After the Sun Sets

Chapter 3 Charlie

Nora James. I've known her my whole life. She stole my heart in the third grade when she punch Alex in the face for pushing me down at recess.

She spent all of her life protecting me even though I tower over her. She is small but fierce. I could trust her with anything. I use to sleep on her floor at night to stay out of my dad's way. My mom left him and he started drinking to numb the pain. When that wasn't enough he would use me as a punching bad. So I stayed out of his way.

My freshman year Nora's dad caught me sneaking out of her room and nailed the window shut. I would try to stay with Austin or Alex most nights but there were nights I had nowhere to go but home. Beginning of freshman year I tried coming home late in hopes dad had already passed out but he hadn't. He was not impressed with me at all and took it out on me. He had never beaten me like this and I knew it had to be bad. When I went to Nora for help I could tell by the look on her face is wasn't good. Her dad heard her sneaking out and as soon as he saw me, he put the pieces together. Nora took me into their bathroom and cleaned me up. She was trembling and sobbing. I kept telling her it was going to ok. That's the night I did what I had always wanted to do. I kissed her, and she kissed me back. I was over the moon until we walked in the living room to find her dad talking to cops. They questioned me but I wouldn't admit to what happened. Told them I fell off my bike.

They then questioned Nora and she told them everything. They called child services and I got to stay in juvie until my mom could come get me and moved me down to Texas with her.

Texas was ok. I made friends easily. My mom wasn't much better then my dad. She never hit me but she was never around. She liked the party life style and I was in the way. I probably took care of her more then she did of me. My sophomore year she got into some trouble with the law and I was put into foster care. After about a year of her basically proving her addiction was more important to her then me, I asked my case manager about moving with my dad. I lied and said he never hurt me and they couldn't prove that he had. Soon enough I was back with my dad in Florida.

My dad was very apologetic and made promises I knew he wouldn't keep.

The first time I saw her was from my bedroom window. She was lounging by the pool while Alex swam laps. I wanted to go talk to them but was nervous and worried about their questions. So I just watched. Alex got out of the pool and walked towards Nora and dripped his water all over her. She squealed and ran after him tackling him to the ground. They rolled around for awhile until Alex yelled truce. Alex grabbed his towel and dried Nora off and wrapped it sround her and pulled her in for a hug. They seemed to close. Later that week I saw him pull into her driveway in the car that was always there... even at night. I felt like I had been punched in the stomach. They were clearly in some sort of relationship.

Then I met Becky. I could tell by her body language she was a "pick me girl" and I was a good looking guy. It didn't take long until she was following me around and constantly flirting to get my attention. I figured it would be good to have a girl on my arm so Nora doesn't think I spent all this time only thinking of her when she clearly moved on.

A couple days later I noticed Alex car hasn't been at the Nora's house. There was another car that had been parking there at night. I got up early the next morning to figure out who it could be. I thought before was rough but when I saw my old childhood best friend Mike walk out of her house with a satisfied grin on his face I about lost it.

The first day back to school I ran into Nora almost instantly. She looked liked she'd seen a ghost but quickly turned into a big smile. She stepped towards me as if to give me a hug. When Becky shouted my name and jumped in my arms wrapping her legs around me. Nora's smile turned into a very angry one and moved as if to grab Becky when Mike wrapped his arm around her waist and said "Nora baby, let's get you to class."

After that I wouldn't spare her a glance and acted like I didn't know her.

I hated watching Mike hang all over her and park his car at her house every night. Becky was always all over me and flirting and I didn't stop it if anything I encouraged it.

Then tonight at the pool party I watched Mike get drunk and flirt with several girls. It was irritating to me when he had the only girl I wanted.

I had been drinking and Becky was really getting on my nerves lately and I snapped at her. Apparently her way of getting back at me was to hang all over Alex and flirt with him.

Unfortunately for her, I didn't care. I went to the garage to grab another cold beer when I saw Nora. She was bouncing along to the music, singing.. carefree in her pjs. she didn't notice me so I followed her back in the house and told her I liked her moves. She seemed nervous I was talking to her. I eventually made a move and she went with it. We got interpreted but I was able to get her alone and we messed around. She had fallen asleep in my arms. I had the girl. Hopefully tomorrow when the alcohol wears off she will still want me. That's when she jerks out of my hands and ran towards what sounded like a fight. I follow after her and I'm not surprised to find Alex and Mike fighting over her. Alex basically called her a slut and points out I obviously hooked up with her just now. Mike lunged at Alex. Austin and I step in to separate. I take Alex as I'm sure Mike wants to kill me too. Mike won't settle down and Nora goes to him and puts her hands on his chest and says something to him. His whole demeanor changed and he hugged her and kissed her head. Nora told him they were leaving and they left. I ran after her hoping she'd change her mind but she chose Mike. I watched them walk away wrapped in each others arms.