THREE

October was sitting on a bench in some sort of park, browsing through the classified section of a newspaper in search of something suitable. She had no idea whether in that world women could pick any job they wanted – she didn't think so – but she had to try. That lucky bill could not last forever. Furthermore, she intended to repay her strange hostess in one way or another.

The excitement for having been thrust out in that world had subdued and she was still struggling to find answers, but some things were indisputable at that point: firstly, people were no longer looking at her as if she was an alien; secondly, she felt absolutely at ease in her new clothes, as if they were totally normal for a girl like her; thirdly, in case that was not a dream, she was the fucking luckiest gal on the planet. Anyway, in for a penny, in for a pound. That was why she felt pretty relaxed. She could easily deal with the absence of all the other things she was used to. It would be a piece of cake. After all, she was a sort of alien even in the place where she came from, wasn't she?

She had just spotted an interesting advertisement about a librarian wanted, when an annoying noise of cars and bad-played music met her ears. She raised her eyes to observe the batch of teenagers being teenagers. She grimaced, but then thought again. Maybe, among them…

She scanned the crowd, without finding whoever she was looking for, so she stood up and started walking away.

Charlie couldn't take his eyes off her. She was simply the most astonishing lady he had ever seen. She was undeniably beautiful, but there was something in her gestures, her features, the way she was sitting like a man and still being appealing, the mere aura radiating from her, that he could not grasp. It was like the world had nothing to do with her, like she was untouched by any social convention or mundane existence. A distracted eye could just brand her demeanor as snobbish or uncaring or even bad-mannered, but Charlie knew better. She looked confident. Serenely undisturbed. A cut above all of them. And strangely odd.

"What are you looking at, Char? Seems like you spotted a ghost."

"This is far way better than a ghost, Knoxious. She's a fairy."

"Who?"

Knox followed his friend's gaze and noticed the lone figure on the bench, her slender legs crossed so that an ankle was resting on the opposite knee, the foot wobbling rhythmically in mid-air, and one of her elbows resting carelessly on the back of the seat.

"She's a woman" Knox pointed out, slightly baffled by her bearing.

"Of course she is. What do you think I fancy, flamingos?"

"No, dummy, I mean… She's a woman, not a girl. She's older than you."

"Yeah, well, maybe a couple of years…"

"… Maybe ten…"

"So what? Is liking a woman that gross?"

"Of course not, that's not the point."

"What is the point?"

"The point, Charlie, is that she will never give a shit about you. She will chew you and then spit you out before you even realize it. And she's probably married."

"Tsk, I'm Charlie Dalton. Dead Poets Society member. And women swoon, remember? As for the husband… Let's hope not, shall we?"

Meanwhile, the object of their discussion had stood up, shaking the crowning glory of her long, straight, ebony hair, and was right then walking obliviously towards them. Charlie felt a rush of adrenaline. Carpe diem.

"Watch and learn, rookie."

"Charlie, where ya goin'? Charlie!"

Charlie headed immediately towards her, with Knox hot on his heels. She was clutching a newspaper to her chest with both arms, absentmindedly staring at the ground. The two guys clearly saw no wedding ring on her left ring finger. Charlie internally grinned, pleased, and let his shoulder collide with hers on purpose. She lifted her head to apologize but, when she gazed at him, she practically froze in place. Her eyes looked as wide as saucers while jerking back and forth from one guy to the other. Then she got a grip on herself and regained her composure. It happened in a millisecond. One could have said it hadn't occurred at all. Charlie frowned, slightly confused, but let it go and set his signature smirk in place.

"Sorry, ma'am" he started off. "Did it hurt?"

She blinked, looking mildly offended.

"Hurt? A shoulder push?"

Ready, set…

"No, angel, I meant falling from the sky."

The temperature around seemed to drop about one hundred degrees. The woman stared at him with a deeply condescending look on her face, while Knox slapped his own forehead in disbelief. The seconds stretched embarrassingly before she spoke.

