Chapter Seven. #4
She scoffs, defensively crossing her arms and stands. “No. I was just curious to find out if the rumors of you two dating were true, but I didn’t expect you to be so oblivious about it.”
“Listen Shirl, I don’t care if I date him or not.
I can put in a good word for you if you want?
I don’t want any drama or to have you be mad at me for no good reason.
Like I said, I didn’t even think much about dating him.
If he likes me as you say, then I’m sure he’d hear me out if I said I wasn’t interested and hyped you up instead. ”
A small twitch of emotion flickers under the surface, her eyes darting to the side slowly as she contemplates my offer. She finally meets my gaze with a smile.
“Really?” she mutters quietly, relaxing her body and sitting back down.
“Absolutely, Shirl.” I mean it too.
I place a comforting hand on her shoulder to prove I’m not a threat. Jared’s affections don’t mean that much. Sure, it’s been fun the last week, but since Shirley’s always liked him a lot, then I don’t care to step aside. If I never talk to Jared after his graduation party, that’d be fine with me.
“Why didn’t you tell me this before? I could’ve put in a word for you sooner or at least stopped the behavior if it was making you uncomfortable.”
I know I don’t owe her anything, but I hate needless drama. Especially over stupid things like boys.
Especially boys who act weird, never say what they mean or throw fits. Or boys who secretly send you a flirty message and then drive off, never to be heard from again.
Tsk. Freakin’ babies. All these boys are babies.
Her eyes soften. “Thanks, Charlotte. I know we haven’t been the closest of friends, but to know you care about my feelings means a lot.”
“So, what do you want me to say to him? Have you guys ever really talked before or flirted you think? You’re going to have to tell me exactly what you want me to say because I’m new to all this stuff.”
She brightens with excitement at the prospect. “You’re the best! I really did not expect you to be this cool about it.”
I nod in appreciation, sitting back and waiting for her to tell me what she wants me to say.
“Okay, first ask him if he likes anyone on the track team. Then when he starts talking, say you have a good friend who would be perfect for him and talk me up. Like tell him that I love running, obviously, that I plan to run in college, and that you think I’m hilarious and cool to hang out with.”
Her plan doesn’t sound very convincing. I’ll have to come up with something before I talk to him.
She’s cool and all, but I don’t know much about her that qualifies as a wow factor.
I’m sure I can sway it to make it sound like he has to check her out if she’s right about how he feels about me. If anything, the effort’s worth it.
Maybe this will bring Shirley and I closer, dare I even say something resembling best friends? It’d be nice to have a girlfriend around, especially if things don’t resolve between Ben and me. A painful twang punches my stomach at the idea of Ben leaving my life.
The low-pitched bell rings, indicating the end of the day is here and high school’s officially over.
Shirley gives me a big hug and leaves the classroom.
She bashfully smiles at Jared who barely glances at her before motioning to me to get under his arm like I was wrong for not being there already.
Another twang stirs in my stomach; except this time, I’m not sure what causes it.
I smirk, ignoring the sensation and snuggle in under him.
He smells even better than this morning. Did he put more cologne on before coming to get me? Is that normal for friends?
I shake the notion off, instead focusing on how to bring up the conversation about Shirley to him. Too in my head, I don’t realize we aren’t speaking until we get to my car, and he asks what’s wrong.
“Huh?” I say, pulling out of my concentration. This would be a good time to bring up Shirley, but I haven’t thought of exactly what to say yet. Guess I’ll just wing it.
“I said are you okay?” he says with an amused chuckle, removing his arm around me and standing in front of me as I lean against my car door.
“Oh yeah. I was just thinking—"
“Thinking about what?” he asks curiously, leaning closer to me, cutting me off mid-sentence.
“Well, I’d tell you if you let me finish,” I sass back with a smirk.
He rests his palm on the car door next to my left shoulder, half sealing me to my spot. My stomach flips from being this close, the suggested intimacy way more than what we’ve been doing thus far.
I clear my throat, trying to get rid of any noticeable anxiousness in my voice and redirect the vibes coming off him.
“I was thinking of something I wanted to ask you.”
His face lights up. “I love questions. Give it to me.”
“I was wondering if you liked any of the girls on the track team because I know of a great girl for you.” Shoot, that was rushed.
