Losing Charley

Chapter 7 Part 3

By midnight, Hank's is packed. I decide to grab a bottle of water, and as I'm about to pay, I hear that sexy voice.

"I got that."

"It's okay, Joe. I got it."

"No, I insist. I was an ass earlier. I didn't mean to make you feel bad. It's the least I can do."

"Damn straight! I'm proud of who I am and where I'm from. I just hate when damn Yankees come down here and then try to make us look like hicks. You don't like the way we live, then don't cross the Mason-Dixon," I say as playful as possible. It did tick me off earlier, but I don't want him to think I'm a bitch.

"I swear I won't do it again, and nobody is gonna pick on you for eating squirrel but me," he says with a smile.

"Okay, I'll give ya that."

"So, Squirrel, you wanna dance?"

"Mr. Scaredy-Cat, I'd love to." He takes the water bottle from me and leads me to the dance floor.

About the time we get to the floor, I hear "Mirrors" by Justin Timberlake begin to bleed through the speakers. I sure do love some JT! Joe takes my hands, entwining our fingers, and pulls me closer to him. We move back and forth. I do my best to keep my body at a distance, but it is almost impossible. The way he moves, the firmness of his body near mine, and the way my body is reacting to him is almost scary. He is so sure of himself.

As if he is reading my mind, he turns me around to where my ass is now at his other brain. I think it's time to have a little fun. I know it's a sign when I hear "To the windows, to the walls". When I know the chorus is about to start, I get ready. I'm about to show him what this country girl is made of. I bend over to the floor and touch my toes just like the song says. When I do, I know I have him because that second brain of his is at full attention.

As the song ends, I decide I better break up this party before it has time to get started. I turn to walk to the Kluft girls who are still dancing. He grabs my hand and pulls me back to him.

"Not so fast, Squirrel. You can't leave me after that number."

I just smirk and walk back to my friends. We all continue dancing and I know I'm about to get the third degree.

"Shit, Char. You should have seen his face when you did that. I thought he was gonna explode right there!" Anna says.

"Well, he ticked me off earlier today, so I thought it would be fun to leave him with a different impression."

"You are so bad! I love it!" Anna states.

We finish the night dancing with whomever and whatever comes our way. We laugh at the old redneck guy with no teeth that Anna is trying to fend off. It's so funny we can't even help her. Finally, one of Lucas' friends comes to her rescue. Georgia finds a guy named Donte, and her hips don't leave his all night long. They are like a boat riding the waves. Tori, Caroline, and I have fun dancing, and then I feel that hot, muscular, surfer body behind me. Joe.

Joe and I dance the remainder of the night. We laugh and just have a great time dancing. As closing time approaches, you can almost feel all the hormones raging as they begin to play a little Marvin Gaye, "Let's Get it On." I try to make my way off the floor, but before I can, Joe pulls me into a tight embrace. I have no choice but to put my arms around his neck, my head on his chest, and enjoy this last song with him. I start to giggle as Joe begins to sing when the chorus comes through the speakers. I pull back and sing with him. I am completely focused on him as we stare into each other's eyes. As the song ends, the DJ makes the announcement, "Y'all, it's that time. You ain't gotta go home, but you gotta get the hell up outta here! Same place, same time next Saturday night."

As we distance ourselves from each other, Joe looks smiles at me. I walk across the floor to round up the girls. That's what happens when you're DD for the night. You end up being everybody's mama.

We walk across the road to the Explorer. I make sure everyone is accounted for and then back to Southern we go. We don't get far before I see blue lights ahead. Dang. Roadblock.

"Hey, y'all. Make sure you got your seatbelts on and got some sense."

We get through the license check like it's a piece of cake. As I'm about to turn right to get to campus, I hear Tori. "I'm starved! I need a Servco hotdog!"

Of course, all the drunk girls agree. So, where do we go? The Servco gas station. I get queasy just thinking about those hotdogs and realize anything must taste better drunk.

After what feels like an eternity, we finally make it back to Southern. We begin to walk toward Kluft when I hear my name.

"Squirrel, hold up!"

I don't need to turn around to know that it is Joe, but I do anyway. He jogs to catch up with me. Damn, he's fine. He has a smile plastered all over his face.

"So, I just wanted to let you know I added another unique fact to my list."

"Oh, really? What's that?" I smirk.

"You can bend over to the floor and touch your toes," he says playfully. "No, really Charley, you can dance your ass off. It's going on the list. If all country girls dance like that, then I'm gonna die and go to country girl heaven!"

"You ain't right! I just love to dance. Always have and always will. You ain't so bad yourself, ya know? In fact, I don't know what I would have done if I hadn't danced with you all night. I'd probably ended up with the toothless guy that was all over Anna."

"I think it's a safe bet to say you wouldn't have been alone. I'm just glad I got you out there first."

Joe and I continue to walk to Kluft. As we approach the door, he stops, turns to me and looks me in the eyes.

"Guess I'll see you Monday in class?" I ask quietly.

"Yeah, I guess so."

He moves toward me, puts his hand on my chin, pulls my lips to his, and gives me one soft kiss. I have so many thoughts going through my brain, and the biggest one of all involves a boy I call Cash Money.

"Um, Joe. I gotta go." I haul ass upstairs straight to my room. I'm alone as usual and text Cash because I know he is waiting.

Me: I'm safe & sound

Cash: Good, Had fun at the hall

Me: Great! Talk to you tomorrow love u

Cash: Love u 2