Preston Greens

11. Charlie

Today was the day! I hopped out of bed, for once happy I was waking from my slumber. I ran into the restroom and took a shower. I used my best body wash and I washed my hair really well. I dried off quickly and wrapped a towel around my waist. I walked to my closet and picked out the outfit I set out last night. Mom said I had to be careful and everything, but other than that, she was excited for me. I put on my clothes and went to my vanity. I got out my Taylor Swift perfume and sprayed a bunch. I got out my hairbrush and brushed my hair, then put on a dab of makeup. Not too much, but just a dab of blush and eyeliner. I blow dried my hair and straightened it. My hair looked best straightened, even though my hair is naturally curly. I put on my flats, brushed my teeth, and walked out my bedroom door. Mom looked at me with approval, and I sat down to eat my pop-tart. It was yummy. I grabbed my homework off my desk and packed my lunch and backpack. Mom volunteered to take me, so that only meant a pep-talk.

We got in her car and she looked at me and said "You look amazing Carla." She smiled, a real big one. I waved at dad, who was waiting for us to back out so he could close the garage door. "You make sure to be yourself, but not totally yourself." She started, once we were drove out of the neighborhood. The E in GREENS was falling off, but it's been like that for years. We talked and talked some more and we finally reached my middle school parking lot. She gave me a kiss on my forehead and wished me good luck. I waved at her as she drove away, leaving me in the dust. I walked over to my locker and shoved some stuff inside. When I closed my locker door I was a bit startled. Bobby was staring at me in disbelief. I knew what he was going to say.

"Come, just spit it out." I said, rolling my eyes. He smiled at me.

"Carly, I just want to say, you look, just wow." I blushed for some reason.

"Well, thank you. Gotta look my best for meeting my future dance partner." I replied meekly. 

Bobby smiled and shook his head. Sometimes I wish he liked me instead of Lisa, but now I wasn't sure. I needed to meet Charlie first.

The first two periods were a bore and they seemed like they lasted for a million years. Then the lunch bell rang. I checked my phone for text messages. I saw one from Charlie. My heart skipped a beat. I'm at the cafeteria near the girl's restroom.

I have a red sweater on. –Charlie.

I grabbed my lunchbox and went to the cafeteria. Lisa and Belinda already knew I wasn't joining them today, so I felt free. I made sure my hair was ok, and stepped in the cafeteria. I saw him, at the table near the girls' restroom.

He had red hair and light skin. I walked over casually. He looked up at me and smiled once I got to the table and set my lunchbox down.

"Hi, I'm Carly." I said, extending my hand. He shook it and introduced himself. I sat down in front of him and asked him the first question. I was secretly taking notes in my head.

"How do you know Bobby?" I asked casually.

He took a bite out of his sandwich. "We met when I first moved down here in second grade. I was born in Florida and moved here when I was around eight years old." He said with confidence. 

"I've lived here all my life. I met Bobby in Pre-K." I said.

He nodded. "Sometimes he talks about you and another girl named Lisa."

"Yeah! Lisa and I are best friends." I replied.

"We're neighbors actually, and that's how we met. We live in Preston Greens." I said. I meant to drop that hint.

Charlie dropped his sandwich. "Really?! I live there too! On what street?" He asked me, sounding excited.

"Rosewood." I replied.

"Man, I don't know how these things happen, but I live on Rosewood too! I live next to this girl named Leslie."

I was shocked. "Leslie is awesome. She's one of my friends too." I said.

We both looked at each other and started laughing.

"So, we have something in common." He said after we stopped laughing. He apparently didn't have any classes with me, but we were neighbors!

"Yeah, it's crazy. What kind of music do you like?" I asked, pointing at his IPhone 5.

"Sorry to change the subject, but you have the same phone as I do!" He exclaimed. He pointed at my IPhone.

I started laughing. "This is crazy!" I cried. The bell rang. "I wish lunch lasted forever." I said. "Same." He agreed. We said goodbye and went to our classes. I floated through the rest of the day. It all felt like a dream, but this time it wasn't, because I pinched myself twice and I also asked Lisa to pinch.

"See what it feels like now, Carly?" Lisa asked. Now I knew. Now I knew why people talked endlessly about people they liked. I smiled. I hugged her, too. She laughed and we went to English class together. Bobby saw my twinkle in my eye. He gave me the look "I told you so!" I whispered "Thank you" and went back to daydreaming.

Charlie was waiting at my doorstep as soon as I got home. I asked mom if I could leave for a few minutes, and she said yes. We went across the street and sat in his front yard.

"Do you know any dances? The dance is coming in a few weeks." I asked him. He only knew the box trot and so did I. I lay my head on the grass and laughed. My blonde hair streamed all over the grass, feeling a tickle on my shoulder. Charlie looked at my face for a long moment. I looked into his blue eyes.

"What's wrong?" I asked him. "Is there a bug on me?" I said, about to panic. I hated bugs.

"No, nothing's wrong." He said. He opened his mouth to say more, but then we both heard footsteps.

"Hi mom," Charlie said. I sat up.

"Didn't mean to scare you, just wanted to bring you guys some drinks." Charlie's mom said. Then I heard a call from my house.

"Carly, time to go!" Mom called. When she saw Charlie's mom and Charlie, she walked over.

"Hi, I'm Bethany, Carly's mom." Mom said, extending her hand.

Charlie's mom shook it. "I'm Shannon. How long have you been living here? I've never seen you guys." Shannon said.

"We've lived here for fourteen years." Mom said.

"Hi, I'm Charlie." Charlie said.

This was becoming awkward. So many people to meet at once!

"Oh, I'm sorry! I'm Bethany, Carly's mom. Very nice to meet you, Charlie." I introduced myself to Shannon. Shannon lives by herself with Charlie and they moved in about five years ago. Mom and Shannon had so much in common, it was scary. They instantly became friends. After exchanging phone numbers, we went back to our house. Dad's Hyundai was in the garage already. We went inside and told dad about Shannon and Charlie. Dad was quite pleased I found myself a dance partner, and that mom made a new friend. Mom cooked some macaroni and cheese with some peas. We sat at the table and I talked all about my day. I have to say, today was great. I couldn't wait for tomorrow, which was Friday. Charlie and Lisa were coming over to meet and Bobby was joining us later to practice our dances.