forgetting charlie

three

three ::

The dorm party wasn't really a dorm party. Dorm parties are relatively boring gatherings in the common room, moderated by well-meaning RAs with soda, chips and dip. This party was held off campus, in a frat house with loud music, chips, dip and at least three kegs. Dorm party was just a codename. When you're young and feel completely limitless, nothing is ever what it seems.

"Why aren't you dress?" went Emily's voice as she barged into my room, startling my roommate, Sue Yi and myself. "Come on! Get ready!"

She proceeded to rummage through my closet, tossing out a classic navy and white polka-dotted dress at me as I sat on my bed in a t-shirt and sweats, Romeo & Juliet propped open on my lap. "Shoes? Where are your shoes? Oh here." She held up a pair of off-white pumps, the fringe of her crop top swaying back and forth over her midriff.

"Those are actually Sue's," I told her, taking up my dress and folding it up, placing it at the edge of my bed.

Emily looked at me, then at Sue. Holding the shoes up higher, she asked, "What size are you Sue?"

My roommate, purely content with staying in on a Friday night and catching up on class readings, stared at Emily, clearly annoyed by her presence. "Seven," she answered, her voice low and leveled.

"See?" Emily said turning to me. "Perfect! Now get dressed!"

"I wasn't planning on going," I stated.

"What do you mean?" Emily asked, pressing her hands to her hips. "Come on! This is going to be the best party ever. Do you really want to spend it in your dorm reading about a couple of lovers who off themselves in the end?"

I shrugged. "I really like this play."

Putting Sue's shoes down, Emily mumbled something that sounded like "you're hopeless," and opened the door to our room. Poking her head out, she scanned the hall as people walked by before spotting someone to help her convince me this was the party of all parties to go to. She turned briefly to flash me a grin then waving them over, Emily called out, "Charlie! Excellent! Won't you come here for a sec?"

I felt my cheeks instantly grow hot. "What? No, Em!" I managed to get out before Charlie appeared in my doorway.

"Hey," he said looking into the room, his clear eyes looking over at me then at Sue, finally landing on Emily. "What can I do for you?"

"You're going to the party tonight, right?" Emily asked him, looking him over. He was obviously going. He was dressed in dark jeans and a light blue button-down shirt. He looked fresh and clean, as if he'd just gotten dress straight out of the shower. He was either going to this party or he had a hot date.

"Yeah," he began. "I was actually on my way to see if a friend of mine wanted to come along. Why did you want to know?"

"Oh, no reason," Emily said. "Just trying to convince Little Miss Shakespeare here to come with me. She's being such a party pooper."

I felt three pairs of eyes piercing down on me. I tilted my head lower and pretended to still be concentrated on my book, but I was far from focused. I didn't even know why I felt so unsettled, so nervous. It's not like I felt I needed to be cool or any bit relevant. I had nothing to prove to Emily or Sue or even Charlie, someone I barely even knew. But for some reason I felt extremely embarrassed and annoyed at Emily for making me feel such a way.

"Eh, she's probably just trying to figure out a reasonable explanation to that question I asked her at lunch," Charlie said looking at me, brushing off Emily's party pooper comment. Turning his glance to Emily he added, "I have that effect on people."