Our Love (25 page)

I sighed as I walked into the foyer of my house. So Charlie never told her mom why we broke up. Figured she wouldn't. From the time I knew Charlie, she never really had a close relationship with her mom.

"That's something I don't want to get into Mrs. Perry. I hate to be rude, but I just walked into my house and I'm really tired from school, so I better go."

"Okay, but before you do, I wanted to know if you could come by the house later on so we could talk."

"About what?"

"There are some things I wanted to ask about you and Charlie, if you don't mind."

"Listen Mrs. Perry, my relationship with Charlie is over. I don't think there's much more to talk about."

"Oh really, I wouldn't think that."

"And how would you know?"

"Why don't you come by the house around six and I will tell you."

"I don't think that's a good idea, Mrs. Perry."

"I won't take no for an answer. You can stay for dinner too. I'm making pot roast; your favorite."

I didn't know whether to disappoint Mrs. Perry by telling her no, or disappoint Charlie by being inside her house. I was about to tell Mrs. Perry I couldn't make it, when she interrupted me by telling me she'll see me around six and hanged up. I stared at my cell phone in amazement. Charlie's mother is sure pushing for Charlie and me to get back together.

Maybe having Mrs. Perry on my side is not a bad idea
. I thought as I ran upstairs to take a shower. I had a dinner to go to.

Michael

After unpacking many of my things, I was finally resting comfortably in front of my new big screen television, watching
True Blood
. As I was about to lie down on the soft, beige sofa, my doorbell rang.

Just as I was about to get comfortable,
I thought as I went to the door. I looked through the peephole and noticed it was Charlie standing on the other end. I was kind of surprised that Charlie was back, since she said she was going home earlier.

"Hey baby. I thought you said you were going home?"

"I was, but I had to see you."

"Really; well I'm glad you came back. I missed you."

Charlie looked at me and gave a small smile. From the expression on Charlie's face, she didn't come by for a social visit.

"Is something wrong? You looked extremely upset."

"Can I come in?"

"Sure," I said as I made room for Charlie to walk inside. As she walked in, she turned directly to me with a look of rage on her face.

"How could you."

"How could I what? What's going on Charlie?"

"Why didn't you tell me about you and Eva? You think what happened wouldn't faze me, because it does."

I stared at Charlie with a blank expression on my face. How did Charlie find out about me and Eva? I could try to deny it, but what would that accomplish?

"Let me explain."

"Explain what, Michael? There's nothing to explain. I can't believe all this time that you two knew each other and didn't bother to tell me what happened."

"Charlie, it was before we even met. I didn't even know you and Eva were friends until homecoming."

"I knew you were going to say that. I don't want to hear about you and Eva knowing each other in the past and that it wouldn't affect me. Did it ever occur to either of you that I would like to know that you two had shared something before you met me? I know it happened in the past, but I still would like to know what took place between my best friend and my boyfriend."

"We didn't know how to tell you Char. I know we should have, but we thought if we kept it in the past, we wouldn't hurt you."

Charlie looked at me and started to laugh.

I looked at Charlie and shook my head. While I told her the reason for lying to her, she was standing in my apartment laughing as if what I said was the funniest thing she ever heard.

"What so funny?"

"You and your lame ass excuse. 'We didn't want to hurt you.' Whatever Michael. Since we got this all in the open, is there anything else you want to tell me? Speak now Michael because the truth train is leaving the station," Charlie said while folding her arms across her chest.

As I watched Charlie staring at me with her eyes wide open, I felt like my world was starting to crumble. I can't believe Eva told Charlie about us. I really thought we could keep that night between us a secret, or at least until I had the nerve to tell Charlie. I know I should have told Charlie, but I didn't want to lose her. As I looked at her now, the look she was giving me, I felt like I was losing her already. Even though I should come clean about Brandy and Steve, I couldn't. So instead of me telling Charlie the truth, I begin my trail of lies again.

"No Charlie. This was all I was keeping from you," I said with a straight face.

Charlie started to smack her lips. She went up to me and took both of my hands.

"I just want to know one thing. Why you didn't tell me that you and Eva kissed? I wouldn't have a problem with what happened between you two. The only reason why I'm upset is because you two kept it from me."

I looked at Charlie with a confused look on my face. Eva told Charlie that we kissed! Charlie doesn't even know we slept together! Before Charlie caught on to why I was looking confused, I took her hands and put them up to my lips.

"I'm so sorry for not telling you about Eva. From now on, I'm going to be completely honest about everything that's going on with me. I love you and I don't want anything to come between us."

"Promise,"

"I promise."

Charlie came closer to me and wrapped her arms around me. As I smelled Charlie's delicious scent on her skin, I couldn't help but wonder if I would be holding her this close again. If she ever finds out what really happened between Eva and me, and about me and Brandy, she would never forgive me.

"I love you," Charlie said as she snuggled her head onto my chest.

"I love you too."

After Charlie left to go home, I quickly closed the door and ran straight to some boxes that were left on the floor. As I started my search, I pulled out everything from shirts to sweats pants. As I stretched my arm to the bottom of the box, I found what I was looking for and pulled it out. I gave a sigh of relief as I stared at my little black book.

"Good thing I didn't throw this out," I said as I went over to my bed.

Now I know I didn't remember the night I slept with Eva, but I was pretty sure I put her number in my book. All the numbers of girls who I talked to resided in this book. I was going to throw it out after I met Charlie, but something inside of me told me not to. As I flipped through the E's, I found Eva's number. I picked up my cell phone and dialed her number carefully. As I waited for her to answer, I started to pace back and forth around my bed.

"Hello," Eva answered with an attitude.

"I guess you remember my number?"

"Why are you calling now? And how you remember mine?"

