Progress (The Progress Series) (6 page)

“Hello?”

“I need you. Like now,” Charlie said.

“Okay, what’s up?”

“Are you going to the Patio Party tonight at The Crimson?”

“Yeah, I’m working it. Why?” Angie said.

“I have absolutely nothing to wear. I look fat in everything!”

I haven’t seen him in over a week! Another ten pounds gone since he saw me last. This is too important.

“Okay, where is my friend Charlie and what have you done with her? Seriously, you never care about your clothes. What’s the urgency here?”

“I just…I want to look good, that’s all.” Charlie was a terrible liar.

“Ummm…hmmmm. Who is he?” Angie saw right through her.

“Oh jeez. No one. Can’t I just want to look good?”

“No. But I’ll drop it for now. If you want, you can come over this afternoon. But I gotta be at work by
four o’clock, so you’ve got two and a half hours to get your ass over here.”

“I’m coming now. Be there in ten.” Charlie hung up the phone and grabbed her purse.

Charlie rang Angie’s apartment number and waited for the buzz. After two rings, the door opened and she rode the elevator up to the fourth floor.

She walked into the apartment and strode into the kitchen to make a pot of coffee. “Hey, you have any coffee?” Charlie s
houted.

“Ye
ah, it’s in the freezer! Come back here when you’re done,” Angie shouted from the bedroom.

After making a horribly strong pot, Charlie walked into Angie’s room.
“You’re a lifesaver,” she said.

Angie was still in bed, wearing pajamas and watching a rerun of
Jersey Shore.

“Have you ever watched this show? It’s addicting.”

“Oh, um. No. Never. Can I rummage through?” Charlie asked with a one-track mind, pointing toward the closet.

“Go ahead.”

“Any suggestions on what you think I would look good in?” asked Charlie, overwhelmed when she looked into the walk-in closet.

“Um…let’s see.” Angie had peeled herself off the bed and joined Charlie in the closet. She began going through her clothes, hanger by hanger, whipping them off the rack and throwing them on her bed.

“Your body is perfectly proportioned. You’ve got a great hourglass to work with; you’re tall, have long legs, smaller around the waist and your curves are kickin’, so all we have to do is find something to punch up your style a bit. Whoever he is, we’ll make sure he notices you tonight,” Angie said, winking.

After about an hour, Charlie settled on a black wrap dress that came to her knees and had a three-fourths sleeve. Nothing designer, but it accentuated the positives and made a good attempt to eliminate the negatives.

“Okay, next problem…makeup,” Charlie pleaded.

“Seriously, I have like, an hour before I have to leave for work. I’m in my pajamas, Charlie.”

“Okay. Then just tell me how I should do it and I’ll attempt it myself.”

After a few makeup tips and a subtle suggestion that Charlie go shoe shopping, Angie waved her out the door so she could hop in the shower.

After stopping by a discount shoe store, she went home and stared at her face in the mirror for twenty minutes before she picked up the foundation and powder.

Here goes nothing.

I’m nervous.
What am I, sixteen-years-old? Pull your shit together. He didn’t even say he was coming.

It was nine-thirty and the bar and patio were buzzing with life. There was no way Charlie was going to find a seat.

She barged through the drunken regulars and spied each table carefully to see if anyone was going to be leaving soon. Stepping onto the patio, she saw Paulina and Marco seated in the corner.
Oh, thank god
.

The exterior of The Crimson was solid red brick with a large parking lot it shared with the hotel next door. Just beyond the patio was a large ravine with a small pond in the center. Oak, birch, and evergreen trees scattered the landscape.

“Holy shit, Chuck! You look hot!” Marco almost spit out his beer eyeing her up and down.

Not only did Charlie look stunning in Angie’s dress, but she had also applied her makeup flawlessly. Dark, smoky eyes, defined eyebrows, pale lips, and highlights on her forehead, nose and chin that subtly sparkled in the light. Her hair was pulled back in twists that gave her an edgy-messed look.

“That’s one of the nicest things anyone has ever said to me. Thanks, Marco.” She blushed.

“God, I hope not! Sit down. Why are you so dressed up?” Marco asked, shock still plastered on his face.

“Long story. I don’t want to get into it,” she said while taking her seat.

“You do look really good, Char. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you this dressed up, and I’ve known you for like twenty years. Oh. Twenty years! We’re so old!” Paulina gasped.

Angie came around to the table. “It is crazy here. I’m making so much money!” She wiped her brow and looked down. “Oh, hey Charlie, you look…great! Wow! Can I get you a drink?”

“Thanks. Yeah. Iron Butterfly on the rocks,” Charlie said with a smile. “Are you guys wai
ting for anyone?”

“Yes,
Troy said he’d stop by.” Paulina blushed. “And Paris and Tanya are meeting us here, too.”

“Yeah, and I’m waiting for Dom to get off work,” Marco said.

“Do you mind if I sit with you for a while then? Just until they get here?”

“Of course you can! You can stay all night if you want. It’s a party!” Paulina’s words were starting to slur. “Are you losing weight? You look skinny tonight.”

“I don’t know. I refuse to weigh myself.” But Charlie knew. She had weighed herself that morning.
Twenty-two pounds gone altogether, and I am about to eat my own arm. I’m so hungry.

Three iron butterflies later, Charlie had met her drink quota for the night. Any more and she’d not be able to drive home. She sipped
on a water quietly, keeping her eyes locked on the patio door.

All night, fellow employees were stopping by the table to compliment Charlie on her new look. A few of them didn’t recognize her at first, which she didn’t know if she should take as an insult or not.
Do I normally look really bad?

Her fuzzy head was sobering quickly, so she ordered a beer and sipped it. It was now
eleven o’clock and the party was going to end at midnight.

