CHASING CHARLIE GRAY

23

Charlie Gray showed up on the last day of school,  all smiles as she spoke to several people making her way down the hall.

I turned back to my locker for the moment, stuffing my remaining books into my bag and crumbling up papers to throw away.

When she made it over to me, she leaned against the closest locker and grinned.

"You're awfully happy" I snorted, zipping up my bag.

"Today's a good day"

"Oh yeah? "

"Yeah, Can I hug you?" She was very considerate of the fact that I hadn't really come out and being out at school was a lot different from being out to my parents.

Not caring in the slightest, I wrapped my arms around her neck and instinctively hers circled around my waist.

"That was very bold of you Ms.Kim, claiming me like that in front of every one " Even as she teased me, her hands rubbed circles into my hips, momentarily short circuiting my brain.

I could tell people were staring, having never seen us interact outside of a classroom and suddenly we were getting friendly in the hallway. I would've been shocked too.

"I can be bold sometimes"

She looked incredulously at me "Yeah, when you're intoxicated"

I went to pull my arms away but then she was grabbing them and putting them back in their original position.

"I never said I didn't like this " She pulled me towards her by my belt loop and kissed my temple softly.

"People definitely know we're together now" I mused.

"Is that bad? I can dial it back " Charlie worried, already removing her arms and this time I was the one to stop her from letting go.

"No not bad, just a little strange for me"

"It doesn't matter what they think anyway " I continued.

"That's right, you're a bit of a loner aren't you? " She teased.

"Not anymore. I've got you now" I poked her chest gently .

"Yes you do" She agreed.

We walked together down the hall since we didn't have actual class.

"So, what are our plans for summer?"

"Our?" She asked.

"Yes, you just said I have you now" I reminded.

"Well let's see then, between graduation and being sick my schedule's pretty packed"

"Well I think I can fit in there somewhere, you even bought a phone to talk to me, I think you can make some adjustments to your schedule"

"Gia Kim are you teasing me because I want to text my girlfriend late at night?" Her eyes crinkled with amusement as I walked in front of her, raising my shoulders in a shrug without a word.

"You said it not me"

She caught up to me quickly, pulling me back by my waist.

"I'll make you eat your words"

"I'd love to see you try " I scoffed.

"Where is this coming from? Seriously, Are you drunk?" She stared at me, actually concentrating.

"No I'm not drunk, I just feel lighter. It's the last day of school I guess I'm not as anxious"

"You took your medication again didn't you? " She gazed dully at me.

"Hell yeah, now we're going to the library so I can use you as my pillow and nap until lunch"

She laughed, grabbing my hand to walk beside me.

***
Trying to go back to sleep was becoming incessantly hard because someone was constantly tapping at my cheek, I reached out slightly annoyed and tried to swat the hand away.

I sighed, finally content and tried to fall back to sleep only for the hand to come back again, this time accompanied by a voice.

"Gia c'mon, lunch is almost over and I'm hungry "

Oh.

I sat up, rubbing my eyes and looking around to familiarize myself with my surroundings once again. The material of something pool down to my lap, Charlie had put her jacket over me as I slept.

"I'm sorry" I yawned, eyes threatening to fall shut again.

"It's cool" She got up, stretching her legs where I had previously been sleeping before she stretched a hand out to help me up.

I couldn't exactly see straight, sleep so prominent still,  so I just used charlie as a guide as we went down the hall.

She walked slowly, mindful of how I basically dragged my legs and squeezed my hand encouragingly when I slowed to a stop.

When we finally got to the cafeteria, I hung onto her slightly as she bought lunch, my head bent into the crook of her neck.

Charlie led us out through the doors to sit in the grass under a large tree. She sat first before guiding me down to sit between her legs and I leaned back, bleary eyed, intent on falling back to sleep.

"Eat something first" She pushed the end of a sandwich against my lips and I nibbled at it slightly to appease her before closing my eyes. She patted my cheek gently, forcing me to open my eyes again.

"Don't look at me like that,take a bite and then you can go back to sleep"

So I did, forcing myself to swallow it quickly so I could turn comfortably in her arms and fall back to sleep.