Something Domestic

V

CHARISSE WAS STARVING. Actually, down to earth starving, as she would describe it. She slowly made her way outside for lunch. She didn't feel like waiting in that long line for a sandwich. I'll just eat something when I get home. Everyone around her was eating and laughing with friends. She smiled at Kendra who was heading in an opposite direction. She sat at her regular picnic table shaded by a tree. She pulled out a book and started reading.

Joshua thought this was strange as he watched Charisse sitting alone. Why wasn't she eating? It was lunchtime, after all. He gained a lot of attention from many girls as he made his way to the girl. His girl. Charisse was acting oblivious to it all, which made him smile. He placed his hand on her shoulder causing her to turn. She looked up into his stormy grey before standing.

"Joshua," she said, her own eyes brighter.

Her arms wrapped around his neck as she hugged herself to him. He chuckled, hugging her back. Charisse backed away with a smile plastered on her face.

"What are you doing here?" She asked.

Joshua shrugged as a small smile slid over his lips. "I wanted to see you again. And I sent you multiple text messages, but you didn't respond."

Charisse's eyebrows drew in. She started digging around in her book for her phone. She smiled when she finally found it. She unlocked her phone and indeed, there were a lot of text messages from him. She felt herself blush.

"Sorry about that," she mumbled.

Joshua gazed down at the embarrassed girl, ignoring the many stares that begged for his attention. He didn't give a damn about the girls looking his way; he only cared for Charisse. The mysterious goddess standing in front of him. He was so wrapped up in his thoughts, he didn't notice Charisse's large blue eyes staring up at him.

He looked so good, Charisse thought. His eyes sparkled with happiness. A larger smile tugged at his lips, and it made her glad. And she really was – glad, that is. It made her feel... something when she thought of him. Smiling. Because of her.

She cleared her throat, shaking him from his erotic thoughts. "Did you need something?" She asked.

He slightly blushed before answering, "I wanted to take you to lunch."

Her eyes grew wide, and her heart started racing. "I'm not allowed to..." She trailed off.

"Oh, I can get you off the school grounds–"

"No, no, no," She giggled. "I'm... not allowed to go anywhere without my mom's stamp of approval,"

Of course. She was the one who gave me my orders. Joshua feigned confusion. "Why?"

"I have a strict Mom," Charisse lied sheepishly.

"Is your mother here?"

"...No,"

"Then you're allowed to eat! Come on, please?"

"Joshua,"

He grabbed her hand, stopping her sentence. His thumb rubbed slow circles in her inner wrist. She felt herself blush and she looked down.

"Okay."

JOSHUA LED CHARISSE to a local diner with a grin on his face. He was happy to show off his girl. He couldn't stop thinking about her and even now, her innocent persona was driving him crazy.

Charisse was nervous. The men her father set her up with never took her on dates. Was this a date? Joshua's hand in hers made her think it was, but maybe she was wrong. Maybe he just wanted a night in bed. Well, I'm not giving it to him, she thought better. I refused.

His hand squeezed hers as if he read her thoughts. As if he was reassuring her. A shiver went down her spine as his now free hand pressed against her lower back. Joshua smirked as he saw watched the girl bite her lip. She really needed to stop doing that. Or he'll bite her.

Joshua gestured for her to sit down. She slowly slid into the booth. He slid in beside her with a small chuckle.

"Do you come here often?" Charisse asked, looking around the diner.

"Yes, actually. A friend of mines works here,"

"You don't?"

He cocked his head to the said. "Didn't I tell you my work is sorta complicated?"

"More dangerous than a measly diner, huh?" She asked, brazenly. "Like gangs and stuff."

"Yes," he said, looking down at the girl, surprised. "Something like that."

"Cool," she smiled triumphantly. She got what she wanted from him, after all. All she needed, now, was his age. The background check she did about him put him at 32, but he seemed so much younger... "Can I ask you a question?" Charisse asked, coyly.

"Sure, baby," He answered immediately. "Ask me anything,"

"How old are you?"

He chuckled. "I'm 23,"

Six years older than me! Charisse nodded, starting to bite her lip again. She noticed his eyes dilate and watched as he forced himself to look away. See, that meant he wasn't like Jose. No, not at all. He was genuine.

Their lunch date turned into something more. After eating, they went for a quick walk in Lincoln Park. To others, they were a couple. Joshua always had his hands on her – whether it was simply holding hands or a secure arm around her waist. It felt right.

Charisse felt happy, safe. She felt free from her mother and sister. Her father. She could be herself and she was glad of that. Joshua's cheeks were hurting from smiling so much. He couldn't help it; just looking at the girl made him smile. He knew it was dangerous to be seen in the open with Charisse. That he just opened a whole new world to the girl. She didn't care, he didn't care.

He started steering her in a different direction from hers and his house. Charisse acted clueless to this, though. She started talking more about her family – how her mother is, about her sister. She was careful to mention her father. Joshua just started talking to her; how would he think about her once he knows who her father is? And once he knows what her father did to her?

Joshua took notice of that. She avoided mentioning her father, physically deleting him from her life. But from what he could tell from her, Maria was grooming her. Come on, he thought. She doesn't want her to eat! She wants Charisse to stay petite and thin! He could tell the sister was the rebellious one. The way Charisse talked about her; he could tell she wasn't the barbie doll Maria made her out to be.

The sun was setting fast, the air was turning cold. They knew what that meant – it's time to go. Joshua reluctantly came to a stop, gripping Charisse's hand. He turned to her.

"I'll see you again, right?" The girl asked, confidence flowing through her veins.

He chuckled. "Sure, bebé linda,"

Charisse giggled at the nickname. "Okay,"

He leaned down, wrapping his arms around her. She sighed into him, her arms around his neck.

Although he wanted to hug her, that's not why he did it. It was just an excuse to see if the person watching him was behind them. And indeed, he was right. A car was parked across the street, window down. The person quickly drove off after meeting Joshua's eyes.

As Charisse pulled away, she whispered into his ear, "Be safe, okay?"

Joshua was shocked by her statement as she walked away from him. Hmm, he thought. Maybe she's a lot more different than I thought.