Familiar Strangers - Charlie Gillespie

Chapter Two ~ Record Shop

Charlie Gillespie. Star of the show I was just watching on tv a couple of weeks ago with Daisy. My jaw dropped, leaved my mouth wide open. A bug could've flown in between my teeth and I wouldn't even have noticed I was in such a daze. What would I do? What could I do? I was a big fan. Just a fan. And yet there he was, just minding his own business, leafing through records, and in his own little world. His pretty boy brown hair curled over his eyes only just in the slightest and he was literally only wearing a hoodie and some jeans. And YET, I was mesmerized by his appearance. I finally broke out of my trance as I felt Everett shaking my arm lightly.

"Iris? Are you okay?!" he asked me, as he didn't have the slightest clue what was going on. Daisy did. And I swear, she was laughing her ass off. I couldn't help but turn slightly red at this outburst of hers.

"I-" I tried to speak. No words come out. Finally, after a little bit of trying, I got out some kind of sound to tell Everett. "Sorry, I just- Daisy would you please stop laughing at me?"

She wiped a tear and responded, "Yeah, sorry babe, continue to tell this loser what the fuck is going on."

"Thank you! Anyways, Everett, you see that guy over there? By the AC/DC poster?"

"Yeah"

"Yeah, he's from this tv show called Julie and the Phantoms. Daisy and I watched it the night of graduation a few weeks ago. She thought it was okay. I, on the other hand, loved it. More importantly, I loved him. He's very talented, and yeah."

"Ohhhhhh so you like him?"

"No, I just think he's a little bit attractive and a little bit talented."

"So you like him" Daisy said.

"Maybe just a bit."

"GO SAY HI THEN!!" Everett said.

"WHAT?! NO FUCKING WAY."

"Yes! That's a great idea, my little rainbow!" Daisy said. She smirked, as she knows I can't resist anything when people use that nickname. Ever since I found out what my name means, I just love when people mention it.

"Ugh. Fine." I agreed. "But you owe me one!"

"You're welcome!" they both said in total unison. It was actually kind of creepy. As I looked back over at him, my stomach dropped and I groaned. I could not believe that I had to 'conquer my fears' and all that stupid bullshit. I glanced at my friends and they gave me excited expressions as they practically pushed me just a little bit forward. Sort of like a little nudge, but more aggresive. I finally worked up the courage to walk to him.

Now I was behind him. I gave him a small tap on the shoulder, and he turn around with a confused look on his face.

"Hi!" I said. Butterflies were in my stomach. I kept twitching with the nerves, and I could barely stand still. His eyes are so much prettier than I remembered. They're crystal blue with a hint of grey and green. Oh. My. God.

"Hi" he responded, still looking semi-confused.

"Ummmm, well my friends over there..." I said as I gestured over at them, "You see, um, I saw you, and I thought you were a little bit cute. I mentioned it to them, and they kind of forced me to come over here and sort of talk to you." I was so nervous, my palms were sweaty, the butterflies were now feeling like literal birds, and I couldn't believe those words actually came out of my mouth. "I'm Iris, by the way. Some people call me rainbow though. Like if you wanted to know."

His expression changed from confused to a slight, crooked smile. "I'm Charlie. Some people call me Charlie." he chuckled.

I giggled at his response. "Well I guess I should go back to my friends, um, it was nice meeting you?" As I started to walk away I muttered to myself, "God that was so stupid, I am going to KILL Daisy and Everett."

I got a couple of steps away from him, still kicking myself for doing such a thing, he spoke. "Hey wait!" I spun around on my feet and faced him. "Maybe we could grab something to eat? I would love to meet your very ambitious friends, and you seem like you're new around here! Like to LA, maybe I could show you around or something?" I grinned at this reaction to their antics, so I nodded my head in agreement. "Cool! Well could I get your number? Like so I could pick you guys up." Wait he was serious?

"Okay! I'm up for an adventure!" I said as he handed me his phone and I punched my number into his contacts.

"Ok cool, well I'll text you?" He said.

"Yep!" *Insert awkward finger guns* he nodded, bought two records, and walked out of the store. I turned to my friends only to see both jaws wide open in shock.

"Wow rainy, I didn't expect that!" Daisy said.

"Yeah, I just thought it was going to be a little 'Hey how are you, I'm good, I love this band, ok bye because I got rejected' kind of thing, but nOoOoO" Everett said with weird little voices and such. One higher pitched for my voice, and deeper for Charlie's.

"I know! But he probably won't even text me. He literally just met me!" I say, my voice full of doubt. A few moments pass, and we go back to our browsing. Daisy checking out Led Zeppelin records for her sister, me looking at Green Day, and Everett leafing through some weird indie rock bands that literally nobody has heard of. I then feel sudden vibration in my pocket.