Bad Enough For You// Anthony Ladao Fanfiction

Chapter 7

Author's Note: Sort of a filler, I'm trying to give the main character some substance and friends considering my last fanfiction she was void of any human contact. So enjoy and I'll probably post again later tonight. :-)

Wednesday came sooner than I thought it would. Maybe it was anxiety, maybe because Tuesday my grandmother had asked me to work from 7 AM to 11 PM, I had no time to think about the date, only focus on cleaning counters and serving food. God, I hope that doesn’t become my whole life.

I got off the breakfast shift on Wednesday at 11. I swear my grandmother made up for lost time when I took the weekend off to spend with my friends. Speaking of friends, Marceline had agreed to go to the mall with me. For what, she doesn’t know. I wanted to buy something nice for my first real date, and I was going to tell her that. But not go into details on who with, I didn’t want her knowing/judging, yet.

“Hey,” Marceline said as she entered the car.

“Hey Marci,” I smiled at her and drove away from her house, towards the mall.

“Can we get some coffee? I was up with Quinn really late last night and I haven’t slept all that much.” Marceline rubbed her temples with her index fingers for emphasis.

“Sure,” I replied, I played some my “night” playlist, the one I use when I can’t sleep or want to listen to music when I have a headache. We drive in silence until we reach the local Starbucks. We walk out of the car and into the building.

Something was bothering me though, “Why were you up with Quinn last night?”

“Shit happened with her and Stephan,” she shook her head and faced the barista. “Large coffee, 3 milk.”

“Large coffee, 3 sweetener,” I said to the worker. We moved down the line as we waited for our drinks. “What happened with her and Stephan?”

“Quinn finally called him back late Monday night; they decided to hang out yesterday, y’know, Tuesday.” She paused.

“Go on,” I urged. We grabbed our drinks and walked out of the tight shop.

“Well they go to talking about their relationship, and he said he was always there for her emotionally but she was never there for him physically.” We got into the car.

“What the hell,” I snapped as I turned on the car with a jerk.

“I know, but that’s not the worst part. They made up, so to speak, and they started kissing I guess. He slipped his hand up her skirt and starting… You know… Touching her. She didn’t want it, she kept telling him to stop. All he said was “you’re supposed to love me” and kept at it. He was close to undoing his pants before his mom came home. She ran out of his house without another word and came over to my place.” She shook her head and bit her bottom lip. “She was a mess; I think they’re over for good.”

“I didn’t think he was capable of doing that…” I trailed off. Damn! I hated guys. First the college guy at the party and now Quinn’s trustworthy boyfriend?

“You never suspect the nice guys,” Marceline shrugged.

“Right…” I tried hard not to cry. It wasn’t my place to be upset, but I couldn’t help it. Stephan and Quinn had been going steady for about 4 years, sure some of it was in elementary school, but they were as serious as they came. How could Stephan abandon her just because she wouldn’t sleep with him, and then force sex on her 4 days later? It all seemed so surreal, how could he attempt to rape her?

“Why didn’t anyone call me?” I found myself saying, I felt selfish and awful the minute to words left my lips. How could I make this about me?

“You were working,” she said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. I almost winced, almost.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered. “I would have left work, should we pick up Quinn? I don’t think I want her to be alone.”

“She’s out with her mom today, trying to find the best way to tell her what happened. And it is okay Chari, she just needed someone to talk to, she didn’t want the attention.” She changed the playlist and turned up the stereo, signaling the end of that conversation. I clenched my jaw to keep me from saying anything else, this was Quinn’s problem, and this was how she decided to deal with it, low key and void of any real drama. I shouldn’t press it, I didn’t press it.

It wasn’t until we pulled into the parking lot did she say something.

“So who are you shopping for on this fine Wednesday afternoon?” Marceline asked for the 3rd time since requesting we go to the mall. 

“Doesn’t matter,” I shook my head, this was the same reply she was getting to her answer every time.

“Come on!” She whined. “This is your first date, do you hear me Chari, first! And I’ll be damned if I don’t know who it is with!”

“Okay,” I said turning off the engine and facing her. “I will tell you on one condition.”

“Anything,” she looks at me expectantly.

“If this date goes well,” I said finally.

“Ugh!” She threw her head back, typical over-dramatic Marci. “I can’t control whether it goes well or not though! What if you screw up the date? Or him? What then?! It is completely out of my hands…”

“You are helping by assisting me in getting ready,” I pointed out. She looked at me with a mischievous grin.

“Then let’s get to this shit, shall we?” She pulled at my hand and we left the car.

“You look great,” Marceline said as we looked into my body length mirror in my bedroom.

“You don’t think it’s too much?” I ask, playing with the short, flouncy, black skirt.

“I think it’s perfect for any situation,” she announced, crossing her arms. She curled one last piece of hair before letting it fall with the rest of my locks.

“I wonder where he’s taking me,” I smoothed out my shirt. It was a black long sleeve with bright floral print.

“If you told me who he was,” she turned me around to face her. “I could help you guess.”

“Mar,” I warned.

“Fine,” she removed her hands from my shoulders. “When is he coming?”

“7,” I stated.

“I should probably get going then,” she looked at the clock beside my bed, it was 6:30.

“Yeah, sorry,” I said, I was smiling though.

“Have fun, and if this date goes well I expect details!” Marceline nudged me then pulled out her phone. She started typing quickly.

“Who is it?” I asked curiously.

“Quinn,” she bit her bottom lip. “She wants to hang out.”

“Okay,” I gave her a tight-lipped smile.

“Charity…” Marceline said.

“Seriously it is fine,” I waved my hand. “Have fun.”

“You still need to call me after, whether you tell me his name or not,” she poked me in the collarbone and then left my room, letting herself out.

I sat on my bed and bit back tears. Why didn’t Quinn trust me enough to talk to me about her problems with Stephan? Did I do something wrong? I was never really close with Quinn per say, it was more Marceline and I and Quinn and Skylar. But I guess with Skylar gone she turned to the head of our friend group, Marceline. I didn’t want to start anything with my friends just because I was insecure, but I deserved more than being dumped on constantly.

Whatever, it didn’t matter.

If my friends don’t trust me enough to talk to me about their love lives, why should I? What I had with Anthony was staying between Anthony and I, whatever it was.