He pulls his arm away from me, studying me like he’s unsure about my question. Why’s he taking so long to answer a simple question? The awkward silence is killing me.
“Because Shirley is great for you, you know,” I blurt out, unable to stand the silence or his intense analytical stare any longer.
Crap. I blew it.
That wasn’t convincing in any way. I didn’t give him any of her strengths or make her sound unique at all.
“Is that so?” he asks, putting his hands in his back jean pockets, watching me intently like I’m an equation he can’t figure out.
“Mhmm. She loves video games and running, obviously…” She’s going to hate me. I am blowing this so hard.
“She’s cute, yeah. I’ve noticed her before. I haven’t thought of her that way though, if I’m being honest.”
“Well, you should check that out.” Kill me. Just kill me. I am so awkward.
He smirks slyly at my obvious awkwardness.
“Don’t laugh at me,” I giggle, pushing him playfully in the chest.
“I can laugh at you if I want, Charlie,” he says, teetering back and forth on his toes. He moves next to me again and leans on the car door. Ben walks right in front of us, distracting me from the conversation Jared tries to continue.
He doesn’t bother glancing in my direction. I barely catch sight of his eyes before he’s fitting his motorcycle helmet over his head and hopping on his bike. My chest tightens. I miss him so much.
“Why are you always staring at Ben?”
“Huh?” I say, caught off guard from the question.
“Why are you always staring at Ben?” he asks again rather sternly, bouncing a deep stare back and forth into each one of my eyes.
“I am not always staring at him. I may have been glancing at him more recently but only because we haven’t been as close lately.
We fought over something stupid and have barely talked since.
I’m just trying to figure out what’s going on.
Fights like that aren’t worth losing friends over, in my opinion, so I’m trying to figure out how to navigate it is all.
” I look down at my feet, now feeling uncomfortable with the conversation.
“Ah. I see.”
Studying him, I notice his gaze lingers anywhere but me, and his pained expression of tight lips and furrowed brows worries me.
“Are you okay?” I touch his arm to comfort him.
His shoulders loosen at my touch, and his face softens.
He puts his arm around me again, allowing me to lean into him where I wrap myself up in his fresh woody and citrus scent.
His cologne makes me want to lay on the beach by a campfire at night.
It’s relaxing but also makes me want to be adventurous, to try new things and hang with friends around a fire on a cool summer evening.
“You’re a hard one to figure out, you know.”
I tilt my head up at him, furrowing my brow at the accusation. “What do you mean?”
I pull out of his embrace and put my bookbag in the backseat. When I turn around, I notice the parking lot’s almost empty. Everyone must’ve booked it out of here now that school’s officially over. “Wow, everyone’s gone already.”
“I didn’t notice.”
Now I’d almost rather him look away. His intense stare into my soul is staggering. I turn away, unable to bear it and shift on my feet, trying to think of how to escape his gaze.
“Well, hey. I’m gonna get going. You should definitely talk to Shirley though. If you want, I can write down her number for you?”
“That’s okay,” he says shortly. His face softens quickly at his next words. “My graduation party starts at five tomorrow. You’re coming for sure, right?”
“Yes. I wouldn’t be telling you I was coming all week and then not show up. Geez, I’m not that bad of a flake.”
He brightens from satisfaction at my answer. “Good.”
He opens my car door as I tuck my dress underneath me and slide into the driver’s seat. He folds his arms on the open window of my car door, resting his chin on them with a soft smile.
“I’m glad we’ve gotten closer this week. I’m only sad that we didn’t get closer sooner before school ended.” A twinge of regret resounds in his voice.
“We can still stay close friends and chat over the summer. Don’t worry about it. We won’t lose touch.”
He pauses, his expression unreadable. He leans his cheek onto one hand while raising the other and grazes my cheek with his knuckle. His skin’s surprisingly soft as silk, moving against my skin with little friction. My breath hitches, and a heat simmers between my legs at his gentle touch.
“I don’t want to be just friends with you, Charlie.” He slowly moves his hand under my chin and pinches it before removing it from my face. Then without so much as a change in expression, walks off to his car. Dumbfounded, I stay frozen in my car, my mouth gaping open in shock at his confession.
Well, I guess Shirley was right. He does indeed like me. Now what do I do?