“Shut up.” Throwing the pillow at her again.
“Let’s just say, his nick name ‘The beast’ not only applies to the hockey rink.” With that, she shut the door to shower.
MONDAY CAME too quickly. I didn’t know what I wanted to say to Charlie about the kiss outside the pool hall. Would he bring it up? His reaction was what worried me most. I just wanted to get it over with. When I got to my locker he was nowhere in sight. Good, maybe I could grab my books and get out of here before I see him.
“You have a good weekend?”
I flinched towards his voice he had that megawatt smile plastered on his face as he walked the few steps to his locker.
“It was fine. Nothing special.”
Still smiling he nodded. “Oh yeah? Nothing particularly special happened? Are you sure?”
I threw my backpack into my locker and answered him hastily. “Yep I’m sure.” I turned and walked away from him I hadn’t gotten three steps away when I felt his hands on my hips stopping me abruptly. He leaned into my body from behind me to whisper in my ear and I could feel the entire length of his hard body against my own.
“Next time you feel like doing nothing special again come find me.”
The way he said ‘nothing special’, was so sensual. His voice was husky, and his breath was hot against my ear, causing instant shivers to ripple over my entire body.
He was trying to push my buttons, and the fact that it was working really pissed me off. “Stop it Charlie.”
He came around and faced me. Looking down at me with that handsome face caused some of my anger to dissipate, but not all of it. Why did he have to act like this? I felt ashamed I let him kiss me; I was fool, just like all the other girls.
“Okay, no more games.” He kept speaking quietly to me, like we were the only two people in the hallway, and that was so not the case. I looked down at the ground. “I liked our kisses. In fact, it’s all I can think about. I want to kiss you again, right now.” His honesty shocked me. I looked up into his eyes expecting to see his cocky player grin, but instead, his face was serious, like the day outside the gym. I swallowed, it was now or never. I could let my resolve crumble, right here right now in the hallway and give into his charm, or I could stand my ground and do what I always did. I would push him and all my feelings for him, far away. Things were better off this way.
“Well I don’t want to kiss you again Charlie. It was a mistake and I won’t let it happen again.” I left him standing in the hallway with a pissed off look on his face. I should have felt good, this is what I wanted, but I didn’t feel good. In fact, I felt the total opposite of good because deep down I wanted to kiss him again too.
THE NEXT day, in between classes, I stopped to check the bulletin board that held the volleyball roster Coach had posted that morning. My name was on the varsity list and I was so excited; I had made first string.
“Congrats, first string, that’s awesome.” His silky voice came from behind me. I didn’t want to, but turned around and faced him. As usual, he looked like perfection; with a soft, white, long sleeve shirt and dark jeans that hung low on his hips; his hair was tousled and spiked in that sexy way when you couldn’t tell if he tried to style it or just rolled out of bed that way. He had a pencil behind his ear and that charming smile plastered on his face. His green eyes never left mine while he stood so close, invading my personal space that it was impossible for me to not breathe in his scent. His scent was like a spell. Mixed with that, and the look in his eyes, I was helpless. I had just told him yesterday that kissing him was a mistake and here he was again. I had to give it to the guy, he was persistent.
“Thanks.” He continued to just stand there and look at me. “Um…how’s your day going?” Did I really just ask him that? UGH, just shut up and walk away.
“My day will be better when you agree to go out on a date with me” He answered cockily.
Shaking my head I turned back away from him “I can’t.”
“You can, and I know you want to.” Turning to look up at him again, I searched his eyes, why was he so hell bent on pursuing something between us? Why couldn’t he just leave me alone? When he leaned in closer to me, with his head just above my ear and whispered “Pick you up at 7:00” shivers ran up the entire length of my spine well after he sauntered away without me ever giving him my answer.
TO SAY I was nervous was putting it mildly. I had never been on a real date before and the fact that it was with one of the hottest guys I had ever laid eyes on had me feeling like I was in way over my head. Was it too late to just hide from him? “Tess, please help, I am freaking out.” She smiled and eyed me up and down
“Okay first things first, how much time do I have?” I glanced at the clock “He said he was picking me up at seven.” That gave us less than half an hour.
