Hello everyone! I'm back at it again and here to bounce between my stories and stuff as I'm finishing up my semester now :3
Either way though! Here is another chapter from Charlie's point of view! And a little surprise moment between her and someone she used to know.
"So, that's the girl you've been gushing about since you've met her?" I rolled my eyes at Anthony's teasing tone as Vaggie departed from our group to head toward her first period which was on the opposite side of the campus. "She's cute, I'll give ya that Toots."
"I haven't been gushing about her."
"Darling, it's been only a month and I swear that every other word outta your mouth since then has been about how cool and amazing she is." Anthony did jazz hands when he emphasized specific words in his explanation which only caused me to chuckle in reply. "But seriously, you've got it bad, Char. B. A. D. Bad."
"Oh, you learned how to spell?" Husk piped up at that moment which caused Anthony to swat at him playfully.
"Buzz off, Kitten. I'm being a big brother here."
"Well, I have to agree. Charlie does have the hots for the new girl and I'm surprised she doesn't even see it." I blushed at Husk's words as I held my math folder against my chest.
"Knock it off, guys!" I could feel the tips of my ears heat up as Anthony just placed an arm around my shoulders and pulled me into his side.
"Aw, come on! This is the first time since whats-his-face that you've gotten a big crush on someone! Gotta let us tease you just a little." He smiled wide as Husk joined my opposite side.
"Seviathan was his name, right? Total dick in my book still."
"Don't remind me." I groaned as I released my tight hold of my folder to push my bangs out of my face. "I still regret every moment of that relationship."
"But he was 'Such a dream boat'." Anthony used a high-pitched teasing voice as he gave me another squeeze against him which I used as an opportunity to elbow him in his ribs. "OUCH!"
"That's what you get for bringing up my Chad of an ex." I flashed him a toothy smile as he gave me a pleased look in reply.
"You've grown up so fast." He wiped a fake tear from his face.
"Honestly, I'm just glad you came to your senses when you did, kiddo." Husk nudged me playfully. "Vaggie seems like a good girl. Not too full of herself like someone you used to know."
"She's great, honestly! I bet you'll love her once she opens up a bit more. She just takes a little to get to, you know?"
"Well, if anyone knows how to win their way into people's hearts, it's Charlie Morningstar." I smiled bashfully at Husk's compliment as he gave me a genuine smile in return. "But if she breaks your heart, it's still the same promise I had with Seviathan."
"I don't need you to go all 'Gambling Mobster on their ass'." I used my free hand to do air quotes before stopping before my math class doors. "Even then, Vaggie's not that type." I couldn't help but smile softly at the idea which caused Anthony to put a hand over his heart and drape his free arm now over Husk who he pulled in beside him.
"Our little girl is growing up, Whiskers! Whatever shall we do?" Anthony gave an award-winning performance as he gave a soft sniffle and leaned his weight heavily into the smaller teen beside him.
"Come on, drama queen, we've got to get your ass to history class." Anthony snapped out of his performance as he stood up straight and shot Husk a glare as I took the opportunity to enter my classroom.
"You ruin everything fun, Kitten." I snickered to myself as I heard Anthony grumble at Husk's reaction as I headed to my seat. I couldn't help but think to myself about their words prior as I pulled out what I needed for my calculus class.
I'm honestly really glad they think the same about Vaggie. It brings a lot of security to my thoughts on becoming her friend and all. Anthony and Husk have become sort of angels on my shoulders when it comes to befriending people in the program and their opinions on people are normally right on the money.
If only I learned that lesson earlier on though, I would have kept myself out of a lot of trouble within the past few years.
I frowned to myself as memories of a tall boy with dyed green hair and a charming smile played in my mind.
"I can tell you right now, Char, that this prick only cares for himself, his looks, and his status."
Anthony's voice played in my mind as I did my best not to remember the specific details of my time dating Seviathan.
"He's only with you because it makes him look good in his daddy's eyes. To him, the more he's got to do with you, the better he looks and the more freedom he gets here."
I shook my head silently for a second to keep the thoughts from continuing in my head.
But this time is different. This time, they see the same good in this one as I do. I'm not as naive as I used to be.
The bell rang, signaling the start of class as my final thoughts rang out as well.
I'm right on Vaggie. I'm sure of it.
"Miss Susan is the worst." I giggled at Vaggie's exaggerated expression as she put her head down on the table across from me. "Who let someone who is quite literally a walking fossil teach history class? Like everything she says sounds like she's from the 1920s while she's coughing up the dust from her lungs."
"Vaggie!" I couldn't contain my laughter as Vaggie just smiled wide and gestured toward her history book beside her.
"Seriously, Char! Why does your dad let that woman teach still? She's like a walking corpse!"
"Maybe it's because she has personal experience with world events?" Vaggie snickered at my response as I felt her leg graze mine under the table. The simple motion nearly caused my brain to halt as I felt a small blush paint my cheeks easily.
"I would not be surprised with her bitchy attitude. She's obviously seen some shit." She kept her wide smile as I felt her graze her leg back and forth against mine.
She's got ADHD too. Maybe it's a fidget? Don't think about it too much, Morningstar. Keep your cool.
"But how was calculus this morning? Anything I need to keep an eye out for?" I snapped out of my thoughts before looking toward my now-forgotten math folder beside me.
"Nothing too bad with it being calculus. He did say something about a test possibly next week though." Vaggie gave a pout at the idea.
Okay, how can someone be so fucking cute? That is my question.
"Hey, it'll be alright. If you need help studying, I'm always down to try and master some of the math topics with you." She then smiled at my offer which caused a flutter to occur in my chest.
