Summer of Discovery

Chapter 6: House Party from Hell

I finish my make-up quickly, checking the time as I do to make sure I'm not running late. I sigh with relief when I see I still have twenty minutes. Get yourself together, Charlie. I reprimand myself. I jump, startled, when my phone begins to ring. I groan inwardly before answering.

"Hi mom!" I greet with what I hope is a cheerful tone.

"Oh Charlie it's so good to hear your voice!" My mom sniffles.

Immediately my nerves melt away. "It's good to hear your voice too, Mom."

"Have you been eating well?" She questions.

I look at the pint of ice cream on my end table beside my bed. The only evidence that I am currently suffering a heartbreak.

"Yes, of course. You filled my fridge before you left, how could I not be eating well?" I comfort her wishing I could hug her and let out all the sorrow and betrayal.

"Good. Are you doing anything tonight?" She asks.

"I've been invited to a party." I reply, "someone who is in my major invited me. I'm sure I'll meet other students and make some friends."

"Now Charlie, I know that I can trust you to make adult decisions. Lord knows I was once young and going to parties, but please do me a favor." She pleads. "Don't accept any drinks that you have not poured. Monsters come in all shapes and the Devil himself is the most beautiful man to exist."

I smile pressing the phone closer to my face imaging that I am hugging her. "Yes ma'am."

Incoming call alerts me that Zander is outside waiting for me.

"I gotta go Mom, my friend is here to pick me up."

"Ok. Be careful. I love you!"

"I love you too!"

                            ****
Downstairs Zander is leaning against an old silver Ford Taurus. Nothing compared to Jesse's red sports car and for some reason, that is comforting.

Zander is sporting a black leather jacket over a grey t-shirt and light wash jeans pairing the ensemble with beat up black converses.

"Are you sure you wanna go?" Zander asks with a lopsided smile.

I shrug. "Are you sure you want to go?" I throw the question back at him.

He sighs and opens the door for me. I slide into the passenger seat and pull the seat belt across my body with a secure click. Zander walks around the front and eases himself into the driver's seat. He starts the car and begins to drive us down the street of  stores and restaurants.

"I can't keep avoiding her." Zander tells me at length. "I can't let her dictate what I do or don't do."

I smile staring out the window up at the passing street lamps. "I feel the same way." I agree quietly.

"You seem to be holding up well." Zander muses keeping his eyes on the road.

I glance at him ruefully. "I'm good at hiding my feelings. How else am I going to be a successful female surgeon."

We sit in a comfortable silence. One that I've come to enjoy. Usually I hated quiet. I needed sound, music, laughter, anything...but now, at least with Zander the silence is comforting.

It's like he is allowing me to go into myself, not expecting anything from me. I think to myself and glance over at him. His brown eyes look black in the darkness of the car and they hold the road in their gaze. His full attention is directed to the road, insuring that we get to our destination. His thin lips are upturned in the slightest of smile.