The doorbell rang, waking Charlie up. The doorbell itself wouldn't have woken her under normal circumstances, but it was clear something was wrong with it, given it was so much louder than any other doorbell Charlie had heard.
Charlie heard running to the front door and whoever was running almost reached it before the doorbell was rung again. Now that she was awake, Charlie had to cover her ears with how loud the doorbell was. The clock in the room indicated that it was almost five, which surprised her. She didn't realize she'd fallen asleep, but while she'd gotten through several pages, it felt like it should be closer to four than five. Which she assumed meant that she'd napped for around an hour.
"Please don't ring the doorbell again," Charlie heard Beth plead with whoever was at the front door.
"Sorry, didn't realize your doorbell was broken," the person said. Charlie didn't recognize the voice, but it sounded familiar. She just couldn't place it right away. All she could tell was that it was a girl.
"Why're you here anyway?" Beth asked. "I thought you were going to be gone for the entire summer on that trip."
"We got back this morning, my grandma had an emergency at work," came the reply. "I came over after I got your email." The sound of the person's voice indicated that they'd entered the house.
"Well, can we talk about this later?" Beth asked. "Now isn't a good time and can't you talk with Allison about this first?"
"I need to talk with you about it now and you know Allison isn't going to be available until at least next week so you're it. You're the only one I can talk to about what you said in that email. I mean, how am I supposed to know if she's going to find that she does have a shot with this Shirley, regardless of their age difference? I know I was supposed to invite her to my birthday party and I chickened out, but I'm not sure if I can handle it if I lose my chance like this," the other girl said, sounding like she was coming closer. Charlie wasn't sure if she should move or do anything. Part of her was wondering if she should even be hearing what's being said at this moment.
"There's really something you need to know first," Beth pleaded, sounding rather desperate, which surprised Charlie. Who was this that was visiting?
"Then there's the part that I already have it planned how to ask her out to homecoming," the girl continued, either ignoring Beth or not hearing her at all. "All I really need is to keep her single until then. I mean, I know I gave her that necklace in her locker back in April and it wasn't until around the last week of school that she started wearing it and I was starting to worry that she wasn't going to wear it at all. So, I know she's at least open to a relationship, but I need to keep her from getting involved with someone else first. You've been able to give us good information about her since we made that deal for you to become friends with her and your help has been great."
Charlie was getting a sinking feeling in her stomach about who it was that was talking, even though her name wasn't coming to mind. It also sounded like she was heading towards Beth's room, which made Charlie feel like she should hide, not that she could think why that was.
"Alex, please, I need to tell you something first," Beth yelled at her. However, it seemed like whichever 'Alex' this was, wasn't paying any attention to what Beth was saying.
"Now you sent me an email that said she had a bit of a crush on this 'Shirley' and that she-" the girl stopped midsentence as she reached Beth's room and saw Charlie. When Charlie saw the girl, she recognized her as Alex Samuels, one of the cheerleaders she'd sat with during lunch during the past school year. Charlie felt her own mind deflate as she tried to wrap her mind around not only that fact, but all that she just heard from her through her rant to Beth.
Beth came up next to Alex and stopped, looking like she didn't know what to do in this situation. Alex looked like she couldn't tear her eyes away from Charlie and her face began to turn a bright red, not that Charlie could blame her. After all, if what she had said was true, and if she was the one who had the crush on that Beth had alluded to when they'd first met Petals, then having her crush learn about it through that would be terribly embarrassing. Charlie found that she wasn't able to say anything either. If this was the Alex that was interested in her, then she wasn't sure she should say anything.
Finally, it was Beth who was able to break the tension, as she pulled Alex out of the doorway, breaking the eye contact that seemed to have frozen both Alex and Charlie. Then, when Alex was out of sight, Charlie realized that her own face was burning up and it didn't help that she could hear the conversation between Beth and Alex.
"How could you let me go on like that with her here?" Alex wailed.
"I tried to tell you, but you weren't listening. That is why I was trying to get you to agree to talking about your problems later," Beth said, almost so quietly that Charlie couldn't hear her.
"You should have shoved me out of your house then," Alex retorted.
"Yeah, if I did that, then it probably would have ended our friendship," Beth said.
"Maybe, but it would have stopped me from making such a fool of myself in front of her," Alex complained.
Charlie could imagine Beth shaking her head at that. "Come on, I know you're upset about how she found out, but you should have known that I was keeping things under control and you didn't need to worry," Beth pleaded.
Alex sighed. "Maybe, but I'm not sure if I can go through with my plan now," she said, sounding rather defeated.
Charlie finally found the strength to move forward and step outside of Beth's room, where she could see Alex and Beth. Beth and Alex were facing each other, though Alex was facing away from Charlie. "Um, Alex?" Charlie ventured. "Would you be willing to talk with me for a minute?"