"I might just have to take you up on that, Ms Morningstar." I giggled at the nickname as I absent-mindedly started grazing my leg against hers.
"Just swing on by!"
"Well, I can recognize that voice from a million miles away." I froze at the familiar voice. Vaggie seemed to catch onto my drastic change in demeanor as her joyful expression switched to one that looked defensive. Her leg was still touching mine but stopped in its tracks as she looked over my shoulder toward who I already knew was there. "Not gonna greet me, Char?" I swore under my breath as I plastered on a smile and turned to address the man behind me. The same neatly kept but dyed green hair was slicked back on his head as a wide toothy green was spread across his cheeks. That same smile that would have made past Charlie swoon was making present Charlie scream internally as I tried my best to keep a pleasant composure.
"H-Hey Seviathan! What are you doing here?"
"Can't I swing by and see the most beautiful creature in existence?" I pushed down a gag response.
"Not when the last time I saw you, it was the anniversary of my mom's death and you decided it was the best time to break up with me after a year and a half." I glanced over toward Vaggie to see she looked calm, but the glaze in her eye made her look as if she was ready to jump the table and attack him at any second. It made me feel a little more at ease to know I had her support against him if things went south, so I turned my attention back toward my ex with a much calmer tone. "What do you want, Seviathan?"
"Well, you know our fathers. Always meeting up for something or other. Father just had me join him today is all."
"So instead of sticking with him, you decided to find me?" He smirked as he shrugged at my obvious disinterest.
"Why wouldn't I? I missed your wonderful company." He then held his hand out toward me. "Wouldn't you do me the honor of showing me around once more? You have always been the best guide to this place."
"I have no clue who you are," I snapped my attention toward Vaggie who now stood from her seat. "But I got enough information from this conversation to say without a doubt that Charlie doesn't want you anywhere near her, buddy." There was a lot of distaste in Vaggie's voice as she moved from her spot across from me to around the table and between me and Seviathan. "Why don't you leave her alone?"
"And who might you be?"
"Vaggie Motha, not so nice to meet you." I could hear the smirk that must have spread across her lips as she crossed her arms over her chest. "Now, I'll ask again, why don't you leave us alone?"
"Won't you tell your friend to back down a little, Char? You know I mean no harm." Vaggie huffed as he tried to lean to the side to look past her and toward me.
"I think you should go, Seviathan." He was taken aback as Vaggie stood firm between the two of us.
"Are you serious? Just going to send me off just like that?"
"Don't make this any harder than it needs to be." I stood from my chair now and placed a hand on Vaggie's shoulder as if to thank her silently for the support. "Just leave." He scuffed at us before taking a step back and putting his hands in his pockets.
"Fine, I guess I'll see you both around then." With that, he took his leave which allowed me to release the breath I didn't know I was holding.
"Thank fuck he's gone." I took back my hand from Vaggie's shoulder before slumping exhaustedly in my seat from before. "He was never the brightest when it came to social awareness but sweet mother of God, that was ridiculous." Vaggie seemed to watch Seviathan as he continued on in the distance before turning her attention back to me.
"Yeah, I got that much. What's his deal anyway? I got the whole ex-boyfriend thing, but that was kinda weird." I sighed as Vaggie took a seat beside me.
"Seviathan is the son of the district board of education head. My dad and his dad go back decades, I guess. They were always wanting us to get together, and I guess just the thought of such a romance story got to my head when I was fourteen and overlooked a lot of red flags."
"Happens to all of us, honestly." I gave her a confused look as she leaned on the table behind us. "We all have relationships we regret. Now, I didn't have much for romantics in my past, but I definitely made acquaintances and friendships that were anything but."
"Yeah, you're definitely right there." I smiled as I placed a hand on hers which was helping support her weight on the table. "Thank you though. You didn't have to stand up for me like that but it means a lot that you did."
"Any time, Charlie." Vaggie shot me a wide smile before placing her free hand on top of mine. "And if he bothers you again, you'll have to keep me from putting him a wheelchair." I couldn't help but giggle at that.
"Trust me, you and Anthony both."
"He doesn't care for that dick either?"
"Husk didn't like him too, but Anthony always threatened to make him disappear when he upset me." I giggled at the memories of it. "Especially after we broke up."
"Why'd that happen anyway? You said it happened on the anniversary of your mom's death too, right?" I sighed before giving her hand a squeeze.
"Yeah. Normally the anniversary of Mom's death is celebrated because that's just what she would prefer, but Dad was out of town for a district meeting and I didn't want to do it on my own." I shrugged. "So I guess I kind of just expected my then-boyfriend to be there to support me but he was all wrapped up in a different realization that happened soon before that."
"And what was that?"
"I realized I was Bisexual and figured with him being my boyfriend, that he should know." I shook my head with a small laugh as I remembered how he took the whole situation. "It messed with him quite a bit I guess? I have no clue how someone's sexuality can cause such discomfort in someone, but I guess it matters a lot when your girlfriend realizes she likes girls too?" Vaggie snickered at me before giving the top of my hand a pat.
"He couldn't handle the fact that you're cooler than him, basically." Vaggie shot me a smirk as she now toyed with the back of my hand idly. "That's what I always told myself when I came to terms with being a lesbian. I just took cool for people's bullshit." My heart skipped a beat.
So there's a chance. Got it.
"I think you were cool before finding out you're also gay so what does that say about me?" I teased as I moved to nudge her with my foot.
"That we're both too cool for people's bullshit." I smiled like a fool at her words and a small giggle couldn't help but escape me.
Vaggie Motha, you are one hell of an experience.
I felt her idly still playing with my hand. Small circles and shapes were now being traced into the back of it as she looked out before her with the cutest smile in existence.
And I can't wait to continue it.