Love at First Sight

Aubrey walked through the door quietly in the dark. She sat Derek's meal on the table then turned around to see her mother staring at her.

"You broke my rule, Aubrey Nicole." Her mother turned on the kitchen light.

Aubrey sighed. "So? I'm back, okay?" She sat her backpack on the table.

Gina rolled her eyes. "You weren't suppose to be out after midnight anyway." She crossed her arms.

Aubrey sat in one of the chairs. "I was hungry."

"You should have eaten my salad I made."

"Salad is disgusting! Mom, I'm not on a diet and neither is Derek. We are tried of eating what you always want to eat."

"Well, sorry about your luck, kid."

Aubrey stood up. "I'm seveteen! A day away from being eighteen! I think I decide what I can eat or what I can't! Stop treating me like a child!"

"I'll treat you like a adult when you start acting like one. You sneak out all the time like a rebellious teenager."

"What are you afraid of? Is it because of Dad you don't trust me?"

"NO!" Gina held back tears. "I trust you."

"No you don't! You trust Derek all the time! You let him go out with his latest one night stands all the time!"

"Don't talk about your brother like that!"

"It's true! Answer my question! Because Dad walked out on us, you think I will one day, don't you?"

Gina shook her head. "No! I'm just worried about your well-being!"

Aubrey walked angrily passed her. "I'm tired of hearing excuses, Mom."

Gina wiped her tears, turned out the lights, then went to bed.

Morning came and Aubrey had to go to summer band camp. She changed into colorful shorts with a white t-shirt. She laced up her red converse, grabbed her backpack, then walked out the door. Aubrey didn't feel one ounce of sadness for what she said to her mom last night. Ever since Aubrey was able to take care of herself, Gina has been tough on her.

/

On the football field, Aubrey stretched and did drop spins with her purple flag. Purple, being the color of Hackensack High School.

Lola spun her flag next to her. "So, how was the rest of your night?"

Aubrey tossed her flag then caught it. "I'd rather not talk about it. I brought up Daddy into the mix."

Lola gasped. "Oh no."

"Oh yea. Let's just say, it didn't end well."

"Did she ground you?"

Aubrey laughed. "Heck no. I'm not a ten year old boy."

Lola tossed her flag then caught it too. "Well, sorry about everything. At least we get to spend ten hours together." Lola wrapped her arms around her.

Aubrey dropped her flag, laughing. "Oh yay." She said sarcastically.

At ten when they took a break, Lola talked to her again.

"I didn't know you had a boyfriend! How come you never told me?" Lola nudged her elbow.

Aubrey looked at her with confusion. "Because I don't...?"

Lola pointed to the fencing, close to the pressbox. A man with long, shabby brown hair stared at her from the other side of the fence. "He's been staring at you for two hours."

Aubrey looked up at him with Lola. "I've never seen him before. You think he's stalking me?"

Lola shrugged. "I don't judge a book by its cover. Go talk to him."

Aubrey shook her head. "Are you crazy? What if he's a psycho killer?!"

Lola giggled. "He looks nice."

"Then why don't YOU go talk to him." Aubrey took a drink of water.

Lola scoffed. "I have a boyfriend."

"Hasn't stopped you before."

"Watch it, Barton."

Aubrey laughed. "I'm kidding. Sure, I'll go say hi to him."

Aubrey reached the top of the bleachers then walked to the fence, where he stood on the other side. "My friend down there said you've been looking at me. I've dealt with stalkers before. Just FYI."

The gave her a smile. "Hi to you too. I was just admiring how beautiful you were."

Aubrey smiled softly. "Thanks, but, I have a boyfriend." She lied.

The man chuckled. "The old 'I have a boyfriend' bit, huh?"

Aubrey crossed her arms. "What do you want?"

"I just wanted to know your name." His hair draped over his face.

Aubrey stood closely to the fence. "Aubrey. But, you can call me Bre."

"The name's Charles. But, you can call me Chucky." He met her blueish eyes.

Aubrey giggled. "I actually like that name. Chucky."

"Okay, back to practice!" Her band director Mr. Marshall called.

Aubrey turned to the field then back to Chucky. "Nice to meet you."

"You too. Stay safe. The Lakeshore Strangler is out there somewhere." He left her.

Aubrey nodded. "Yea, you too." She ran down the big hill then back to practice.

"So..?" Lola stood in her spot. "How did it go?"

Aubrey picked up her flag. "He was sweet. He told me I was beautiful."

Lola gasped. "How old is he?"

Aubrey shrugged. "Maybe in his mid-thirties?"

Lola laughed. "Your mom would literally kill you if she found out you were dating someone old enough to be your dad."

"Shut up." Aubrey tried hiding her laugh but simply couldn't.

"Hey, want to get ice cream after this? I"ll buy!" Lola played with her flag.

Aubrey nodded. "Sure. But get me back before midnight or Gina will throw me in the gas chamber."

Lola chuckled. "Maybe you can invite your stalker."

"I didn't get his number." Aubrey tossed her flag.

"Oh, so you gave him your number?"

"No."

Lola frowned. "Why not?"

Aubrey turned around. "May I remind you that he's a complete stranger?"

"This your fist crush! We aren't going to count Trevor." Lola spun her flag again.

Aubrey was forced to be reminded of Trevor, her boyfriend of two years who dump her for a whore so to speak.

"I guess you're right." Aubrey pushed her hair to one side.

"Just don't tell your mom and Derek." Lola pushed back her red hair.

Aubrey sighed. "His voice was very seductive."

"Aubrey Barton! Why are you talking?" Mr. Marshall asked through the microphone.

Aubrey jumped. "Oh, I didn't mean to-"

"Spare me the excuse. Run a lap."

Aubrey put her flag on the side line then ran halfway before she noticed Chucky was staring at her again. "Really?" She said under her breath.