Serenity

07 Removing Arms

CHARLIE

This has been a very crappy week and a half. All starting with that disaster of a date on Friday Night.

I spotted Chase standing outside Treasure Theatre with his hands in his pockets.

"My man," Chase fist bumped my fist. "You clean up good."

I was only wearing a black t-shirt and gelled my hair a bit, nothing too crazy or over the the top. Chase on the other hand, wore a button up shirt with a leather jacket and had his sandy blonde hair slicked back.

"So how long is this going to be?" I asked.

"Not too long," Chase said. "We're just going to catch a movie then go to eat in the mall."

"Wow, I see you've put a lot of effort into planning this," I said with sarcasm dripping from my tone.

"Only enough to impress Hannah enough to ditch Hillary and get a ride home with me, while you take Hillary home," Chase smirked.

My posture stiffened.

"Wait what?!" My eyes bulged. "I have to take her home?"

"Yep," He patted my shoulder. "Lighten up dude, this is a good thing. Maybe she'll invite you in and you'll finally get some action."

"But that wasn't the plan. You said I get to play wingman for a while, then I get to go back home," I pulled at my hair. "You're impossible Chase."

"Hey, I'm doing you a favor," Said Chase, sounding annoyed.

"Believe me when I say that I definitely don't need you doing me any favors," I grunted.

"Chill out man," Chase said. "At least try to have a good time tonight. Hillary is a great girl and you're both into music. It's a match made in heaven."

I glared at him with enough sour bitterness to make a baby cry.

"It's going to all work out in the end, trust me," Chase reassured. "Loosen up and have fun. You don't have to brood all the time you know."

I was about to make my argument until we saw a blonde and a red head walk over to us. Hillary was wearing jeans and a snug tank top that matched her flaming hair. She was pretty and she was nice and way way out of my league. I didn't understand why she was interested in me, a loner who would rather sit in the woods all day than go on a date with a pretty girl. I guess it wouldn't hurt to try to see where it could go.

And if everything goes wrong, I can always lock myself in my room and never come out again.

We sat for about an hour and half watching some new slasher movie. I saw Chase and Hannah get cozy while Hillary tried to put her head on my shoulder. Key word, tried.

I turned my head at the same time she was about to position her's, and we ended up bumping heads. It was painful and awkward. She didn't make another attempt to get close to me during the movie after that.

Probably for the better, I was too antsy. My legs were bobbing up and down and my heart was beating so loud I can hear it hammering in my eardrums.

Social anxiety can be a real bitch.

Just as according to Chase's plan, we walked through the mall for a while and sat down at Chilly's. It was alright, Chase carried most of the conversation. I put some of my opinions and views out there and I ended up surviving that portion of the night.