CHASING CHARLIE GRAY

5

I shot a quick text to my mom  after school on Friday, telling her I'd be at Charlie's for a couple hours working on the project.

Mom:Okay, I'm working all weekend so i probably won't see you until maybe Tuesday.

Me: Wasn't this supposed to be your weekend off?

Mom: it was but you know how that goes.

Me: I do, see you Tuesday. Be safe.

Mom: Will do, i love you.

Me: Love you too.

I grabbed the key from its hiding spot before going up to unlock the door.

The house was quiet and I closed the door behind me before taking off my shoes and placing them out of the way.

" oh hi" a voice greeted in the silence making me jump.

A tall lady dressed in baby blue scrubs with her hair pulled back away from her face greeted me with a smile.

" Gia right?" she asked.

I nodded.

" I'm Cara, Charlie's nurse. I take care of her when her mom isn't around and right now well, she isn't." she chuckled.

" Nice to meet you"

" likewise" she grinned. " i was just about to go so I'll see you around okay?"

I nodded again and she tilted her head to the side slightly in wonder before flashing me a smile and leaving the way I'd just come.

Nurse?

Was Charlie sick?

I pondered that question all the way up to her room before knocking.

" come in "she called.

Her room hadn't changed much, only difference was the color of her bedsheets. The room was still freezing but this time she was sitting at the window seat.

Her hair was down today, honey blonde waves falling down her back almost touching the seat beneath her. A quirk of her lips before she breathed out a soft 'hey' in greeting.

I walked the steps from the door to her before sitting opposite her on the seat that was more like a bed with how big and soft it was.

" i didn't know you had a nurse, i didn't even know you were sick" i mumbled.

I felt bad for talking shit about her in school now, even though she wasn't there, i felt the need to apologize.

" No one at school does" she clarified, spreading the blanket over me once again and taking the same hoodie from before and placing it in front of me.

I shrugged the hoodie on before continuing. 

" is that why you miss so much school?" i asked.

"mhm" she answered.

A soft 'oh' left my lips.

Her smile left as she glanced out the window. The neighbors were outside with their kids having a barbecue. The kids chasing each other around the house.

" I'll tell you about it later but right now we've gotta get back to that book, sorry i fell asleep last time" she scratched her neck looking sheepish.

I could see that she wasn't ready to talk about it yet with me and who was I to push her, after all I'd only known Charlie Gray for a week.

"okay, we were on chapter 5" I mumbled, thumbing through the pages to find the mark. When i found it I started reading again and Charlie Gray leaned back and listened.