by Nicole Adams
“Get. Off.” I say slowly, trying to wriggle myself out of his grasp. My head spinning as I try to concentrate.
“She said get off. Are you deaf?” Charlie comes storming into view. He looks angry. I have never seen him look so murderous. His eyes glowered into Cole like he was trying to smite him with his glare. He might just rip his head off.
“Chill out, we’re just talking,” Cole says, pushing some hair out of my face, not taking his eyes off Charlie. I grimace.
“Do you think I’m stupid? Come on Faye, I’ll take you home,” He says taking my hand. As I get up to go with him Cole pulls me back down to the seat, I hit my bum like a sack of potatoes.
“Ow! C-Cole!” I say pushing away again. Charlie grabs my hand again and pulls me to him that hard I hit him in the chest.
“Who do you think you are?” Cole says prodding Charlie in the chest. Charlie pushes me behind him, I keep a hold of his shirt so I don’t fall over. “She’s not worth it anyway. She doesn’t seem like she’d be much fun, Dave didn’t give her enough,” he said, smiling as he said it, knowing he had hit a nerve.
Charlie turns and sits me down before he launches at him, throwing his fist into Cole’s jaw. Cole reciprocates the attack punching Charlie in the ribs. Charlie tackles Cole to the floor. It wasn’t long before the footballers were back and pulling Cole from a losing fight. Everyone knew who Charlie was.
“Charlie, can we go?” I ask, stumbling to him, trying to grasp his hand and get him to look at me. He tightens his fists and darts a look at me that was filled with rage like an overflowing volcano. You could see the fire behind his eyes. It scared me a little. “Please?” I ask again. He softens his gaze and I feel his hand unclench. He must have noticed my swaying as before I can take another step, picks me up bridal style and takes me out of the party.
∞∞∞
“Where are we?” I ask, trying to peer through my closing eyes.
“The diner. You need to eat. I can’t take you home like this. Your parents would kill me,” he says pushing the burger in front of me. “Are you okay? I’m sorry, I just lost it. Boys like that make me so...Mad. To think what might have happened if I wasn’t there.” He says clenching his fists and hitting the table.
“I’m tired. Do you think if I asked my Mom, she’d let me have a pet tiger? I’ve always wanted one to snuggle into,” I ask.
“Oh God. Please Just eat the burger and drink the water.” He’s says pleadingly, his eyes filled with worry. What is he worried about? I take a bite of the burger and sip my water.
“Do you think cows know they’re food?” I ask again.
“No probably not,” he replied with a chuckle.
“That’s sad.” I reply making a sad face.
The next thing I remember is waking up.
“Where the hell am I?” I jump to my feet. I’m sleeping in someone else’s clothes. In someone else’s room. The room was oddly tidy. Unused. There were pictures of lilac flowers on the fresh white walls with a chair in the corner of the room with my dress hanging over the side. I look at the time on the small black alarm clock on the side of the bed ‘12:30’. Oh God, now I’m lazy in someone else’s house.
I’m wearing a t-shirt from the university. Who’s is this? I look for clues. I see a bunch of flowers in the window, Calla Lilies, I think. The room was bright and homey. The bed had white bedding, which I covered in foundation, and a lilac bedspread folded down to the bottom.
The door opens and I jump back under the covers.
“Do do do do do. Oh! I’m sorry I forgot someone was in here! Sorry to wake you, sweetheart.” A familiar lady was standing at the door with a feather duster.
“Thank God!” I exhale. “I had no idea where I was! I forgot you re-did the guest room.”
“Oh sweetheart! Are you feeling better? That boy, Charlie, brought you back her last night, he picked up Gilly as-well. He didn’t want you to be in trouble,” Gilly’s mom said. “You were asleep when he brought you in.”
“Oh no! I was a mess! Why am I wearing this?” I ask, pointing down at the shirt.
“You came in that. You were sick on your dress and he said that’s all he had in his truck. He had to help Gilly dress you. Don’t worry, I washed and dried it last night for you.” She replied looking a little embarrassed for me, pointing at my dress on the chair. She loves to help people and make sure they are taken care of when they are in her house.
I bury my face in the duvet. I am mortified. “Did he say anything?” I asked her, my head still under the duvet.
“Is she awake?” Gilly asks running into the room.
“Yeah, I will leave you girls to it,” her mom said avoiding my question.
“How bad was it?” I asked.
“Well, what he told me was he tried to get some food in you to sober you up. You had two bites of a burger then fell asleep on the table. He had to carry you out of the diner. Then he called me off your phone and picked me up from the party. You were then sick over yourself, and me btw! And then we changed you into his gym clothes. Now you’re here. All caught up! Now, you tell me, I hear there was a huge fight between Cole and Charlie over you! Is it true?” she says, pressing me for details.
