Chapter 32: Chapter 32
For as long as Charlee could remember, Drew had done the very thing she was now doing—tried to turn a negative into a positive. Ever since lasts weeks’ outburst from Hector at school about her talking to Ross, Drew was trying to convince Charlee that, once again, this was a good thing. That it only confirmed even further the very thing that Drew had been talking about just prior to going back for her paycheck: Hector had a serious thing for Charlee but didn’t do commitment.
Only after seeing how crazy it made Hector to see Charlee with Ross, Drew now had a plan—a plan Charlee refused to take part in.
“I don’t understand why you’re being so difficult, Charlee. You agreed there was no doubt about it. He was jealous.”
“I never agreed that he was jealous.” Charlee said as she took a seat outside of Starbucks. “I agreed he was angry and rightfully so. Here I was being all friendly to the guy he’d saved me from and who put his good friend in the emergency room just weeks ago.”
Drew sipped her latte, shaking her head. “Difficult.”
“I am not being difficult,” Charlee insisted. “I just think playing head games is going make him think even less of me than he already does. I’ve made the most awful impressions on him already—each one worse than the last. First, I come off as a total bitch trying to show him up in front of the chess team on his very first day there. Then, I easily give into making out with him at his party the very next day, after showing him up no less. And then,” she squeezed her eyes shut at the very thought, “then I make myself sound like a total slut just to cover up the fact that I care that that night didn’t mean everything to him like it did to me!”
“I don’t think you made yourself sound like a slut—”
“Oh, yes, I did. You weren’t there. You didn’t see the look on his face. Oh, but the absolute worst part is that now he not only thinks I’m a slut but he thinks I’m the dumbest slut on the planet, because now even creepy guy Ross is someone I’d consider doing . . . whatever it is he thinks I’m considering doing with him.” She peered at Drew. “Did you not see the look in his eye when he asked me if I was considering doing something with Ross?”
“Yes, yes,” Drew said. “I saw and heard everything. He was jealous, Charlee. I’m telling you the guy’s got it bad. And it wouldn’t be head games we are playing. It’s not like you’re seeing him or anything and then trying to make him jealous. You’re free to do what you want with whomever you want. Though I forbid you spend any more time being friendly with Ross. He is creepy.”
Charlee sipped her coffee but nodded in agreement. The only reason she’d been pleasant to Ross at all and agreed to talk to him later was because standing so close to Hector had brought back all the pain, the pain she was trying so desperately to rid herself of. At that moment, she didn’t want anything from Hector, not even his help, and she wanted to show him she had things under control. That she didn’t need him. “Well, I don’t flirt. You know that. Even if I did, I’m not flirting with anyone in the chess club. It would be too awkward. And since it’s the only place I get to be around Hector, then this little plan of yours is not going to work.”
Drew pulled her lips to one side. Good. Charlee had her. They could just forget about this once and for all and accept that anything between her and Hector was impossible.
She didn’t know why she’d ever allowed herself to even think it a possibility. For starters, Charlee was so pathetically inexperienced when it came to romantic relationships even getting involved with a less assuming guy would be a challenge. But to think she could work something out with a guy like Hector was almost laughable, not to mention daunting as heck. Though she had to admit, after being alone with him for a while in that room that night, talking to him had surprisingly become easier and easier.
“So how long do you think we’ll be at that old peeps home with Walter?”
“Just a few hours,” Charlee said. “You don’t have to go if you don’t want to, Drew. It just sounded like something neat to do. He said they were really excited when Hector played them. So when he told them about the girl from U.S. team that also lived in town, they asked him to try to get me in there.”
“No.” Drew smiled as they stood up, putting her arm around Charlee’s shoulder. “I don’t mind going with you at all. You’re too sweet.”
Charlee smiled. “You know better than anyone this isn’t so selfless. I have a hunch this is going to feel as good as it does when we do the Special Olympics. And you know how addictive that is.”
Drew’s face lit up. “I can play checkers or Yahtzi.”
That made Charlee laugh, and she leaned into Drew. “I’m sure you’ll find an opponent there.”
Glad that they’d at last canned this idea, Charlee could only hope it was the very end of this. She really needed to move on. The main reason she agreed to move out here in the first place was to get away and leave the nightmare behind. The last thing she should be trying to do now is create a new one.
***
“I got it!” Drew burst into Charlee’s bedroom.
Charlee looked up from her laptop with her pencil still in her mouth. Her friend dropped her purse on the floor with a huge smile on her face. Uh oh.
Removing the pencil slowly from her mouth, Charlee watched as Drew made herself comfortable on the other end of the bed. “I didn’t know you were home.”
“I just got here,” Drew said quickly. “Okay, remember that guy Miguel I told you about? The one I went out with a few times a couple of weeks ago?”
Charlee frowned. “The one you said was nice but you didn’t like the way he laughed so you stopped going out with him just because of that?”
Drew’s huge smile disappeared. “Charlee, you have to hear it. It’s awful. Like a horse spazzing out or something.” The huge smile was back instantly, and she waved her hands in front of her. “Anyway, I ran into him the other day. When we’d gone out, I talked about my dad collecting old records but how hard they are to get these days. He’d told me about some place in East L.A. that still sells all that. Long story short, he took me there today. Sounds of Music in the heart of East L.A, totally retro record store, something out of Pretty in Pink. So I go up to the register and pay, and there are all these flyers and stuff on the counter. Then I notice the pictures under the Plexiglas. Photos of what looked like the guy behind the counter with some rappers and singers, and then there it was—a photo of the guy and Hector standing by a boxing ring.”
