Sketched Out

Chapter 7

As I began to hear the engine of my car kick in and start, I waited for the interior to warm. I was on the way to Walmart to get some groceries my dad needed for the house. It was a casual Thursday afternoon, a layer of snow decorating the outdoors - covering the grass, the trees, and rooftops. As I backed out of the driveway and started to head to the store, I could see beautiful iceicles that hung like holly over anything that were capable of developing such beautiful ice sculptures.

I couldn't help but think of Charlee, with the pale beautiful winter wonderland outside. I haven't heard a word from her, nor any texts. I felt oddly alone. It was strange, because I've basically been alone my whole life. Hooking up with girls didn't make me feel not alone, either, it just fulfilled the emptiness, somewhat. I did have my dad, but he was normally so involved with work. It was hard to think about these things.

I pulled into the Walmart parking lot, zipped up my jacket and walked into the store. I grabbed a shopping cart and began to head to the produce section. I began to bag a few vegetables, and put them in the cart before I headed to the frozen foods.

I turned into the aisle and, distracted, I hit someone's cart. I looked up, "Oh, I'm sorry."

The woman turned, and there she was.

Makeupless, hair down and bedheady, sleepyness in her eyes and a warm scarf around her neck. It was Charlee.

I stared for a moment and we both dropped each others gazes.

"My fault," she said, pulling her cart to the side so that I had room to move along.

I looked up, stern. "Thanks." and began to push my cart off in the other direction.

"Joan, wait." she said. "Can we talk?"

I turned slightly so that I could watch her, expressionless. "About?"

Even without makeup, and in the fluorescent lighting of the store, she was painstakingly beautiful.

"Can we be friends again? I miss you so much." she asked, pleading in her honeysweet voice.

I watched her for a long moment, the thoughts in my head making me dizzy. Why should I say yes to her? She's the one who messed things up. She's the one who was messing with Jack....

"No. You have fun with Jack." I said, turning my cart and leaving the aisle with a lump in my throat. I swallowed, and began thinking of other things.

* * * * * * *

Four days later, I was getting ready to go to that party downtown. I had my hair parted to the side like it normally was, blood red strands brushed just past my right eye. I touched up the last bits of my dark, winged eyeliner and began to put a thick layer of auburn colored lipstick on.

Then, stripped down and put on a corset-styled tank top, dark red in color with black stringing down the corset parts. I then pulled on a leather jacket, with a pair of metallic looking leggings and black combat boots. I was ready.

I heard a knock on my door.

"Yeah?"

My dad came in, glasses on. He had been working recently. "Hey kiddo. Where are you off to tonight?"

"Oh, I was going out with Derrick to this thing with some other friends."

He raised his eyebrow. "A party? I thought you stopped going to those."

I shrugged. "Only for a little bit."

"Well, you be safe. You keep Charlee out of trouble now, she's a good girl."

I blinked. "Charlee? She isn't coming with me."

He stared at me. "Huh? I thought you two were best friends."

I sighed loudly at him. "Best friends don't always have to hangout together."

I told him, too lazy to go into the whole story with him.

"Well all right now. You don't have to get loud," he said submissively, a smile in his kind face. "I know my daughter and I know the sound of her voice- what's been up, kiddo? You've been okay? You seem a little mopey, lately."

"I'm fine, dad."

"Is it about a girl?"

"No. You know what's not my style, pops."

He smiled at me. "You remind me so much of your mother. I bet she is looking down at you now- so proud of you."

"Aw, come on dad- why'd you have to say that? I'm in a party mood, I don't want to be all mushy inside thinking about mom."

"You're right. I just don't feel like I tell you any of that often enough. You have fun tonight, okay? No trouble, and get home safely."

"I will, dad. Thanks."

"I love you, Joanie."

"I love you too."

He closed my door and left. I sighed. Shaking my head, I put in some headphones and started some tunes. Now to get in the mood of partying.

I heard Derrick pull up in his loud stereo, ironically, with my headphones. I took them out as quickly as I put them in and headed towards the door, opening it and heading towards his car, high heeled boots clicking on the sidewalk.

I opened the passenger door and slipped in, three other of our friends crammed in the back, and by the smell of it, they were already drunk.

Laughing, one of my friends in the back, Cody, called out drunkenly. "Yo Joanaaahh! You look damn hot!"

Derrick laughed. "Damn right you do. Going to fuck some bitches tonight?"

"Hell yeah, and then forget about it in the morning."

Everyone laughed, and we peeled out of the driveway, on our way to the city.