Chapter 4—Your? You're Kidding, Right?

Casey's POV

"We wanted to talk to you about your detention, son;" Fred said.

"What about it?" Charlie asked.

"Well, we are concerned, I mean you are skipping class and then trying to get in I don't get it," I said.

"I wasn't intentionally trying to skip class. Dr. Johnston has a rule that if you come to class after the tardy bell rings you are locked out. I was late, yes. That is because one of the copiers was broken and the other had two freshmen making photocopies for Dr. Barber's class. I tried to get a pass from the Librarian, Mrs. Rosco, but because of the words that came out of my mouth referring to the copier being an old piece of crap. She got a little ticked off. I don't get why they have to give us copiers that don't work correctly," Charlie said.

"Because copiers are expensive Charlie. I am assuming that it is one that stands on the floor?" Fred asked.

"Yeah," Charlie said.

"Those cost about 2 grand," Fred said.

"Holy God," Charlie said.

"Think about it, would you want to give a new 2,000-dollar copier to a bunch of students to use and abuse it?" Fred asked.

"No, I guess not," Charlie said.

"I think that you have learned your lesson with the dentition that you are getting," I said.

"Yeah never be late for class again, I should have waited until either during lunch or after school to make the copy," Charlie said.

"Well then there is not much more we can discuss about this," Fred said.

"Your… your kidding, right? I am not grounded from prom?" Charlie said.

"Charlie your almost eighteen, there isn't too much more that I can do to punish you when you have already been given a punishment that is equal to or more then what I could do," I said.

"Ok, thanks," Charlie said.

Charlie's POV

I could not believe it; I was off the hook. Now it was just getting Bella to go with me to prom.

When I hung up the phone Jesse turned to me and said, "Well?"

"I'm not grounded," I said.

"Good, because Melinda is looking forward to meeting you," Jesse said.

"Right," I said. Our homecoming dance was on the same night as Southwest's Homecoming Dance, so Jesse went with Melinda to her Homecoming Dance, it made sense because she was one of the queen candidates, so she had to be there for the crowning. Jesse said she didn't win, but she wasn't even expecting to win, period. It worked out that our prom was this Saturday and Southwest's Prom was next Saturday. Jesse told me she bought two dresses for the occasion.

April 26th, 2000

Bella's POV

Jesse had told us at breakfast that Charlie wasn't grounded. I still had yet to make up my mind about whether Charlie and I were going to go to prom together. I read both letters last night, it was very sweet what Charlie was trying to do.

"So have you made up your mind yet?" Averman said.

"No not yet," I said.

Charlie's POV

I was working hard in the library this afternoon, putting all of the books away that had come in during the day. I rolled the cart past where the Ducks were studying.

"Hey Spazway put this away for us," Portman yelled at me.

I came up to their table and saw that it was a historical book that would require me to go downstairs into the stacks and put it away. I had already put several of those books away.

"You have two legs, you can put it away yourself," I said angrily.

"Yeah I could, but since your working the job that you're doing I figured that I would not have too," Portman said while grinning like a Cheshire cat.

"Are you serious Portman, go put it away yourself. I already put the stacks books away," I said angrily.

"I could get Mrs. Rosco," Portman said and then he started to rise.

"FINE I WILL PUT THE DAMN BOOK AWAY YOU LAZY SON OF A BITCH," I yelled. I quickly picked up the book and slammed it down on the cart. With the binding up. I caught Bella's eye and then immediately felt like a heel. I quickly finished with putting the books away where they were studying and went to put the book cart away.

"How many more books do you have to put away Mr. Conway," Mrs. Rosco asked.

"Just this one, that Portman refuses to put away, himself," I said.

"Well go and quickly put it away then you need to restock ink and printer paper in the student computer labs on both this floor and the lower floor. And while you are in there will you clean the boards as well?" Mrs. Rosco said.

"Yes Mrs. Rosco," I said.

"Good," Mrs. Rosco said and then she walked away to go and help another student waiting to check out a book.

I quickly filled my cart with the supplies required for the jobs ahead and headed to the staff elevator to take the stuff downstairs. Fulton met up with me down near the stacks.

"Hey Charlie, don't be angry at Portman for what happened," Fulton said.

"Mad? Of course I am mad at him, him expecting me to put the book he got for himself away," I said.

"Bella asked him too," Fulton said.

"What?" I said.

"Look at the book, the way it slammed down the paper should have come loose," Fulton said.

I picked up the book and he was right there was a piece of paper that was sticking out of the book. I pulled the piece of paper out of the book and unfolded it. It read: Yes Charlie, I will go to prom with you. Bella.

I smiled big real big.

"I take that it's good news?" Fulton said.

"Yeah, you never did tell me about you and Tammy Duncan," I said.

"Well, it started like this," Fulton said.

A/N: Please leave a review, let me know what you think.