Progress (The Progress Series)

by Queau, Amy

  “You could say that.” Angie was gaining ground and Charlie could just make out her silhouette. After pulling her arms through the sleeves, she rolled her shirt on over her damp torso.

  “Oh yeah?” Charlie began combing her hair with her fingers.

  “Yeah.” Angie’s voice sounded hoarse.

  Charlie squinted to see a face, shaded behind Angie. Approaching the fire, the two faces became clearer.

  “Ladies, Jesse Anders has joined the party,” Angie grumbled.

  Chapter Twelve

  “How…How did you find me?” Charlie was confounded.

  “It was easy,” Jesse said, shamefaced.

  Charlie had no idea what to do. What to think. Why? She was suddenly overwrought with anger. This weekend was supposed to be spent far from home. Away from work. Away from him.

  “You just don’t know when to quit, do you?” Charlie scowled. “Follow me…now!”

  Jesse said nothing, just nodded a hello to Karal and followed Charlie through the lawn, into the cabin. She went straight to the fridge and got herself a beer.

  His lip was swollen and had a black crust dried to it. His right eyebrow was covered in steri-strips holding a gash together along with four stitches. There was also a large hole where his labret had been in his chin, appearing like it may have been ripped out.

  She stood with the fridge door open, staring at him. He was still looking at the floor.

  “Why?” she demanded.

  “You…I. I’m not. I mean, I wanted…to thank you. In person,” he managed to say.

  Charlie exhaled. “You did not drive two hours north just to thank me. That’s just ridiculous. You don’t have that kind of money for gas and you have a shift tomorrow. That is, if you still have a job. And, if I’m not mistaken, we’re not exactly friends right now,” she screamed. “Do you just sit at home thinking up ways to aggravate me?”

  “No. And my shift is taken care of.” he said.

  “Why didn’t you just call?”

  When he didn’t respond, Charlie could tell he was a bit embarrassed about showing up. She certainly wasn’t making it easier for him.

  What the hell am I supposed to do with him now?

  “Do you want a beer or something?” she asked, her tone softening.

  “No. No thank you.”

  “What are you doing here, really, Jess? And how did you find me?”

  He stood and thought for a minute before responding. “I don’t like it when you run away. I don’t like it when you’re not where I can find you.” He slowed when he saw the reaction on Charlie’s face. “I just need you to be close.”

  “And…how did you know where to find this place?”

  “We’re in the restaurant industry, Charlie. Everyone knows everything about everybody. I just made a few calls.”

  This thawed her demeanor. A cool smile crossed her lips. “Come on, follow me,” she insisted.

  “I don’t need to stay. I wasn’t planning…” he started.

  “Shut up. You’re staying. There’s plenty of room here. There are six beds upstairs and three couches down here…” she hesitated. “Besides, I’m here.” She continued in a whisper. “Close. If you need me. And I’ll worry like hell if you drive home tonight.” She looked down, realizing her confession.

  She gestured for him to follow her as she walked up the steps to the one large room that held six beds.

  “We’re heading back tomorrow afternoon anyway. You can sleep in this bed, if you’d like. The three of us sleep in these over here. The bathroom is downstairs. Go get your things out of your car. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

  “Where are you going?”

  “I’ve gotta try and figure out how I’m going to explain this to Angie and Karal.”

  She started walking toward the stairwell when he called her name. “Hey Charlie. I really did want to say ‘thank you’. No one has ever done something like that for me before.”

  “What? Bail you out of jail? Do you find yourself in that situation often?” The corners of her mouth started to turn up.

  “No. I mean, spend that kind of money to help me.”

  “Well, my dad wants every penny returned.” She stopped. “But, I’m sure you have some time.” She walked toward him and put her hand on his shoulder. “Jess, I’ll always do anything I can to help you. You’re my friend. That will never change. Besides, I’d expect you’d do the same for me, if you could,” she said.

  She turned and headed back toward the steps. “Oh and Jess…”

  “Yeah?”

  “Thanks for the sunflower.” She winked and hopped down the stairs.

