Nothing In This World (BWWM) ✅

Chapter Eleven

The sun was fairly hot these days. Today might have been the worst one. Janis walked outside in nothing but a swimsuit and flip flops while Charlene stuck to her day dress. The two girls took a walk around the property before settling in a shaded spot under the big tree. It's been this size since Charlene met The Watsons. She does think it's gotten smaller but that's only because she's gotten bigger.

"Days like this is when we run up to Lance and ask him to take us out to the lake. I just want to get my hair and skin wet. Cool off, you know?" Charlene nodded as she pulled out her book. "What you reading there?"

"The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter," Charlene flashed the book cover. "Got it a few birthdays back but never got around to reading it."

Janis took the book from Charlene's hands and read the description on the back. "I guess I should get caught up in reading something one day. My parents got old books in the attic that they enjoyed when they were young. I like dressing up and things. I never liked school or homework. That don't make me a bit crazy do it?"

Charlene accepted her book back and continued right where she left off. "No, not at all. But there's no rush. You'll have a lot of time to read to your children if things go well with Lance."

"If? Lance and I are written in the stars. I've known he was the one since I set eyes in him. He's the only guy in his grade that could ever catch my eye."

Charlene went back to paying attention to the words in her book so she wouldn't have to think about all the things Lance told her. There was no better way to let her know unless it was coming from his mouth.

Janis began to hum as she rested with her eyes closed and her knees bent to avoid her toes being out in the sun. Charlene couldn't help but look at how thin Janis was compared to herself. Her friends looked just like that while Charlene could be everything and the opposite. She remembered how boys in her class would sexualize her chest and bottom and leave her uncomfortable. Was that all Lance saw when he looked at her the way he did?

Janis caught a glance at how Charlene searched over her and quickly sat up using her elbows. "Can I paint your nails and toes?" Charlene sat up too as the question caught her off guard. "I know that you wash dishes and clothes and the polish won't last long but you'll look so good with it on."

"Uh... sure. What color do you have in mind?" Charlene smiled widely as she thought about having her nails colored. She knew she would look really good in it. Her mother never painted her nails or bought Charlene anything to paint nails with. All her mother wanted was for them to be decent dressing people. Other things didn't matter.

"I have a few to choose from. I'll be right back."

The second Janis ran off towards the house, the sound of a car driving by made Charlene look towards the dusty road. At first she thought it was Cecil returning from work but when she got a better look at the color, she was also able to see who was in the passengers seat.

The vehicle came to a stop as Charlene quickly gathered her book and hat to make her way to the house too. "You going somewhere?" Johnny called out while sticking half his body out the window.

"I- I have to go wipe down a few things," she looked directly at the ground to avoid making him angry by looking him in the eyes. "Please..."

"My papa told me some things about you guys back in his day. Said you were all house niggers on his land. Took good care of you. Good... good care." He then got out of his car all together to approach the fence that sectioned off the land. "Alls I wanted to do was take good care of you, Charlotte."

"Charlene," she responded softly.

Johnny let out a chuckle while leaning over the fence. "You said what? Are you correcting me?" She quickly shook her head in disagreement. "You better not be." He spat out a wad of spit as close to her feet as it could land. "I'll be seeing you around once I get back on Lance's good terms. He's my buddy and for some skunky reason he won't talk to me. I think you have something to do with it." Charlene blinked at her feet. "You tell him something about me?"

"No, sir."

"Yeah. Everyone knows you were asking for it. I was only givin' you what you were asking for, right?"

Charlene stood in silence for a second. When she didn't answer, Johnny started to jump the fence which made her yelp out in fear. "Yes!"

"Yes what!" He laughed out in a taunting manner.

She gulped back her pride while locking her hands with each other. "I- I was asking for it. At the lake I surely was." She nodded to every word she said. "Please just leave me alone."

"Bet your bottom half I will. No one wants much with you, Charlotte. You'll learn that real soon." He spat at her once more before hopping in his car and driving off at a faster speed then he started in.

She took this opportunity to run back to the house out of fear he would return and this time the fence wouldn't stop him. The moment she made it to the front porch, she saw Janis stepping out with nail polish and glasses of water for them both. "Oh my god," she scowled while dropping the nail polish and setting the water on the nearest chair. "What on earth are you crying for?"

Gloria rushed out of the house at the sound of that along with Anne. The two adult women were talking in the kitchen and couldn't avoid the stress in Janis's voice.

Charlene didn't know why everyone looked at her so worrisome until her mother was wiping tears from her face. She didn't think Johnny got to her that bad. "What happened?" Gloria asked when Charlene hadn't said a thing.

"I don't know. A really sad part on the book came up and I couldn't... I had to cry it out I guess."

Janis sighed while reaching over to take the book from Charlene's hand. "It's a beautiful day. You can be sad some other time. I got this one Mrs. McCullough." Janis picked up the nail polish and grabbed Charlene by her hand. "Let's get you really cute. Mama said we can go to Lance's when it cools down."

"In a couple weeks, the family and friends will come over to celebrate my last year of high school. It's almost like a push into womanhood I guess. Can't wait for you to meet a few black friends we have. Some of the men are quite a thing to stare at." She sent Charlene a wink as she finished painting her thumb. "But all of that aside, it's where Wallace proposed to Gail during her party. I think Lance had gotten to know you well. You should help me out please. Drop hints that this party is the day. Okay?"

Charlene nodded as she admired her bright red nails. They matched Janis's but Charlene's just looked fresher because they were. "So you want me to tell him to propose to you in three weeks?"

"Don't just go out and say it. Hint at it. Let him know I'm ready. He should be too. Every man needs a woman." She blew on Charlene's index finger for a few seconds then moved on to the next nail. "Your voice is so soft and tempting. He'll have no way of saying no to you."

Charlene was fully aware. "Okay. Yeah. So we're doing it today?"

"Yes!" Once she got done with the last nail, she pulled a tube out of her bra. "I stole it from my mom a while back. She gave up looking and bought a new one." Charlene's eyes widened when she saw the mascara being waved around in Janis's hand. "Close your eyes."

"My mom won't be too fond of me wearing all this. Painting my nails was already a lot."

Janis laughed as she applied the make up anyway. "Every girl deserves to be dolled up every once in a while. It's not like anyone will see it but you, me, and Lance. What does she think will happen? Someone will just fall out the sky in love with you?"

Charlene could think of many reasons her mother didn't want too much attention for her daughter. Love wasn't one of them. "Right. That's such a silly thing."

"You look cute. Different also. I like it. You'll love it. Now let's go sneak through the back and change so your mama won't see your new glow. I'd hate for it to go to waste."