Where are you?

Finally, at eleven-thirty she caught a glimpse of him through the bar windows. She sat up straight and crossed her legs, trying to get comfortable.
Come out to the patio. Come out to the patio. Come out to the patio,
she repeated to herself, willing him to come out and see her. She was sure she’d get a reaction from him.

Jesse slapped the patio door open and it was impossible to ignore his presence. Everyone at the party stopped and turned to see who was making the scene. Jesse was drunk.

Very drunk.

Charlie let out a sigh and suddenly knew that this was a bad idea. Their eyes locked and he walked over to their table, sloppi
ly sat down next to Paulina. Putting put his arm around her, he ignored her boyfriend, Troy, sitting next to her. Charlie closed her eyes.

“Hey, Paulina. How ya been?”
Jess whispered in her ear.

Paulina tried to pull away and had a displeased look on her face as she pleaded with her eyes for
Troy to help her.

Picking up the hint,
Troy cut in. “Whoa, easy there buddy,” he said.

“Buddy? My name is Jesse.” Jesse turned and stared at Charlie and his eyes shifted from drunk to sorrowful. He blinked twice and looked down in thought.

“Jesse? Isn’t that a girl’s name?” Troy laughed at his own little joke.

Jesse stood up and kicked his chair back onto the cement. He stood trying to preserve his dignity in a defensive pose.

“A girl’s name? Original. Why don’t we step out into the parking lot and show you how much
this
girl can kick your ass!” His volume increased and he didn’t seem to care that the entire patio was staring at him. Again.

“It’s fine. Just sit down. We’re all friends here,”
Troy said, trying to smooth out the tension.

Jesse looked again at Charlie and sat down again quietly.

Charlie slowly relaxed and tried to remain calm despite the fact that she had a sinking feeling about what would happen next. But she didn’t say a word and waited for someone else to trigger his anger.

“Hey guys!” Ad
am came out to the patio spotting the table of employees.

“Hi Adam!” Paulina said a little too loudly.

“Hey, oh my god – Charlie! You look good, girl. Whatcha dressed up for?” Adam asked.

“Me.” Jesse spoke before she could answer.
Her head whipped around with her eyes wide. “She dressed up for me tonight. Didn’t you Charlene?”

Charlie glared at him, her mouth agape.
The bastard is just toying with me.

“Hey Jess, there you are!” A sudden voice came from the door.

He didn’t look up and continued staring at Charlie with a smug grin on his face.

“You ran away! Who are your friends?” the girl said giddily.

Charlie turned her head and tried not to stare at his date. The girl was about five feet tall, a hundred pounds, and had on a very small pink tube top and black miniskirt. A sleeve of tattoos trailed down her right arm. Curly brown hair fell down to her collarbone and she was wearing a sleeveless jean jacket.

“They’re no one. Let’s go.” He grabbed her arm and marched her back through the bar and out the front door.

“Whatever,” Paulina said.

“I thought he was going to kick the shit out of me!”
Troy said.

Charlie fought to hold back a tear.
Stupid stupid stupid. What was I thinking? Did I think a dress and some makeup would make me pretty enough for him? I’m such a dumb-ass. He thinks I’m no one.

“I should probably go. I’ve got to work tomorrow,” Charlie finally said.

“Are you okay to drive?” Troy asked.

Nothing could have sobered me quicker than this night.
“Yeah, I’m good.”

*

When Charlie got home, she ran to the bathroom and scrubbed off all her makeup, buffing so hard that it turned her eyes red and her face a bright pink. She brushed her teeth, turned off the light, and got into bed.

“You’re nothing, Charlie Johnson. Nothing. You’re a waste of a human being. A huge, worthless, disgusting human being.”

No one was there to hear her sobs.

Charlie had to behave as though Jesse hadn’t broken her at the patio party.
I can’t let him know how much he hurt me.
There was so much she wanted to say to him, but knew that he wasn’t capable of giving her any answers. Besides, there was too much at risk. What if he said something she didn’t want to hear?

What if he thinks I’m just a fat slob with a never-ending supply of cigarettes?

Who am I to be angry with him? I am no one. He enjoyed his evening with his tattooed siren. There have been no signs that he views me as anything but a friend. If I stay mad at him, he’ll be gone and I don’t know if I’m willing to let go of him yet. It’s not like he’ll pursue your friendship or feel the need to apologize for his actions. And honestly, has he said anything that hasn’t been true? Inappropriate, yes. But a lie, no, not really…

She sat in the bar after her shift and waited to see if he’d join her. Just as she sat and ordered her beer, Jesse threw himself into the booth and stared at her.

“So, what are we going to do tonight?” he asked.

As pissed off and confused as I am right now, I can’t stay mad at this gorgeous man.

“What did you have in mind?” Charlie asked with a sigh.

“I was thinking we co
uld go on a road trip!” he said, bouncing in the booth.

“To where? You forget how broke we are.” She couldn’t help but grin at his excitement.

“Thanks for the reminder, Captain Obvious. I don’t know. How much gas do you have in your tank?” he asked.

“I could get us to Cedar and County Road forty-two. That’s about twelve miles. Let’s go!” she exclaimed without rising from her seat. He noted her sarcasm.

“Okay, okay. But let’s get out of here,” he said. “I wanna go find some trouble…”

“Trouble? Not too much, please.”

Taking the last cigarette from her pack lying on the table, he rolled his eyes and motioned for the door.

They went out to her car and he popped a Bosstones album into her CD player. He eagerly
began pounding on her dash with the beat of the drums.

“I love this song. Just wait, the next one is even better!” he said as he skipped ahead to the next song. “Oh, hey – take me to a gas station. We need smokes.”