Invisible

chapter 3

Tuesday, August 13th

Darkness, I was surrounded by constant darkness. My life was bitter, just like my outlook on life. I'm laying down looking around my room, thinking of my dad. I missed him a lot, especially since school would be starting soon. The anniversary of his death was fast approaching and all it reminded me of was another year he wouldn't be here to walk me to the bus or ask me how my day was. Another year he wouldn't be able to joke around with me whenever my mom went on a rampage. It would be almost nine years since he passed and it would be almost nine years since I stopped believing in the extraordinary power of love. However, as I continued to reminisce, my mind started to drift to Charlotte. I wonder what she's doing right now, what she looks like, if she's thinking about me too. It was still too early to go talk to her, it was only 5 a.m. but I knew that today I would be courageous and go knock on her door. I would speak to her like a man, a not scared shitless man.

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"Jack, you need to bring your laundry downstairs so I can wash it," my mom yells from the bottom of the stairs. I sit up and sigh, lazily draping my legs over the side of my bed.

"Okay mom, I'll be down in a second." I stand up and look around my disastrous room. This is disgusting, I don't even remember letting it get this bad. As I slowly start picking up the clothes that scattered my floor, I hear something from outside my window. My breath catches when I hear the same sound, this time a bit louder. Dropping everything, I carefully tip toe and peek my head through the curtains, scoping out the area until my eyes land on her. Charlotte. She was laughing, chasing that stupid dog of hers again. As I look lower, I can see the slight curvature of her butt through the jean shorts she had on. Dear lord, she's a goddess. My face was practically pressed up against the glass, attempting to get a closer look when I hear my mom walk through my door.

"Jackson, did you hear me? I said I'm going out with Miranda." I hit my head against the window, surprised and slightly embarrassed.

"Fuck, Jesus mom! Don't you ever knock?" I yelled while rubbing the top of my forehead.

"Language! Jack, what are you doing?" she asks with her hand placed on her hip, basically her usual stance whenever she's trying to mother me.

"Nothing, nothing. Can you just get out? I'm a little busy at the moment." If she couldn't tell by my actions how desperate I was, I am sure my voice gave it away. 

"Nothing? Why were you making out with the window then?" I stare at her with disbelief until she starts walking over to where I'm standing. For fucks sake, can't you just leave me alone for 10 more minutes?

"Mom, no. Go! Get outta here!" I'm trying not to panic but at the same time I know if she sees what's outside my window I'll never hear the end of it. She's smiling, but I see suspicion in her eyes. Turning around, I close the curtains as quickly as possible.

"Jack, baby. You need to calm down," she says while picking up the pile of clothes I dropped on the floor, "anyways, I'm going out. Clean this mess up before I get back please." I hadn't realized I was holding my breath until she walked out the door. Mothers. Peeking back out the window, I see that she's no longer visible. To my major disappointment I let out a sigh and decide I should probably do as Renee asked and pick up my space. It's only a matter of time Charlotte, only a matter of time.

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Finishing yet another game of Fallout and three mountain dews, there was a knock on my door. Confusion took over as I set down my xbox controller and stood up from the couch. Renee had been out for about two hours now and nobody else ever came by. Stretching, I made my way out of the den to the entrance and opened the door. What was waiting on the other side almost caused me to go into cardiac arrest; Charlotte Anderson stood before me, smiling. 

"Hey Jackson, I was wondering if you wanted to hangout with me?" I think I died. I must have died because I wasn't speaking, or breathing. I could only stare at her, my eyes wide and mouth hung open. I could only imagine how ridiculous I looked. Oh fuck.