Charlie’s POV
A week had passed and Paris was in the rear view.
Nora announced that she had dropped out of college and that she planned to get a job close to home, which ticked my parents off: my mother more than my father.
She’s also been hovering a lot. Even before she went to college, she never came into my room without a good enough reason. Now, she won’t leave me alone.
“Hey Charl.”
I rolled my eyes. “What do you want, Nora?”
“I was thinking about going out for lunch.”
“Okay.”
“Do you want to come?”
I looked away from my phone and towards Nora.
“Depends, can we go to The Harpy’s Nest?” It was an odd name for an eatery, I admit. But they had really good lunch options.
“Sure.”
“Okay, I’ll be down in a second.”
I had wanted to spend the day hanging out with my friends, or Ryan, or all of the above, but they were all busy. Ella was with her boyfriend, no surprise there. Clayton was visiting his grandparents for the weekend and Ryan was working a shift at the Country Club.
I made my way downstairs on my crutches and got into Nora’s car. She drove like a medicated grandmother.
“So, how was Paris?”
“I’ve already told you that it was fine.” I wound down the passenger side window for air.
“I have a boyfriend.” I said.
“Oh my god! Really? Who is he?” She squealed.
“Someone from school. He doesn’t want anyone to know though.” I picked at my fingernails. “Is that weird? Do you think it’s a red flag?”
“It’s not weird. Secret romance is a popular trope in YA fiction.” She turned right at an intersection.
“Have you ever dated anyone in secret?” I wondered.
“God no, I am too pretty to be someone’s secret.” She gave herself an appreciative look in the visor mirror before returning her eyes to the road ahead.
“Do you like this guy?”
“Well duh.” I admitted.
“Then just take it slow. He will come out when he is ready.”
“So… was college bad?” I changed the subject.
“It was like living in hell. The work was easy, obviously, but my roommate was a pain in the ass and my idiot boyfriend Derek cheated on me with a high school senior cheerleader.” She groaned.
“I guess he liked her pom-poms.” I joked.
Nora punched me in the arm as she turned into the parking lot across the street from Harpy’s.
“Ouch!” I frowned.
We entered Harpy’s and sat down at a small table by the window.
“God, I missed Harpy’s.” Nora sighed.
“Same, it’s been awhile since I’ve been here.” I explained.
“Welcome to The Harpy’s Nest, what would you both like today?” A waiter approached us.
“We will get the cheese and bacon fries with two vanilla milkshakes.” Nora gave the order. The waiter jotted down the order and smiled. “Is that all for today?”
“Yes.”
The waiter walked away.
“Do you know of any parties on tonight?” Nora wondered.
“It’s a Sunday.”
“So? When I was in high school, there were plenty of Sunday parties.”
I scoffed, shaking my head.
“Why don’t you ask mom and dad if you could throw a-”
The sound of someone getting slapped across the face interrupted whatever Nora was about to say. We both simultaneously turned our heads to the source of the sound, and I immediately knew who both of them were.
“You are such a dick!” Jenna Warnick voiced loud enough for the entire restaurant to hear. She groaned frustratedly before click clacking her heels towards the exit, giving an audible huff before disappearing outside.
Ace smirked in his seat.
“I also missed high school drama.” Nora spoke with a hint of villainy.
I quickly turned away, hoping that Ace didn’t catch me witnessing whatever that was.
“I bet he’s a Derek.” Nora said.
I rolled my eyes again.
“Okay, since the tea is over, can we get back to what I was saying.”
At this point I just nod at anything she says.
“I totally think you should ask mom and dad if you can throw a party tonight.”
“Me? Throw a party? Ask mom and dad? Did college hit you in the head?” I quizzed.
“You’re such a mommy’s boy, she’ll do anything you want. And I need entertainment now that I’m a fresh out of College, pre-graduation.” She looked at me with puppy dog eyes.
“It’s a Sunday!”
“Who cares.”
I do!
“Hey, Charlotte.” Ace appeared beside me in his usual fashion.
“Excuse me, his name is Charlie.” Nora said, arching her eyebrows.
“Right… Hi, Charlie.” He corrected, looking to Nora for approval.
“Hi.”
Nora smiled as she clasped her hands together.
“And who is this?” He looked to Nora.
“My sister.” I scrunched my nose.
“Nora Harrington.” She held her hand to shake his.
“Ace Caldwell.” He shook her hand before taking a seat next to me.
This was an interaction I never thought would happen. Two of the most annoying people I know meeting.
“Bad date?” I wondered, slightly nudging Ace in the arm.
“I don’t do dates.”
The waiter returned with a basket of cheese and bacon fries, along with two milkshakes.
“Thank you.” Nora beamed, instantly stabbing into the fries with a fork.
I took a slurp from my milkshake as awkwardness began to set in.
“So, Ace…” Nora started, pausing to take another bite of loaded fries. “How long have you known Charlie?”
“Since we made electricity out of lemons.” He replied, stealing a few fries.
“You mean when i created electricity out of lemons.” I corrected him. All he did was sit there shaking his leg nonstop.
I took a forkful of fries and shoved them into my mouth.
“So I could charge my phone with a lemon?” Nora raised her eyebrows as she took a slurp from her milkshake.
I rolled my eyes.
~
After lunch, Ace said goodbye and drove away on his motorcycle whilst Nora and I began the journey home.
“Was that the guy?” She wondered.
“No!”
“You sure? You guys seem friendly with one another.” She halted the car at a stop sign.
“We’re just friends. Kind of. I don’t know.”
We were friends, but also not friends. It’s confusing, but that’s how I see it.
“What about Ryan?”
I don’t remember telling her about Ryan. I told her I had a boyfriend, I never told her his name.
“How did you know his name?”
Nora went silent as she turned into our street.
“Nora!” I pressed.
She sighed defeatedly. “Okay Charl, please don’t be mad at me… I might have read your diary.”
My very soul burned with both anger and concern. Not only had she gone into my bedroom without my being present, but she read my private diary. A diary in which I’ve detailed everything, including my self harm.
“Did you tell mom and dad?” I wondered.
She pulled into the driveway and put the car in park before turning to me.
“I didn’t tell them. But this is serious Charlie, I think you should tell them.”
“No.” I got out of the car and hopped on my one good leg to the backseat where my crutches were.
“Charlie, wait!”
I ignored her, crutching angrily towards the front door.
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Thanks for reading.
Just to clarify a few things:
1, this story will be a cliche, corny and slow burning one.
2, I am writing this story at a quick pace, so most chapters will not be detailed vividly, and I am sorry for that. In the future, I might come back to add more detail.
3, Most of this story is unplanned, I am just writing it as I go along. Though I do plan to give this book 60+ chapters.
4, If you have read my other unfinished works and are waiting for more chapters, I will continue writing them when this novel is complete.
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