What was that?" she asked, her eyebrows rising slowly.
"What was what?" He turned to her, still walking.
"That look and laugh of disbelief," she replied.
He shrugged and faced forward again. "I guess I don't really see how you can."
"Can what?"
"Miss me."
"Why?"
"Because I've been less than nice. In most cases, mean people aren't missed all that much."
She frowned and starting picking and the hem of her jean shorts. "Charlie, yes I know that you were difficult this summer. But I assure you that isn't what we miss. I said we missed YOU, not the bipolar meanie that took over your body," she said, seeing a small smile flicker on his face before it disappeared again. "Heck, I think Banks even misses you. He tries to pretend it doesn't bother him, but we all know it does. Fulton too. Julie is a given, and everyone else does too. Guy and I, Goldberg, Russ, Averman, Portman, Ken, Dwayne, Luis. We all miss you, and I personally find it hard to understand why we can't just fix this. You definitely seem better along than before, and you said yourself that you really aren't that mad. You seemed perfectly fine the other night, and you seem perfectly fine now. What's up?"
He shrugged.
When Connie placed her hands on her hips, he let out a sigh. "I don't know...I guess it's just too weird, you know? I just don't know if I'm ready to mess with that yet."
"Ready?" she asked.
"Yeah. It's harder than one would think. It's not like I can just walk up all smiles and say 'I'm sorry I treated you like dirt and hurt you all in every way possible. Pizza?' It just doesn't work that way, and I don't know if I can find any other way TO do handle it. I mean, what does one DO in something like this?" he said, almost talking out loud to himself more than to Connie.
"Apologize. Explain what happened. I don't know what else you can do, but what can it hurt? These are your friends, Charlie. Not people out for your blood. We do care about you. The reaction may not be instantaneous, but it isn't like they'll hold a grudge forever. Trust me, it can only get better," she said with a half smile, patting him on the shoulder comfortingly.
He shrugged but became silent once more. He noticed there had been quite a few silences lately.
"But what if they can't?" he asked, not even sure why he was saying anything. He just suddenly felt the need to talk to someone, and Connie just happened to be in the right place at the right time.
"What do you mean 'what if they can't'? What if they can't what?" Connie asked, a tinge of concerning creeping into her voice.
"What if they can't forget it, Connie? It's not like I deserve their forgiveness, so what if they can't forgive me?" he asked, pain flittering in his eyes for a moment before he covered it up.
She furrowed her eyebrows in confusion. "Not forgive you? Is that really what's holding you back? Thinking they aren't going to forgive you?" When he didn't respond, she realized that hadn't come out exactly as good as it had sounded in her head. "Charlie, if that's the reason you're afraid to apologize-"
"I'm not AFRAID to apologize," he said, a slight bite to his tone.
She held up her hands "Of course not, of course not. Sorry. If that's the reason you don't WANT to apologize," she said, clearing her throat. "then you're working yourself up over nothing. You have nothing to worry about. I forgave you. Julie forgave you. Well, okay, I don't think Julie was ever really MAD at you in the first place," she continued, and could have sworn she said a hint of a smile waver on his face before he hid it. "Same with Fulton; I think he was just worried. Most of them aren't really MAD, so much as they have difficulty understanding your brain," she said, causing both of them to crack a small smile. "So don't worry about it, Charlie. Just say you're sorry and mean it. It'll be okay."
Charlie gave her another look. "I'm seriously starting to believe that conspiracy theory about you, Julie, and Dr. Shrink. Before I was just kidding, but now I'm not quite so sure..."
She mock frowned at him, placing her hands on her hips. "I go through all the trouble of making that speech and you go off and make a joke?"
"Hey, who said I was joking?"
"Very funny," she said with a smile. "Well then...now that we have all that deep, heartfelt stuff out of the way...What's going on with you and Julie?" Connie asked, a sly smile appearing on her face as she wiggled her eyebrows.
Charlie rolled his eyes and began walking a little faster, a hint of an annoyed smile on his face.
"No, really! Tell me! I wanna know!" Connie said with a large grin in her face.
"I plead the fifth, Connie. I'm not talking about this with you."
"Plead the fifth?! Does that mean there's SOMETHING you're not TELLING US about?" she said impishly.
"I'm ignoring you..." he said, continuing to walk a few paces ahead of her as she skipped along, trying to keep up. Unfortunately his legs were quite a bit longer than hers, so it was a bit difficult.
"Charlie! Come on, you know you want to! Charlie...wait, where are you going, Charlie? Hey, wait up! You're not going to leave me here, are you? Charlie?"
