Charlotte's Tangled Web: L.B. Pavlov (6 page)

Daniel turned and stared at me for a minute, and then he sounded very serious and said, “If he tries to kiss you, tell him no. If he gets pushy, kick him in the balls. As hard as you can.” His eyes were blazing, and then he relaxed and finished with, “And stop biting your lip. It’s going to be a long day, isn’t it?” He chuckled as we walked to class.

I was fidgety all day. I couldn’t wait to get to practice. Running was always very soothing to me. It was my time to think things out and clear my head. I pushed myself and always worked through a lot of my anxieties.

“I heard that Coach Miroballi has us doing mile repeats today,” Kathleen said, horrified. We had just sat down to lunch.

“Oh, good ol’ mile repeats, huh? Let’s hope Charlotte doesn’t chuck her cookies before her date,” Daniel said, laughing as he gave me a half hug at the table.

I was known for pushing myself on interval workouts. I expected myself to run certain times, and I wasn’t happy when I didn’t hit my goals. So, yes, I had chucked my cookies a few times over the years, but I was proud to say that I wasn’t afraid to work hard.

“Thanks, Daniel. You would love me to chuck my cookies today, wouldn’t you?” I giggled at the thought. I actually wasn’t feeling great today. I had an upset stomach and wrote it off to being flustered about my date. I turned to Kathleen and Steph, who were talking about the workout. “He told me we are doing five-times-one mile repeats today. Get ready to seriously break a sweat,” I said, laughing.

They both made a face to let me know they were dreading our afternoon workout. I was actually looking forward to it, but that wasn’t something I would tell anyone but Daniel. They would think I was crazy.

Steph looked at me with a silly face and said, “Well, at least
we
can go home after and collapse, unlike little missy over here.” Kathleen and Steph both burst out laughing at me.

I was starting to dread this date. Why had I thought this would be a good idea? I had a terrible stomachache now. I had no idea what to wear.

“What should I wear to dinner? Should I dress up?” I asked them both nervously.

Steph turned quickly, eager to share her fashion advice. “No! You don’t want to look like you are overly excited. Definitely jeans, right Kath?” she said.

Kathleen chimed in, “Yes, jeans are a must.” She was now in deep thought but thinking out loud. “But what top? What shoes? I am thinking here…” She looked to Steph for assistance.

“I’ve got it!” Steph shouted in a very loud and excited voice, causing half the table to turn and listen as I reddened with humiliation at my obvious lack of independence.

“Wear your sheer, cream blouse, and I think you should wear a bright pink bra underneath to really catch his attention. That will definitely make a statement,” she proclaimed as if she was beyond proud of herself.

I quietly turned to her and said, “I am not wearing a pink bra under a sheer top that you can see through! Are you crazy?”

Now it was just Kathleen and Steph listening, and Daniel seemed to be half listening because he kept looking over at me to see my response.

“I like the sheer top, but I would wear a lacey tank top underneath. Can I wear my pink ballet flats?” I asked hopefully.

“No! Absolutely not,” Kathleen declared. “You need to wear heels to dinner, Charlie.”

Steph piped right in, “Absolutely. Heels.” They both stared and waited for my response.

“Gosh, I can barely walk in heels. Really, it’s an absolute must?” I asked.

Suddenly Daniel chimed in. “I like a girl in flats. I think you should be comfortable when you go out.” He winked at me.

Kathleen turned to Daniel. “Is that what all the girls you get together with wear? Ballet flats, Daniel? Really? Are you serious?” she said, teasing him.

“Well, if I liked a girl enough to take her on an actual date, I would want her to be comfortable. And yes, I’m serious,” he said, smiling.

Kathleen and Steph both smiled at Daniel and seemed to believe him. Boy, he sure had a way of charming just about anyone.

Just then Blane approached the table, and everyone seemed to go silent. Blane did not seem to be hitting it off with the football players on the team, and just his presence seemed to tense everyone up. I felt bad for him. It would be tough to start at St. Viator’s as a senior. Many of us had gone to school together since kindergarten, and most had at least been together since ninth grade. It was a small school and probably seemed cliquish to say the least, and I imagined it would be tough to fit in if you were an outsider.

“Hey, Charlie,” he said with his dazzling California smile.

“Hi, Blane, how are you?” I asked and smiled back at him.

“I’m looking forward to tonight. I will plan to pick you up around seven if that still works? I just want to make sure I give you plenty of time to primp. I know how you girls are,” he said, chuckling.

“Oh, OK. Sure. Seven is great,” I said.

I tried to think about what he had just said. What did he mean about me primping? I wondered if primping would mean wearing a sheer top with a hotpink bra. Gosh, I hoped not. I would definitely be disappointing him.

Before I could say good-bye, Daniel just couldn’t resist his chance to take a shot. “Charlotte doesn’t primp. She doesn’t need to.” He stared at Blane with the angriest look I have ever seen on his face.