Charlee rolled her eyes. She knew it. They were back to this.
Drew placed her fist on her hip. “Charlee, you promised you wouldn’t be difficult.”
Scrunching up her nose, Charlee thought about it for a second. “I never promised that.”
“Well, you should.” Drew jumped off the bed and reached for her purse. “Just listen to me. This gets better.” She pulled a small flyer-like card out of her purse. “I asked the guy if he knew Hector, and he said Hector and some of the other guys from 5th Street used to go in there often since it’s right up the street. Then he handed me this.”
Charlee glanced down at the card Drew was holding out cautiously. “What is it?”
“Read it,” Drew shook it in front of her.
Charlee took it and read the header.
Flyer: Friday night fights @ 5th Street
This Friday -- Quintanilla Vs machado
“The guy said Quintanilla is one of the other owners of 5th Street.”
Drew didn’t have to tell her. Charlee already knew all about Noah Quintanilla—one of Hector and his brother’s partners and childhood friends. She had, after all, become the queen of Google-stalking. She lifted her eyebrow at Drew almost afraid to ask.
“You said the guys in the chess team have talked about having gone back to watch more fights since Hector’s, right?”
Charlee nodded, looking back down at the card, continuing to read the rest of the details as she chewed on the inside of her cheek. She wouldn’t tell Drew, but she already knew about Friday Night Fights at 5th Street. The internet knew everything. But she hadn’t mentioned it before for this very reason.
“So I didn’t know it was like this weekly thing, and it’s not only open to the public but they actually promote it on the radio and everything. They want people coming.”
Oh no. Charlee could already feel the uneasiness creep up her spine. As much as she’d try to fight this, she knew that Drew was always so damn convincing and unwavering.
“The best part is the guy down at Sounds of Music said it’s this big thing in the area on Friday Nights and there are always all these backyard parties after the fights. A lot of the trainers and even boxers show up to them.” Drew’s eyes were as bright as Charlee had ever seen them. “Of course, I asked if Hector goes, and he said, ‘yes’!” She weaved her head a little from side to side then admitted. “Not always, of course, but the guy said he’s been known to show up. That doesn’t even matter though. What matters is you may not have noticed, because you were so preoccupied watching Hector the whole time, but there were a bunch of hot guys there watching the fight last time. I’m sure they’re there every week.”
Charlee began to protest, but Drew was quick to stop her, holding up her hand. The girl had obviously come here prepared for an argument. She knew Charlee too well. “If nothing else, maybe you’ll meet someone else. Hell, maybe I’ll meet someone there.” Drew made a pouty face. “You wouldn’t deprive me of the opportunity to possibly meet a hottie boxer or trainer?”
Exhaling and feeling defeated, Charlee countered with the only thing she could think of. “What about Maurice? I thought you said you liked him.”
Drew shook her head, tsking. “I was beginning to, but he blew it.”
Charlee pinched her brows. This was the first she’d heard of this. “What did he do?”
Drew explained about the odd text she’d received from him just that morning, telling her his body was still recovering from the night they’d had last night. Problem was Drew hadn’t seen him in days. She didn’t seem too broken up about it, but it was enough that she said she was done with him. That only reminded Charlee how Hector had never even bothered asking her for her number.
“It’s not like we’d agreed to be exclusive or anything, but the lengths he went to try to cover it up were such a turn off.” She made a gagging noise. “I would’ve had more respect for him if he’d just fessed up from the beginning as he tried to do later when he finally figured out I wasn’t buying it. Then he tried to act as if he was being all noble about coming clean and he’d sent the text to the wrong girl.” She shrugged. “Whatever! He was a good kisser, but I never felt anything like what you said you felt when Hector kissed you.” She went all dreamy eyed and sighed. “I think I’ll hold off until I find someone that makes me feel that way too.”
Not wanting to look at Drew anymore, Charlee glanced back down at her laptop. She knew her friend meant well, but she hated when Drew brought up Hector’s kisses. And she did it a lot—each time with that same wistful expression she wore now. Charlee didn’t need constant reminding of those kisses—kisses she may never get to experience again.
“So,” Drew stood up off the bed. “You and me. Friday night. 5th Street.” She lifted her hand before Charlee could even begin to protest. “I won’t take no for an answer, Charlotte Brennan. The last time you went out was the night of Hector’s fight. I won’t let you do what you did back home and sink into your lonely little cave.”
Charlee’s shoulders slouched in defeat. “I wouldn’t dream of arguing with you, Drew.”
“Good,” Drew smiled proudly, “because you’d never win. Now I’m off to brainstorm in the shower.”
Charlee fell back on her pillow dramatically. “I wish you’d left that last part out.”
“Okay,” Drew winked at her. “Forget I said that then. I’m off to enjoy the vibrating handheld shower.”
Charlee’s jaw dropped, and then she burst out laughing. “T.M.I!”
“But I’ll do it while thinking of Hector,” Drew added as she walked out the door.
That immediately shut Charlee up.
“You know what I meant!” Drew yelled from the hallway.
Charlee thought about it for a moment then smiled. She had no idea what Drew had in mind exactly for Friday night, but her insides were already beginning to bubble.