''Come on Charlie, go faster!'' screamed Pete. I pushed the gas pedel down harder and the speed accilarated. We sped down the road, cheering our heads off. ''Here Charlie, take a sip of beer.'' Ron told me, handing me a bottle. I grabbed it and drank it down in one gulp. ''That's good stuff!'' I cheered. Suddenly a huge truck crashed into Pete's side sending the car 12 feet away.
''Charlie, Charlie.'' A voice was calling. Opening up my eyes, I saw Pete standing there. ''It's your fault. You killed me Charlie. You killed me.'' he said before disapearing.
''My fault, my fault. I killed him. No, I killed him.'' I kept mumbling in my sleep. ''Charlie, Charlie. Wake up!'' Connie said, shaking me awake. ''What happened.'' I asked sitting up. ''You were having a nightmare. Charlie, do you dream about the crash a lot?'' asked Connie.
''Of course I do. It's my fault Cons. I was driving. I killed Pete.'' I told her. ''No Charlie, it was an accident. It's not your fault.'' She told me. ''I'm gonna go take a shower so I'll talk to you later.'' I said standing up and grabbing my towel. I didn't need her telling me it wasn't my fault. I knew it was. ''Ok, but I'm coming back later. We'll hang out. Ok?'' she asked. ''Ok.'' I told her.
Connie entered her dorm room and saw Julie sitting on her bed. ''Hey Jules. What's up?'' Connie asked her. ''Where were you last night?'' she asked. ''I spent the night at Charlie's.'' Connie told her. ''You what!'' Julie exclaimed. ''I went to see how his therapy went, we watched TV, I fell asleep. It's no big deal.'' Connie said, laying down on her bed. ''Why do you spend so much time with him Connie?'' Julie asked.
''He let's me in. I want to help him Julie. I want to bring him back.'' Connie said. ''Cons, that's not it. I know you too well. I saw that smile on your face when he talked to you in the hospital. Your feelings for him are changing, aren't they?'' she asked. ''I don't know what you're talking about. I got to go and pick up Charlie. We're hanging out today. I'll talk to you later.'' Connie said, leaving.
I sat on the couch waiting for Connie to arrive. Coach walked into the room. ''So where are you going Charlie?'' he asked. ''Me and Connie are hanging out.'' I told him. The door bell rang and I got up to get it. Opening the door and seeing Connie, I grabbed my coat and we left. ''So where are you dragging me?'' I asked her. ''Nope today it's whatever you want to do.'' she told me.
I decided we should get some ice cream for lunch. We went to ''Mcmils House of Ice Cream'' and I chose chocolate while Connie got vanilla. ''How can you like an ice cream that's so plain?'' I asked her. ''How can you like an ice cream that always makes you thirsty?'' she asked me back. This was our thing, we would always argue about ice cream flavors.
We finished out ice creams and I was thirsty so I took told Connie we should get something to drink. She smirked at me and told me she knew just the place to go. She took me to Micky's Dinner. ''Cons, what are we doing here?'' I asked. My mom worked here and I just wasn't ready to go in. ''You need to do this Charlie, you need closure.'' she told me, dragging me inside. We entered the dinner and my mom's old friend Tasha looked at me kindly. ''Hello sweetheart, the usual?'' she asked.
I nodded and me and Connie went to sit down. While we were waiting, the door opened and the ducks walked in. Adam spotted me and pretty soon the rest did too. We all stared at each other for a few seconds, though it felt like a lifetime. The ducks broke the gaze and went to sit down. Our food came and I shoveld it down, not wanting to stay here much longer. We quickly ate and paid. Walking out of the dinner, I glanced at the ducks but none were looking back.
Connie and I left the dinner and I led her to the old school playground. We walked to the swings and sat down. ''You ok Charlie?'' she asked me. ''They wouldn't even talk to me and they barley looked at me. Can't say I blame them though, I did act like a jerk to them. I wouldn't be surprised if they never spoke to me again.'' I said, starting to swing. I pumped my legs harder and harder, wanting to leave this world behind as I soared through the air.
