Where Did The Time Go?

Olivia

18th February 2016

I giggled softly as I read another tweet from @HapppyNarwhal. We'd been conversing back and forth over Twitter through tweets and DMs for about a week now. I'd learnt that her name was Charlie, and she was 20.

We were all back in Baltimore, and everyone except me and Zack had gone out.

"What's tickled you?" Zack came strolling into the lounge and sat down beside me on the couch.

"This girl Charlie started tweeting me a week ago. I just tweeted 'I'm bored, what should I do today?'-"

"Ah yeah, I saw." He smiled.

"And she's replied with 'Lick Zack's abs. Or eat an entire block of cheese. Or both. Alternate.'"

Zack cracked up, "That's brilliant!"

"I know! She only lives 10 minutes away too. She's so funny."

"Go meet her?" Zack suggested, shrugging.

"I can't do that, can I?"

"I would!" He grinned, "Get her address and we'll go out for pizza or something. Go skateboarding? Does she skate?" He was still obsessed, bless him.

"I'll ask her."

So that's exactly what I did- messaged Charlie, got her address and told her we'd be there in a short while.

"P. S. Do you skateboard?" I read out the last of the message to Zack before hitting send.

"I'm so excited!" I giggled.

- - - - -

"So, Charlie, what do you do for a living?" Zack bit into another slice of pizza while making small talk.

"I'm a struggling artist." She laughed.

"Struggling?" A questioned.

"Yeah... Not as in like I can't draw, cause I guess I can. Just- getting into the art world isn't all that simple. But! Enough about me! I'm hanging out with a guy from my favourite band and the girl who was lost for 18 years!" I flinched at the thought, "Oh god, I'm so sorry if that struck a nerve I didn't mean-"

"No, no- it's fine." I smiled, "You're right, it must be pretty cool and weird to be in your shoes."

"How's your relationship going? 'Cause there's like, a lot of years between you. 10, is it?" Charlie was so invested in both us and her pizza.

"Nine, but yeah. It's going really well. I'm so glad my dad's cool with it. It's all a bit surreal for me though, because just last year I was idolising these four men- and now I live with them!"

"I can guess!" She checked the time, "Shit, I've gotta go. I've got an interview later to see if a gallery will showcase my work."

"Here then, take my number..." She passed me her phone and I typed it in, "-and call me, yeah? Anytime you wanna hang out."

"That'd be awesome. I'll see you guys, yeah?"

"See ya!" Zack and I smiled.

I could really feel myself finding a new friend in Charlie.

"You'll have to invite Steph up to see us soon, yeah?" Zack finished up his food and we headed out into the street.

"I will..." I missed my best friend so much.

"I'll pay for her plane ticket?" Zack offered, taking my hand as we walked. Our skateboards hung from our free arms.

"I couldn't ever ask you to do that... But it is a lot of money which she doesn't have..." I sighed.

"Call her, okay? It's obvious you miss her like crazy."

"I will." I genuinely smiled, relieved that he could read me so well. I couldn't wait to see my old friend again, and possibly make a new one.