"Tell me, ace, has that ever worked?"

Charlie's smirk widened. Man, she was mettlesome. He kept hold of the bicycle's handlebars with a hand while tucking the other one into his pocket nonchalantly, leaning towards her.

"I don't know, since it's the first time I've met an…"

He stopped at the slap Knox gave him on the chest with the back of his hand.

"Please, forgive him, madam" the boy interjected. "He's brain-damaged."

The woman looked at Knox, then Charlie, then Knox again, and let a genuine laugh erupt from her mouth, throwing her head back. Its sound was rich, warm, sexy. It exposed her regular teeth, her white neck. Charlie kept on admiring her until she collected herself. He was in awe.

"Thanks for filling me in on that, mister…" she then said on a suspended note, squinting at the guy in front of her in a questioning manner.

"Knox Overstreet, ma'am" he informed her, bowing slightly. "And this is Charlie Dalton."

She looked back at him with an amused glance.

"Nice to meet you, Charles."

"My pleasure" he replied, raising his lip and right eyebrow twice. The woman shook her head with a smile, bringing her attention back to Knox.

"My name is October Bailey. Thank you very much for making my day. And sorry for your brain, Charles. Goodbye, guys."

She started to get past them, but Charlie gently pushed his bike backward to block her way with the rear wheel.

"Need a chaperone?"

She raised an eyebrow.

"If you think I'm not able to go it alone and take care of myself, think again, baby."

"Ouch. That hurt" Charlie jested, bringing a hand on his chest dramatically. Knox looked up at the sky, praying to God to zap his best friend on the spot.

"I'm no damsel in distress" she added narrowing her eyes, which caused a lopsided grin to form on Charlie's face.

"That's crystal clear, my lady, but still… Let me walk you home. Please."

"What makes you think I'm going home?"

"If not, I'll follow you around at a safe distance and get close to you when you are."

October scoffed.

"They call that stalking, honey."

"I call it waiting for the right moment to do what I have in mind."

A knowing sneer curled her lips.

"And what do you have in mind, apart from hopelessly getting into my pants?"

Knox choked. She was something indeed. Charlie was totally smitten.

"Procrastinate the moment I have to say goodbye, listen to your mellow voice for a little while yet, and maybe win your number."

She grinned, shaking her head. Man, she could kill with that smile. Charlie thought that trying to induce it could easily become the purpose of his entire life.

"You're reckless."

"You bet. But I'm pretty sure you're compassionate enough not to reject a request from a brain-damaged lad, am I right?"

He caught the glint in her eyes when she chortled merrily. She sighed, then raised her intense chocolate stare at him.

"What about your friend?"

"Knoxious doesn't mind heading back on his own, right?" he asked, turning towards his mate.

Knox, completely forgotten during the exchange, was caught off guard. He cast an apologetic smile at the woman and seized Charlie's forearm, pulling him towards himself. October politely pretended to be busy examining the surroundings and let them have some privacy.

"Char, whatcha doin'?" Knox hissed with apprehension. "If Nolan finds out…"

"Screw Nolan, I'll be back before he even notices" Charlie whispered back, beseechingly. "I gotta go. I have to."

Knox scratched the back of his head, glancing towards the woman.

"I don't know, Charlie, I don't think she could be…"

"She is. C'mon, Knoxious, be more Keating-ish."

Knox studied his best friend's features. He had that so Charlie-y expression on his face. Wildly joyful. He always had to live anything to the limit. And when he wanted something, he wanted it at full stretch. And when he had feelings for something or someone, they were exactly like that expression. Extreme. Knox sighed in surrender.

"Good luck, Char."

Charlie beamed, squeezed Knox's shoulders and turned to meet the inscrutable brunette, whose back was turned. She spun around on her heels upon hearing his footsteps and couldn't help but give a half-smile. He approached her with his mischievous smirk, gesturing in front of him with a hand.

"After you, my lady."