YOUNG AND BEAUTIFUL. dave grohl (2)

001

"Danielle, you agreed with this the moment you got here and I don't want any complaints okay?" I had been begging Brenda who I worked with to let me have Christmas Eve off so I could be with Charlie. But I guess she was right. I feel like I fail Charlie every day because I'm a goddamn waitress. Funny how different things are now, huh?

"Who's Charlie with?" Brenda asked me as I ran the wash cloth over the bar counter thinking about the presents I got him for Christmas. Hoping he'd like them. He probably wouldn't. I'm sure Mr. Big Bucks Dave would do much better than me.

"He's at Dave's house. With him and his wife." I said wanting to throw up at the thought of Dave being married to someone already. How could he have moved on? After how many years we spent together? It was fucking hell knowing he was happy and I was still hung up on him.

"I'm supposed to pick him up after I get off work. Which will be at 8 now." I said with a heavy sigh looking at the clock in agony. I just wanted to be with my son. He's my reason for everything. He makes me believe I can do something with my life. Everything is for him.

"Look, I'd let you go if I could but I'm sorry." Brenda said to me with apologetic eyes. I couldn't blame her. The last thing I'd want is for her and me to get fired or in trouble. It was only 6:30 so I guess it would be time to leave before I knew it, but the thought of Charlie made it go by slower.

"I hope he likes what I got him for Christmas. I mean he's 7 already and all he watches is that godforsaken Will Smith show. It's like he only likes that and fuckin, what's it called, Spider Man." I rolled my eyes with a laugh thinking about my baby boy who isn't a baby anymore.

"Sounds like my daughter Becky. She's only into that Jonathan Taylor Thomas kid." Brenda said. I nodded at the familiar name and began putting some trays and cups away.

"You know what. If you sneak out now, I'm sure I won't get in trouble. I'll just say Charlie was sick. Trust me, I wanna leave too." Brenda said. I felt my heart race and I smiled grandly at her. I was a hugger so I embraced her with an excited squeal and tore my apron off, running to the back to get my things and change my clothes.

"I'm out of here!" I said. Now it was time to save Charlie from that awful Jennifer. God, I hated her. Was she a bad person, not at all. But God I'd love to see her crash and burn. That bitch. I, of course, put on a smile once I knocked on their front door. Nevertheless, I was met with Jennifer. The woman that I've hated more than any other woman.

"Oh, hi, Dani! I'll get Charlie for you." She said with her insufferable high pitched voice. How did Dave resist the urge to tear his ears off every time she was around? I couldn't live with that bitch to save my life.

"Hi, mom. Jenny where's dad?" Charlie looked up at the woman holding my sons hand. I quickly shrugged the rage off when I saw my sweet boy. Everything was instantly better when Charlie Lennon was around.

"Im not sure. Let me find him." Jennifer finally left. Charlie then proceeded to give me a great big hug and hold my hand beside me. I couldn't wait to get him home and hang out with him. It's felt like years since I saw him last and it's only been 2 days if that.

"Guess what?" He asked me.

"What?"

"Daddy let me open a present early, and he got me a bike! My own bike, mom." Charlie said beyond thrilled. I wanted to cringe at the thought of Dave getting him some nice expensive bike while I couldn't even afford to get him a fucking helmet for it. But as long as Charlie was happy, I was too.

"That's awesome, honey. I hope you actually ride it." I couldn't count how many times we've bought him things that he never even bothered to touch. Charlie nodded with excitement, Dave and Jennifer appeared at the door. Disgusting.

"Hey, Dani." He said sweetly to me with a smile. It was different seeing him now. He had short hair now. It really suits him, but I miss his long drummer hair. I miss a lot of things about old Dave.

"Bye, buddy," Dave knelt down and hugged Charlie tightly, "and Merry Christmas. Make sure that you leave cookies out, Charlie!" Dave called as we walked to my car. I rolled my eyes to myself and opened the backseat door for Charlie.

"I will, dad! Don't let anyone take my bike!"

"I was actually planning on riding it myself (a/n - that's what she said), I might even keep it!" Dave called back obviously joking with him.

"No! Don't you dare it's mine!" Charlie whined.

"Oh calm down, Charlie!" they both laughed.

"Daddy's just kidding." I assured him before closing the door and walking around the the drivers seat. I hated the fact that Dave and Jennifer were still outside.

"You have a good night, Danielle." Dave called to me. I smiled at him fake-ly and waved half assed in response before driving away. Finally getting away from that awful Jennifer. That awful, awful Jennifer.

"Did you have a good time?" I asked Charlie.

"Yeah, I guess." He shrugged.

"Can I ask you something?"

"No, mom, Jennifer did not say anything about you." Charlie cut me off. He knew me too well I guess. I felt bad gossiping and acting like a teenager in front of Charlie but he was like my best friend. I couldn't help it, and he was so grown up.

"That Bitch." I said mostly to myself.

"Mom that's a bad word. I'll tell Santa." He still had his little kid spark though.

"Oh, don't do that. I'm so sorry, Charlie!" I said trying to get at least one laugh out of him and I was successful. Making him laugh was my favorite thing to do.

"Fine! Fine! I won't." He giggled sweetly.

"Let's go home and make cookies?" I asked him.

"Yay!" He squealed. I've never loved anyone or anything more in my life. He really is the perfect little boy. Me and Dave were the luckiest parents on Earth.