Wild (Cherik Book One)

Short Days, Long Nights

"I went out looking for love

when I was seventeen"

_____________CHARLIE____________

Charlie pulled into the rundown parking lot of the storage unit. His yellow car rumbles over the uneven gravel before he can finally park. There wasn't an official parking lot for the storage unit but rather a small area of loose gravel that fit the rare few that actually came for their things. Charlie imagined all the things that get thrown out. What rare treasures lie under it all? What interesting people keep their things in these tin rooms? Charlie doesn't make the trip to the storage unit often but everytime he does it's a ghost town. The owner is almost never on site leaving everything quiet and lonely. There's an uneasy vibe that comes with the mystery of what lies behind the padlock of these rusted doors. The long rows exposed in the relentless sun, the rusty garage-like doors shine in the lot. Charlie took the unit key and walked alongside Erik to their unit. It's where they keep the majority of the band memorabilia and supplies. Extra drumsticks, old shirts and decorations for shows.

    "Okay," Charlie unlocked the unit and slid it up with a huff. Just passed the doors are a unique collection of plastic bins and discarded materials. Things bought at garage sales and flea markets over the years. A mismatched sea of madness.

    "We need the soft glow lights and everything that gives off a remotely soft vibe. Marina and Angel want this show to feel right out of a nineties movie scene and we have to make that happen," Charlie wiped off his hands and began looking through the labeled bins. He landed on a yellow one with scratchy black writing that read "Soft bulbs" and Charlie snapped in relief before picking it up. Well, that is before Erik stopped him.

    "Charlie, something's wrong," Erik spoke softly from behind him. Charlie turned and quirked his eyebrow.

    "What? Did Sean break something?" Charlie chuckled away the increasing worry. He couldn't show that weakness, that fear. He had to be the strong one for everyone. Charlie moved boxes as he talked taking the small bins and moving them towards the entrance before Erik stopped him. His scared palms took the boxes from him. Charlie could feel the scars from all his skateboard tricks that landed him on the concrete. That memory of comfort and bandaids and times easier than now.

    "What happened?" Erik asked once again. Charlie bit his lip and closed his eyes.

    "I invited Jack to the concert and he can't go because apparently something came up. Which we all know is a total lie. I really wanted him to come, Erik. I know it's stupid but I didn't want to be alone tonight. I wanted to dance with somebody. Shit, and now I'm quoting Whitney," Charlie put his hands on his hips and looked up. A sad and exhausted chuckle escaped his pink lips and surrounded him like a blanket. Charlie was tired of this shroud of loneliness that engulfed him in darkness constantly. He wanted that one great love story and he wanted it to be real. He wanted his movie moment, that kiss that makes every other kiss pale in comparison. A moment with the person you belong with, no bullshit or lies. But as the days passed Charlie was finding it harder and harder to believe in that.

    "You know what? Screw Jack, you've worked your ass off to make this concert happen and I won't let you throw it all away for some selfish asshole. So, forget about him and you wanna dance with somebody? You want your Whitney Houston moment? I'll dance with you all night if that's what you want. Look, you have worked so hard to get us all to this point and you deserve every ounce of happiness tonight. You don't need anyone there that doesn't want to one hundred percent support you and Peaches." Erik puts it all rather plainly. He held Charles in a tight hug and let the moment take place. Charlie snuggled his head into Erik's warm shoulder wanting to forget all about Jack again. Why did he have to come back and ruin everything? Scatter Charlie's feelings like paint and then leave him high and dry? Charlie wanted so badly for Jack to have changed but he supposed that Erik was right. Some people don't change.