Nothing In This World (BWWM) ✅

Chapter Fifteen

He was her first. The first to make her shiver and sweat at the same time. The first to make her toss and turn even in deep sleep. The first to bring tears to her eyes without her knowing. Johnny was her first nightmare. She's had bad dreams before but nothing as vivid as this. Her reality was taking over her dreams and she couldn't escape these nights. Three nights in a row and she woke up every time. Clenching her heart and panting out in desperation. Charlene was terrified.

It was different this day. Instead of rolling over and hoping it went away, she got up and she went outside. The cool summer air that whispered by at six in the morning cooled her off physically and mentally. She sat legs crossed on the top step as she looked off into the field for some sort of relief.

"It's my migraines." She quickly turned to see Cecil standing at the door with a cigarette in his hand. No one had a clue he smoked until this very moment. "What's it for you?"

Never talk to a white man the way you'd talk to anyone else. Charlene knew these words by heart but she recently hasn't been living by them. She chose Lance's words over her mother's when she lied and said, "I just couldn't sleep. It got really hot." She turned back to face the field across the dirt road to avoid any hint that she might be lying.

"I've known your dad since we were little boys. He worked the land with me and his sister did too. He was so good at lying. He could tell you the sky was falling and you'd believe it. You know you look like him more than anything, but you're not as good of a liar as he is."

Charlene gulped as she looked down at her sweaty palms. "I really was hot," she desperately tried again to avoid any tension. "I really was."

"You don't have to be scared of me, Charlene. It's so cruel what they do to your people but we don't all have to get burned at the stake for it. I'd never disrespect you for as long as I live but you have to trust me. Now what happened at that store that's got you shaken up these few days. You think I ain't see you pacing back and forth for water suddenly." Charlene's head fell in her hands. "Now were you hot or are you scared!"

She began to sob despite spending thirty seconds trying to hold back her tears. "You blacks shouldn't be going through this. My grandpa used to tell me how sick he was watching those black slaves work across from him. All he could do is stare, greet the neighbors, and stare some more." Cecil put his hands on his hips. "Saw Lance the other day at the market. Knuckles was bruised up and he had a black eye out of this world. Couldn't piece two and two together until the day he brought y'all out of the store and hand was red as an apple."

"I should go back to sleep. Gotta help my mother prepare breakfast in the morning."

"You two was living better off before this. I'm thinking about releasing you a few weeks earlier. Going into town with a black is always a bad reflection for the home land. Saw someone unfamiliar driving by here just yesterday."

Charlene jumped to her feet in protest. "She's gonna think it's my fault if you tell her that, Mr. Watson." He continued to stand strong on his proposition. "Mr. Watson? Please! You can't-"

"Charlene, it ain't too safe for too much longer. You living in a fantasy world if you think they gone be fond of black folks making the money we giving you. I gotta think of my family too." Cecil crushed the cigarette under his slipper before picking up to dispose of it secretly. "I'll let Gloria know in the morning. You gone get some sleep."

Blurry eyes and shaky hands, Charlene looked up to wipe the tears from her cheeks. Just then, something caught her eyes and she saw it. The tree. Just past the abandoned wooden house it sat there full of life. She didn't know how she hadn't seen it before. Maybe she just wasn't looking, but it called out to her. It's where she would go.

She snuck away which was a risky move but as long as Janis was outside then her mother rarely checked on her. She knew no one could see her crossing the dirt road with the amount of trees in the way and Janis couldn't see her from behind the house under the big tree.

Charlene ran the entire way until she was close enough to see it. The tree has so much leaves it was like a green blanket on top. It was sad for it to be there all alone with no human life to adore it but it was also a sight to see. Charlene could look and tell exactly where Lance would sit so she hiked up her dress and started to climb.

The entire time she was there all she could think about was Lance. She didn't care how long she'd have to wait on him just as long as she got to see him. She hoped today was one of the days he stopped by. In the mean time, she'd look on to the Watson's property and she could see the glimpse of the door where Lance probably saw her exit from time to time.

"I should have brought a book or anything." Charlene sighed in boredom.

"This is why we're perfect together." She didn't even bother jumping in shock since she was so used to him popping up and scaring her. Instead she turned to come face to face with a book written by someone she's never heard of. "I read up here too. Never thought I'd show up and find someone more interesting to look at."

Charlene giggled as he hoisted himself up to sit right next to her; placing the book on her lap in the process. "I heard you got into a scuffle." Charlene looked at the man who hid the other side of his face from her. "It was sweet of you but you didn't have to punch him."

"He spat at you! I wanted to do worse..." Lance's face was now on full display to show a healing bruise around his left eye. "He sent Garrett and John to my yard while I was out working. Already tired, I couldn't get a good level but they both can't fight for nothin. Johnny knew I won and he just didn't want to take the damage."

She slowly rested her head on his shoulder as he tried not to anger himself up again. "What now? You and Johnny just fall out just like that?"

"I can never forgive him. I don't even know how. I used to think he was better than this. Never talk about the blacks or even paid them any mind. Don't know why he treated you so bad. But he won't do it again. I got something for him."

"I think you should give it up. There are worse people than Johnny who could do worse things to people like me. You can't go your whole life fighting people who don't settle with you."

Lance couldn't do anything else but nod his head and wrap an arm around Charlene. He pulled her closer to him and she let him. "Can I kiss you again?"

"Why you askin?" She smiled.

"I'm always askin. Ain't no moral in a thief." Charlene simply nodded. Lance leaned in and gave her a short peck on the lips. "Can I kiss you forever?" She nodded again. "Even after we die? Can I kiss you for eternity?"

Charlene leaned in to kiss him once more but this time was longer and involved their hands holding on to each other's skin. Neither one of them wanted the other to let go or pull away. They could go until their faces turned purple but it wouldn't be enough. Nothing they do from this moment on would ever be enough to fill the need they had for each other.

Charlene eventually broke the kiss due to her mind trying to figure out how long she's been away. "Can't stay much longer. Who knows when my mama will be checkin for me." Despite her worry, Lance continued to hold her in his arms. "We can do this often but I think the shed is better. I'm always out there looking around."

"What's wrong with my tree? Too boring for you?" Charlene giggled. "Now it's funny to you?"

"Lance, there ain't nothing wrong with your tree. It's just too far out." He eventually released her and a pout fell on his face. "You can see me anytime... but in the shed."

"Anytime?" Lance got so excited that Charlene almost fell out of the tree as he pulled and grabbed at her. "Let me help you down!" He hopped down and held his hands up for her. Charlene was a little nervous about jumping into his arms as she probably wasn't as thin as any girl he's ever been around. Despite her insecurities, she knew he was strong enough for whatever she could do to him so she let go. Right into his arms she fell. "I can teach you every thing you've ever wanted. You just have to trust me."

Trust a white man? That was a hard request to ask from a black person. But when Charlene looked into his eyes, it was as easy to do as falling in love with him.