“Take off everything you have on” she said as she rummaged through her closet that was pretty much overflowing with expensive, name brand clothing, most of which I had never even heard of. I was a simple jeans and shirt kind of girl, no muss no fuss. Like I could ever afford any of those clothing brands anyway.
“Tess I am already so nervous. I can’t wear a dress and ridiculous shoes I will make a fool of myself and fall flat on my face.”
She pulled out a pair of black, dressy looking pants and a red blouse. “You should wear red more often, it goes great with your blonde hair and skin tone.” She said as she held the shirt against me. “Hurry up and put these on so we can work on your hair and makeup.”
I discarded my clothes with lightning speed as she got ready in the bathroom, turning on her curling iron and setting up all her makeup. She dusted my eyes in a shimmery gold color and put on black mascara and eye liner. She smeared a light plink gloss on my lips, and styled my hair so that it fell in light waves all around my face. She eyed her final work and winked at me.
“There, simple yet beautiful.” Just as she was finished the phone in our room rang and Tess answered it.
“Your chariot and date awaits you.” Taking a deep breath I grabbed my jacket pausing at the door I turned “Thank you Tess.”
“No problem roomie, go have fun.”
I took a deep breathe. “Okay here I go, oh god, I hope I don’t puke.”
I walked out to the front office where Charlie stood waiting for me. I had to try and catch my breath at the sight of him. He wore jeans that were slightly frayed and fit him perfectly, and a large grey knit sweater that hugged his arms and back. His eyes were bright and he smiled when he saw me.
“You look great,” he said as he walked the few steps to where I stood just gawking at him. I felt my face blush, and my gaze fell to the floor.
“Not so bad yourself.” I managed to squeak out.
He brought his large hand up under my chin and drew my face up so I was looking into his eyes. Causing me to feel instant tingles just from the simple touch. “Hey” he said as his green eyes pierced my own. “Hey” I said giving him a little smile.
He flashed his best grin and a little laugh. “You ready to go beautiful girl?” I nodded my head and we made our way out to his truck. He opened my door for me which I found really awkward.
He got into the driver’s side and his giant truck roared to life causing a very familiar song to come out of the speakers. I turned my head to look at him. “No way you like Paper Route?” The surprise obvious in my voice.
He smiled and nodded “Yeah, I take it you like them too?”
I smiled and wrung my hands together in my lap. “They are my favorite.”
We drove across town listening to music and talking about nothing in particular when Charlie slowed down and attempted to find a place to park I surveyed our surroundings. “I hope you like ice cream.” He said pulling into a parking space. I got out of his truck as he walked around to me.
“I do, but only strawberry.” He shot me a look like I was crazy.
“Really? But there are so many good ones, this place we are going to is a local favorite and they give f
ree samples, we will try a few.” Nervously, I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear as the wind blew it all over the place. We entered the small shop and the sugary aroma of freshly made cones made my mouth water, it smelled heavenly. We walked up to the window that cased all of the flavors and peered inside. Charlie rested his hand on the small of my back before speaking to me.
“You see anything you might want to try?” I couldn’t smell the sugary smells anymore, now that he was standing so close, all I could smell was him, and he smelled marvelous. I was very aware of his hand that rested on my back, because his touch, like all the times before, was shooting tingles up and down my spine. I swallowed nervously and tried to focus on the names of the ice cream flavors in front of me and not the butterflies inside of me. I found a flavor called “Teaberry,” and was just about to ask him if he had tried it, when the doors that led back to the kitchen swung open and out came a girl holding a large baking sheet filled with cones. She had light brown hair pulled up into a messy bun and wore an apron that had seen better days. She was obviously pretty, even in her work clothes. Her brown eyes raised, found Charlie, and she immediately started squealing
“Charlieeeee.” Her high pitched noise made almost everyone else in the small shop turn and look at her. She hastily put the tray down, and came bounding out from around the counter and launched herself into Charlie. He laughed at her eagerness but gave her a hug anyway.
