In My Art

Chapter 14- Go Charlotte!

Song- The Best Part by Johnny Drille

…/…

“Go on,” I pushed. “I think I prefer us being close friends”. “Close friends? Close friends??” Jane shouts. “Calm down, Jane. Don’t lose it now,” ID says. “Easy for you to say. You guys have people interested in you and Tyler is inviting me to a video game-themed party outside school”.

“I’m just saying I’ve never looked at him that way and I’m sure deep down, he doesn’t look at me that way too, maybe he just feels like this is the next right thing to do”. “That is so not true,” I said, standing up. “You should’ve seen when he brought you in on the night of the Halloween party. He was so gentle and concerned and caring,” I added.

“I think he actually really likes you, Lex, hate aside,” Jane says. “And I think you don’t want to go out with him because you’re comfortable where you are and you’ve never been a fan of dating, and relationships, but maybe it’s time to try something new, plus I’d really love to have a real couple that Ian and I can finally go on a double date with,” ID says.

I smiled at ID in a sarcastic manner because it was really obvious she was attacking me and Jane. “So, you guys really think I should say yes?” “Yes!” we all shouted. “It’s just one date, it wouldn’t hurt. Just see how it goes,” I said. “Yeah Lex, go have fun,” Jane added.

“Okay, okay, I’ll call him now because I just left him hanging”. “Yeah sure,” I said. Lexie dials his number and he picks up on the second ring. “Hey, Lex,” he says. “Hey Cole, uhm I’m just calling about what you said earlier”. “And?” he asks. “Sure, I’ll go out with you”.

“Thank you. You won’t regret it,” he replied. The excitement in his tone could not be missed. I cooed out loud, forgetting that it was on speaker. “Wait, am I on speaker?” he asked. Lexie looks at me with her ‘I-can-kill-you’ face and I mouth ‘sorry’ to her.

She hangs up when he says he’ll text the details to her. “You guys, I just realized that there’s a problem”. “What is it?” ID asked. “What if he’s taking me to a fancy restaurant for dinner?” “What’s the problem with that?” Jane asked.

“I can’t put on a dress,” she says. “You’re going to have to. It’s not going to be so bad,” I said, trying to convince her. “Yeah, plus it doesn’t have to be a flowing gown. It could be a straight short gown, plus you don’t have to wear heels”. Lexie’s head whips around so fast that I didn’t think it was humanly possible.

“I am so not wearing heels”. “He knows you, Lex. I don’t think he’ll ask you to dinner, or at least, I’m going to give him the benefit of the doubt. I think he’ll take you to a place where the both of you can be yourselves and be free,” ID says.

“Is it me or is ID getting smarter because she’s in a relationship?” I say, knowing fully well that I’m looking for trouble.

Ten minutes later, Bryan is let into the suite by Jane, with a bag of snacks in his hand. “I got these for you,” he says as he hands the bag of chocolates to me. “Thanks, sweetie,” I said in response. He crouches in front of me and for a minute, my heart skips a beat because of the proximity between us.

Is he really going to kiss me in front of my suitemates? We’ve never kissed before. I’m really nervous. “I could get used to that,” he whispers in my ear. “Oh, get a room,” Jane says, with her hands covering her eyes.

“He just texted! He just texted!” she says twice, as though we didn’t hear her the first time. “Well, go on,” ID says. “He’s taking me hiking! He’s taking me hiking”. “We heard you the first time,” Jane yelled. “And we are happy for you,” I added.

“That’s such a relief,” she says, exhaling loudly. “I got to say, I like him more now because he actually knows you,” ID says. “Yeah,” Jane and I mutter at the same time. The whole time, Bryan is seated on another couch, plugged in, and using his phone.

I’m about to tap Bryan when I suddenly turn to ask Lexie, “Wait, it’s not this evening, is it?” “Nah, tomorrow morning”. “What an amazing girlfriend you’d make,” ID says, patting Lexie’s shoulders. “Let’s not jump the gun here,” she says. “I could never wake up to go for anything in the morning with Ian, except if it’s an emergency”.

“That’s why you’re you and she’s well, Lex. That’s probably her best time of the day,” I say. “You know me so well,” she responds. I tapped Bryan. “Wanna go in there?” I asked, pointing to my room. There was an obvious smile on his face. “To read,” I added, placing more emphasis on the 'read' part of my statement.

His phone’s screen lights up as he says, “I knew that” with a sheepish smile on his face. “Oh wow, I actually have to go now. Something’s gone wrong with the faucet in my bathroom”. “Okay, hope your room isn’t flooded?” “Nah. According to Duke, it’s minor but there is water on the floor. I’ll see you later, babe,” he says as he kisses my forehead. “Bye,” he says to my roommates, whose eyes were wide open.

“He did not just 'babe' you, right now,” Jane says. “Oh, that means nothing. We use terms of endearment all the time”. “What are you guys even doing? He clearly likes you and we know you like him,” ID says. “He’s taking his time, maybe. Look, we have finals in three weeks. Honestly, I don’t think I want him to ask me before finals. I really need to study”.

“So you guys are just going to act like you’re in a relationship till then because you guys are doing everything people in relationships do,” ID says. “Well, not everything,” I say. “No one’s talking about that,” ID says. “I’m not talking about that either. We haven’t kissed yet,” I confessed.

“Who’s stalling, you or him?” ID asked. She was so ready to attack me but I liked it because it showed that she cared. “Me,” I confessed again. “Good! I’m proud of you,” Lex says. “Shh, you just don’t like romance and romantic gestures,” Jane attacks.

Lexie gasps dramatically, and says, “Of course I do!” “Yeah, and ID’s a bunny. Chill, why are you stalling exactly?” Jane asked. “We aren’t in a relationship. I’m not going to kiss someone I’m not in a relationship with”.

“Fair, but you guys are dating,” ID says. “Stand by your word, Char,” Lexie says. “Anytime. It’s the same thing, till he asks me to be his girlfriend, I’m not going to let him do anything with me,” I say, internally proud that I’m standing my ground.

“So, when you guys get together, you can go as far as baby-making?” Jane asked. “Nope! No baby-making!” I say, firmly. “Go Charlotte!” Lexie yells. We start laughing because Lexie’s enthusiasm is one we had never seen before. It was new and fun.

“Okay guys, I’m going to study inside. If you need me, feel free to barge in”. “Have fun!” Jane yelled. Who shouts 'have fun' when someone is going to study?

I needed to write a summary on ‘The Nutcracker’ and, so far, I had only read the first page, not because it was boring but because Bryan kept distracting me.

I opened the window to my room, to allow the cool breeze into it, plus the sunset always gets me in the mood to read, especially when I know I want to read for a long time. I could smell winter from a mile away, it was coming. My favorite time of the year since I was a child.

The concept of snow was poetic then and now, I can’t wait for it to start snowing here. I put on my socks, lay down on the bed with my covers on, and opened the book to start from the very first page like I hadn’t read earlier when Bryan was around to find out that the Prince’s aunt was killed.

Soon enough, the words on the pages of the book stop being words and they start forming scenes in my head. I could see the woods where the Prince kept training to become an amazing Archer, and I could see the hand-stitched gown of the princess. It was a movie.

…/…

Halfway into the book, I was thrust into the real world when Jane barged into the room yelling, “Let’s throw a party!”