Part 2/ Charlie.

Charlie.

If I just move my head a little,and lean my shoulder forward,I could fall asleep in peace. Just one more hour. Please.

My head shoots up at the sound of sugar containers being slammed against the counter.

"Sorry babe. Joan was staring. Plus,we need to get started."

I narrowed my eyes at my best friend who is wearing the same identical baby blue uniform as me.

We could pass as sisters. A lot of people have told us we look alike.

Our skin tone is almost the same color,both of us being biracial babies and all.

But she's a few inches shorter than me,has beautiful emerald green eyes and brown hair.

Where as I am taller,have the same brown hair and dark brown eyes.

"I hate you." I say groaning as my bones crack as I stretch.

"Please stop that." She says wiping the counter.

I crack all my knuckles one by one as I see her suffer. I smile as I also pick up a rag and start cleaning.

"You're being to hard on your self.Just quit your job at Phoenix and stop being stubborn." She says going behind me and tying my apron.

"I can't. Plus,I'm fine. I just have to tough it out through the weekends."

"How much sleep did you get?" She asks placing her hands on her hips .

"My classes start from eight to two. I start here at two thirty. I left here at seven. Studied until eleven thirty. Started my shift at Phoenix at midnight and came back home around five." I sigh.

"Two hours? You got two hours of sleep?" She asks genuinely concerned.

"It's just on the weekends. Other days I get home at two. And since I don't have classes through the weekend. So I get to sleep in the afternoon. And I have all Thursday off. Don't worry about me babe. " I say kissing her cheek before I grab my notepad and walk to a table.

"Welcome to Joan's.What can I get you?" I putt on a fake smile as I wait for these guys to answer.

"Can we get three pepperoni pizzas?" One says as I raise an eyebrow.

"For breakfast?" I ask as they stare at me.

"Right away. Enjoy." I smile and walk back to the kitchen.

"Three heart attacks with no mushrooms please." I say to Ed,the diner's cook,who smiles as he picks up the small piece if paper.

"Sure Charlie." He says walking back.

"Lilly? Where do you wanna go after our shift?" I ask her as she puts dirty dishes in the sink.

"The coffee place across the museum?" She ask with a small smile.

"We have coffee here ya know. " I say rolling my eyes.

"Please.The car machinists store next to the coffee shop has some cute guys." She says as I smile.

"Fine. You're buying."

***

The coffee place was quiet for a shop near a collage campus on a Saturday afternoon. I guess it makes more sense being busy in the weekdays,since there are hundreds of people who wake up and rush here to get a dose of caffeine.

I frown reading the next few lines i my textbook,but highlight them anyway. The biology professor is a class A asshole. Who's first desire is to fail students who think they don't have to learn a part of the material because they think he won't ask about it.

I learned about that the hard way,my first two years here.

"The barista keeps staring at you." Lilly says not looking up at me.

I turn my head,and yes,he is.

I shrug "Blondes aren't my type."

She rolls her eyes "Who is your type? What happened with Kyle?" She asks as i frown.

"Nothing. We has fine. Cute..."

"But?" She asks placing her hands under her chin.

And I know she's just asking out of curiosity,Lilly would never judge me.

"He was as interesting as an Adidas sandal." I bite my lip as she bursts into a fit of laughter.

"Seriously Lil. I had to read the menu to entertain myself on our date."

"Okay. What about Jason. I recall you saying he's funny."

I bite my lip and smile as she frowns,already knowing I'm gonna say something bad.

"What? Is he a sex offender or something?" She asks as I smile.

"No,he was fine. He's just...short." I say as her jaw drops.

"Shorter than me. For some girls he's perfect." I shrug.

"You are so shallow!" She smacking my arm.

"I am not. There is nothing wrong with liking a specific physical feature on a partner.Society certainly doesn't judge guys when they nitpick girls."

"Yeah,but babe. You are such a nitpicker. You didn't give a guy your number because he was wearing a fur coat."

"It was July! He was a serial killer. I could tell.And you are not allowed to judge people in their taste in people. Little miss "my boyfriend is perfect and has no flaw" You shut your mouth." I point my finger at her as she shuts up and smiles.

"Speaking of..." She says smiling as Uriah walks in,all covered in grease and oil,smelling like metal,and kisses her.

"Hi beautiful." He says before turning his attention to me and kisses me on the cheek "Hello my other beautiful." He says as I smile.

"Can't we just share him?" I ask as they both smile.

I love them both,but I envy them so badly.

