After the Sun Sets

Chapter4 Charlie

I was tossing and turning all night. It had to be because of the alcohol. She wasn't in her right mind and I need to go over there and demand she talk this out with me.

I showered. Got dressed and headed to her door. Mike's car is here but it's always here. We need to figure this out I can't stand another minute of not knowing. It's all I can think about. I knock on the door and Mike of course opens the door only wearing his underwear and a smug smile.

"Good morning Charlie! What brings you by?"

"Hey Mike. How's it going?" I regret my words as I say them.

"I would think after last night you would know it wouldn't be smart to come here! I may not be drunk but I still want to kick your ass!" He squared up.

"I'm sorry Mike, but I care about her a lot and I can't just walk away." I begged.

"You care about her!?! You barely pay her any attention unless you want something! And! She is the type of girl who bounces from guy to guy without a thought. What makes you any different." he roared at me .

Just when I thought this couldn't get any worse Becky's car pulled up to my house. She hops out and walks toward us.

"You can't be serious right now!" Mike yelled

"Hey Charlie!" Becky wrapped her hands around my arm "can we talk?"

I turn to her and tell her to wait a minute and turn back to Mike.

"I really need to talk to Nora... please!" I begged.

Mike looked from me to Becky and then smirked. "She's still in bed. I think she's worn out from last night.. if you know what I mean." he winked at me.

"Ugh! let's go Charlie!" Becky scoffed and dragged me back towards her car.

Nora chose Mike. What happened between us ment nothing to her.

"I'm sorry about last night! You were grumpy and I just wanted to have fun. Nothing happened with Alex!" she pouts holding onto my arm.

Out of the corner of my eye I see the curtains move to Nora's bedroom and without a second thought I pushed Becky up against the car and kiss her the way I kissed Nora in the kitchen last night. Becky happily responds. I pull away and touch her cheek "I'll call you later." and walked back towards my house.

Nora

Well my thoughts have been confirmed. I heard voices outside and peaked to see Charlie walking Becky to her car and kissing her goodbye. He must have taken her home with him last night. I lower myself to the floor and let myself have a good cry. After a few minutes I get up and take a shower. No more crying over him. It is what it is. I've had to learn after the accident when I'm feeling down I need to focus on something or do something to take my mind from constantly over thinking. I get dressed and head downstairs.

Mike is laying on the couch obviously feeling sorry for himself.

"Get dressed Mike we are going out!" I say with a big smile.

"And why would we do that." he sighs.

"Because I'm having a day!" I say, smile no longer as confident.

He studies my face I know he sees my puffy red eyes.

"I'll be ready in 10 min!" He hops up to go get ready.

Since the accident I have days where I want to cry and never leave the bed. I had fallen into the pattern too may times. Now when I feel it coming on I tell Mike I'm having a day and he knows I need to get out, that I need him. No questions asked!

Mike took me to the mall we shopped and hung out. By the time we got home it was late in the afternoon. Mike carried our bags in. "I was thinking I'd grill those steaks tonight. Maybe hang out by the pool?" he asked.

"That sounds great!" I smile but now that I'm home next to Charlie I feel sad. I put away all my new stuff and change into my suit. When I came outside Mike was setting our meal on the table. We ate our food and chatted. Mike and I always had things to talk about. We were comfortable with each other. After eating Mike lit the fire pit and put on some music and we just hung out. I was getting tired and Mike said we wanted to swim some laps. I walk around the pool as he swims. Occasionally dipping my foot in. since I almost drowned I wouldn't say I feared water... I definitely respected it and stayed far away from it. I use to love the water spent most of my time in it. Now I just watched it from afar.

"Nora!" Mike hollered making me jump "you ok, where were you ." Mike is no longer in the pool and standing in front of me shaking my shoulders.

"I got lost in my head I guess."

"You walked around the pool and even put you foot in. that great progress! " He smiled excitedly.

"Yeah... I'm going to go to bed. it's been a long day."

I spent the rest of the weekend watching movies in my room. Meagan came over for a little bit. I told her everything that happened with Charlie. She was supportive but spent the more time complaining about Austin. I was pretty relieved when she left.

The next week went back to normal. Charlie ignored me and acted like I wasn't alive. I dreaded school and couldn't wait till it was over and I could hide in my Charlie free zone.