Losing Charley

Chapter 12 Part 1

Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday are the same. Practice, practice, and more practice. Wednesday morning comes quickly, and I already have my stuff ready to go home when I get a text from Joe that there has been a change of plans and he's staying here. Well, I guess I won't have to worry about how I'm going to say goodbye at the airport.

I check on Tori and Georgia. They are packing as well. Anna is going home with Tori, and Georgia is going home for a few days. I tell them that I don't have to take Joe to the airport, so I'm going to go tell him bye after I put my bags into the car. We all close our doors in unison and walk out of Kluft. Hayden and Sarah meet us in the parking lot. I hug everyone bye and tell them I'll see them Sunday at practice. I walk to the Honda, place my bags on the ground, dig out my keys from my purse, and unlock my car. I start to bend down to get my bags when I hear someone yelling for me.

"Squirrel! Hold up." I stop what I'm doing and turn around to see Joe running across the lawn. He's just finished practice but has had a shower. He is in a pair of cargo shorts and an American Eagle graphic tee. His hair is still wet which makes those eyes stand out more. Not one ounce of muscle moves as he runs, and yes, I have seen that body and I know what it looks like under that shirt, but it's still fun to imagine.

He reaches my car and grabs my bags from me.

"Let me help you with those." I willingly hand them over and lean against the car.

"What are you going to do since you decided not to fly home? What did you do with your ticket?"

"Well, Coach wants us back Saturday, so some of us guys are going to a cabin in Asheville for a few days to just relax. My teammate Mark has family who owns a house up there."

"Relax? Don't you mean party?"

"Maybe."

"What did your gran have to say? Doesn't that mean you lost money for the ticket?"

"Well, I always fly standby because my uncle works for the airline. It's no biggie, I'm out twenty bucks."

"Oh. Well, I'll have to remember that if I ever need to fly."

"For sure! Maybe we could all go somewhere for spring break?"

"Sure, but quit avoiding the subject. What did your gran say?"

"Well, she was sad, but understood. She figured it was wishful thinking. She knew there was a chance of another practice."

"We have to be back Sunday. So, I guess I'll see you then."

"You bet. Now, come here."

I uncross my arms and walk to Joe. He wraps his arms around me and hugs me like I'm leaving for good, and then he kisses my forehead, nose and lips ever so softly.

"See ya Sunday and tell Cash hey for me, will ya?" What are they like bff's now that they are Team Keep Charley Safe?

"Sure, see you Sunday."

I pull myself away from his arms and then back into my seat. I close the door, buckle up, crank the car, and drive to Grassy Pond.

I make it home in record time. I'm not sure if it's due to my anxiety or my lead foot. I'm voting for the lead foot. It's just past lunchtime, and Tessa is at school. Dad's truck is gone and Mama is at work. I take a minute to breathe when Blue brushes up against me. "Hey, boy," I say as I rub his ears, I pop the trunk and grab my bag. I look around the farm and nothing has changed. Everything is exactly where it was when I left a few weeks ago. I make my way to the porch and run my bags to my room.

I grab a Choice Cherry Gold from the fridge and sit on the swing on the front porch. I stretch out across the swing and before I know it, I can feel something wet on my hand. I realize that I've fallen asleep and Blue is trying to wake me up.

"Yuck, Blue!" I didn't realize how tired I was until this moment. I decide to get my ass in gear and go help out on the farm. I walk across the porch and start to open the door when I hear a car coming up the drive. I know that sound anywhere. Piper.

I hear the car door slam, and we both squeal in delight! I hustle from the front porch and act like a total spaz the closer I get to her. It's perfectly fine because she is like my mirror image.

"Dang, Pipe, you get any more sun and you're gonna have to check a different ethnicity."

"Hey, don't hate 'cause I'm not a ghost like you."

"Now, seriously, what you been up to?"

"Not much, but I will have to say that I love the beach life. Oh, and class, too."

"Yeah, I love Southern, but I do miss here."

"Girlie, you mean to tell me you really miss this place?"

"Afraid so, I was about to go do a little work. You wanna go?"

"Me work on the farm? I thought you'd never ask!" she says with an eye roll.

Piper and I are polar opposites. She didn't do farm work or any work unless she was at my house, and then for some reason, she couldn't get enough.

"Well, come on. Let's go check on Joker."

Piper and I stop at the barn to put fresh water and feed out for the horses, pigs, and cows. I even talk Piper into going into the chicken house, which she never does because that's a little too far in her book, something about invading their privacy. I think she's just chicken shit. We finally make our way out to Joker. He is staked out in the lower field to the right of the pond. He's happy and on our side of the fence. This makes me smile. For once, Joker is behaving.

Piper and I decide to take the johnboat to the island in the middle of the pond. I know that we need time to catch up and what better way than in the middle of a pond soaking up some Vitamin D, even if it is almost winter.

Piper and I talk about everything that has happened since my birthday. I fill her in on Cash, Joe, Homecoming, Hank's and the Freshman Orientation project. I do leave out the envelope and pictures that are buried underneath the club about thirty feet away.

"Ohmygawsh, Piper. I wish you could have seen Joe at Homecoming, H-O-T!"

"Oh, he's H-O-T all right, and if I were you, I'd be all about that!"

"We've been messing around, but since that one night, nothing that far. Honestly, I really think he's more your type."

"I'm not so sure about that, but he does have that surfer dude look that I love."

I glance at my watch and realize it is well after four o'clock. We have to get back, and if Tessa knows we've been out here, she's going to be pissed.

Piper and I continue to just chat it up as we make our way back to the house. I am in trouble because, sure enough, Tessa's home and waiting.

"Char, you mean to tell me you couldn't wait two hours for me to get home before going to the pond? You know I don't ever get to go out to the island because I'm not allowed to without someone," she whines.

"Sorry, Tessa. We really just went to check on the animals and feed 'em then had time to kill."

"I'll forgive you this once," she replies as shehugs me. I. Have. Missed. Her .