Page 50 of Whatever Happens

“Where are we going?” I ask Char.

“I would say to get you drunk, but it looks like you’re already there.” Char laughs as I try to stand, the alcohol hitting me a little harder. I look down at the glass in my hand, the one that is no more than half empty.

“Go on, upstairs with you,” Char says, shooing me toward the door.

I hesitate for a moment before deciding a night out with Char might be just what I need. A night away from everything… and everyone.

The shower helps sober me enough that, thankfully, I manage to put my eyeliner on straight. Since I’ve spent most of my time at the gym or outside, I haven’t bothered to dress up. My hair’s been in a messy bun, and I’ve been donning workout clothes since we arrived.

As I take in my appearance in the mirror, I smile. All it took was a little makeup and a nice outfit to help me feel almost normal again. Like the girl I was before Carter turned my world upside down.

When I exit my room, Carter is standing on the opposite side of the door. His eyes widen as they scrape over my body.

When his gaze finally meets mine, he says, “Little over dressed for the gym, aren’t you?”

“I sent you a text. I’m taking the day off.”

“You are here to…”

“I know what I’m here to do, Carter, and I’ve been doing it, despite you fighting me every step of the way. When you’re ready to get your head back in the game, let me know.” I brush past him, but his hand catches my arm.

“Where are you going?”

“Out,” I reply, tugging out of his hold and bounding down the steps.

“What do you mean out?” Carter shouts, the screen door slamming behind him as he follows me out of the house.

“Do you need me to spell it for you? O.U.T. OUT.”

“You are not…”

When I do an about-face and look at Carter, he silences.

“You lost every right to have an opinion on what I do or don’t do when you chose to ignore me this past week. I don’t deserve to be treated like this, Carter. And I sure as hell am done putting up with it.”

Before it can escalate any further, I get inside Char’s car. From my seat, I see Char rest her hand on Carter’s arms and say something to him. He doesn’t speak, just continues to stare at me.

“Well, that was fun,” Char says when she gets in the car.

“I don’t want to talk about it… or him.”

“Deal.”

“Your mom’s lemonade is wearing off.”

“Oh, believe me, I can fix that.” The engine roars to life, and we take off down the street.

A few minutes later and we’re sitting in some honkytonk bar in the middle of town. A place I’ve walked past a dozen times but never thought to walk into to. Before long, I’m sitting at the bar with a drink in my hand, talking about Carter, the one thing I said I didn’t want to do.

“It wasn’t supposed to be like this,” I whine to Char.

“What was it supposed to be like?”

“It was supposed to be one night, but when I should have been leaving, he made me want to stay. He made me feel like I was the most beautiful and important person in the world. But I ruined it. I kept who I was from him and destroyed any chance we may have had.”

“Looked to me like he was well on his way to forgiving you the other day.”

With a shrug, I sit up and face her. “I thought so, too, but then he did a complete one eighty and has seemed even more pissed at me than he was before. It doesn’t matter, anyway. I’m Coach Masterson’s daughter. I’m off limits.”

---