  *

  She slowly walked out to the fire trying to figure out what she was going to tell them. Should I lie? Will they understand? Probably not. Angie hates him anyway. How frustrating! Okay, think, think. She sighed. The truth. They’ll appreciate that anyway.

  “Hey Charlie. So, um…what the hell is going on? I thought you said you guys weren’t together,” Angie said.

  “We’re not. I swear. He’s just…he needs a friend right now. He’s feeling a little down. I’m so sorry he crashed, Karal. We’re going to stay away from the party, I’ll take him down to the beach to talk.” Charlie looked down, rubbing the back of her neck. “But is it okay if he sleeps here?”

  Angie rolled her eyes.

  “Of course it’s okay. There’s plenty of room. That is, if you trust him,” Karal said.

  “Well, he’s not going to steal anything, if that’s what you mean.”

  “Then it’s fine. Go. Go spend some time with him. He must really need you if he went through all this trouble to find you here.”

  “Thanks, honey.” Charlie nodded and headed back toward the cabin. She found Jesse inside on the couch.

  “Charlie, I’m sorry. For hurting you. How is your wrist?” he asked with genuine concern.

  Charlie looked down at the faded bruise. “I know. I’m fine.”

  “It was really shitty of me. Sometimes I just can’t…control it.”

  “No harm done. But if you do it again, I’ll kick your ass,” she said, a smile surfacing.

  He nodded and grinned. “Is everyone okay with me being here?”

  “Well, Angie could do without. But Karal is fine with it. Relax. Are you sure I can’t get you a beer?”

  “I shouldn’t. I tend to get myself in trouble when I drink.” He pointed to his eyebrow.

  “Do you want to tell me what happened?”

  “Jake and I got into a fight. He was with a girl I used to…know.”

  “With? With a girl?” She took a seat next to him.

  “Yeah. I walked in on them.”

  “She must have been someone special then?” Charlie asked.

  “She’s the one that got away,” he said, looking out the window.

  “What was her name?”

  “Bree. She was perfect. She was small; a dancer. Brunette. I lo—…she was special.”

  Charlie nodded, urging him to tell her more as she curled her knees up to her chin.

  “She was my best friend. She was the reason I got up in the morning, and the last person I talked to at night. But one day she just left.”

  “Why?”

  “She couldn’t handle my…mood swings. I blamed her at the time, but now I understand.” He shook his head. “On top of that, I wasn’t exactly faithful.”

  “No, you Jess? I can’t picture it,” Charlie said mockingly. “When was this?” She wanted him to continue; this was the most he’d ever confessed to her.

  “I was nineteen. She was fifteen.”

  Aha.

  “Did you love her?”

  He didn’t admit it, but something in his face told her he had. After a few minutes, when she was sure he wasn’t going to say anything more about Bree, she stood.

  “Let’s go down to the beach. Have a few smokes?”

  “Okay.” He offered a quick smile.

  *

  “You two
behave now! I don’t want to have to explain to the neighbors about the wild and crazy moaning tomorrow!” Karal said as Charlie and Jesse passed the campfire.

  Really, Karal?

  “Did I tell you I used to be a Marine?” Jesse said, ignoring Karal’s insinuation.

  As Charlie sat down on the beach, she met his eyes in wonder.

  “No! Huh. That explains your body.” She instantly regretted saying it.

  Wow, Charlie. Filter. Find your filter.

  “Ha! Thanks. But I only made it to Boot Camp. Dishonorably discharged.”

  “What happened?”

  “I punched my drill sergeant in the nose.”

  “Somehow this doesn’t surprise me,” she laughed. “Why did you hit him?”

  “He made a crack about my mother.”

  Charlie’s smile turned down. Oh, Jess.

  “So, what else haven’t you told me? This is a night of confessions, I’d say. You’ve never talked about this kind of personal stuff with me.” Stretching her legs out, she touched the water with her toes.

  He mimicked her position and smiled, crossing his arms over his chest.