“Not exactly. Cole was getting handsy and I remember feeling scared, but to be honest, most of last night is completely blank. I don’t know how I got so drunk! I only had those shots and a beer!” I say confused. The pulsing in my head wasn’t helping.
“I know why! Dave spiked your beer. Not enough though and that’s how you didn’t pass out, but you were drunk and sick. He spiked like 15 girls’ drinks. He got arrested when someone reported him. What an asshole! I think we should lay off the parties for a while,” she says acting concerned. Smartest thing she has said all year.
“He was spiking drinks! Why? Why mine? What were they planning?” I ask feeling vulnerable.
“Apparently the football team thought you were hot last night so they thought they would see how fun you could be. Don’t worry though, Charlie saw to them. When he came back to the party to get me, he threatened half of them and said ‘If any of them try anything as stupid as that again they will have him and Henry to deal with. Oh, and if anything happened to you, they would end up breathing through a straw,” she said proudly. “Oh yeah, Charlie is downstairs,” she says looking at me out the corner of her eye. “He came back this morning to check on you and said he will wait and take you home.”
“What?! Why? I’m a wreck! Send him away!” I say hiding back down under the soft covers.
“Come with me. I’m going to fix you up.” She says taking me to her room and sitting me at her dressing table.
“Right let’s take off all that make up and just put a little bit of powder on. We don’t want him thinking you have dolled yourself up, but we don’t want him thinking you’re a slob either.” She starts wiping my face with a makeup wipe.
“Thanks,” I say sarcastically.
“No offence. I got you some Tylenol ready so take them it should make you feel a bit better. And make sure you drink the orange juice. Leave his stuff on but we are going to doll it up a bit. You can change later. We will tie the top up at the back so it’s tighter and pull up the shorts a bit. God, I wish he didn’t wear such long shorts! Brush your hair,” she demands. She was faster than 15-minute Makeover.
“Now go!” she says, pushing me out the door.
Oh god, oh god, oh god. Please don’t be mad. Please don’t think I’m gross.
“I am so sorry about last night.” I say as I walk into the room. “I didn’t mean to cause any drama or get you into a fight!” I say, standing at the far end of the living room. He had made himself quite at home in Gilly’s house, sitting on the sofa watching football. But then again, Gilly’s Mom has probably made him sit there and watch it. Her living room was pretty much white. The walls, the furniture the only colour was in the decorations. A duck egg blue water picture, some blue cushions on the white leather sofa, a blue stripe in the white
rug. Subtle. Gilly’s Mom loves making her house look clean and classic.
“Oh hi,” he says getting up, a little startled by my outburst, and turning to me. “It wasn’t your fault. That asshole deserved it. I just wish I had hit him harder now. That’s what your dad would have wanted me to do.”
“Well thank you, but you don’t need to get into fights. It’s sexy and all, but not worth the bruising,” I say gesturing to his hand. Did I just call him sexy? I think I’m still drunk.
“Always worth a bruise to defend a lady’s honour.” He says looking pleased with himself. “I got you a present this morning on my way over, to make you feel better.”
He goes to the side of the sofa and pulls out a massive tiger cuddly toy.
“What? I’ve always loved tigers; how did you know?” I asked.
“Intuition.” He says proudly. “And you may have mentioned wanting to ask your mom could you have one as a pet. Better a cuddly one than one with big teeth,” he says laughing.
“I am such an embarrassment. I’m so sorry you had to look after me like that! I hate being a burden.”
“It’s okay seriously, it was nice getting to know the unfiltered version of you. Can I take you home? I’m glad to see you’re not too hungover,” he asks with that sweet boy look in his eyes.
“How could I say no to those puppy eyes?” I say. “I’ve just got to get changed give me one sec.” I run back up to Gilly’s room, trying to hide my huge smile and not trip over the giant tiger.
“He definitely likes you,” Gilly says with a giant smile.
“Shut up,” I reply the giant grin returning and a rose-coloured tinge to my cheeks.
“I’ve laid you out some of my clothes. I don’t want you wearing last nights’ dress again,” she says looking proud.
“You’re the best friend anyone could ask for. Even if you are a little wild. Thank you,” I say, giving her the biggest hug I can.
“Just get ready! Don’t make yourself cry now, we aren’t making your eyes red and blotchy.” She says dabbing her own.
“He’s only taking me home.” I say brushing it off.
“We will see.” She says holding her clothes up to me.
It was a red sundress that came just above the knee. With white flowers almost painted onto it. She’s matched it with a pair of gold sandals.
“This is your date dress.” I say.
“Well it’s not like I need it at the minute! Get dressed and then we will French braid your hair. I’m so glad my fingers are free from those fabric prisons. God knows what you would like otherwise! We can’t be long; my Mom will make him too comfortable,” she says laughing.
As she plaits my hair, I put a little bit more makeup on. Subtle, just some concealer and some mascara.