Alex stiffened at the sound of Charlie's voice. Then she slowly turned away, the look in her eyes bringing to mind for Charlie a cornered rabbit. "About what?" she squeaked out.
"Just to talk," Charlie said as calmly as she could. She wondered if she should treat Alex like a startled animal, but part of her felt like that would be demeaning to Alex somehow. "I get the feeling that if we don't talk, we probably won't talk at all."
A look of fear flashed through Alex's eyes, but it disappeared almost the moment it appeared that Charlie wondered if she imagined it. "Okay," Alex said so quietly that if Charlie wasn't looking at her while she said it, Charlie wasn't sure if she'd have realized it was Alex who spoke.
Beth sighed. "Use my room, it'll be about as private as anywhere else in this house," Beth said, sounding rather defeated.
Charlie nodded her thanks to Beth. Though, she would need to talk with Beth later anyway, but right now Alex was the bigger concern for her.
Alex followed Charlie back into Beth's room, walking a little woodenly. It was clear she'd rather be pretty much anywhere else at the moment. She sits at Beth's desk as Charlie sits on Beth's bed. Alex is clearly waiting for Charlie to break the ice, especially with her gaze so focused on the carpet, so after she's settled, Charlie takes a deep breath before talking. Not that she had any idea of what to say to begin with. Nor was she able to keep her eyes on any place for more than a minute or two.
"I've wondered who might be interested in me," she began lamely. "I really liked the necklace and I'm sorry it took me so long to wear it. I left it in a drawer in my desk and forgot about it." Charlie couldn't help but chuckle nervously. She wasn't sure if admitting she'd forgotten about the pendant would be a good thing or not but couldn't take back what she'd just said.
"I'm glad you liked it," Alex said, her gaze remaining on the carpet.
Charlie waited a minute before deciding Alex wasn't going to say anything else. "I guess you're worried about me liking Shirley," Charlie said, hoping to get more of a dialogue going, but not sure how.
At Shirley's name, Alex jumps a little, her gaze flashing up to Charlie for a moment before returning to the carpet. However, she doesn't say anything. Charlie wasn't sure if how hard she should try but felt like she shouldn't stop here.
"Well, while I like her and wouldn't mind going out with her, she is, I think, nineteen and I seriously doubt that she'd look at me like that and if she did, I'd be suspicious she was up to something," Charlie said, hoping to at least relieve Alex's apparent fears about Shirley.
"I thought you liked her," Alex said, so quietly Charlie almost didn't hear her.
"I do, but I don't trust her uncle and the people that work for him," Charlie said, settling her eyes on Alex's hands. "So, if she did show an interest in me now, I'm not sure it wouldn't be her uncle directing her to." Charlie took a deep breath before continuing, especially since Alex didn't show signs of saying anything at the moment. "I mean, you know how it is, where you like someone but at the same time aren't sure about them. Where you don't know anything about them, but you can't help but like them."
"Yeah, I guess I kinda know about that," Alex admitted, her eyes looking at Charlie shyly. "You're one person that was like that for me."
Charlie felt herself blush at that response. She even had to retrace the conversation to figure out what it was that she had had in mind to say next. "So, I just want you to know that I don't plan on getting involved with Shirley, even if she's interested." Charlie paused before adding, "I mean, at least for the near future."
"Could I call you Charlie?" Alex blurted, then immediately blushed to the point Charlie wondered if she was trying to compete with roses with how red she was turning.
"Sure, that's what everyone calls me," Charlie said, chuckling nervously again, not sure why Alex asked that.
"Thanks," Alex replied, wringing her hands. "Charlie, I didn't plan on asking you this so soon, but would you go to the homecoming dance with me?"
Charlie's mind short-circuited at the question. She hadn't gone to any of the dances in her freshman year, so not only would she be going to a dance this next year, but she'd also be going with someone. The dances in the next year had not even crossed her mind with everything else that had been going on. It took her a few minutes before she could even think coherently again.
Alex waited, seemingly patient, but to Charlie it looked like she might be on pins and needles waiting for a response. Finally, Charlie took a deep breath and gave her answer. After all, how bad could it be?
"Sure, I'd be happy to go with you," Charlie said. "But I'm curious, what was your original plan?"
Alex blushed again but looked like she wasn't as uncomfortable as before. "It's stupid," she said.
"Maybe, but I'd like to hear it if you're willing to tell me," Charlie pressed. If Alex really didn't want to tell her, then Charlie wasn't going to hound her on it, but she was interested in knowing what it was.
"Well, it's that I was thinking on the first day of school to ask you during the opening assembly. I'd find a way to sit next to you during the assembly and drop a note in your lap," Alex said.
Charlie couldn't help but laugh, at which point Alex got up and started to leave the room, her face completely crimson.
