Stray Hearts // Charlie Gillespie

15

"That was a great class." I say to all the little kids. It's been a few days since the hangover incident and I'm just now feeling better.

As all the kids went out, I checked my phone. I had a couple missed calls from Owen. I quickly call him back, putting it on speaker.

I start to gather my things together as it rings. "Hey, is everything okay?" I ask as he answers.

"Yeah, why didn't you answer?" He asked as I told him I was teaching a class.

"Well guess what your soon to be boyfriend did?" I blush at his words.

But I keep my voice calm. "What'd Charlie do?" I ask, biting my lip.

"I asked him to go skiing with me. And you know what he did without me?" I walked out the dance studio with my phone pressed to my ear.

"He went skiing without me." Owen ranted. I can tell he wasn't too mad, he was just messing around.

"I love you but why are you calling me about this?" I ask confused.

I get into my car, my phone connecting to my speaker. "Cause I wanted to hang out." He admitted.

I pouted while thinking about it. "I have my Gran's birthday dinner tonight. But I can come over after." I start to drive to my house.

"Just text me." We say our goodbyes as he hung up. I'm not surprised Charlie went skiing. He loves to ski.

I absolutely loved my Gran. She was one of the most caring and sweetest people ever. My parents have been over there all day cooking.

I would've been there sooner but I had to work and then teach the class. I went to my house to drop my bags off and quickly shower.

I put on a black thrasher t shirt and high rise jeans. I put on my vans as I started to leave.

When I walk out and started to lock my door, I got a whiff of cigarette.

I look over at him to see him sitting on his steps. "Hey, Warren." I smile as he looks over at me.

He looks at me up and down. "You look cute. Where are you going?" He asked taking a puff of his cancer stick.

"It's my Gran's birthday dinner." Warren's met her a couple times, and they like each other.

They're relationship reminds me of Martha Stewart and Snoop Dogg.

"Tell her Happy Birthday!" I unlocked my car, opening my door.

"When you quit smoking." He flips me off as I laugh. I get into my car and drive to my Gran's.

Most of my family was gonna be there. But sadly, I'm too old for my cousins and too young for the adults.

So I usually watch the little cousins. When I walk in, all my little cousins came running towards me.

I was late so they already had cake. I had to push past all the little kids so I could say hi to my Gran.

She was sitting in the living room, watching something on the tv. She caught a glimpse of me and smiled.

"I was worried you wouldn't make it." I give her a quick hug and say down. "Of course I'll make it. I wouldn't miss it for the world."

I look over at my cousins to see them arguing over a charger. "It's on twelve precent!" My cousin, Trey, yelled.

"You done lost his charger, give it back." My aunt told him, trying to get in the middle of it. "I'm calling the police!"

Trey ran out the door with his phone making me laugh. "Get back in here." My aunt argued with him.

My cousins today were on another level of crazy. My littlest cousin, Dom, started running around with a knife.

Trey kept repeating, "Eat and shit," casing me to die of laughter. "Ma, that boy is cussin!" My aunt told my Gran.

My Gran looked over at him with a death stare that she used to give me as a kid. "Say it again." She dared him.

He started to say it, but never finished it. The whole time I was at my Gran's, it was chaotic.

When I walked to my car, I texted Owen. He gave me his address so I put it in my gps and started driving.

It was gonna be weird hanging out with Owen without Charlie. But I know he would make it fun. When I get to his apartment, I knocked on his door.

He opened it with a big smile. He was wearing basketball shorts, a t-shirt, and he had a hat on. "You can come in."

He stepped over to the side to let me in. When I looked around, it was pretty nice in here.

"Your place is nice." I compliment him. He grinned at he closed the door. "Thank you, I just moved in a few weeks ago."

We sat on the couch and gossiped for a few hours. He told me stories of Charlie, which made me smile.

"If I tell you something, please don't say anything." I tell him. I feel like I can trust him with this.

He nods as his face softens. "You didn't kill anyone, did you?" He asked making me laugh a little. I shake my head no as I look at him.

"I think I have feelings for Charlie." Owen's face lit up as he scooted towards me. He wrapped his arms around me making me nervous laugh.

"It took you long enough." He looked so happy, even though it wasn't about him.

"What do you mean?" I ask looking at him. He pulled away to look at me.

He shook his head disapproving. "I noticed you liked him back when we went camping." Was it obvious?

And if it was that obvious, then how did I not realize? I sigh as I start thinking about it.

"You okay?" Owen pulled me out of my thoughts. I look at him worriedly.

"What if he doesn't like me back? And what if he finds someone prettier?" I get out of my chest.

He sighed as he looked at me. "Those are just the what if's. I know how he feels. And he wouldn't find someone prettier because you're hot."

I chuckled a little at his words. "What I'm trying to say is, if he likes you or not, it's for your personality. He would be stupid to give you up."

I know he was telling the truth. And that's what I loved about Owen.

I could tell him anything and there's no judgement. He just talks you through it with a sensitive tone.

I can tell we're gonna be great friends.