Love Bites

Chapter 11 - I Don't Know

The door was opened with a loud crack, and the whole family appeared in the whole. Mom's hands were both full with bags and pack, Dad's forehead was glowing from sweat and Peter was grinning happily.

- Hi dear! - Mom shrieked, nearly jumping up and down. Duff shuddered from surprise and tried to fake a beam.

- Good day, come in!

- Charlotte...Where is Charlotte? - Mom uttered weakly, her hands dropping and her eyes going up and down Duff.

- She is getting ready, she will be there in a minute, - he mumbled, shuffling his foot.

- Oh, nice. Excuse me, but who are you, young gentleman? - Dad asked curiously, wiping his face with a handkerchief.

- I am a friend, - Duff blurted, crossing his arms on his chest. Why is this so awkward? - My name is Duff. Charlie and me met at the concert, and I thought it would be nice to pop in and congratulate her...

- Great, glad to meet you, Doug! - Mom exclaimed with insincere excitement, - so, where is my birthday girl? Charlotte! Charlotte! Come here, we are waiting for you!

Having taken a short glance at herself in the mirror, Charlie hurried to the hall, one hand going through her hair and another one smoothing out her T-shirt.

The scene she saw there was weird: Mom was suspiciously eyeing the apartment, Dad was shifting from foot to foot, her brother Peter was whispering something in the unfamiliar to Charlie girl's ear and laughing quietly, and Duff was leaning against the wall in the corner, a silly smile pulled on his face.

- Hello everyone, - she started shyly, waving her hand. Mom lifted her eyes and, having eventually seen her daughter, rushed to her and hugged her tight.

- My little! Happy birthday, my sweet, you're so big already! - Mom cried, her hand patting Charlotte's cheek and neatening her hair. Charlie blushed when she saw Duff suppressing a giggle. - Where have you been? We already started to worry!

- Long time no see, Lottie! - Dad bellowed, pinching Charlotte's arm, - you've grown a little bit, haven't you?

- I only changed my clothes, Mom, - Charlie muttered, scratching her head, - no, Dad, I am nineteen! You just forgot how I look!

- Birthday, Charlie! - Peter smirked, his hand wrapping around his girl's waist, - of course we forgot, you haven't found time to visit us for so long!

- But I've been busy, college and all, - Charlie objected, taking flowers from Peter, - oh, they are wonderful! By the way, meet Duff! He's a friend of mine, and he paid a visit to wish me happy birthday...

- Nice, little, very nice, - Mom said fussily. Peter coughed behind her back and exchanged funny glances with his friend. - We greeted each other already!

- And this is Bobbie, - Peter pointed at the long-legged girl, - we work together, and she wanted to see LA, so we took her with us. Hope you'll get along well!

- Hi Charlie! - Bobbie purred, flipping her gorgeous hair back, - Peter has told me about you a lot! I wish you a very happy, happy birthday! I thought you'd like it!

She gave another charming smile to everyone and handed Charlie a pretty shiny hair barrette. It was all covered with glitter and very Bobbie's style. She was wearing a smart short dress that was climbing up her tanned legs and incredibly high heels. Charlie looked really bland in comparison, almost like it was Bobbie's birthday, not Charlie's. She tried to pin the hairslide to her hair, but it was too short and wavy to keep it. Charlie realised she looked like a fool with it, and it somehow annoyed her. She rapidly took the clip off and put it in her pocket.