"Wait don't go!" Charlie called after her, struggling to contain her laughter. "Sorry I laughed, I just found it funny and not in a bad way."
Alex turned back to Charlie. "Okay, but please don't do that again," Alex requested quietly. "I used to get that a lot from my ex."
"Sorry," Charlie repeated. "Though, will you tell Beth and Allison that you asked me?"
Alex hesitated. "Eventually at least," she said. "I mean, I'm sure they'll want to know if I'm giving up on you from your finding out like this." Alex started wringing her hands again.
Charlie stood up and started walking over to her. "If you do or not, that's up to you. I was just wondering."
"Would it be alright to call you sometimes?" Alex asked.
"Ummm," now It was Charlie's turn to hesitate. "I don't have a phone." Charlie wasn't sure how this would be received. After all, this was really the first time she found herself regretting that fact.
"Well, if you do get one, Beth can give you my number," Alex said, but Charlie was confident that Alex thought Charlie was making an excuse not to give Alex her number.
"You can ask Beth if you'd like," Charlie said. "Whenever she has to, she calls my mom, and my mom doesn't really like Beth."
"Then I'll talk to you at school, okay?" Alex replied.
"That'd be great," Charlie said, smiling brightly at Alex. To which Alex blushed furiously again in response.
Then stumbling over her own words, she quickly left, almost running into the pizza deliveryman as he was bringing up the pizzas.
Then once the pizzas were paid for, Beth returned to her room. Charlie had sat back on Beth's bed, not sure how to handle this turn of events.
"Are you okay?" Beth asked, sitting next to Charlie on her bed.
Charlie looked up at Beth slowly. "Yeah, I'm okay," she said. "Just trying to digest everything that happened."
"I bet it's a lot to take in," Beth said.
"By the way, what did Alex mean about you making a deal with her to try and become friends with me?" Charlie asked, recalling a piece of Alex's rant.
"Ummm, well…" Beth hesitated, then after a minute she sighed. "I guess it probably would be best to tell you all of it. First, when Alex first started liking you around last December, Allison asked me to find out all I could about you. Hardly anyone knew anything about you at school. I mean, no one even knows when your birthday is," Beth said, laughing when she mentioned about Charlie's birthday. "So, I started using Stacie to use her contacts to learn what she could about you from your sister. We learned a little, but nothing really helpful. All we learned were a few pieces about you, like what colors you liked or your interest in gardening. Nothing really substantive."
"Well, at least that explains who was bothering my sister about me," Charlie mused. "Cherie was blaming me for that."
"Sorry about that," Beth said. "But anyway, Allison and Alex made a deal with me to try and become your friend. Though, I guess it could also be termed a bet. If I tried to become your friend and failed, then they'd give me two hundred dollars. If I succeeded, then I wouldn't get anything from them. We didn't know if you would be someone who would push me away or if you'd be amenable to a friend. Though, when the rumor about us sleeping together started, Alex freaked out a little and started thinking that I'd betrayed her."
"Yeah, that's an unpleasant memory," Charlie commented, recalling the grilling she got from the cheerleaders because of it.
"Well, after that, Allison asked me about it and I assured her it was the rumor mill going into overdrive, since you've never been seen hanging out with anyone before. That and I had pretty much taken you hostage," Beth said.
"So, if we didn't become friends, you'd have gotten two hundred dollars?" Charlie asked.
"Yeah, I didn't think much about it, I mean, I could certainly use the money, but when they offered it to me, I wasn't sure if that could possibly hurt any friendship we may form if you learned about it," Beth said, her tone taking on a nervous tone as she neared the end of her statement.
Charlie pulled Beth into a hug, surprising both of them. "Maybe if I learned about it shortly after I began thinking of you as a friend, I'd have told you to get lost, but now I trust you. If you did get two hundred dollars for being my friend, I wouldn't care," Charlie said when she pulled away from the embrace. Then after a moment, she added with a smirk, "All I'd ask for is my cut."
Beth laughed. "Yeah, I bet you would. Though, I mean, I wouldn't be surprised if there was some gardening tool or thing you might have your eye on."
"Probably," Charlie admitted.
"Thanks for being so accepting," Beth said.
"Thanks for making me your project," Charlie replied, again surprised at how much she really meant that. Then another thought occurred to Charlie. "Did your mom get woken up by Alex ringing the doorbell?"
Beth laughed. "No, I doubt she'd wake up if I drove the car through the entire house. When she's asleep, it's hard waking her up."
"Well, at least she has that going for her," Charlie laughed.
"Want to get some pizza? I ordered you a regular sausage pepperoni pizza, since I doubted you'd be as interested in the pineapple, ham, and anchovy pizza we normally get," Beth said.
"Thanks. I doubt I'd be able to eat that," she said, and she was indeed grateful to not have to make that choice. Eat that kind of pizza or go hungry. She'd likely choose to go hungry.