Losing Charley

Chapter 1 Part 2

Walking back to my Honda, I see Cash and my heart melts just a little. He came.

"Hey. You came," I say as I approach him and a smile spreads across my face as the tears start again.

Pushing himself off my car, he opens his arms for me. "Did you really think I wouldn't come? Char, this is a major life event, and I wouldn't have missed it for the world."

"Thanks, I guess I just assumed you wouldn't." As I pull away from Cash's arms, I see Dylan getting into his car and I shiver. Thank goodness I'm staying close to home and have Cash nearby if I need him. After a few minutes, Cash tells me bye and to enjoy myself tonight. I insist that he come by the house for my graduation party, but he refuses. He has taken the words we spoke to heart, and won't cross any line even with my permission.

I roll up to the house, and my cousin Joanna is there slaving in the kitchen. I can't wait for the chocolate cake. In fact, anyone who touches it might lose a hand is exactly what I'm thinking. I open the screen door and walk inside and upstairs to where the afternoon started. I put on something more comfortable. It's going to be a long night, so I have to look cute and be comfortable. I take a look in my closet and decide on a pair of cut-off jean shorts and a yellow halter top. I take off the pearls my dad gave me and exchange them for silver hoops the size of Texas, add my favorite necklace, cigar band ring monogrammed with the letter "C," and silver bangle bracelets. I grab my black flip- flops with silver sparkles on top and head back downstairs.

When I get downstairs, my family is back at the house, and everyone is giving me too much attention. This is one thing I've had a hard time with since Dylan. Everyone's world continued, and mine stopped. I was able to move forward because of Cash, but now I'm doing this on my own. Being happy all the time is tough, but I know it makes everyone happy.

Piper, Annie, Carrie, and Morgan all show up. We eat, laugh, and talk about all the great times we've had. Joanna has out done herself; this food is off the hook! The chocolate cake is to die for, and I'm glad she loved me enough to make two, one for me and one for the actual party.

After about an hour, Carrie and Morgan decide to head home. Piper and I look at each other knowing it's about that time to have one more night of fun before we all go our separate ways.

"Piper, have you heard of anything going on tonight?"

"Yeah, there's a party at the triplets' house tonight."

"Well, I guess we can't miss that!" The triplets, Justin, Jordan, and Jack, were well-known for their parties. The triplets were great guys, loved to have a good time, and were originally from New York. They had seen the big city; something we knew nothing about. I'm okay with that, but Piper, on the other hand, dreams of the big city.

Piper and I talk about who's driving and where we're meeting. Since my parents are sticklers for curfew, it's a given that we are staying at Piper's for the night. I also know that I am driving because ever since that night, I do not drink.

Piper takes one piece of cake for the road and heads to her house across town. Piper and I were both transplants at our high school. We lived in the country, but our parents felt that we had a better opportunity for a better education at the "city" school. I told her I'd see her in thirty and she better be ready. I really didn't want to climb in and out of her window tonight. Well, maybe just "in" the window tonight.

I go upstairs, pack my bag with pj's, toothbrush, and a few other essentials, and out I go. I stop downstairs to tell Joanna thanks and give her, Mama, Dad, and Tessa hugs on the way out.

As I head out the door, Tessa and Blue, the bloodhound, follow me. "Call me if you need me, no matter what, okay?"

"I will, but you know you have nothing to worry about. Love ya and I'll see ya in the morning."

I get into the Honda, open the sunroof, plug in my iPod for a little JT "Suit & Tie," and head to Piper's. I have to drive all the way through town to get there. This is always a hard ride for me. There are so many good and bad memories here. Do I really want to stay in this town? Maybe this isn't the right choice.

Before I know it, I make a left turn onto Broadway Road and drive up the long driveway. Piper's ready and heads out the door, waving bye to her mom, Tina. I can see her little sister, Summer, in her bedroom window. She knows the deal. When we knock, she unlocks the window.

We head back down the drive, turn up JT, and drive toward the houses around Dixon Country Club. It's not somewhere we go a lot. We've never really fit in with that crowd, but everyone's welcome at the triplets' house.

We arrive, and we can already tell that the party has started.

"So, Piper, what are you scheming tonight?"

"Oh, ya know, the usual. Drink a little drink and kiss a lotta boys!" she says laughingly.

The night goes on as planned. We listen to loud music, watch people get plastered, high, and act like fools. Piper started talking to Justin (the hot one of the triplets) and I knew where this was going. He's always had the hots for her, and Piper just loves to play the game. Now that she's got him, she doesn't want him. She just pulls him on a string like a lovesick puppy dog.

Around 2:30 a.m., people start to head out. I look at Piper, and she knows it's time to bounce. She tells Justin bye, gives him a quick kiss, and out the door she goes. I wish I had one ounce of her confidence.

Driving down the road, we decide to pull into the Pantry and grab a Choice Cherry Gold and Fun Dip, our two favorite things. We laugh when we notice two guys staring at us when we get ready to leave. It feels good to feel like my old self again. We get into the Honda and head to her house.

When we hit her driveway, we turn off the headlights and creep all the way up. Her mom doesn't mind her being out late; we just never want her to know how late we actually get home. We knock on Summer's window and in we go.

Once we're in the window, we go to Piper's room and get ready for bed. We turn on Miranda Lambert Radio on Pandora and sing as loud as we can. Good thing Scott and Tina's room is on the other side of the house. We get ready for bed, and that's when the conversation starts.

"Charley, you do know that you can leave this place?" Piper whispers.

"Yeah, I know. It's just that I thought LRC was what I'm supposed to do. Both my parents went there. Plus I wanted to stay close to Cash. I just don't know what to do. My parents will kill me if I change."

"You know they just want you to be happy. They would understand. And you know Cash still cares about you. You've been friends since you could walk."

"I know, but I think it's the right choice. School and Cash. I'm just going to sit on it for a while." Knowing the Cash part is a complete lie. I've loved him my entire life. He lived at the next farm over. He's always been the brother I never had, friend, and now ex-boyfriend. He knew absolutely everything about me. The good, bad, and some things that I'd love to just erase from my mind entirely.