Yes,they were the cliche high school sweethearts. But they loved each other so much,It was scary to me.

How can they let themselves feel that way so easily?

I have always been someone who never gives herself completely to someone else.

You can only trust yourself in this world after all. And I'm not trusting any fucker with my complete heart.

I had met Uriah my first day of kindergarten. We clicked instantly. We were inseparable. That was until his dad's base was relocated to Huston.

I was heartbroken. I had cried for days. Asking my parents over and over if he was coming back.

We were seven,and never saw each other after he left.

And that's when I met Lilly. Well,not right then. I spent a year friendless,and eat lunch by myself in the library.

The next year,there was a new,skinny little girl who didn't have a friend either.

We both fell for each other instantly,and were soon inseparable.

Thankfully,Lilly never left my side. As we are like sisters,still to this day.

And something interesting in junior year in high school.

Both of the loves of my life fell for each other.

Uriah came back home and everything was perfect. I still remember the day I saw him in the hall.

So different from the scrawny kid I remembered. He was tall,muscular,but still the sweetest person ever.

And when I introduced them to each other,I never knew I was gonna suffer from annoyance for the rest of my life.

But Its okay. Because they're so happy. And our families were even more happy when they found out we were all going away to the same amazing college,where we no doubtfully were excepted. We were a bunch of smart cookies.

"We're going to work together tonight right?" He asks placing his arm over Lilly's shoulders.

"Yeah. You can pick me up at ten." I wink at him.

"I have never asked,but what's it like working together at Phoenix?" Lilly asks.

Uriah was more than happy to hear about the bartender that quit a couple of months ago. So he took the job.

He mixes the drinks,and I serve them.

"Its great. He scares creepy guys away,who don't understand the word no."

"And she scares away clingy drunk girls who want more that a martini." He says as I smile.

"Good. I'm trusting you with each other." Lilly says proudly.

"Anyway. What is this I her about Jackson from English having a small penis?" Uri asks as I smile.

"Well..." I start as both of them grin.

***

"Hey Charlie." I smile up at Bill,the owner of Phoenix. Who is a devilish handsome guy,and got married recently.

"The line out front was long. You ready?" He asks as i nod.

"Good.Just tell Cam if anyone bothers you." He says pointing to the bouncer.

"Thanks Bill." I say as I wipe the bar.

"You know..." He starts as I roll my eyes "My cousin still asks about you." He says smirking,knowing I hate this.

"Well,tell him I'm gay."

Nothing wrong with the dude,just that he has more steroids in his body than brain cells.

"Sure. He would probably find it hot." He says walking away as i groan in disgust.

"You okay." Uri says smiling as he wipes shot glasses.

"Yeah. How do I look?" I ask pointing to my attire.

Bill says we can wear anything we want,as long it's a little sexy.

Tonight I decided on a black crop top,and a tight miniskirt. Which makes my ass look so great.

"Good." He says raising an eyebrow at me.

I hike up my bra a little and push my breasts together,so they pop.

Girls,you are looking beautiful.

"Baby,you better be ready to pour drinks,cause momma is gonna get you a lot of customers tonight." I say spinning around.

He chuckles "Please don't do that. You're like my little sister." He says frowning.

"Yeah well,your little sister knows everything you do wrong in bed." I wink at him.

"And for fucks sake,let the girl go down on you more than once a year. It makes her insecure. Nobody likes a shy dick,babe." I say walking away with a tray since people are walking inside now.

Three ours later,I traded my heels for flats and am still serving drinks.

The loud electronic music booms all over the club. The base tremors all over my body,as they're playing that new Calvin Harris song.

"What can I get you?" I shout over the music as three handsome men smile up at me.

"Hi sugar. How about you sit down and have a couple of drinks with us. And we pay for a whole round on everybody's drink here?" One of them asks as I smile.

Yep,they're drunk.

"I would love to." I walk to the DJ and tell him to announce that this round is on the three guys in the corner booth.

Everyone shouts in excitement as I walk over to Uri.

" Give me twelve shots of Vodka. Fill four of them with water." I say to him and he smiles.

I discovered this trick a while back.

I don't get drunk,they pay the same price,they get company and i get a bigger tip.

Everyone is happy.

"So what is a pretty girl like you doing here by herself." One of them says slurring his words. As the other one has his arm over my shoulder.

"Does your wife know you hit on collage girls?" I ask tracing the wedding band on his finger.

"Excuse me?" He asks frowning.