"That doesn't' matter. What happened earlier between you and Charlie? She was just over here upset because you told her that we kissed."

"You better be glad I just told her that. I could have gone into further detail about our night together."

"Why didn't you?"

"Because I didn't have the heart to tell her. You don't understand; Charlie is my best friend."

"I do understand Eva. I love Charlie. I plan on being with her for a long time. If she reacted to us just kissing, how you think she's going to react when she finds out the actual truth?"

"You don't think I know that! She probably would kill us."

"Well we'll make sure that it won't come out. Won't we?" I asked in a serious tone.

"If you're referring to me not saying anything else, don't worry, I won't."

"Why did you tell her that anyway?"

"Come on Michael. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that there is tension between us. She figured it out and confronted me with it."

I sighed as I ran my fingers through my hair.

"Well don't screw up again. We don't need her finding out everything."

"I agree. Now, are we finished?"

"Yeah, I'll see you at the party Friday."

"What party? Charlie didn't mention anything about a party."

"Oh, well I guess I'm inviting you. I just moved into an apartment today and I'm having a house warming party this weekend and Charlie thought it was right if she invited you."

"I'll let her invite me, not you. I don't want her to get any more ideas."

"Good idea."

There was a long pause on the other end. I didn't know if Eva was holding the phone or hung up on me.

"You still there Eva?"

"Yeah; can I ask you a question?"

"Go ahead."

"Did you think about me after that night? Or was I just a one- night stand to you?"

I looked at a picture of Charlie and me on my nightstand. We took the picture after the homecoming game.

"Eva, let's not go there," I said.

"I just want to know."

"I think it's best if we leave that in the past. I better go. Have a good night."

I hung up before Eva could say anything else. I didn't know how much more of this I could take. I couldn't keep lying to Charlie about everything that is lingering in my life. As far as Eva goes, I hoped she doesn't have feelings for me. If she does, that's one more problem I have to deal with.

"I hope she doesn't, for hers and Charlie's sake."

Charlie

As I was driving through the north freeway, my mind started to wander. I know Michael promised to be completely honest with me, so then why did I have this nagging feeling inside of me that he was still lying to me? At first, I felt so confident that Michael was always straightforward with me on everything. But after today, I didn't know if I could trust him.

Don't say that Char. You're in love with him. You supposed to have confidence in the man you love.

Just like I had in Derrick,
I thought as I merged for the Claremont exit.

After a few minutes of soul searching, I was finally back in Missouri City. As I was approaching my house, I noticed Derrick's blue Mitsubishi Galant parked in the driveway.

"What is he doing here?" I asked as I parked behind my mom's Lexus.

As I got out of the car, I quickly went to the front door and took out my house keys. I needed to know why Derrick was at my house. I know I didn't invite him. Unless....

As I opened the door, my thoughts were confirmed as I saw my mom and Derrick on the couch looking through a photo album. The two were talking and laughing as if they were old friends. I looked at the scene in total disbelief. I couldn't believe my mother would invite him over to the house! My mom looked up from the album and gave me a thousand watt smile.

"You finally made it home. Where have you been?"

"What is he doing here?" I asked in an impatient tone.

"Is that any way to talk to a guest? I invited Derrick over for dinner."

Derrick looked at me and smiled.

"Why Mom?"

"I just thought it would be nice to have Derrick over since I hadn't seen him in a long time. What's wrong with that?"

"Derrick, will you excuse us please. Mom, can I see you in the kitchen. Now."

"Sure," my mom said. She smiled at Derrick as she got up from the brown couch and followed me into the kitchen. When I noticed the door was securely shut, I sprung around to face my mother.

"What gives you the right to invite my ex-boyfriend to dinner? You haven't even invited my actual boyfriend to dinner yet."

"Technically your father has and for some reason Michael hasn't even bother to show up yet."

"Like you care if he doesn't. For your information, Michael has been going through some things with his parents. But why am I telling you this. You don't even like Michael."

"I never said I didn't like Michael. I just don't think he's right for you, Char."

"At least you're admitting it, Mom. Tell me why you don't like him? The only reason I see is because he's white."

"That's not it Charlie, and you know it. You know I'm not a racist."

"Do I? From the looks of it, you are."

"You think you're so smart, Charlie. You don't have a clue as to why I don't like Michael."

"Why not clarify for me then. Tell me why you don't like Michael?"

My mom looked at me and sat down in a chair by the kitchen table.

"Sit down, sweetie."

I gave my mom a disappointed look as I sat down beside her.

"Ever since you were little, you always had this free spirited persona that defined your personality. You always were the girl who was outspoken and open-minded to everything and everybody. But when I found out that you were seeing Michael, I knew that your preference in guys was no different.

"I never said I had a problem with Michael. In fact, I think Michael is a great guy. It's just that when I saw him that night when the police brought you home, something inside of me felt that he was not the one for you. And ever since you started dating Michael, I noticed a change in you and it scares me."

"Why Mom?"

"Because I don't know my little girl anymore. One minute you were asking me for advice about school and relationships, and the next, you were barely giving me the time or day."

"Mom, I'm not neglecting you. I'm just growing up. I'm not the little girl in pigtails who always ran to you whenever there was a problem. I'm starting to venture into my own world, with a mind of my own. You have helped me through so much in my life, but it's time for me to figure out how life is. I have to experiences the good and the bad; and with the bad, I have to learn the mistakes so I won't repeat them. I hope you understand."

My mom looked at me and smiled.

"I understand completely sweetie. How did you get to be so wise in your young age?"

"I had a good teacher."

My mom looked at me with tears in her eyes.

"Don't cry Mom."

"I'm sorry, it just that looking at you sitting here made me realize that you are growing up and it hard to imagine that you're about to finish high school and go off to college."

"I know. I still can't believe it either."