  “Hmmm. Let’s see. What else?” He sat contemplating what to tell her next. “Oh! I used to be a professional mountain biker. I traveled around the country entering competitions.”

  “Really? I didn’t know there was such a profession. How did you make a living on that?”

  “Well, you could win money if you placed first or second, but that was rare for me. I just lived out of my truck and worked when I had to,” he continued. “A shoe company paid me a monthly check to wear their products during the televised races. That kept me in gas to get me to the next race.”

  “All around the country?” she asked.

  “Everywhere.”

  She smiled. “Where was your favorite place to go?”

  “Hmm. I loved Colorado.” He paused and looked up at the stars. “But Montana’s night sky was the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.” He closed his eyes to remember. He opened them again and took a deep breath. “If you think we can see a lot of stars in this sky, you should see it out there. You never forget it.”

  Charlie closed her eyes and tried to imagine a sky that was an endless twist of stars, brighter than any moon, dotting the pitch black with enough light for her to make her way without artificial light. “Sounds perfect.” Charlie said.

  She lit another cigarette, staring at the sky.

  “So, how are you and Jake? Are you guys gonna be okay?” she asked.

  Bringing his stare back down to the water, he shrugged. “Yeah. We’ll be fine. I can’t really hold it against him. I’ve done it to him before.”

  Charlie shook her head and smirked. “Unbelievable.”

  “What?” He was pulled from his gaze to look at her.

  “Friends don’t do that stuff to each other, Jess. What makes you think that’s…acceptable behavior?”

  “Friends don’t do what to each other?” He looked bewildered.

  “They don’t sleep with their friends’ exes. They certainly don’t get into fist fights. And, they don’t usually forgive each other that easily!” Her voice was starting to travel across the lake.

  “Oh well. Maybe we aren’t the kind of friends you’re accustomed to.”

  “Oh, you mean the kind that enable me to make asinine choices?” she snapped without thinking. “Yeah, you’re right. I’m not accustomed to it.”

  “Ouch, Red.”

  “I’m sorry. I just, I see so much potential in you. You’re so passionate and alive. I just hate to see you in trouble. Which is often.” She trailed off, not wanting to confess any more. Her filter was already on the fritz.

  “Maybe you could use a little trouble.” He elbowed her arm and winked.

  “Maybe,” she grinned.

  The time seemed to pass too quickly. The light was rising on the horizon and the two of them had gone through her pack of cigarettes. Charlie couldn’t remember laughing that hard in a long time. It felt cleansing, like a hearty laugh usually does. But they both looked exhausted. She smelled like lake water as she hadn’t taken a shower after her swim earlier that evening, and her hair was now a frizzy disaster. They were both in desperate need of hosing down, but neither of them seemed to notice as they just lay on the beach soaking in the ambience of the night.

  Jesse’s stomach growled.

  “Ha! Hungry?” she asked.

  “Famished. You girls have anything to eat around here?”

  “No. We catch all of our meals. But there’s a fishing pole on the dock and fresh leeches in the fridge,” she deadpanned.

  He raised an eyebrow.

  Simultaneously, an outburst of laughter came from both of them.

  Slap-happy.

  “Oh Jess! If you could see your face right now…it’s the ugliest I’ve ever seen you! You seriously look like you’ve been hit by a truck!” Charlie couldn’t contain her laughter.

  “You should see Jake! I actually won the fight!” Jess exclaimed, trying to hold in his chuckle by wrapping his arm around his stomach.

  “What happened to your labret? Did someone pluck it from your face?” Charlie managed to ask, failing to keep a straight face.

  “It happened at the police station. I was a drunken ass when they were trying to book me. There was this crazy ninja move they did on me! I barely remember it, but I do remember my face hitting the concrete floor…” he continued, laughing heartily. “They had to strap my ass down so I wouldn’t try to fight. They even wore helmets and face shields just in case I spit on them!”

  “Ha! I can…just see it!” Charlie said, trying to gasp for air. “Jess is in a straight jacket while armed men in helmets are trying to keep him down!”

