Here is Chapter Nineteen! Finally! I have to admit, it took a lot of sloppy-copies to write this chapter because I didn't really know how Charlie would respond. I included sloppy-copy number five below, if you want to read it. Or you can just skip to Chapter Twenty (which I have yet to upload, but I promise I'll do it by this weekend). I have a question-do you like seeing the inside story, the sloppy copies-or do you just skip them and think, The author should just put her time into writing the next chapter. Tell me what to think, and remember...COMMENT!

-MuseGoddess ;)

JACKIE O

CHARLIE'S BED

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17

1:05 PM

Charlie's POV

Charlie lay faceup on her bedspread, aPod clenched tightly in her hand so hard her knuckles turned white—as if she could channel her frustration into the device. Jess' text made her realize just how deep this pit of—well, not really lies. She had had a crush on him—when she had last saw (correction, Skyped) him. Who would've known Darwin would have a change of heart? Who could expect that Jess would have come so soon and so unexpectedly—before she could explain? It made it all the more worse that he had helped her with the cameras, therefore winning her Shira's respect. You helped me to fix the cameras, so to thank you I'll break your heart.

Charlie opened his text again and read it over, seeing the invisible hopeful note in his message. She opened a reply text and paused, fingers hovering over the miniscule keys. What to respond? Charlie couldn't decide.

Before she could do anything, she heard the delicate step of Alpha-issue sandals on the hardwood stairs. Charlie tensed and sat up, arranging her features in a passable imitation of indifference. She couldn't let AJ see her like this.

To her relief, it was Allie. She really needed her friend's help right now.

"Hi, Char," Allie smiled breezily, slipping the gold messenger bag off her shoulder and onto her bed. She looked intently at Charlie. "Hey, what's wrong?"

Charlie was glad that her friend had picked up so quickly. "I have a bit of a dilemma," she confessed, pulling Jess' text up and handing her aPod to Allie.

When Charlie finished speaking, Allie had her hand over her mouth.

"Wow," she said after a while. "This really complicates things. Not that they weren't already."

"I know," Charlie admitted, pushing her fingers through her chestnut-brown locks.

Allie took her hand from her mouth. "Have you replied?"

"No—I don't know what to say. I have to break the news some time, but now doesn't feel like the right time."

Her friend thought about it. "Couldn't you delete the message and say you never got it? Knowing you, I'd probably say that you designed the system never to accidentally backfire…but you could say it's a tech glitch."

Charlie gave her friend a tiny smile. "Yeah, I did design it…and yeah, I made it never to mis-send a text. But don't you think that what you're suggesting seems…uh—"

"Mean? Cold? But it's either that or face him tonight," Allie pointed out with infallible common sense.

"You're right," Charlie agreed, and went to delete it. But she still felt that it was somehow wrong—she couldn't tell why, but Charlie had always trusted herself.

In a split-second decision, Charlie opened a reply text and typed SURE, WHAT TIME?

Allie leaned over to look, and her navy-blue eyes widened. "Char—wait—"

But her friend's thumbs were already positioned above the send button.

What do you think?

As promised, here is sloppy-copy numero cinco.

Sloppy copy Number Five

JACKIE O

CHARLIE'S BED

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17

1:10 PM

Charlie's POV

Class had ended, and Charlie had hurried back to Jackie O, flopped on her bed, and reread Jess' message all over again.

What to respond? The word NO was being shouted over and over in her head, but Charlie sank down to listen to the smaller, subtler voice that said to go and to introduce the subject of Darwin gently.

Rubbing her eyes, Charlie picked up her aPod and studied the glowing words.

Jessupha: Do you want to meet me at the beach to watch the sunset?

The easiest thing to do was to delete the message and pretend that she had never got it, but she decided against it. She had designed the aPod system (without Shira knowing) so meticulously and carefully that there would never be a mis-sent text, after all.

Charlie opened the SEND TEXT box and typed,

Charlie: Sure.What time?

but didn't send it. Instead she cleared the screen and put in,

Charlie: No thanks.

She got up, tossing the aPod on her desk, then readied herself for her next class, ignoring the fact that it was an hour away.

Her aPod beeped invitingly. Charlie slumped over and grabbed it, opening the new text.

Allie: How is it going?

How was it going? Charlie replied,

Charlie: Awful.

Allie's reply was not long in coming.

Allie: Why? Is it Jess?

Charlie typed out the entire story and sent it, ending with, What do I do? and feeling as if a great weight had been lifted off her chest. Allie would know what to do. Allie would keep her from standing here like an idiot and letting life slip by.

After what felt like eternity, there came a reply.

Allie: Couldn't you delete it and say you never got it?

Charlie: I could, but that would majorly hurt Jess' feelings.

Allie: I know, but what about Darwin? He'd get hurt too.

Charlie: I want to make both of them happy. How do I talk to Jess? Every time I think about it—I just can't.

Allie: What if you don't talk at all?

Charlie: What do you mean?

Allie: Walk by him with Darwin on your arm or something.

Allie: Wait. That seems too mean. Never mind.

Charlie did agree with Allie, and was a bit surprised at her mild-mannered friend for suggesting it. Then yet another light ping sounded.

Allie: Go and bring it up somehow.

Charlie: Too awkward.

Allie: It's not like you have any other choice. You owe it to him. Just be honest.

Allie: Ohmuhguhd,my class is starting. See you.

Charlie stared at her empty inbox, feeling more alone than ever before. She thought briefly about contacting Skye, and then dismissed the thought. She knew that her dance-loving friend was on a date with Dingo now and considered it very rude if someone non-urgently texted you. You could be doing something important.

She stared at her aPod, then almost as if her fingers had minds of their own, typed a quick accepting reply text and hit SEND.