This Town Of Ours

twenty six

We walked back to the car once customers started coming in. it was six thirty. Charlie was asleep in the car. We had decided to pretend like we hadn't learned anything new about Charlie. We woke him up climbing over him. We drove to a McDonalds to get coffee and cheap food. Dillon and Maddy were in the back with each other laughing and catching up. It made me smile. Mason was driving again and I was sitting passenger again. Charlie is in the back. Silent. He's not had the best life either. His dad is a major drug dealer in prison. He lives in a cramped apartment. But he's happy I guess with and sometimes without the drugs. It's tough though seeing him throw away his life. He's a good looking, well-enough educated boy with a lot of potential. He could start a family some day. He could've started a family some day. And girls like him, like I said he's not ugly. I mean he had a huge chance with Emma but he showed her that he wasn't worth it. She put in more effort than he wanted to. I turn around and say to him, "Charlie. I'm really sorry that it has come to this for you. This is obviously not what any of us wanted. You've not only hurt yourself but you've hurt the people who love and care about you. Now don't get me wrong I still love and care about you and I will support you in whatever you do. so if you would stop acting like you've just lost your five closest friends I think you would be better off because we are all still here. There just been a few minor.... major changes." Charlie responded immediately he teared up and said,

"thanks. I love all of you too and I know I screwed up and I'm trying to stop but it helps to have you here."

We all nodded and smiled. We found a crappymotel and unloaded there. It was mid afternoon and we thought we should go getsome lunch. Dillon was taking off work today so he could be with us and told usthere was this great restaurant where him and the friend that he lived withwork. We all agree and file in the bean (my car is burgundy and it looks like akidney bean, so we call it bean for short). We get there and its this cutelittle place called William's place. We walk inside and Emma stops. I don't seethat she is talking to someone until we have been seated. I try to get up andgo see what's going on, but I am stopped by an older woman named Ethal. Ethalowns William's place. William is her late husband and she and him had alwaysdreamed of starting their own place. She thought it was always silly until hepassed and she realized how much it would have meant to him. So in honor of thegreatest man in the world, Ethal built William's place. The color scheme wasfull of glorious reds, blues, and greens. The smell a mixture of, "welcome"and, "happiness". I absolutely adored it and its history. She finally finished,although I would've liked to hear more, but I needed to check on Emma. I ranoutside and shivered. No. It can't. Brendan? No. Strawberry? No. Yes. It'sBrendan. He's tall now. His hair has gotten lighter than it used to be. Its strawberryblonde, he's wearing Emma's favorite pair of burgundy and black sweatpants. Ialmost cried. Memories came back of when him and Emma would sit under theChristmas tree made of lights at the lake. When he hugged he and accidentallytackled her to the ground. When they got a picture together in seventh gradeand he was wearing a red shirt and kakis. They dated. In eighth grade. Shewaited for him to ask her out for a while but eventually it happened. I couldnot believe it was him. She washeartbroken when he left. It was a little selfish of him the way he did it. Itwas the summer of freshman year. He was "saying his goodbyes" and knocked on Emma'sdoor one morning and said, "Emma I need to figure out who I am. I'm going to travel the world. I'll hitch rides and find somewhere to settle." he asked herto come with him, but she's so young and has a fine life and cant throw it allaway. He said okay. And left. I guess that he liked it here in New York andstayed here. Emma had talked to him and they had hugged for a long time. Sheasked if it was fine if she went with him and caught up. I said it would begreat and I went back inside. The warm air felt good against my cold skin.There were four walls, the walls parallel to each other were blue and burgundy.Vintage and antique décor, artifacts, were hung everywhere. Yellow, army green,navy blue, grey. It is purely beautiful.