Losing Charley

Prologue Part 3

As the sun began to peek through the club window, my eyes try to open but it's the pounding in my head that brings last night back to the forefront. As I try to move, Cash's arms loosen from around me, but still give a safe presence. When I pry my eyes open, I look at Cash. His eyes are tired, and I know he hasn't slept. Taking a deep breath, I try my best to push the tears back, but it's no use. My body begins to crumble and with my first sound Cash pulls me back into his strong arms. He saved me last night, and I owe him my life.

"Char, whatcha wanna do today?" Cash asks in almost a whisper.

"Can we hide out here all day?" He gives a half grin, and holds me tighter in his arms.

"Honestly, Charley, I guess the better question is how are we going to handle today. Your parents will be home this afternoon," he says as he looks at me for clues.

"I don't know Cash. I mean, maybe, I can just tell them we had a fight at the party and broke up. Heck, maybe I should just quit the team too." I say as tears begin to form in my eyes.

"Don't cry Char. Please don't cry. Maybe I can go with you to practice or hang out nearby in case you need me."

I wipe my eyes and shake my head no. "You can't do that because someone's bound to think that's weird. Besides, I've just got to make it through my senior year, and I don't have to worry about him anymore."

"I think that might be harder than you think, and I don't think your parents are going to believe you. You eat, sleep, and breathe swimming."

"Well, they are going to have to," I say with a little attitude as I stand, and Cash throws up his hands in surrender.

Walking toward the club's window, I grab my fishing rod and the loaf bread. As I attach the loaf bread to the hook, Cash is beside me doing the same. He doesn't say a word as I toss my line into the water and he follows behind. Sometimes no words need to be spoken because silence says it all.

By lunch, we make our way to my house, and we make sure everything is back to "normal." Cash and I have both put off the duties of the farm all morning, and it's inevitable that we will have to go our separate ways soon. As if he's reading my mind, Cash opens his arms and I walk to them. Embracing me in the only arms I trust, tears stream silently down my face. He takes my chin and pulls it up to him.

"Char-coal, I don't want to leave you, but we have to if we want things to be normal. If you need me for anything, call me, and I'll answer no matter what. Okay?"

"Okay," I say softly. "Cash I don't know what I'd do without you. Thank you for being here for me. You are the best friend a girl could ask for." He holds me tight for a few minutes then steps away. I walk him outside and as he walks down the steps on the front porch he turns to me, and smiles. In this moment, I know that I will survive, and Cash will always be by my side.

Around three o'clock, my phone rings, and my nerves are on edge when I see Dylan's name appear. To answer or not? Taking a deep breath, I answer.

"What do you want?" I ask with hatred laced in my voice.

"I'm sorry Charley. I don't know what got into me. Will you please forgive me?"

Pausing and taking a deep breathe, I reply. "Hell no, I won't forgive you. In fact, please don't ever call or talk to me again. It's over between us, and there's no way in hell I'd every forgive you for what you did to me."

There is silence on his end before he says, "Look, I said I'm sorry. I can't change what happened, but I never meant to hurt you." I begin to laugh and can't control myself. He has lost his damn mind. "You think this is funny?" he questions.

"No it's not funny, but the fact that you actually thought I'd bow right back down to you is hilarious. Goodbye Dylan Sloan." I hope I sounded confident because I'm shaking like a leaf.

Trying to sound confident in myself, I start to call Cash when Tessa's voice startles me from behind.

"Dang, I don't know what happened, but you put him in his place," she says as she props against the doorway.

"He's an ass, and we're over," I state hoping she won't notice that I'm shaking.

She shrugs her shoulders and smiles as she walks toward me. I feel my insides begin to crumble. "I never like him anyway. Dad's gonna think he hit the lottery. He never liked him either," she says as she hugs me, and I know my sister won't ask anything else.

"I just hope they don't ask a gazillion questions or mama that I," I state, and we both laugh because she will for sure.

Tessa and I make plans for supper and as we begin to make the salad we see our parents pulling down the road. My heart begins to pound as the past twenty-four hours play in my head and I have no idea how I'm going to lie to Mama and Dad.

After helping our parents unload, we all sit down for supper. We ask daddy about the sale, and then mama asks about last night. Quickly, I stuff a bite of salad in my mouth as I prepare to talk.

"Um, well, Dylan and I broke up." Daddy about chokes on his tea and mama can't hide the grin from her lips.

"Do you care to explain?" Mama asks.

"Well, let's just say I saw his true colors. He's not who I need to be with, but I also don't know how I'm going to tolerate being around him at practice. I think I might quit."

Mama takes a moment to process what I told them. "Char, I understand y'all broke up, but he's just a guy. I think you went a little boy crazy over him, but that's no reason to quit what you love."

"Mama, I just can't be around him. So this is the easiest solution. Now drop it. Maybe one day I'll change my mind, but not right now." I don't give her time to reply as I place my dishes in the sink, grab my keys, and walk out the front door.

Driving to the pool to clean out my locker I vow, that from this day forward, Cash will be the only one to know my secret, that I will avoid Dylan at all costs, and I will act normal and continue to hang out with my friends like nothing happened. Now if only my insides weren't crumbling into pieces. Thank goodness for Cash, my only lifeline.

Each day things get easier thanks to Cash. He is the first person I speak to each morning and the last before I fall asleep. Spending every waking moment together, we do the things we love - fishing, working on the farm, swimming, and he even lets me pick cheesy chick flicks without complaint. When he sees I'm down, he lifts me up, and every time there's a chance of running into Dylan he's there to protect me. Little by little I begin to feel like myself again, but it's his security that allows me to do so.