All Planned Out

Eighteen (Charlotte)

As we walked into school together, I tried to talk to Alex. The stroll across the parking lot was little more than him grunting at me in a tone that I could only describe as 'completely confused' before he took my hand in his, slapped a smile on his face, and led me all the way to my homeroom before rushing off to beat the bell.

Whenever we saw each other for the rest of that morning, it was more of the same. A few grunts, a smile settled on the border between warm and manic, and eyes that told me he had no idea what was going to happen when the four of us sat down together at lunch.

At least I had some idea. Montana was going to show me her new video. Even though I had told Alex that I was starting to consider the two of us friends, and as much as I knew that it was a necessary step in the process to help our relationship hopefully evolve into something more, it all still felt a little weird. Sure, we were friends, but I was nowhere near as close to her as some of the kids at the skate park, and she didn't even seem to really like them all that much. I definitely wasn't close like Stuart, but I think even if Montana and I got married and lived out the rest of our days happy together I wouldn't be as friendly with her as she was to him.

What I was not expecting was to walk into the cafeteria to see Montana sitting in my usual seat, with Stuart across from her grumbling at his salad. With her back to me, I had to avert my eyes away from the bare skin peeking out between the top of her jeans and the bottom of her shirt. A glance up showed me that the shirt she was wearing, covered this morning by her usual jacket, was from Joyce Manor. From a distance, it looked like tour dates, but as I closed the gap between us I could see that it was actually a track listing.

Worse yet, I knew some of the songs thanks to the research I had done last night after we left the skate park. They may not have been exactly in my taste, but all I could think about when I heard them was her, and that was what mattered.

"Hey." Stuart's eyes came up to meet mine as I moved to sit down, leaving a space between myself and Montana. "So you're learning about skateboarding, hmm?"

"What?"

"Montana said you're, like, getting into skating."

"And listening to my some music I recommended." Montana added. "Aren't you, Charley?"

If she thinks I hate being called that, she is sorely mistaken. "You know I am, Monty. Joyce is great. She's got an amazing voice."

Montana rolled her eyes, then shook her head and pushed Stuart away when he leaned across the table at her. "Don't even bother asking any questions. My answers won't help."

"Uh, okay." Stuart gave me another smile, then glanced past me. "Where's your boyfriend?"

"I...really don't know." I shrugged.

"He'd better hurry up or he won't be able to finish all that meatloaf he brought."

"I would totally take some." Stuart said, shoving his fork into his salad and taking a bite. "I'm starving."

"Sure you are." Montana said. The two then shared a look that I'm not sure I was supposed to catch, but even if I hadn't, I couldn't ignore Stuart's shuddering across from me. "You want to eat first or do you want to see my video?"

"Uh..." I was not super hungry. For food, anyway. I could have got up right then, got in line, and maybe Alex would have been here when I got back. Instead, I stayed glued hard to my seat as Montana leaned over and waggled her phone at me. For as much as I had tried to ignore her scent in the back seat of Alex's car, my hunger now made it all the more intoxicating. "...show me the video. I'll eat in a few minutes."

"Sure you will." Stuart said, grinning like a fool. Montana didn't look away from me, but did kick her right foot out under the table. "Ow!"

"Be quiet and eat your salad." She said. "Charley can eat whatever and whenever she wants."