''Charlie, slow down!'' Connie yelled to me and I did. ''You've got to make the first move with them. Tell them you're sorry.'' she told me after I had stopped swinging. ''What if they don't listen?'' I asked. ''They will, they're your best friends no matter what.'' she told me. ''I'm just glad I got you, Connie. I don't know what I'd do if you weren't here.'' I told her. She smlied broadly at me and I smilied back. ''That's good to know Spazway.'' Connie said standing up and pushing me off the swing. I jumped up and started chasing her around the playground.
Soon we were tired out and we fell to the grass laughing. ''You still can't catch me Charlie.'' Connie laughed. ''Nah, I let you go. Didn't want to embaress you.'' I said. She smacked me on the arm and giggled. ''You're such a jerk sometimes, you know that right?'' she asked me. ''Of course.'' I told her. ''Come on, I thought of another place to go.'' I said standing up and grabbing her hand, pulling her up.
I took her to the old ice pond that I would skate around when I was little. The two of us laced up our skates and soared around the rink. ''Hey Connie, Thanks for hanging out with me.'' I said. ''You're my best friend, there is no where else I'd rather be.'' Connie told me. I decided to get her back for that comment earlier so I charged at her on the ice. She turned just in time to block herself as I crashed into her, sending us both to the ice in a heap. ''What is your problem Charlie!'' she said, laughing along with me.
Our laughter soon died down, however, when we saw how close we really were. I had ended up on top of her, our faces inches away. She looked so beautiful, I couldn't help myself. I leaned down, closed my eyes and brushed my lips againest hers in a slow, serching kiss. I slowly raised my head, breaking the kiss, and stared down at her. Her eyes were closed and her mouth opened slightly. I stood up quickly and helped her to her feet. We just stared at each other. ''I'm sorry Connie I shouldn't have done that.'' I said.
''Why not?'' she asked me. ''I'm too screwed up right to be anymore then friends. I don't want to hurt you.'' I told her. ''That's what your doing right now.'' she said. ''I'm sorry Cons but I can't.'' I said skating off the ice and heading home. I arrived home to see Coach sitting on the couch. ''Can I talk to you?'' I asked him. He nodded. ''I kissed Connie.'' I told him. ''That's great Charlie.'' he told me. ''No it's not. I told her we couldn't be anything more then friends. I'm too screwed up for her Coach. I'm too scared.'' I said. ''Charlie, you've got to let Connie make her own decisions. If she feels ready to have a relationship with you, then you need to let her. Don't be scared Charlie, you love her right?'' I nodded my head. ''Then tell her. don't be afraid to be happy.'' he said. ''Thanks Coach.'' I said going to my room.
Connie walked into her dorm and Julie noticed her red eyes right away. ''What's wrong Connie?'' she asked. ''Charlie kissed me but he says we can only be friends.'' Connie said sitting down next to her. ''You love him, don't you?'' Julie asked. Connie nodded. ''Then you've got to tell him. You can't just let him go. The Connie I know fights for what she wants.'' Julie said, placing a comforting arm around her.
After my talk with Coach, I go to my room and lie down on my bed. I love her. I love Connie Moreau. I'm just too damn scared to tell her. What happenes if I lose her? What happens if I lose the most important person to me? I'm too messed up to have anything good, I'll ruin it with her. I know I will. She's got to understand. No matter how much I love her, she derserves someone who's not like me.
Connie was lying down on her bed in deep thought. I have to let Charlie know that I love him. He's not too messed up for me like he said. I need him and I know he needs me. I love him. I love Charlie Conway. I just got to let him know. I can't let him shut me out.
AN- Will these two crazy kids tell each other how they really feel? Will the ducks ever forgive Charlie? Stay tuned to find out!