New life

“Stef, smile.” DjPineapple said. He was a photographer tonight for the official party.
“Is something wrong?” Charlie asked me holding my hand with white roses while another his hand was on my waist.

Charlie and l arrived to the party in the school and weren't late at all. Everybody was so handsome and beautiful. Dresses and jewelry, black costumes and ties, smiles and friendly atmosphere. This "party" was specially organized by our parents, who thought: "Our children need to have normal photos from normal party". Ughr! What for? But never mind, you can't argue with parents. They will just insist and make you do something. Always it is like this. Damn it!

“Nothing.” I said but Charlie saw that l was worried about something.

Andrew made a photo and we went to the nearest sofas.

“Is it about the brilliant?” Charlie looked in my eyes.
“No. I'm just... I don't feel comfortable in this dress. I put it on only because of this stupid photo! And, l want to go away from here.”
“So, you've enjoyed the presents!”
“Charlie, you're so...” I've smiled.
“What? I understood you, but what can l do? You have to wait an hour and then we're free.” Charlie leaned back.
“Hey, Stef, Charlie!” Andrew went towards us. “I'm turning music on in a minute and l need someone to light the public. Stef?” DjPineapple looked at me with the beg in his eyes.
“Are you kidding?!” I dramatically screamed. “Are you serious?! You want me to dance in this?!” I pointed to the dress.
“Yes... You're beautifull tonight. And so...so... Your dress is so cool! And...” Andrew started.
“Ughr! Andrew, stop! Okay, okay! I give up! Now l'll go to the dancefloor and l'll dance. But you owe me.”
“Thank you!” Dj said and ran to his computer with music.
“You shouldn't agree...” Charlie saw classmates taking selfies.
“I'm bored. So, l need to do something. So, um, will you join me?”
“And you ask me? Me, the king of the dance floor? Of course, l will.” Charlie's eyes lightened and he was pleased to dance with me.

One hour... What is one hour? It's nothing when you are in the "drunk" atmosphere of joy, when you are surrounded by people you like, when you just forget everything on this planet, when you stop thinking, when you just live your life in this very second of every minute, of every hour.

I spent this hour dancing with Charlie, laughing with him, taking some selfies(normally, l don't do that, but, as l said, there was the "drunk" atmosphere; so, why not?!). When there was a slow dance, l went to a sofa and sit there with Charlie. I saw his face. It was...it was a poker face like dancing, smiling, laughing Charlie was changed by another one who is in his thoughts, who doesn't want to talk because everyone will hear his trembling voice, who lives with pain. I saw his face, but l could do nothing. Sorry, Charlie.

But whole in all the official party was great. So, one hour later we entered the club where we'd decided would be held another celebration party. Most of our classmates went, firstly, to the bar and then to the dance floor. So, we are at the club, we are in the 11 form, we have party in the club... Did you catch my thought? If no, l'll explain. Most of my classmates now will be DRUNK!!! I. Hate. It. You think l hate almost everything(l know, l'm such a downer...). But this just makes me crazy! My classmates are 17 or 18 and aren't they worried about their future? Why is it so cool to drink and take a photo of this process? I guess, l'll never deal with it and understand this.

I went to the toilet and dressed in jeans, T-shirt and convers that l took with me.

“Now l feel so much better.” I said as l sit near Charlie. He didn't want to dance. So, he was just speaking with Andrew as always.
“You were so beautiful in that dress...” Charlie turned to me.
“Charlie, please, stop calling me beautiful.” His phrase made me angry. “I've heard it thousands times today!”
“Okay.” Charlie looked down.
“So, here they are!” Dani went towards Charlie, Andrew and me. Dani was a cool guy (he thought so) with so stupid face. He was good friend, he was smart enough to study on A, but alcohol makes all his charm of deep green eyes, of his voice and of the whole look go away. His tongue didn't listen to him, his moves are seen as "l was touched with the electroshock". Eyes lose their light and become addicted to what parents won't pat on his head.

