now or never - charlie gillespie

chapter three

We went to Sawyers later on that night. We decided to crash there before our next shift. Perfect! I thought to myself. Two full hours of watching Charlie in Julie and the Phantoms! Sawyer was already up late studying so we all decided to pull an all nighter.

As usual we were sitting in Saywers living room and I was trying to convince them to watch the show from the start. Finally they reluctantly agreed. We each made a bowl of popcorn and I pressed play. As soon as Luke's face came onto the screen and he began singing the first words to 'Now or Never' my eyes went wide.

"Holy shit!" I screamed, but Ava and Sawyer made no reaction probably thinking it was my usual reaction to seeing his face on the screen. I began to throw my popcorn at them to get their attention, but that also didn't work. "HOLY SHIT YOU GUYS," I yelled, finally getting their attention.

I started pointing my finger at screen frantically.

"Use your words sweetie," Sawyer said.

"Yes, yes, we know you think he's dreamy Lake," Ava said rolling her eyes and turning back to the screen.

I shook my head and started jumping on the couch and pointing at the screen some more. Seriously how did Ava not catch on by now? I'll give Sawyer some credit just because she has no idea about the strange encounter I had just a few hours ago but Ava was there. I was supposed to be the naive one, but right now Ava was giving me a run for my money.

"That's him! How did we not recognize him before?" I said coming back down to earth and sitting on the couch to catch my breath.

"I'm seriously confused. Didn't we already know that was the guy you've been obsessed?" Sawyer said taking her glasses off to clean. She did that sometimes hoping it would help her concentrate better.

"Ava, focus, remember the guy who bumped into us?" I asked. She nodded completely uninterested.

I loved my best friends and their capacity to deal with my weirdness sometimes. Which made this all the more exciting.

"What guy?" Sawyer asked trying to clean her glasses again.

"Sawyer relax, stop cleaning those damned glasses. It was nothing. Just some drunk jerks fooling around in the hotel," Ava explained to Sawyer.

"So what's the big deal?" Sawyer asked us both and Ava shrugged her shoulders.

"THATS HIM!" I yelled once more, putting my hands up defensively shrugging when they shot me death stares. "Sorry, but that's the guy that bumped into me at the hotel!!"

I saw as Avas mind began to put the puzzle pieces together and she stood up, getting excited. "No freaking way!" She exclaimed coming next to me, jumping in her place with excitement. "I told you, man! Something about this had to do with higher power." I rolled my eyes. There she goes again with that fate crap.

Sawyer pretended to be excited but I could still see she was confused. "Why are we happy that he was a jerk to you?" She said pulling her hair up into a messy bun. I laughed at how concerned she was getting. I could see right through her nervous ticks.

I went to the edge of the couch sitting by her and grabbing her hand. "He wasn't a jerk. He was the only one who apologized for his friends," I tried to explained.

"No! You've got to tell her the entire story. They so had a moment. I totally called it!" Ava said behind us, doing a happy dance.

We would never hear the end of Ava actually possibly being right for once.

I spent the next five minutes catching Sawyer up on everything.

My heart began to beat really fast. This had to mean something right? He did tell me that they were on a press tour, but Mrs. Roberts said they were only staying for the weekend. That means I only had two days to make an impression. The only problem is that I am literally the most shy person anyone will ever meet. How the hell was I gonna do this? What if he's too busy working and I don't get to see him again? And There was no way in hell my dad would ever let me work two night shifts in a row without going home, so camping out at the hotel was not an option. This was going to be harder than I thought.

I spent the rest of the night playing out scenarios in my head, trying to get myself ready in case we bumped into each other at the hotel. Being caught off guard was not my thing and if I only get one chance I don't want to ruin it by being completely starstruck and fan crazy. I'm sure that's the last thing he wants. Another psycho girl drooling over him. 

When it was time, Ava and I went back to work. Ava noticed how anxious I was. Whenever a door opened or someone walked into any room I jumped and looked their way. Usually I was strict and on point with my work. Nothing ever got in the way of my performance. Today I was completely off my game.

But I was too hopeful. The morning was slow, and there was no sign of Charlie or his friends anywhere. I even pretended to go down to the main lobby to check on a few things. Mrs. Roberts has a strict rule about maids being seen in the lobby in their uniform. I can't believe I'm actually risking my job. What is going on with me? Get it together, Lake!

When Ava and I were changing out of our uniforms in the locker rooms that when I accepted defeat. I knew it was too good to be true. Even if we did by chance meet again, he'd only be nice because who would want anything to do with a hotel maid anyways, right?

I shoved my uniform in my bag, but just as Ava and I were leaving, Mrs. Roberts asked me to cover someone's shift answering calls at the front desk for a few minutes.

"Just go ahead, I'll meet you at Saywers later," I said to Ava handing her my bag with my uniform inside, making sure to grab my name tag. I pinned it on the front of my chest near my heart and walked towards the front desk taking a seat.

The phone rang after a couple minutes and I answered, happy there was going to be something to take my mind off of things. "Hello, front desk, Lake speaking, how may I help you?"

"Uh, yea I asked yesterday for some brochures about hotel activities you guys offer and places to see around here," a voice spoke from the other end of the phone.

My breath was caught in my throat. Shit. There was no way I was being naive again. This was him. Charlie was on the phone. It was his voice.

Dammit I hate being caught off guard. What was I going to say?

"I'm heading out now. Could I pick them up if they're ready? They're under the name Charlie."

Shit. They had the same name. He just confirmed it. It had to be him I was certain. I cleared my throat. "Ehem, uh yes sir of course. I have them right here waiting for you um, sir," I said in a squeaky voice.

"Perfect! Thank you so much! I'll be down in a second." he said before ending the call.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. Don't panic, Lake. It's fine. So what if you haven't slept for two days and you probably look like shit?

I shook my head, trying to get that voice in my head to stop psyching me out. If I didn't think about it too much, maybe it won't be as bad as I think it's going to be. I prop my head on my hands and lean against the desk. A few minutes pass as I stare like a hawk at the elevators, completely ignoring the phone ringing. I decide that maybe I shouldn't look this desperate. I answer the phone very unenthusiastically. "Hello?" I say anxious and a little irritated.

"Lake! That is not way to answer the phone at my hotel! What if I had been a guest.." I wince as Mrs. Roberts continues to yell in my ear causing my head to pound. I stand up straight, startled. "I was just making sure you hadn't left yet. You'll be free to go once Nathaniel comes back from his break." She said hanging up the phone. I stared back at the phone confused. That woman was one weird egg.

Just as I put the phone down, I saw him. I was frozen in my place. I couldn't believe what was happening. He was walking towards me. I knew it was him. This was going to be my chance. I couldn't let is pass. Holy shit! Look at that gorgeous face... and don't even get me started on his smile.

I can't believe Charlie Gillespie is walking towards me right now!

Shit... I came back down to earth.

The voice inside my head couldn't help but scream because this had to be a dream.

Charlie Gillespie is walking towards me right now!!