I take my last "shot" and sigh before I turn my head towards where everyone is staring at.

Apparently a guy was just knocked out.

I get a small peek at him as he makes his was down the hall.

I get up and walk over to Uri,as we both se Cam dragging the guy who did the hitting,out of the club.

"What happened?" I ask as he shrugs.

After the club has cleared up,and only a couple of drunks are here. We both get ready to go.

"Can you throw out the trash please?"

Uri says handing me the big trash bag.

"I can't throw myself out."

We both laugh,but nonetheless walk down the hall and out the small door which leads to a small ally where we usually throw the trash.

I check my phone as I walk to the front,where Uriah is probably waiting for me in his car.

I listen to two of my voicemails on my phone. One is from Lilly,and the other isn't.

"Hello Charlotte..." I sigh and roll my eyes as the message starts.

I stop and look down when I see a huge figure sitting against the wall,on the floor. His head is edged upward and he's breathing heavily as he looks defeated.

"Dude,are you okay?" I ask stepping closer to him.

"What?" He says slowly. His words slurring together as his green eyes look up at me.

"I asked if you were okay?" I repeat.

Is he high?

"Nope.Nothing is okay." He says with a sigh as he looks away.

"Do you want me to call someone for you? Or call you a cab to take you home?" I suggest but the fucker starts laughing.

Do i fucking look like a character from Saturday Night Live?

"I don't have a home. I don't have anything anymore. I have nowhere to go. But thanks lady.That was the first time I have genuinely laughed all day."

I sigh,crouching down to his level and look at him for a couple of seconds.

His eyes scan my face for more time than he should.

"What do you mean you don't have a home?" I look over his clothes.

Armani suit?

He sighs "I mean..." He stops talking and turns to his right to vomit everything he has eaten all day.

Is that pepperoni?

I face palm myself and place my hand on his shoulder.

Why do you even care? Leave already!

"That's it.Let it out." I says rubbing my hand up and down his arm.

"If you get It on my shoes I'm fucking killing you." I say taking out and passing him a napkin.

At least he has the decency to chuckle

" Sorry." He says genuinely.

I look at his face again,and see the cut on his cheek,and some dried blood from his nose.

"You're the guy who got his ass kicked in there."

"Yeah.Not one of my best moments." He groans.

"Not to be rude,but can you fuck off. I don't feel so good...." He says each word slower until eventually he passes out.

Great.

I should leave him to be fucking eaten by rats for being such a smartass.

But my stupid,kind subconscious doesn't let me. She's such a big hearted cunt.

You have been in this position before. Some people jut don't have amazing friends like you do.

Come on Charlie. Help him out.

"Okay,okay. Shut the fuck up." I say to myself ,like a psycho.

I call Uri and tell him to bring the car in the ally. He doesn't ask any questions,just looks at me confused.

"Drunk,sad,homeless." I explain.

"Big,dangerous,possible rapist or murderer. Or both." He says helping me help him stand up. He stirs awake a couple of times,but closes his eyelids again.

"I think you took the expression :

"Bring a man home" way to literal,babe." He says chuckling as I flip him off.

"Well you got your wish." He says as we put him in the back seat "He's tall." He says as i stick my tongue out at him.

I get in the front seat as he goes back in,seeing how he forgot his apartment keys.

"Jesus,dude. You're huge." I say stretching my sore arms.

He laughs a little,and I scrunch my face.

He heard that? Nothing else,but that?

***

"Lilly at your place tonight?" I ask as he stops in front of the small building.

"Yeah. She's probably asleep now." He says as I nod.

We help the fucker out of the car and into the building.

Thanking God it has an elevator.

I fumble with the keys and eventually open the door and we walk inside the tiny one bedroom apartment.

Neither of us can hold the weight of this huge man,and he drops to the floor,in the middle of the living room.

"He'll be fine." I shrug.

"I'm gonna go home. To my girlfriend." He says breathing heavily,just like me.

"If he does anything stupid,stab him and say it was a braking and entering." He says walking out.

"Noted." I shout behind him.

I contemplate weather i should just leave him like this,or do something.

But the stupid kind part of me wins.

I pick up a pillow an a blanket.

I put the blanket over his body and lift his head slightly so I can put the pillow there.

My fingers brush against his cheek slightly as I look at him.

Stop you crazy,what are you doing?

"Oh sexy,tall, stranger. We handled tonight.What are we gonna do about tomorrow ?" I say standing up and walk to my room.

Letting a strange man sleep on my living room floor.

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