“What do you need, Dani?” I asked.
“Hey, hey, stop staring at me like l'm a bad guy. I just thought you want to dance...” Passion flashed in his eyes.
“No, Dani, l don't want to dance.” I made a deep breath.
“What?! Why?!” Dani doesn't like when people deny him.
“She said she doesn't want to.” Charlie looked in his eyes.
“Charlie, it was unnece...” I started.
“I understood her!” Dani shouted. “Or you, Charlie Striker, think that l'm stupid?”
“You've just said it, not me.”
“Charlie, shut up! What's wrong with you?!” I looked at him, but he was in the eye battle with Dani.
“What have you just said?” Dani made a step and his hand found my chair that could prevent him from falling.
“You've heard.”
“Yep…” Dani's hand started to come down to my back, than to my neck and stopped in my cheek.
“Put your hands away from her.” Charlie got up. I was so shocked that l couldn't move. All l felt was the sticky touch of Dani's hand.
In another second Dani burst with laugh:
“Ahahaha! I wish you, Charlie, could see your face! You were like a prince on the white stallion! Ahahaha!”
“Shut the mouth up, Dani!” Charlie's face was full of hate.
“Oh…” Dani didn't hear him or didn't want to. “You two will be so amazing together! Have you already kissed? Oh, my gosh! You've not! How is that possible?! But l know everything is in the future, am l correct, Charlie? I know what you're up to...”
“Shut up!” Charlie made a step towards Dani and hit him in the face. Poor drunk Dani fell down on the floor. What's funny is that tomorrow he won't remember anything, but, as he will be told, he will beg everybody's forgiveness.

But for today it is too much for me! I don't want to see Dani or Charlie or anyone else. My mood went from high to horrible in one second. In the second when Dani put his hands on me, when l couldn't move like l was paralyzed. So, l stood up and went outside the club.

Air... Not fresh, but still it's better than ugly smell of drunk, smoked, sweaty people. I closed my eyes and felt the touch of Dani's hand. I suddenly opened them. Brr! Why?! Why didn't l do something? Why was l so scared? I even couldn't move... I want to go home... What the hell was with Carlie? He was...was... Fab! He wanted stand up for me. Great! Splendid! Freaking sarcasm! Why today?! Stop, wait... What did Dani say about Charlie and me? Something about the future... something that... that... Oh, my God! Charlie wanted to officially date me! It was his plan... And, of course, he lied when he gave me the necklace... It was HIS present, too. Why am l so naive! Of course, it's his. Shame on me! Charlie's plan... plan... No, definitely, no. What was he thinking about?

My thoughts were interrupted by, who do you think?!, Charlie who ran towards me.

“Hey, are you okay?”
“No, l'm not freaking okay! What's wrong with you?! You hit him! You could just shut up and sit quietly! But, no! You've ju...”
“Hey, stop!” Charlie shouted. “I know l was wrong. I didn't want to hit him. I just saw your face...”
“Stop, Charlie! Or l'll break up with you and will find a new best friend!”

One minute was spent in the silence. My head was full of noises. I didn't want to speak. I was broken... Why do l have a friend who doesn't want to befriend me?

“Can we go to our place?” I asked quietly.
‘Of course.” Charlie nodded and went to his car.

By "our place" l meant the special place in Charlie's countryside which always signified a lot. When we both were little, we spent there many time. It is our sigh of friendship, of our unity. I want to go there now and to be sure that there, in that world we're still friends, everything is still okay and we're the same as we were. I need to be sure...

Charlie's countryside was near the town, so we soon arrived there. The night covered everything, but Charlie and l knew the path from the parking to our place. Our place looked like a big tree-house with two big windows.

We entered it and many memoirs have suddenly appeared in my head. I'm so glad that we're here. This is the only place that always made me calm. This place gave me a friend...

“Charlie, Dani spoke abo...”
“Please, don't say anything. Please.”
“No, Charlie, you can't make me shut up!”
“I didn't say that.” Charlie looked me in the eyes. Pain, pain, pain...
“Sorry, Charlie, l'm so sorry...” One tear fell down.
“Shhh, everything is okay. I think you're just tired of people around you and you're shocked of what Dani and l did... All you need is to sleep.” Charlie hugged me. “Okay?”

I nodded. As he said "you're just tired", l felt so exhausted like l've never felt before. My behavior was based on this fatigue, dissatisfaction with the club and shock of Dani's hand. I guess it all caused my tears.

Charlie and l went to the house. It was old and beautiful as are many other old buildings: the same view "Here rich people live". However, inside this house looked modern and always attracted attention with red things which can be caught in the view among the black and white furniture.

“So, where do you wanna sleep?” Charlie asked.
“I guess here.” I pointed on the sofa in the big, enormous living room.
“Okay. I'll bring a blanket for you.”
“Charlie…” I said when he came back with a red blanket. “You know my fears... Can you, um, sleep near me? In that sofa?”
“Yes, l know your fears, Stefania. l'll sleep there.”

Nothing else was said. I wish we were the same friends who like to spend time together, who grew up here in this place, who know everything about each other. I wish there wasn't this awkward silence. I wish everything would be easy... But this is life, Stef. You need to be strong! Stop crying! You mustn’t cry because nothing bad happened, all your family is alive, you have the roof over your head and you have something to eat... Yeah, but sometimes you just need to cry to let all feelings go...

l asleep fast, but l knew Charlie was lying and watching me sleep.

Notes

This chapter, l think, isn't good...