Love Notes

Chapter 10-Charlie



Well, that was disappointing and made my heart hurt for reasons unexplained. Of all the girls to have had their arms all over Maverick, it had to be Miranda and Ashley. I swear in that moment I wanted to be swallowed up into the parking lot ground. I certainly didn't want to be caught watching him.

Thank goodness for Tori. She saw exactly what I saw and wrapped her arm around my shoulder and gave me a squeeze surprising me.

“Don’t worry. He’s not interested in them my new friend.”

“How do you figure?”

“Remember that conversation we were going to continue that you didn’t want to finish?” she asks.

“Yes,” I say, tentatively.

“He was glancing at you all throughout choir class, not Miranda and Ashley.” I can’t help but give an un-lady like snort through my nose. Tori responds, “Do not look at me with that look on your face that says I’m crazy either. Plus, I’ve known Maverick for years. He could have been with them if he wanted to. He hasn’t ever been that kind of a guy. He’s really nice and has just always been about football. I’ve never seen him serious about a girl here. You are the first I’ve ever seen him take notice of.”

“But, why me?” Tori’s looking at me as if I just asked something crazy. The look is kind of scaring me to be honest. “What?”

She studies me for a second or two before saying, “You really don’t know, do you?”

I look at her questioningly. “Know what?”

“Do you not realize how pretty and different you are from a lot of the other girls in this school?”

Its conversations like these where I tend to have issues. I can be a sarcastic bitch when I need to be, especially when I feel like the joke’s on me and right now that's exactly how it feels.

“Tori, are you smoking crack or something?”

The bell rings and she cocks her head. It’s a mannerism that is so completely Tori, and nonchalantly says to me, “To be continued, once again. And no, Charlie, I do not smoke crack, I snort it.” I look at her like she is the crazy one and burst out laughing. “Gotcha!” she says as we part ways and head to class.

I head over to my history class thinking about what Tori said. I walk towards my now assigned seat and see that Maverick is already there. As I walk past Miranda and Ashley I hear a distinct pig noise. I feel my face grow increasingly warm which can only mean one thing. I’m completely embarrassed and it’s visible to everyone, all because those horrible girls are snorting and laughing at me. I don’t get it; I didn’t do anything to them. I look up and see Maverick looking at me with a startled look on his face. I don’t want anyone to feel pity for me, least of all him.

I don’t want anyone to pity me!

I sit down quietly and Maverick says, “Hey Charlie.” I can’t even speak and keep looking at my desk. Maverick continues to try to get my attention and finally whispers, “Are you okay?”

I turn my head sideways to look at him and say as casually as I can manage, “It’s not the first time something like that has happened, I’m sure it won’t be the last.”

“This has happened before?” I guess I give him a strange look, because he responds with a shocked expression on his face. Then to my astonishment, says, “You do realize those girls are just jealous.”

I glance at him and can see only sincerity in his eyes. I give him a little smile and say, “Thanks.”

He smiles in response, “Anytime.”

I can’t help but feel a little better. Of course, I can’t concentrate in class either. I peek at him out of the corner of my eyes a couple of times. I swear he catches me once or twice and smiles at me.

Lord that smile, I have never had my insides turn to Jell-O, by a simple smile before. Or not so simple smile, who knows?

I just know there is nothing simple about Maverick in any way, shape, or form. I’m not sure why he’s so nice to me, but I don’t care, and I like it. I’m scared of how I'm feeling and even more scared of getting hurt. But in this moment I don’t care at all, and that’s the scariest thing of all.





Maverick-