Charlie’s POV
“Are you coming to watch the game?” Ryan asked me the very next day as we were seated down at our usual place on the school’s front lawn for lunch.
Today the cafeteria served cheese burgers with a side of carrot fries and a salad. I stirred my salad with a fork as I started to speak.
It was time to break up with him.
“I… uh…” The words could not slip out of my mouth.
“I can’t, I have a family thing.” I lied.
It’s probably a good idea I don’t break up with him before he has to play in front of a bunch of people.
“Oh, that’s too bad.” He took a massive bite of his cheese burger.
I furiously stabbed into the salad with a fork.
Why did he have to say those words. God, it only made this so much more harder than it already would have been. When I imagined hearing those words for the first time, it wasn’t in a relationship that had only started a few months prior.
He ruined everything.
And to make me feel even worse than I already did, Ace hated me.
“So, I was thinking about the Christmas sleepover, and we should definitely do it at my place.” Ella said as she slid into the seat on the opposite side of Ryan and I, Clayton and Tom sliding in either side of her.
“Wait, Christmas sleepover? Can I come?” Tom asked.
“Sorry, babe.” Ella kissed Tom on the cheek. “But no boyfriends allowed.”
Tom gave her a pout before leaning in to kiss her on the lips.
“Alright, guys. Get a room.” Clayton said.
“I don’t know if I can, my grandparents are coming over for Christmas this year.” I said.
“Margaret and Otis are coming this year? Okay, i guess we don’t have to have a sleepover. But I’m definitely coming over to your place for some of your Nana’s famous Christmas cookies.” Ella stated.
Ah, Nana Margaret’s Christmas cookies, the most delicious cookies that I have ever tasted. For as long as I can remember, Nana has always sent a box of her famous Christmas cookies over every Christmas, along with a bunch of presents from her and Grandpa Otis.
“Count me in!” Clayton said.
“Okay.” I continued to stir my salad with a fork.
“Wait, since you guys aren’t doing the sleepover anymore, does that mean I can come try some of these cookies?” Tom wondered, looking to me for an answer.
“Uh, yeah sure. I’ll tell Nana to bake extra.”
“I wish that I could join, I’ve gotta head out of state for Christmas for the annual Woodsen family reunion.” Ryan said.
I’m actually glad he didn’t ask if he could come, seeing as I plan on breaking up with him long before Saint Nick comes to town.
I developed a plan.
After the football game is over, I’ll sent him a text saying that we need to talk. Then, I’ll let him down gently.
“I hope your Grandpa makes his special eggnog again.” Clayton added, taking a gulp from his water bottle.
“I highly doubt it. Not after last time when he got all of us drunk.” I said nonchalantly.
That was only a few years ago. Grandpa Otis had added a little too much brandy to a batch of eggnog, there were two batches, and Ella, Clayton and I accidentally took the wrong batch. Of course, by the time we realised, we were drunk. Since then, my mother said that eggnog was no longer allowed underneath her roof, or someone would definitely end up with a sharpened candy cane in their ribs.
~
That afternoon, while everyone that I knew was at the football game, I was at The Harpy’s Nest with my sister getting something to eat for dinner.
“Why didn’t you go to the football game?” Nora wondered as she scanned the menu.
“Because football sucks.” I complained, scanning my own menu.
The waitress came over to our table, ready to take our orders.
“Would you like to order? Or do you need another minute?” She asked.
“I’ll take the uh, seafood platter,” Nora gave her order. “and a diet cola.”
“Sure, and what would you like sweetie?” She turned to me.
Sweetie? Who is she calling sweetie?
“Uh, could I get the cheesy garlic bread and a glass of blue raspberry lemonade?” I gave her my order.
“Of course, won’t be too long. Would you like an entree to start with?”
“No, that’s okay thanks.” Nora spoke for the both of us.
I set the menu back in it’s holder and pulled out my phone.
Ella had texted saying that Ryan had scored.
I texted back. That’s nice.
“So, did you break up with your boyfriend yet?” Nora wondered.
I let out a frustrated groan. “No.”
“Why not?”
“Because he’s playing a game tonight and I didn’t want to screw it up by breaking up with him.” I explained.
“Have you guys even gone to second base? Or third?”
I scoffed. “I am not talking about this with you.”
“Fair enough. But you guys have barely even been dating for that long, it shouldn’t be too hard for him.” She said.
“He said he loved me.” I sighed.
“Sheesh.” She said, her mouth agape.
Sheesh indeed.
“So, you don’t want to break his heart?”
“Well, duh. What if he hates me forever.”
“Charlie, you can’t always play the people pleaser. You clearly don’t like him the way he does you. I’m sure he’ll understand.”
The waitress returned to our table a short while later and placed our orders on the table. “Enjoy.” She smiled at us before walking away.
I dug into my cheesy garlic bread and gave a satisfactory moan.
“Charwy!” Ace’s little brother appeared out of nowhere, almost making me choke on my food.
I swallowed the food in my mouth and smiled at him. “Hi, Adam.”
For a moment, my heart skipped a beat when I thought that maybe Ace was not too far behind. But then I remembered that Ace had a football game today.
Can he even play with a fresh tattoo on his arm?
Probably not..
“Who is this little guy?” Nora wondered.
“Hi, I’m Adam!” He waved at her.
“Oh my goodness, he’s so adorable.” Nora stated. “Hi Adam, my name is Nora.”
“Far out Adam, what did I tell you about talking to strangers.” Adelaide said before looking at me. “Oh, it’s you.”
“Hi.” I gave an awkward smile.
“Delly, can we sit with Charwy?” Adam begged.
“No, Adam. We’re just getting takeaway, and Ace is waiting for us in the car.” Adelaide explained.
Oh, so I guess Ace isn’t playing the game tonight… Not that I cared.
“Meanie.” He frowned.
“Wait, Ace is the bad date guy, right?” Nora asked me.
I nodded.
“My brother is horrible with dates.” Adelaide said. “Seriously, he thinks he’s a modern day Casanova or something.”
“He’s horrible at friends, too.” I added.
Adelaide raised her eyebrows. “You and him are friends?” She asked, disbelief in her tone.
“I thought that we were, turns out we weren’t.” I said, taking another bite of my cheesy garlic bread.
Adelaide sighed. “I love my brother, but he can be a complete ass sometimes.”
Adam gasped. “Five dollars!”
Nora and I both shared a look of confusion.
“Far out, Adam.” She groaned, pulling five dollars from her pocket. “Here.”
Adelaide looked at us, noting our confused looks. “Oh, he makes Ace and I give him five dollars if we swear. He’ll be a millionaire by the time he reaches high school.” She laughed.
“That’s so cute.” Nora said.
“Order for Adelaide!” The waitress called from the counter.
“Alright, we’d better get going.” Adelaide said as she walked towards the counter and picked up their takeaway order.
“I wanna stay here!” Adam protested.
“Adam, Ace is waiting for us in the car.” Adelaide said again.
“Tell him to come inside.” Adam said.
Please do not.
“We don’t want to interrupt their dinner.” Adelaide told Adam.
“Oh, we don’t mind. I mean, if you can get your brother to get out of the car, we’d love the company.” Nora spoke, and I stared daggers at her.
“Can we pweaseeeee?” Adam begged.
Adelaide thought it over before sighing with defeat. “Fine!”
Well that’s just peachy.
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