Getting Closer

Chapter Thirteen - Juliet

I can already tell by how Charlie always tries to gauge how I'm reacting that he's one of the good ones. His parents have certainly raised him right and his girlfriend must be a lucky lady. And I'm so happy I decided to take up his offer and stop by his place today. Just one measly conversation and opening up to someone who won't judge actually does help.

And maybe that's why I decided to take up his other offer.

We arrive back at the shop and Charlie asks me to follow him up the side staircase to the top apartment. Walking in, it feels just like his truck did: full of memories and full of pieces of his family. The mantle is full of photos of Charlie throughout the years, especially a cute one from when all his front teeth were gone. Just like most people in Minnesota, a lot of the decor is from the eighties or earlier and is in need of a desperate makeover. Not to say that this place isn't loved... it's just not the most pleasing to the eye.

Charlie does ask me to take off his shoes when we walk in, so at least there's some kind of civilization in this household. Charlie quickly walks in and swings his arms around. "It's not much," he says with a nervous smile, "but it is home." He waves me over to the kitchen table, where a lot of papers are stacked, but Charlie doesn't care as he points to the seat by the wall. "Do you want anything to drink? To nibble on before dinner?"

"We just ate, Charlie," I laugh.

"Oh. Yeah."

I'm quickly realizing that that's one of his favorite phrases, oh. Even though I can tell he's massively nervous, he's still trying his best at making me feel comfortable. "So..." I start slowly so his attention is fully on me. "Can you tell me more about your friends that are arriving soon and your pretty little girlfriend? And do they know about me?"

Charlie sits across from me and nods. "Yeah, they all know about you." Great, I think. Now I have more pitiers. "So umm... where do I start?" he asks nervously.

I smile. I should be the one nervous, not him. "How about their names."

"Right. Well, my girlfriend is Kate. We started dating last June after we were on a lot of group projects last year. She was actually the one to ask me out and after never saying yes to any girls before, I told myself that I should cause I really liked her, you know? She's really smart and a bit shy but with her friends she's one of the loudest." He pauses to think fondly of her.

Clearing his throat he continues. "Seth is my best friend and he'll be the tallest of our friend group. I've literally known Seth my entire life. Our mothers had used the same babysitter since we were one and we've never been apart for more than a couple weeks. He's a bit of a snob, but he does mean well and can come off as a bit high maintenance. And then there's Max." Charlie shakes his head. "Max has been our friend since the second grade since he moved here from Minneapolis and he's a bit... daring I would say. He's very blunt and is a bit brash but he's fiercely loyal and will defend us against anyone or anything. I will have to warn you, he is a bit of a man-whore, so just be wary if he comes onto you tonight."

I snort. What a prick, I think of this Max guy. "Duly noted," I say.

Probably reading my face, his brows scrunch up. "I'm sorry. I'm pushing you. I can drive you home if you like."

"No, no, I'm fine. I've certainly dealt with much worse before. I'm sure I can handle it." And it's true. Michael's friends were absolute fiends and I fucking hated every single one of them. I'm so glad that half of them went off to college, but it's those of them who stayed...

Only after twenty minutes after we arrived back at Charlie's, he receives a text that Kate is downstairs and the two guys are on their way shortly. Though I shouldn't be nervous, I've met enough condescending assholes, but for some reason, I would like to impress Charlie and his friends. They already know so much and hold so much weight in his life that all I want is for them to like me.