-Anthony's POV-
It was the day of my twenty-first birthday. So far, all I got was a call from my mother, a few text messages from my friends, and an "Oh, it's your birthday?" from my best friend, Ian. The day was looking pretty bad. And at lunch, Ian suggested, "Hey, Anthony, you should really get out of the house today."
"What? Why?" I inquired with a mouthful of the last taco from the lunch Ian had got me as an "I'm sorry I forgot your birthday" gift.
"Because," He retorted, "I said so."
I smirked. In our whole friendship, I've never heard Ian say "Because I said so."
"No," I protested with a grin.
He rolled his eyes, "Come on, man. Just get out of the house!"
"Why?"
Ian grunted before rising to his feet and escaping into the front room. I heard some movement and the front door swing open. I rose to my feet and followed him out there, seeing him by the door as he threw me my keys and sunglasses. I caught them and watched as he pointed out the door, "Leave."
"Gees," I remarked as I made my way outside, "If you want it so bad, I'll get out of your hair!"
"Great. Come back around like sevenish!" He exclaimed before slamming the door in my face. I heaved a sigh and got in my car to drive around town.
-Charlie's POV-
I looked at myself in the cracked mirror as I tied my black waist apron around and clipped my name tag onto it. I was about to tie my medium-length, straight, light brown hair back when I heard my boyfriend of three years, Hunter, groan.
He and I had the classic good girl falls for the bad boy kind of romance. We met in high school; he was a senior and I was a sophomore. And, despite the way he can be sometimes, and the shitty life being with him gives me, I couldn't imagine it any other way.
"Hey, babe," He moaned as he rolled up and scratched his head, the sun reflecting off of his six-pack and muscular arms, "What are you doing up so early?"
I smiled, "It's one in the afternoon, Hunter. And I've got to go to work. We're catering some guy's twenty-first birthday tonight and they need all the help they can get."
He smirked, "I can barely remember my twenty-first, I was so drunk." I giggled as I pulled my hair back.
He got up and wrapped his arms around my waist, "Be home on time tonight, okay?" He ordered, "We don't want something happening again like last time. Right?"
"I'll do my best," I said as I pulled myself out of his hold, picked up my cellphone off of the cluttered dresser-top and walked into the front room, "And if I happen to be running late, I'll call you this time. Okay?" I turned around and saw him dragging himself out of the bedroom. "I've got to go. Love you," I said as I gave him a quick kiss on the lips before leaving to go to The Cheesecake Factory, where I worked as a waitress.
I passed a few of my crack-head/drunk neighbors, who I became friends (if that's what you can even call it) with, as I made my way to the junker of a pick up truck I had parked outside. I turned the ignition and it wouldn't start. "Come on, come on, come on," I groaned as I tried again. The engine eventually roared to life as I sighed in relief.
I started to apply the makeup I didn't get the chance to do before I left as I drove through the slummy neighborhood I lived in. I've done this many times before and it hadn't seemed to cause a problem before, until today.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a car I hadn't seen before speeding up to the side of my car. I slammed on my brakes, just as quick as the other person.
"Watch where you're going, jackass!" I shouted as I slowly pressed down on the gas pedal. I caught a glimpse of the other car's driver as I passed by. They had dark brown, emo-looking hair, and as they took off their sunglasses, I saw they had brown eyes. I rolled my eyes and continued applying the makeup.
-Anthony's POV-
I watched as the person in the other car passed by after yelling something at me that I didn't quite catch. I took off my sunglasses to get a better look - they had straight, light brown hair tied back and dark blue eyes. She had a nasty look on her face, but it was her who should've been looking. She was applying makeup. It's not my fault.
I rolled my eyes and continued driving through town. I had no idea where I was. I had no place to go, and what was I supposed to do for six hours? Drive around like an idiot?
I decided to take a trip to my mom's house to pay her a visit, which I didn't know how to get to from here. What a crappy birthday I was already having...
-Charlie's POV-
I pulled into the back parking lot of the restaurant and ran in. "You're late, Charlie!" One of my coworkers, Kalel, called to me as I rushed past her.
"I know!" I exclaimed as I ran into my boss, someone I was hoping I would not bump into until I clocked in. I heaved a sigh, "Hi, Mr. Matthews."
"Where have you been, Miss Charlotte?" He retorted, shoving a notepad and pen at me, "You're late."
"I know, Mr. Matthews, I was coming here when I almost got into this crash and..."
"Don't let it happen again," He cut me off and walked past me.
"Yes,sir," I mumbled as I went to the podium where Kalel stood.
As I walked up beside her, she looked over at me and asked, "So, are you excited for this party tonight?"
"Not really," I replied with a slight chuckle, "Last time I catered a party late at night, Hunter got really upset and I had a black eye for a couple of weeks."
She shook her head, "Why don't you dump that loser? You can do so much better."
"I can't. I love him. He loves me."
"He does not love you!" She tried to convince me, putting her hands on her hips, "He beats you and just look at the life you're living. You're worth more than that douche gives you credit for!"
"Whatever, Kalel, I've got to get to work," I said as I walked away and went to seat someone.
Author's Note: I know I'm always coming out with new books, so I'm making this a preview. Anyways, I hope you liked it. I should write it normally (or try to) when I finish some of my other books, like Down To The Wire or Demons or whatever. Don't forget to give me your feedback and thanks for reading! -rac06h10ael