  They were both rolling on the beach trying to catch their breath as they calmed themselves down from their laughing fits.

  “Okay, let’s go find some food in the kitchen.” She stood and wiped the sand from her arms and legs, letting out a residual snicker.

  “Oh, Charlie?”

  “Huh?”

  “I have one more confession to make.” He looked down at the sand and picked up a small shell.

  “I’m listening.” She waited.

  He threw the shell back in the lake and smiled, not meeting her eyes.

  “I saw you last night. Coming out of the water, picking up your clothes, and walking to the fire.”

  He stopped smiling when he saw her reaction.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Her breathing went ragged and she felt light-headed. Her knees weakened and she started to shake. No! A flash of her casual stroll, her mind far from Jesse at the time, tumbled into her mind. She had been far from self-doubt, drunk on life and margaritas.

  “Whoa. Charlie? Are you okay? You look like you’re about to fall down.” He grabbed her arms as her knees buckled.

  She kept her head down, refusing to look at him.

  “Hey. You okay?” Jesse said softly, tipping her chin up.

  Her eyes still to the ground, a tear escaped and she whispered, “Sorry.”

  “Don’t be. I think you’re just tired. Let’s get you to your bed.”

  “No, not that. I’m fine. I was apologizing for…seeing me naked.”

  “Why?”

  “Nothing. I’m fine. I’m going to take a shower. You can raid the cupboards and help yourself.” Charlie made sure her pace was just a bit faster than his on the way back to the cabin. She didn’t say a word and walked straight to the bathroom.

  Sitting on the lidded toilet for several minutes holding her face in her hands, she tried to make herself as small as possible.

  Well, he stayed with me. All night. He still wants to be my friend. That’s good I guess. But if I thought he’d ever be attracted to me, that’s gone now.

  She heard a knock on the door.

  “Just a minute.” Her voice cracked. Wiping her eyes, she peeked through the crack in the door and exhaled. “What’s up, Jess?
”

  “Are you okay?”

  “Fine! Why?” She faked her enthusiasm.

  “Don’t be ashamed, Charlie.”

  Petrified of what he would say next, she froze. With wide open eyes, she shook her head and quickly closed the door.

  “I’m fine, Jess. Go eat! I’ll be out in a bit!” She tried to keep her tone even, speaking loudly behind the door.

  In the shower, Charlie looked at her naked body differently. He’s seen this. No! Not Jesse. She ran the soapy washcloth over her arms, breasts, and stomach. Not knowing if it was the shower or her own tears, she sniffed. She quickly lathered the berry-scented shampoo in her hair and rinsed it out. Watching the soap swirl into the drain below, she tried to imagine the way in which he saw her. Maybe the shadows helped? Maybe I didn’t look as bad as I think. It was really dark and he was far back toward the cabin…

  Wiping herself off, she used the towel to smear the steam from the mirror. All she could see was a peach blur. An indistinct hazy cloud; nothing of consequence. As shame consumed her, she suddenly didn’t care what she looked like. Not bothering to put on makeup, she had no will to make herself pretty that morning. The time for that had come and gone. There’s no way he’ll ever want me.

  Charlie caught the smell of bacon coming from outside the bathroom. She wrapped a towel around her body and slowly opened the door.

  Karal was sitting at the kitchen island in her pajamas and fluffy slippers. Jesse was behind the counter preparing another pot of coffee.

  “G’Morning, sunshine! How did you sleep?” asked Karal.

  “Um, we haven’t yet. I’m just going to go upstairs and get some clothes on. The bathroom is free if anyone needs to shower,” Charlie said quietly.

  “Aren’t you going to do your makeup?”

  “No. Not today.” Charlie climbed the stairs and threw her suitcase on the bed. Rummaging through her things, she found her old comfortable Civil Defense cotton T-shirt and threw on a baggy pair of jeans. Wrapping a bandana on her head, she didn’t bother to check a mirror.

  “Is he still here?” Angie’s voice was hoarse and groggy as she rose from the bed.

  “Yes. He made some breakfast, I think. Coffee is brewing.”