“Hey Eve, how’s it going?” She was pressing herself against him as hard as she could and I didn’t want to be but I was instantly jealous. He lowered her back to the floor and she peered up at him like a dog that had just done a trick and was waiting to be rewarded by her master.
“You haven’t come to see me in a while. How come? She asked running her hand from his stomach to his chest.
“Yeah, I been a little busy lately, you know hockey and… stuff.” Grabbing her wandering hand and removing it from his body. I had hoped she would take the hint but she didn’t.
“I get off work at eight. Do you want to come pick me up and go back to my place?” She purred at him. I cleared my throat from behind them. Charlie stepped away from her and put his arm around me.
“Sorry Eve, I am busy tonight.” The girl eyed me up and down once before giving me a look of annoyance.
“Are you serious?”
He gave a heavy sigh and squeezed my shoulder reassuringly. “Eve don’t be another jealous girl, okay? It doesn’t look good on you.”
Her face fell and, for a moment, she looked a little hurt. However, she quickly played it off and spun on her heel. “Whatever you know where to find me.”
As she disappeared into the back again, Charlie finally looked at me, giving me a cautious grin. “Sorry about that.” I shrugged.
“No big deal, just another minion right?” I winked my eye at him, trying to play it off, but after all that, I really didn’t feel like eating. My head hurt and I felt like just going back to the dorms. All along I knew I wasn’t the girl for him and I, more than likely, never would be. “I am going to use the bathroom, be right back.” He nodded his head and pointed me in the direction of the restroom doors. Inside, I splashed some water on my neck and braced my arms on the sink, taking a few deep breathes. After gaining some composer, I headed back out to him, but what I found caused me to freeze in my tracks. Charlie was standing in the exact same place I had left him, but now he was surrounded by a group of four girls. He was caught in a cloud of giggling and batting eye lashes. I was so over this. I walked right past him and all his minions, straight out the door. I had only reached the corner of the shop when the bell on the door jingled and Charlie came springing out of the door behind me.
“Hey wait up.” I stopped as he approached me “Where are you going?”
“I am going back to the dorms, I am sorry Charlie but this isn’t going to work.” He ran a hand over the back of his neck like the situation stressed him out.
“I am sorry about Eve, I didn’t know she worked here and those other girls were just saying hi.” I crossed my arms over my chest and hugged them to me tightly.
“I’m just never going to be able to compete with all them and to be honest I really don’t want to.” I said waving my hand back at the shop.
He stepped closer to me and cupped my face in his hands, causing my breath to hitch “There is no competition Ash, and if there was, you have already won.” He pressed his lips softly to mine I let him kiss me for a brief second before pushing myself away from him and shaking my head.
“I’m sorry, I just can’t.” With that I turned and walked away leaving him standing there watching me go, he didn’t try to stop me nor did he offer me a ride I think I caught him off guard and wounded his pride a little. I was the only girl in the entire school that didn’t seem to want his attention and it was driving him crazy. It was driving me crazy that I was just like all those other girls; I wanted Charlie more than I ever wanted anyone else in my life but it just wasn’t meant to be. This wasn’t the reason I was here and besides, he could never be with me fully because I would never be able to be completely honest with him about my past and all the ghosts that still haunt me on a daily basis.
THE WEEK continued to drudge on and I had focused on my school work, volleyball practice, and nothing else; and by Friday I was pretty burnt out. After our awkward date, Charlie had kept his distance and not said anything to me. I guess he had finally gotten tired of me and was now on to his next female conquest. I was standing at my locker getting ready for last period of the day when Tess came bouncing up with Zach in tow.
“Guess what? Zach’s parents are out of town this weekend and my babe is having a party” she exclaimed excitedly before kissing Zach on the cheek.
