Bad Enough For You// Anthony Ladao Fanfiction

Chapter 10

“Can you tell me who he is yet?” Marceline asked as we received our slushies from the ice cream stand.

“All I can say is he has to be the best damn kisser on the planet,” I replied as we walked down the boardwalk. It wasn’t much, about a mile of pavement lining the beach, but it was a hit during the summer because it was the one part of town that wasn’t littered with pollution. It was a nice refreshing day after my crazy night.

“I want to know, god damnit Chari!” Marceline sipped her drink and stomped her foot down.

“I don’t know, I just don’t think you’ll approve.” I replied, tightlipped. You would thing she would have put the pieces together by now and realize it was Anthony.

“Like you approve of Devin?” Marceline rolled her eyes. “Please.”

“I don’t know…”

“You promised if the date went well you would tell me!” She practically whined.

“I know,” I took a long sip from my drink, feelings a brain freeze coming on.

“What? Is he a band geek or something?” Marceline nudged me and I almost lost my center of balance.

“No,” I let out a laugh. “No, he’s not a band geek.”

“Then what is it?” She pressed as we walked down the boardwalk, the burning sun no doubt giving my legs a nice tan.

“Well…” I started, but I was cut off at the sight of Anthony. He was leaning in the shaded part of the corner store on the side of the boardwalk. He was talking to another guy around our age, it was obvious Anthony was angry about something and the unknown guy was trying to calm him down.

“What’s wrong?” Marceline asked, I steered the both of us away from where Anthony was talking.

“Let’s go sit on the beach,” I said, grabbing her arm.

“Okay…” She replied, thankfully without looking around to see what the commotion was.

“Okay, Marceline. The thing is, I don’t want to tell you because I think he would be embarrassed if I did.” I half-lied.

“Who would be embarrassed of you? Does he know who you are?” She kept asking me questions as I tried to nonchalantly look over at the corner store. I saw Anthony pass off something in a brown bag to the other guy and they both nodded at the other before parting ways. Anthony looked pissed. But the look on his face completely washed off the minute we made eye contact. Holy shit, he was walking over.

“I don’t think he cares about who I am,” I said, speaking quickly. I pushed her along the sand and she almost tripped over some five year old boy.

“Calm down, it looks like you just killed someone, chill.” Marceline stopped me and looked in my eyes, as if I was going crazy.

“I’m fine,” I shook my head. “I just remembered, I need to get home and do some chores before my grandma gets home…”

“That’s bullshit, you know she won’t mind if they’re not done.” Marceline crossed her arms and I tried to keep moving.

“Let’s just go okay I-“ I was cut off by the call of my own voice.

“Chari!” I recognized it as Anthony’s. I decided to play it cool. I spun on my heels, sand kicking up around me. Anthony had a teasing smile on his face, the asshole; he was doing this on purpose.

“Hey, Anthony, right?” I decided to come off like a bitch, when really I just wanted to kiss him then and there, memories of last night clouding my better judgment.

“Yeah, that’s right.” Anthony nodded and looked at Marceline.

“Hi Anthony,” she said through pursed lips.

“What are you doing here?” I asked Anthony, trying to sound casual.

“Beautiful day, beautiful girls,” Anthony winked at the both of us. “Why not come to the beach?”

“Good answer,” Marceline nodded.

“I was actually looking to talk to Charity,” Anthony said, giving me his attention.

“Oh yeah?” I asked, urging him to go on.

“Privately,” his smile held no humor. He looked at Marceline intimidatingly.

“I think I see Devin,” Marceline lied. “I’m going to go catch up with him. Text me when you’re done.”

“No, don’t,” I tried to keep her from leaving.

“Thanks!” Anthony called out after her.

“What are you trying to do?”  I shielded my eyes from the sun as I looked up at him.

“Can’t I come see you?” Anthony asked, lowering his face towards mine.

“Not around my friends,” I said quickly.

“Ouch,”

“I didn’t mean it like that,” I pinched the bridge of my nose. “It’s just I haven’t found a way to tell them we even got together at that party last week.”

“You don’t have to explain shit too me Chari,” Anthony said. “But I’m not going to restrict myself of my basic primal instinct to come see the girl I’ve been thinking about all day. I punish myself enough, if I want to come see you, God damnit I’m going to take any chance I can get.”

“Well, wow, okay,” I said dumbly.

“I was going to stop by your house later today actually,” Anthony said smiling. “But I guess now is a better time than never.”

“What do you mean?” I asked him.

“I have plans for us Saturday, the local aquarium, you in?” Anthony looked at me; I felt the corner of my mouth tug upwards.

“Yeah sure, that sounds cool.” I nodded.

“You’re going to have to tell them sooner or later,” he said, nudging his chin in Marceline’s direction. She was watching us, waiting for the okay for her to come join us again. I gave her a quick roll of the eye, pretending to be annoyed in his presence. She mouthed a quick I know right, and I faced Anthony again.

“I prefer later,” I said finally.

“I’ll see you Saturday though, right?” Anthony seemed unfazed by my decision to keep him under wraps. Then again, he was doing the same with me. I noticed that none of his friends would even comprehend the idea of coming to the beach to hang out, so why was Anthony? I remembered the little exchange he had just a couple of meters away from here. Goosebumps rose on my arms.

“Yeah, I’ll see you Saturday,” I turned around and walked towards Marceline, trying to seem utterly appalled that such a low life would have the audacity to talk to me.

“What did he want?” Marceline asked, looking over my shoulder.

“Asked me for my number,” I turned around and looked at him with her. He waved a little and I gave a tight smile. Anthony turned around and walked away. I admired his butt in his dark skinny jeans. I closed my eyes tightly and turned back towards Marceline.

“Huh,” Marceline looked at me intently. I shrugged and we walked off together.