now or never - charlie gillespie

chapter thirty one

His question bounced around my mind. "What were you going to do?"

He was right. What the hell was I going to do?

I felt my stomach turn again.

I groaned and ran over to the bed, taking a seat. "I don't know. I really don't know. Why does everything have to be so complicated?" I asked Ava and Owen.

"Permission to burst out in song right now?" Ava asked, raising her hand. I groaned and rubbed my head with my fingers. "What? I can't pass up an opportunity to belt out Avril Lavigne," she shrugged her shoulder.

"Nice," Owen whispered to her, giving her a high five. I glared at both of them. "Sorry, I just really like that song, too" he shrugged his shoulders. "I would've totally joined in," he whispered to Ava again. I squinted my eyes. "Sorry. You're right. Not the time. Where were we? It's complicated, and go."

"Well actually, it's not that complic-" Ava started saying but stopped and put her hands up defensively when I glared at her.

"Guys," I whined trying to get them to focus.

"Listen, Lake, you have two more days to figure it out. Until then come hang out with us on the beach," He smiled at me.

I appreciated that he was trying to make me feel better, but I had no time for lounging around. Besides, Mrs. Roberts would rescind her job offer the second she saw me sitting with guests.

"I still have to work all day," I told him.

"Well then when you finish, come hang out with us in the room. Please. It's not everyday we're in Hawaii after all," he raised his eyebrows. He was right. I couldn't just ditch them.

"Fine, i'll call you when I get off," I said as I walked with him to the door. I opened it and let him walk out. "Now please, go have fun with everyone downstairs, before you get me in trouble."

"You know," he said looking behind me, making sure Ava couldn't hear him. "I kind of like sneaking around with you," he winked and then walked away. I shook my head. This boy was too much.

I let myself imagine, just for two seconds, what it would be like if I lived in a perfect world. If I lived in a world where my dad would encourage me to go on tour with them. It was a nice dream. I quickly bursted my own bubble and went back to cleaning the room.

I groaned again for what felt like the thousandth time today. I really had to talk to Owen about our almost kiss. I made a mental note. Tonight I would set things straight. My stomach couldn't handle all of this.

After I finished my shift, I handed in my uniform to dry cleaning. I stopped in front of a mirror making sure I looked fine before sneaking upstairs to the room Owen told me to come to.

I had already told my dad that I would be working late with Ava. I took a deep breath and knocked three times. I heard several voices, cheers and screams. Finally after a few seconds the door swung open and Owen's face instantly brightened.

"Hey, Owen, before I come in do you think we can go outside and -" I started to say, trying to get it out quickly before I got distracted but he cut me off, startling me.

"LAKE'S HERE!" he screamed, shaking his head, dismissing what I just said. I gave him a confused look before giving him a quick hug and walking inside.

I looked around the room, trying to figure out why Owen was acting weird. Everyone was too busy to hear Owen. They were crowded around a table where Charlie and Jeremy were arm wrestling. "They've been at this for a couple of minutes now. I'm rooting for Jer. YEAH JER!" Owen screamed.

Kenny was filming the entire exchange. He turned the camera to me and I awkwardly waved and smiled. I turned my attention back to the boys. Jeremy was as red as a tomato and Charlie was trying as hard as he could. I laughed as Kenny zoomed in on their muscles.

"Hey Lake!" Carolynn said from behind me. I watched as Charlie broke his concentration when he heard my name and Jeremy won.

"Ohh!!" Owen and Carolynn cheered.

"Hey girl," I said, giving her a hug. "How are you liking Hawaii so far?"

"It's absolutely gorgeous. I'm so glad we came," She said grinning at Jeremy as he walked over to us.

"Lake! I've missed you little sis," he said tossing my hair with his hands. I couldn't believe how much these few people have grown on me.

"Would you guys stop hogging my girl already," Charlie said as he swung an arm around my shoulders giving me a quick kiss on my cheek. I looked at Owen and his eyes quickly darted away and my stomach dropped.

"Is she really your girl though?" Jeremy teased him.

"Oooo" they all said in unison.

"So Lake, have you thought anymore about what we discussed?" Kenny asked me and I shook my head. "You're really shy aren't you?" I nodded my head and they all laughed.

"That's just Lake. It took her forever to get the courage to talk to me," Charlie said, his arm around my shoulder pulled me in close to him. I got a whiff of his smell and I swear my eyes almost rolled back into my head. How could one person possibly smell so good?

"Yeah, but she'll warm up to you and then you won't be able to get her out of your hair,," Owen teased, sticking his tongue out at me.

"Like anyone would want you out of their hair," Charlie whispered in my ear.

Had he had a little too much to drink? He was being awfully friendly. I wasn't complaining, just as long as his other side didn't make an appearance.

"Um.. sorry Mr. Ortega, it's just that-" I started to say but stopped when they all laughed.

"Please, call me Kenny," he said through laughs.

It felt weird, like I was being rude. But I just nodded my head and did as I was told. I cleared my throat and continued. "Sorry. Kenny, it's just that I really don't know how i'm going to approach my dad with all of this or even what i'll say," I said, the thought already making me nervous.

"Well," he said, raising his eyebrows and grabbing a drink, taking a long sip and then smiling at me. "You better think it through quickly," he said checking his watch.

"Huh?" I looked around and they were all averting their eyes, avoiding eye contact. Owen finally looked up and gave me a weak smile, mouthing the word 'sorry'

What did he have to be sorry about?

"I called him a couple of hours ago and asked him to meet me here," he said, checking his watch.

Wait. Hold up just one second. Were my ears clogged or did I hear that right?

"Well if my watch is correct, your dad should be here any second now."

—

ahh!! How do you think her dad will react??