After the night they spent together at the pool hall, they had been inseparable and the PDA was a little too much at times. They were constantly all over each other.
“You guys have fun, I have plans already” I said, looking into my locker for an unknown item.
“Stop lying, I know you’re just going to be locked up in our room reading or something. C’mon it will be fun, I promise.”
“That’s what you said last time Tess and you ended up ditching me all night and I had to spend it with….” Just as I trailed off, the king himself sauntered up, clasping Zach on the shoulder.
“After practice, we going to pick up the party supplies, then head to your place?”
Zach nodded his head. “Hell yeah bro, it’s going to be raging.”
Charlie looked from Zach and Tess and then to me. “You both are coming right?”
“See! Charlie, tell Ashton she has to come tonight.” I gave her my shut up now glare but she waved me off.
“You’re not coming tonight?” Charlie asked. I shook my head no, and looked at the ground.
He began to laugh out loud. “Well that figures, as usual you will be missing out.”
“What the hell does that mean?” I asked as I crossed my arms over my chest in annoyance.
“You never go out, in fact I bet you haven’t been out since our little date have you? Face it Ash, you’re the boring one” he said, in a mocking tone.
“I am not boring!! I just….I...have plans already.” I was a stuttering fool and was sure all three of them could see through my obvious lie.
“Yeah, well whatever, you have fun with those plans of yours while the rest of us will be at the party having real fun.”
Seriously? He was going to be a giant dick to me now? He was just mad I left on our little date and was now acting like a little boy in grade school. What was he going to do next, push me down and pull on my pig tails? He turned and began to walk away from me and I don’t know why but the words flew from my mouth before I could stop them.
“FINE! I will go, you happy now your highness?” I yelled louder then I should have, causing everyone around us to look at me. He looked back with a challenge in his eyes. He liked this way too much. “Oh and by the way Charlie, don’t call me Ash.” Wit
h that I turned and left him standing in the hallway with that damn smug grin.
“OUCH TESS, your pulling my hair out.”
“Stop being such a baby, I am almost done.”
I was letting Tess play Barbie doll with me, yet again, and getting ready for a stupid party that I didn’t even want to go to in the first place. I had no fashion sense, according to her, and my long hair needed to be styled, or I wasn’t allowed to accompany her. When she was finally done, I looked in the mirror. I didn’t recognize the girl looking back at me. Tess always turned me into a bombshell. Not the plain Jane I considered myself at all. Tess came up behind me as we looked at each other in the mirror.
“What you think?”
“I think you have already found the right career path for yourself.”
She giggled. “Thanks, I love makeup and fashion; it’s like, the only thing besides sex that makes me happy.”
I held my hand up to silence her “TMI Tess.”
“So, Zach texted me; shall we go?”
“Yeah, let’s go see if Noah is ready.” Tess stopped dead in her tracks and frowned at me.
“You invited Noah?”
“Yeah…what’s the big deal?”
“Ashton sometimes you really are clueless. Whatever, go get your little pet we are already late.”
“Noah is cool and has always been nothing but nice to you. I don’t know why you don’t like hanging out with him.”
“It’s not that I don’t like him per se, it’s just that he follows you around like a lost puppy dog and he is a total cock block.”
“Okay, first off, he doesn’t follow me anywhere. You make him sound like a stalker. Second, Noah is not a ‘Cock block’, we are just friends, that’s it. We don’t like each other like that.”
“Like I said, totally clueless.”
We had just made it out to the common areas, where we were about to sign out for the evening, when Noah came walking in the door. He looked really good. Noah was a very good looking guy, there was no denying that, I had thought so since the first day when he handed me my hair dryer, but I just never felt that spark with him. Tonight he was wearing dark faded jeans with a white t-shirt and a black hoodie he left unzipped. His black hair was cut where it had been longer on top and shaved on the sides was now all shaved the same length. He smiled as he reached us. I reached up and rubbed his newly buzzed head, letting him know I noticed his new look.
Getting Out Page 6