I watched Blarf pull Charlotte into a forehead kiss and felt a weird pain in my heart. Maybe I ate too much bean burrito. Bianca blocked my view of Swellview High School's "it" couple. They're goals, everyone says. Bianca patted my arm sympathetically. "High school couples never last long." She whispered. "Well they've been dating since eighth grade and won Mr. and Mrs. Swellview in our middle school yearbook. He's perfect. Smart, nice, and Charlotte loves him." I ranted. Bianca frowned. "Okay, but you're funny." She said weakly. I slammed my locker shut. "I feel sick. I'm checking out." I replied. "Henry..." Bianca whined. "Leave me alone and go make out with your insane, spray painting girlfriend." I snapped. Bianca crossed her arms. "You can't cut school because you're lovesick. Talk to Charlotte." She said. I walked off in the direction of the office. "Yes, I can."
••••••••••••••••••••••••
After Mom picked me up, I went home and ate some popcorn while watching Ferris Bueller's Day off. I don't know what I really like about 80's movies. Maybe it's the big hair, happy endings, painfully obvious adults playing teenagers, or wisdom each of them has. There was a knock at the door which I had to get by myself because I was home alone. I opened the door to see a concerned Charlotte standing there. "Hey, Char." I said sleepily, trying my best to look sick. "Hey, Hen! I made some soup, great for clearing out the sinuses." She said. She seemed happier dating Blarf. Maybe I should be less selfish. "Uh, thanks Char. Wanna come inside? I can make us chili balls." I said. She walked in and shook her head. "You're sick, you should be resting." Oh, right. "Um...I faked it." I whispered. Talk to Charlotte. Bianca's voice said. Ugh, I don't need her stupid voice in my head. "Why? Is it because of the pop quiz we had in APUSH?" She asked. APUSH was the only class we had together since she was in all honors and advanced placement classes. Talk to Charlotte. Fuck you, Bianca.
"I just wasn't feeling it." I said, getting out the ingredients. Charlotte brought out a pot to broil the meat. "You have to take your education seriously, Hen. We graduate in two years." She chastised gently. I looked into her pretty brown eyes for a little too long. I looked away quickly. "Yeah, I know." I whispered, feeling my face turn pink. She dashed chili powder over balls of meat. "I just worry about you sometimes. Hey, are you sure you don't have a fever or something? You're looking a little flushed." She said. I laughed awkwardly. "Uh..yeah. I'm good. I just..uh...uh....we should put the chili balls in the oven." Charlotte stared at me for a few seconds, then brought some oven nuts and laid them on the counter. She gently placed the chili balls in the oven. I set them to the right temperature and went over to flop on the couch.
Charlotte flopped down beside me. Too close. I scooted over a little bit. She hummed a sigh and flipped through my movies. "We should have a movie night right now." She declared. I was feeling frustrated. "No." I said in a steely tone. She turned around, eyes burning right through me. "What is your problem, Henry Richard Hart?!?" She snapped. I hopped from the couch, enraged. "That's not fair, you know how I feel about my middle name." I pointed an accusing finger finger at her. She was all teary-eyed. "You're always so tense and angry around me. What did I do wrong?" She whispered. I moved close to her and quickly dabbed at her tears. "Oh Char, no. This isn't your fault." I whispered, feeling like a criminal. "Things just aren't the way they used to be." She whispered. "Yeah, well I have been tense lately. You know, school and all." I replied, closing the space between us. "Yeah, school and all." Charlotte said, leaning in. Our noses brushed, then my watch beeped. We both jumped from each other, breathing quickly, faces flaming. "We should head to Junk N Stuff." Charlotte said quickly. "Yeah, yeah let's go." I said. We sprinted out the door.
••••••••••••••••••••••
Charlotte and I have been avoiding each other for three days. It's also been raining for three days. Aside from awkward smiles and cordial nods, we haven't said much to each other. I wish I hadn't messed things up. The guilt was eating away at me and I haven't really talked to any of my friends either. I decided to go for a walk and found myself at Charlotte's house. I stepped under the porch's roof and shook out my umbrella. Then I shook out my hands and puffed out my cheeks. I rang the doorbell. I heard Charlotte arguing with her older sister about who would open the door. Finally, Paige opened the door. "Charlotte! It's for you!" She called and walked back to the living room triumphantly. Charlotte walked out. "Oh. Hi." She said, looking just past me. "Hey..um. So I know you're dating Blake and I just want to tell you that....I like you. Like I've loved you since eighth grade and I've just been to chicken to say it. So, yeah. I'll just get if your porch." I said, not really breathing.
I grabbed my umbrella and walked down. "Wait, Henry!" She called and I turned around to see her running out in the rain, in a t-shirt and jeans. Barefoot. She looked up at me, brown eyes full of unshed tears. "God, this so cheesy." She said before kissing me. "I like like you too, Hen." She said as we laughed, foreheads pressed together. I held the umbrella over her head. "We should head inside. You're barefoot." I said. "Or we could make out in the rain. some more." She said. I didn't answer, I just kissed her again.
