friends in low places

Chapter Eleven

"Hello friends! I am Charlie, I will be your server tonight! Can I start you off with some drinks?" the boy said, not looking up. He was busy fiddling with his waistband, trying to get his pad out to  write their drink orders down, and he didn't realize who he was waiting on.

The boys stayed silent, waiting for him to realize who was sitting in front of him, careful not to scare him away.

Charlie finally looked up, pad in hand, pen in other hand, and realized who was sitting in front of him. 

"Oh my god." Was all he could muster up. His face went ghastly white almost immediately, and Phoebe noticed his hand started shaking. 

"Hi Charlie." Lucy said, softly.

"We're sorry to bombard you like this, but we saw you across the street and couldn't pass up the opportunity to come try to talk to you. It's been years man, we've missed you." Julien said to the shaking boy. 

"What happened?" Phoebe asked simply. 

Charlie had no idea what to do. He didn't know how he could possibly explain the last two and a half years of his life to them with no preparation. He had nothing good to tell them, he was just going to upset them; and he knew he already did that enough. 

"Oh guys... It's so much. I don't even know how to begin to explain to you.." Charlie started, realizing how his emotions were getting the best of him. The boys just looked at him, patiently, but still awaiting some answers. 

"When do you get off?" Julien said.

"An hour ago." Charlie replied. 

"Let's go." Phoebe said, getting up from her chair and taking Charlie's hand. "Where's your boss?" Charlie led her to the front, leading them up to the hostess. 

"She's your boss?" Julien asked, confused. Charlie nodded.

"Hello, is there a problem?" The lady asked, sounding concerned. 

"Yes, but not to do with you. We haven't seen this boy in over two years, and we really need to talk to him. Is it okay if he leaves?" Phoebe said, prepared to walk out with Charlie anyway.

"Absolutely. He needs a break anyway, he's been here for far too long today. Bye Charlie, see you in a couple days." His boss says, as he Phoebe, Julien and Lucy whisked him through the front doors and over to their car. 

"So. Here's the plan. You're gonna come back with us, we're gonna have some tea, and you're gonna tell us what happened. Deal?" Lucy said, not waiting for an answer before opening the car door and beckoning Charlie inside. 

Charlie put up no fight, and he didn't say anything; he was obedient and respectful. He was terrified, he hadn't stopped shaking since he made eye contact with Julien. 

"How long have you been around here Charlie?" Phoebe asked him, looking over at him. He didn't meet her eye, just kept staring at his shoes. 

"I think around 6 months. I'm not entirely sure though." He said quietly. 

Phoebe stared at him, trying to gauge who this person was, because it was definitely not Charlie. He had bruises up and down his arms, covered up poorly with cheap makeup, his eyes had bags around them, worse than she had ever seen. And he wouldn't look at her. Charlie always looked at her, with his big blue eyes, seeking every secret she held within. His eyes didn't look the same at all. 

She reached for his hand and noticed how he flinched away before accepting it. She didn't know what was going on with him, but it was about to come to an end.