“Now go make me proud,” she says jokingly, smacking my butt. She stuffs my dress and Charlie’s clothes into my bag and hands it to me.
I walk down the stairs trying to be like the girls on movies with the boy waiting at the bottom, but when I got there, he was in the living room still watching the football.
“You ready?” I ask, standing by the front door.
“Oh! Yeah, let’s go.” He jumps up and starts heading for the door. “Thank you, Mrs Spencer, for the snacks and the football,” he shouts to Gilly’s mom.
“Thank you for everything Mrs Spencer,” I say, and we both leave.
“You look really pretty today. You looked really pretty last night too, before everything,” he says.
“Thanks, how did you see me before? You looked a bit preoccupied,” I reply trying to hide the blush.
“I saw you. Someone had to keep an eye on you. It’s a good job I did!” he says, elbowing me.
He walks ahead and opens the car door for me. I try and hop in as elegantly as I can. It takes a little while.
“Do you need a hand?” he asks watching me struggle. With his next movement he picks me up and places me on the seat.
“That’s a lot better than I would have done it. Thank you,” I reply.
“You’re welcome.” He closes the door and heads round to his side. As I look up at Gilly’s house, I can see her peering through the window fake screaming at me. She has been watching the whole time.
“Do you ever answer your house phone?” He asks as he gets in the car. “I swear everyone answers it bar you. Your Mom probably thinks she has a stalker now,” he says laughing and shaking his head. He started the car and pulled away from Gilly’s house.
“You called my house phone for me? Why didn’t you call my cell?” I asked.
“I don’t have your cell, and I wasn’t about to go and ask Henry for it.”
“Good point. I just thought you didn’t...”
“… call you? Of course I did! I said I would,” he says glancing at me as he drives.
“Wait, where are we going?” I say looking out the window, he’s headed in the opposite direction to home.
Chapter 6
“It’s just a little detour,” he says, keeping his eyes on the road.
“Why? Do you need to pick something up?” I ask.
“Sort of,” he says, “You,” flashing me that winning smile and winking.
“What? That makes no sense,” I say, laughing.
“Well I was trying to be smooth. Okay? Don’t ask where we are going though, it’s a surprise.”
“Is this a date?” I ask, crossing my fingers for the answer.
“It’s whatever you want to call it. I’m calling it a date though. Way better than your fairy-tale fantasy you had the other day.”
“That’s the dream,” I hold my chest being dramatic. “Anyway, how could anything possibly be better than fairy-tale?” I ask, still in the dramatic voice.
“Real life,” Charlies replies without hesitation.
“Touché. Okay. Can you give me a clue?”
“You’ll love it, that’s all I’m saying,” he replies, locking his lips and throwing the imaginary key out the window.
“Know me that well, huh?” I ask, flirtatiously.
“Not well, but I’m hoping this is the first step to knowing you more.”
“God! Do you plan these answers? You must know you make girls go mushy inside, right? Even the way you say it! God you’re good!”
“There’s only one girl I’m trying to win over,” he replies, his voice as smooth as butter, glancing over at me with a smouldering look on his face.
“Alright Casanova, stop or I’ll faint in awe,” I giggle.
I’m surprised at how comfortable I feel with Charlie. It’s like being home. I suppose he has been in my life for years, but never would I have expected this. I would never have expected to be in this situation, in Charlie’s car going on a date!
I’m surprised how clean his car actually is. The leather seats are gleaming and smell fresh.
“I realise I didn’t ask you. Do you want to go on this date with me?” he asks, looking a little uncomfortable.
“Well now you ask … yeah I want to go, there’s so much intrigue I can’t say no to a little mystery.” He lets out the breath I didn’t realise he was holding.
“Are we talking about the date or me?” he asks, almost compelled.
“Both, I suppose. I’d like to know more about both.” I feel a little smile on my face. Hopefully not a silly looking one.
“We’re here,” Charlie says, pulling into a space and putting the car into park.
“Where?” I say. We are parked in a small car park on what I believe to be the outskirts of the city. I look around for clues.
“Here,” he says, pointing my head in the direction of a small sign.
“Butterfly Sanctuary. Butterfly Sanctuary! God you are good!” I say excitedly. I jump out of the truck. “How didn’t I know this was here?” I say heading towards the globe shaped, glass topped building, leaving Charlie behind.
“Well I thought you would like it. It hasn’t been here long, about 6 months,” he says trying to catch up.
“This is amazing!” I say, getting a little too excited throwing my arms up in the air.
“Hi, two for the sanctuary?” The women ask as we approach the front desk.
“Yes please,” I reply, before Charlie can get a word in.
“Can we do the experience as well please?” Charlie says holding a finger to his lips, so the women doesn’t say it.
“What experience?” I ask, turning to look at Charlie.
“Surprise,” is the only answer I get out of him.