"I remember that blond, scruffy hair you had." He added, his voice a quiet retort, the straw in his hand swirling the ice in his drink with boring, deliberate movements. His darker eyes never once wandering from my direction, not even to take in the faded walls or lousy decoration of the outdated southern diner around us. The kind of place where time seemed to stand still — like it hadn't seen a fresh coat of paint or an updated menu item in years.
My brows quickly furrowed in defensiveness. "What was wrong with my hair back then?" I spoke up quickly, tilting my head to the side. As if on cue, the waiter suddenly appeared aside us, setting down two massive plates of food in front of us.
He smiled ever so slightly, the corners of his lips barely curling, before his gaze returned to my face with that unshakable steadiness.
"Because, it suited you." He gently added as if it were nothing, his voice smooth and casual as he grabbed the oversized burger, taking a bite without even a second's thought. God, it was weird seeing him not, act, like a priest.
My hands instinctively fell together, clasped in silent prayer. I glanced over at Charlie, a slight frown forming on my face as I spoke, "Thank you, dear Lord, for our—"
But before I could finish, the burger in Charlie's hands didn't falter. He was looking right at me, chewing slowly, his eyes still locked with mine, a subtle smirk almost tugging at his lips as if the entire moment was some sick private joke only he understood.
"-Food, please bless that it may nourish our bodies, in Jesus's name. Amen." Charlie's voice dropped into a playful tone as he finished off the prayer, chuckling under his breath. It seemed so out of place for someone of the cloth because after all, shouldn't he be the one leading prayer? Wasn't he the one who should be speaking up, setting the example?
It was nonetheless odd. Unexpected. But somehow, it felt like just another part of Charlie. What would I expect? A saint? Yet he always had that quiet defiance, even in the face of biblical tradition.
I leaned forward, snatching a fry off of his plate and shoving it into my mouth as his eyes scanned me in annoyance — only making me laugh harder. He ran his tongue down his bottom lip before tilting his head, that intimidating gaze unwavering.
"Theft is a sin, Venicia."
I grinned to myself, taking my burger and biting it without a single hint of worry. "Gosh, maybe I need confession Father."
~
I couldn't help but chuckle as Charlie acted like an actual child, ate like one as well. It was adorable, to an extent.
He looked more like a university student than someone who had taken vows of celibacy. It was hard to believe that someone so youthful, so attractive, could stand at the altar and preach about a life of sacrifice and selflessness. It was almost amusing, really— someone like him, someone with the kind of charisma that could've made him the next big thing in any field, ended up in a role that demanded renunciation of all those earthly human pleasures.
"Do you ever get bored?" I casually blurted out, the question slipping from my lips as I grasped a napkin from the center console of the table, wiping my lips—and with it, the lipstick that had so casually clung to them. Lord.
"In regard to what?" Charlie then spoke up, almost finishing his burger while I barely made it halfway through mine. Of course, 'in regard to what?' I felt like saying— a fucking social life, sex life. A family of your own. A vow that cut off everything fun. Though, maybe not the best way to look at it.
"Being a priest." I lowly snorted, a smile quickly tugging at my lips again as he quickly shoved the last mouthful of his burger into his mouth.
"Some days. But priesthood is something you don't just walk away from. You take vows, give your life away in order to present the lord to the community."
I grabbed my burger, taking another bite.
"Sure, it is hard knowing I won't have my own family or that I can fall in love."
I swallowed my bite.
"But it's the best thing thrown my way." He chimed in at the end, leaning forward as he then snatched a few of my fries in return despite me only taking one of his — I pushed my plate forward, allowing him.
"My stupid father wanted me to join the sisters ... But, I felt it wasn't for me. To live my life without freedom and although church matters to me, it doesn't enough to have a grasp on my life."
He casually glanced to the side, letting his gaze wander as he finally took in his surroundings —With a slow exhale, he stood up from the booth, the worn leather creaking beneath him. His hand slid down the dark fabric of his slacks, fingers in search for his wallet, a subtle sense of impatience in his movements. As he turned to walk past, I stood as well.
Great.
__________________________________
Tunessss. ᯓ★
Only he can hold her - Amy Winehouse
Don't Dream it's over - Crowded house
Delta Dawn - Tanya Tucker
Baby, I love you - Ramones
Head over heels - Tears for fears
Money don't matter 2 night - Prince.
🤍
