Note: Ok, so this probably really sucks. I knew where I wanted this to go, yet I couldn't find a way to do it. I thought they had been at the strip club long enough. Even though that that's kind of a main point. I hop I do better on the next one. I've been really busy with school stuff. My profs are really pushing on the homework for mid-terms. That and I'm like really sick lately. Freaking Allergies. Yeah. I pulled this update out of my ass at like 1 o'clock in the a.m. So it might be a little…eh.

Stripping My Heart Pt. 4

By: joshysgirl

Connie's POV

I look Charlie dead in the eye, daring him to come up with a good retort. I see him looking at me with an unreadable expression. Usually I've been so good at knowing what he's thinking. I think our time apart changed that. Now I soften my gaze as I start to think about how close of friends we used to be. Our eyes are still locked together, but our haze is broken from a throat being cleared. I see Charlie slowly start to regain his composure and those all too familiar mischievous glints come back into his eyes. Uh oh, now I'm in trouble.

"Well, you want to prove to me that you can still kick my ass?" He says.

"Sure Spazzy, you name the time and the place." I am so gonna wipe the floor with his ass. He thinks he can give me a challenge like that and not expect me to carry it out then he doesn't know me at all.

"Man you better watch out. You know what happens when you challenge her!" Guy throws out his warning.

"Yeah, Conway, you might as well give up now." Luis says.

I arch an eyebrow and cross my arms over my chest. "So what's it going to be Charles? You gonna put yourself through the embarrassment of losing to a girl again?"

"I thought you 'weren't a girl, but a duck'." Charlie says imitating Connie almost to perfection.

I hear chuckles all around me. I quickly shut them up by giving them 'the look'. "Tomorrow Morning, Community Center, we'll settle this fair and square!" I look him dead on and I see a little bit of amusement then he starts to smile.

"You're on, Smalls. But let's make a wager."

"Ok, let's do. If I win, You have to skate around the rink in just your boxer briefs yelling at the top of your lungs 'I'm a small, stupid pansy ass boy who got beat by a woman and I want a big beautiful sailor to take me right now!' in a prissy voice of course."

Everyone is silent for awhile, and then they start to burst out laughing, even Charlie. Then he looses the amusement quickly when he's had enough. He looks like he's trying really hard to think of something worse for me to do.

"Ok Cons, You have to………..umm…..you have to….shit……..you-you have to-to do whatever I say for 10 days….no……umm…….damn….Wait!...You have to give 3 people on the team a lap dance!...Yes you have to do that…..and….umm…give them body shots!"

Ok, I have to give it to him that's pretty good. I really hope I win though. Cause that's just...wrong. I think I see him literally blow out the air of nervousness and frustration and relief after he gave me my sentence. I seriously didn't think he was ever going get that sentence out. Man what has happened to our ever so linguistic captain! Something's got his panties in a bunch. I look around at everybody's face. They all seem a little scared and something weird. All of a sudden something comes to my mind.

"Hey Charles? Who exactly am I going to do this for? Do I get to pick? Do you pick? How's that gonna work?"

"Oh, well, why don't we just have everyone else decide? Not until tomorrow after I beat you anyways."

"Pfft, like that'll ever happen."

"Ok, ok guys. Let's drop this. We should probably go so we can get some sleep for this big 'match' in the morning." Adam points out wryly.

Everyone nods their heads and Adam motions Rae for the check.

"No Adam, the checks on me."

"No cons, I wouldn't let you do that."

"Oh come on, I work here it's the least I could do." Adam looks a little relieved at that yet a little sheepish. Well Adams always a little sheepish I guess that's normal.

"Well I guess I'll see you guys tomorrow then. Here's my number and address. Where are you guys staying?"

"Oh, were staying at Adam and Charlie's Apartment."

I raise an eyebrow. "You're rooming together still? I thought you were making the big bucks now that you're in the NHL."

"Um we just started, plus no need to waste more money than needed. We aren't that rich……yet." Charlie says.

I smile at him. "Riiiight, riiight." I can't seem take my eyes off of him tonight. He really grew up. I mean really. I'm starting to feel those butterflies I felt for him way back when. I push myself out of my reverie and proceed to give everyone a hug. I see that Charlie stays back for awhile. I turn to look at him after I'm done hugging Adam.

"You coming Charlie?" he says.

"Yeah, I'll be there in a second." Charlie Says.

I wave to the ducks then swivel my head to look at him. He has that look in his eyes. I reach up to give him a hug. "By the way Charlie; Happy Birthday." I see him look at me incredulously.

"What you think I would forget my old pal's birthday?" He starts to blush and I take a moment to look at him. He looks cute when he blushes. He's done that a lot tonight. I don't think I remember him blushing a lot when we were younger. He's usually not easily embarrassed.

"Umm….No…well, yes."

"Well I guess it was a nice birthday present from the guys—them bringing you here."

He gets this look in his eyes that are mischievous again. I see him look me up and down and suddenly I'm starting to feel a little self conscious myself and I feel my cheeks start to heat up.

"Well, I definitely wasn't expecting to see one of my best friends naked. But I guess that was just an added bonus."

Oh my goodness. Did he just say that? I see him look up at me horrified at what he said. We both look at each other awkwardly for awhile. Oh dear. We just crossed that line friends aren't supposed to cross. I see him bring his head to his head and run his fingers through his hair nervously. I keep switching my hands from being crossed over my chest to resting on my hips.

"Um…That didn't come out of my mouth did it?...Yes it did…..Ok, this is definite proof to why I'm called Spaz…..Oh jeez…….Shit!...Holy Hell…Bad Charlie!...BAD…..Um…See what I meant was that…You know I didn't expect to see you that was an added bonus and I didn't…Aw hell…yes I did….I mean NO!...Shit, just stop Charlie…."

"CHARLES!"

"WHAT!"

"It's ok, calm down. Jeez what's the problem with you tonight? It's not like you've never seen me naked before."

"Cons, we were like 5."

"7."

"5, 7, whatever it was still…"

"What am I that repulsive?" I joke.

"NO!...I mean no…it's just unexpected."

"I'm just kidding, calm down Charles."

I see him start to relax a little bit. "Ok, now that we got that out of the way why don't you just go, and I'll see you in the morning for our little rendezvous." I reach up and give him another hug. It lasts longer than a friend should. We just stand there in each others arms. I think we just miss each other so much we didn't want to let go in fear of never seeing each other again. I hear someone yelling his name. No! I quickly squeeze him harder and take in his smell then pull away. I turn to look at who interrupted our bond.

"Charlie, dude ya coming?"

"Yeah, I am." He gives me one last squeeze and whispers, "See ya in the a.m. Smalls, you better be read to give those lap dances."

"Charlie?" I whisper in a faux seductiveness. "Yeah." He says in a whisper. "Be prepared to get your lovin' from your Big Beautiful Sailor!"

He pushes me away, tousles my hair, and then walks away from me. I wave good-bye to him then go to get ready to go home. Got to get some sleep before tomorrow. sigh

I'm so happy right now. I've got to get home right now. Oh shit! Home! I forgot to tell the ducks about…

Again...Sorry if it was crap. I was trying to decide where to take it and I kinda just was freewriting. :-(