Behind the Veil
a fanfiction by Emma

Chapter Eleven

Spring
April

It seemed to me, that something had changed. Since Christmas, when I opened up to Charlotte in that small story about Sonny, and the bracelet I gave her. Charlotte's just been acting . . . strange, not completely strange that she's creepy, or hard to hang out with or anything. Just . . . strange. I can't quite put my finger on it.

Like when I went into the diner the next day, she was all jittery, and was shaky, like she was afraid or confused about something. She spilt my coffee that day . . . – but that's beside the point. It was like she wanted to get away from me. I just figured she had a lot on her mind – though I didn't know what could be on her mind.

As I walked down the streets, heading towards the market, I saw a poster, it looked vaguely interested, so I stopped to look at it. It was talking about a movie night, here in town, in this coffee shop I'd been to once or twice for a doughnut. It wasn't saying what the movie was, it was some sort of surprise, but it was tonight. I wanted to go, but I didn't want to be a creeper sitting there just watching a movie by himself.

I know, Charlotte.

I walked into the diner, and sat down at a table, playing with the salt shakers, I continued to think.

If I invited Charlotte, how would it turn out? Because everything else we've ever done together has turned out ... well ... interesting. You know ... the kiss ... things like that.

"Hey Chad," Charlotte said, "What can I get you?"

"Pie." I answered.

"Just pie?" Charlotte asked, "That's not very healthy."

"Hey, look who's talking Mrs. Caffeine Addict." I scoffed.

"Okay, just pie," she answered, scribbling it down on her piece of paper, and turning to walk away.

"Wait!" I cried, grabbing her sleeve.

She turned to look at me.

"There's this ... uh, move thing tonight, at the ... uh, movie place, and I was wondering, if ... you'd like to go with me?" I asked avoiding her gaze, which seemed to pierce through me.

She raised her eyebrow at me, "So, like a date?"

"No!" I cried, "No, it's ... not a date ... it's a ... friendly gathering."

Wow I'm stupid.

"A 'friendly gathering'?" she asked looking at me suspiciously.

"Yeah, it's where ... two friends – me and you – um, gather in a ... friendly way?" I laughed nervously.

"Um, yeah sure, I'll go on the 'friendly gathering' with you, Chad." she said with a slight roll to her eyes.

"Really? Great. Now go get me my pie!" I ordered.

"It's not a date?" she asked.

"No." I said.

"Okay." she said turning away. "It's a date!" she coughed.

"What?" I cried.

"Oh nothing . . ." she said in a sing-song voice.

I sat in the small little strange thing that they called a "Movie Theater" here in Scarlet Springs. It was really just a empty building that had a white bed sheet up against the wall, an old projector and a bunch of folding chairs. Or also known as "Scarlet Springs In A Box." Seriously, like, everyone in town was here.

Right now I was waiting for Charlotte, she had called me and said she would be late, because she was having some trouble closing up the diner early. Too many people were coming in or something along those lines.

They still hadn't told ANYONE what movie they were showing, when I asked the owner of the shop – David – he said, "It's old."

Thanks David. That really helps.

I am excited for this though ... I really haven't been OUT in a while. I mean, I've been out, but not like "out-out" before. Well, I guess I can say that having a Christmas dinner with Charlotte was "going out" – Wait, no! Not "going out" as in "going out"! Dammit! I'm not going out with Charlotte!

Woah, mental spaz much, Chad.

I'm such a freak.

"Hey Chad," Charlotte said with a smile as she sat down beside me, "what's the movie we're watching."

"It's old." I said, trying to impersonate David.

"Right . . ." Charlotte said looking strangely at me.

"That's what David told me," I said pointing at David, who was standing over in the corner.

"I see. He's very informative." Charlotte said with a smirk.

"Mhm. At least we know the movie will be good," Charlotte said, "Old movies are the best."

"Yeah, that's true." I said, shifting in my seat a little.

There was an awkward silence for a while, we really hadn't hung out since Christmas ... and, uh, yeah. I had to admit, it was awkward for me, I'm not so sure about Charlotte, she was just sitting there staring around the room, tapping her fingers on the edge of the chair. Maybe she was nervous, I don't know ... she could be. But what does she have to be nervous about? She's not the one who broke down at a Christmas dinner.

Charlotte suddenly turned to me, "Chad–" she started, but was interrupted by David, at the side, talking into a microphone.

"Hello guys! I'm glad this had such a huge turn out!" he said, a few people cheered because us, "Anyways, I know you are just dying to find out what movie we're watching. Well, I guess I can tell you – it's old–"

"That's not helping!" I yelled at him.

David laughed, "I'm kidding, I'm kidding. Don't worry, I will now reveal what movie you children will be watching. ... KING KONG!"

I smiled, that was a great movie. Not anything too lovey-dovey or gross, it was just in the middle.

The movie was great, but what would you expect? It's King Kong!

Now Charlotte and I were walking back to her place, she said she could get us some coffee, and we could just hang out longer, since it was only 8:30.

I sat on her couch waiting for the coffee.

"So, I tried to ask you this before the movie started tonight," Charlotte started, "but then the movie started."

"Good timing." I smirked.

She smiled, "Yeah, whatever. ... Anyways, um, my question ... do you like me?"

I looked at her curiously, "Well, yeah, of course. You're, like, my best friend."

"No, Chad, I mean ... more. Do you like me more than a best friend?"

I stood up and went up close to her. I gazed into her eyes. They were brown, that beautiful brown, the brown I thought no one else could have.

I ran my hand through her hair. Her silky red hair. The brown roots were starting to show. I liked her red hair.

I slowly cupped her face in my hands, and pressed my lips to hers, I slipped my arm around her waist and pulled her close. Then I released her, stumbling back slightly, she stared at me with worried eyes, like she was scared I was going to run.

No. Not this time.

We both walked back to each other, pulling each other into a rough kiss, her hand pulling through my hair, my arms wrapping around her waist.

I grazed my tongue over her bottom lip, hoping she would grant me entrance, as she did, out tongues explored each others mouths, battling for dominance.

We stumbled over across her room, and softly landed on her bed, I started fumbling with her shirt, as she worked on my belt-buckle, I started to place soft, wet kisses along her jaw-line.

"Chad ..." Charlotte said in a raspy voice, as she was trying to get some breath back, "are you sure you want to do this?"

Without hesitation, without any fear in my voice I whispered ack into her ear, "Yes."

Then it dawned on me; it scared me, made me fear, made me curious, and made me happy.

That I could actually be getting over Sonny Munroe.

AuthorsNote
Personally, I think this chapter goes by a LITTLE to fast for me, but I hoped you liked it anyway. :)