Perspective

Bad News, Charly

"We can all go together." I suggested to my friends that afternoon at lunch. "It'll be fun. Ella is going right?" I looked at her. She shrugged. 

"I mean, yeah. I can go." She said quietly. 

"Could you pick her up?" I asked Joey. He glanced over at Ella. 

"Me? Pick her up? If she's okay with that." Joey said awkwardly. Ella nodded. 

"Yeah, it's fine. But, it isn't a date." She said quickly. 

"Totally not a date." He agreed. I rolled my eyes. "Charly, you'll still save me a dance right?" 

"Of course." I replied. He kissed my cheek. I really needed to talk to him about this whole dating thing. Izzy was right, I shouldn't lead him on when I have feelings for someone else. Even if that person is someone I can never have. 

Just then, Izzy walked towards our table. She took a seat next to Clark and Penny. 

"What happened last night? I texted you." Clark said in a low voice. 

"Nothing." She said. "Sorry. I guess I fell asleep early." 

"Izzy, are you okay?" I asked her. She nodded. 

"Yep." 

"You don't look so good. You sure?" Joey questioned. 

"I'm fine." 

"How you feeling?" Ella joined in. "I mean, your arm. Are you doing okay?" 

"Yes, I'm fine. Stop asking." She snapped. We all got quiet for a few moments. 

"Are you guys going to the dance?" I asked, staring at Penny, Clark and Izzy. 

"No. I've got a big test on Monday." Penny said. 

"Izzy and I are going. Right, Iz?" Clark said, nudging her arm. 

"Naw, I can't. I've got some family coming to visit." She exclaimed. 

"Well, I'm going. If Ella and Charly both save me a dance." Clark replied with a grin. I laughed. 

"Okay, done." I answered. 

"Yeah. I totally picture you dancing like a huge dork." Ella teased Clark. He nodded. 

"You've got that right. Probably. But I deserve to have fun. You do too, Penny. You should come, you can study on Sunday." 

"I don't know, I don't have a date." Penny said turning red. 

"I'll be your date. We'll go as a group. Izzy, you sure you can't go?" Clark piped up. 

"Yeah. Family business stuff." She answered quietly. 

"It's totally understandable." I said. "I'll be right back. I have to talk to Mr. Collins. I need the homework from yesterday." 

"Okay." My friends agreed. I stood up and headed towards the exit of the cafeteria. 

Mr. Collins' door was closed when I reached the end of the hallway where his classroom was. I opened the door a little and when I stepped inside, I saw Mr. Collins standing by his desk with Miss Greenwood. He had his arms around her waist and she had her hands on his shoulders. 

"Derek, you can't waste anymore time here. You and I both know that you have so much potential." She was telling him. 

"I'm still thinking about it, Kate. I'll have an answer, just give me some time." He responded to her. I lightly knocked on the wood of the door and they both turned to look at me. Miss Greenwood pulled away from him quickly. 

"Hey," I greeted them. 

"Charly, I heard about the incident. Are you all right?" Miss Greenwood inquired. 

"I'm doing better." I replied. "Thanks." 

"That's good. I was worried yesterday." Mr. Collins said gently. 

"I'm okay now." I answered. 

"Well, I've got some papers to grade. I'll be back shortly."  Miss Greenwood told him. She smiled at him. "Bye." 

"Bye." Miss Greenwood walked past me to leave. 

"I'm glad you're okay, Charly." She told me. 

"Thanks. See you in Algebra." 

"See you then." And then she left the classroom. I walked towards Mr. Collins desk slowly. 

"You okay?" He asked. 

"I'm fine, Mr. Collins." I assured him. 

"Good. I'm glad to see you're doing much better."

"Yeah." I agreed. "Um, I was going to ask you about the homework from yesterday." 

"Oh, yeah. We're act 2 scene 3. Just read that. And..." He started, grabbing something off of the top of his desk. "Fill out these questions." I looked at the paper, filled with 25 questions about the act. 

"Okay, thanks. See you later." I muttered, heading for the door. 

"Charly," He called out, stopping me. I turned around to look at him again. 

"Yeah?" 

"I need to talk to you." He said seriously. 

"What is it?" 

"Look, I was offered this job. In Chicago." He exclaimed. "And... I just thought I should tell you. Kate got offered one too and she really wants us to do it. You and I have gotten sort of close. And just know, that I'm here if you want to talk. About anything." 

"You're just leaving?" I said in disbelief. 

"I don't know yet, but I think it's a great opportunity. And I can't stay here forever." He said. 

"But... you're there for me. Who am I supposed to go to?" I demanded. 

"Charly, you have a family who loves you. Friends, who care about you. You can't depend on me for everything. Not anymore." He said quietly. 

"It's a great opportunity for you and I don't want to be selfish. But you can't just leave. Y-you're too im-important." I stuttered, fighting the lump in my throat. 

"You know that's not true. I think I want to do it and I'm not trying to leave anything behind." He told me. 

"Are you sure?" I asked defensively. "You can't just leave." 

"Charly, you're graduating at the end of the year. What's the difference? You're still not going to see me either way." 

"That's not true. I'd come back to visit." I said. He shook his head with a sigh. "So, you just don't care? You feel absolutely nothing for me?" 

"Don't do that." He said sharply. "I care about you, we're friends. But I've told you before, I can't be with you. In that way." 

"Yeah, I know. I've heard it before." I said annoyed, wiping a tear away. 

"Please don't cry, Charly." He begged me. "It's not even for sure yet." 

"But it is for sure. You'll take the job. And you'll move away. With Miss Greenwood. And I won't cross your mind ever again. You know what? Have a nice life." I spat. I turned and I walked quickly towards the door. 

"Charly, wait. Please." He said. I stopped and turned towards him once again. "I'm still your teacher until I leave. I'm not leaving until the year is over. Kate and I are going to finish out until summer break. I'm still here, if you want to talk." I rolled my eyes, hot tears still rolling down my cheeks and I opened the door and slammed it behind me as I hurried back down the hall.