I felt the hair on my arms stand up. My gosh, Daniel, I thought, this Gomez thing has gotten out of control. Even Gomez was friendlier to Blane than Daniel was.

Blane just glared back at him, and then he turned and said, “See you tonight, Charlie.”

I just simply said, “Bye, Blane,” as I turned to look at my best friend.

“What in the world was that about?” I asked in an undertone so only he could hear.

“Sorry. Couldn’t help myself. Who tells a girl to primp? What is this guy’s deal?” he said, annoyance and disgust in his voice.

Everyone else at the table seemed to understand what Daniel’s problem was with Blane. They were all glancing at each other like they knew some secret. I refused to inquire. I wasn’t going to let anything ruin this first date. I needed to at least be able to say I had one date under my belt, I thought, laughing to myself.

Daniel and I walked to our next class together because his class was just down the hall from mine. He turned to me with a guilty look on his face. “Sorry, Charlotte. I am trying,” he said and kissed me on top of my head and walked away.

I couldn’t think about it. I had a horrible stomachache now, a very difficult workout after school to prepare for, and the enormous decision to make regarding heals and flats. This was all too much for me.

I made it through my day. I sort of made it through my practice. My stomach was in knots that felt like cramps. I assumed it was my nerves. I ran the exact times that Coach Miroballi had wanted me to run; however, I did chuck my cookies twice. Coach Miroballi was the best coach, he always believed in me, and I never wanted to let him down.

Daniel came walking up to the truck.

“Uh oh! Someone got sick at practice I see,” he said in a sweet voice.

He walked up and gave me a hug.

I looked down at my shirt. “Do I have puke on me?” I covered my mouth with the thought that my breath had given me away.

“No!” he said, laughing. “I can tell by your face. You look pale,” he said, opening my door and kissing me on top of my head.

“Oh great, now I will really need to primp,” I said, panicked.

Daniel looked straight at me and said, “You don’t need to do anything. I think you look beautiful with or without color in your face.” But he continued laughing.

“Thanks, Daniel!” I said sarcastically.

“Charlotte, it’s dinner. Don’t make yourself sick over this guy. He’s not worth it. He’s lucky to spend an evening with you. I think you should wear what you are wearing right now and not brush your teeth,” he said, and we both burst into laughter.

Daniel asked what my times were for my mile repeats. This was the thing about Daniel: he was always interested in what I ran at practice and what my times were. We definitely took the time to support each other, and it was nice that he cared.

I told him my times, and he was really impressed. “My God, Charlotte, no wonder you chucked your cookies!” he said as he messed my hair up.

We pulled down our street, and I was shocked to see my dad’s car in the driveway.

“Looks like Jack Sr. decided to come home early to see you off,” he said, smiling.

“Oh my gosh, of all the nights. Now I will have to explain this to him,” I gasped.

“Charlotte, your dad loves you. He probably came home because he wanted to meet the first guy lucky enough to take you out. Lenora probably told him. Now, go in and get ready. Keep your phone on you and call me as soon as you get home. And stop biting your lip,” he said firmly.

“OK. You’re right. What are you doing tonight?” I asked, surprised that we hadn’t talked about it yet.

“A bunch of the guys are going out for pizza to celebrate our last weekend before our games start,” he said.

I looked at him suspiciously. “Sans cheerleaders?”

He smiled. “Oh, did I leave that out? Yes, a few cheerleaders too.” He winked.

“Crystal Bryant?” I giggled.

“I think it’s a safe bet that she will be there,” he laughed with me. “Have fun, Charlotte. Call me when you get home, please,” he yelled as I ran up the driveway.

My dad was in the kitchen talking with Lenora.

“There’s my little girl,” he beamed. I gave him a hug,

“What are you doing home, Dad? It’s early for you.” I asked.

“Well, Lenora told me you were going to dinner with some new boy at your school, so I wanted to come home and make sure you were OK,” he smiled.

“Oh, Dad, that was sweet. It’s just dinner. No big deal,” I said.

“Well, I would like to wait to meet him, and then I’ll head back to the office for a few hours,” he replied.

“Sounds good, Dad.” I turned to head upstairs.

My dad called after me in a concerned voice, “What does Daniel think of him?”

I turned back to face my dad. “Well, um, Daniel doesn’t really like him yet,” I said.

My dad just turned and started chuckling loudly, saying, “Well, he is awfully protective of you, I’m not surprised.”

I was trying to get ready and desperately trying to ignore my painful stomach cramps. I wore exactly what Steph and Kathleen had told me to, minus the pink bra of course, and they each sent me several text messages that just said
Heels, Charlie!
So I decided to listen to them, and I wore the heels.

My dad called my name. I started to throw my cell phone in my purse, as I had promised Daniel that I would. I looked down, and there was a text from Daniel. He had sent it at exactly 6:59 p.m. He had made sure to send it before I left. It read
Relax, Charlotte. It’s just dinner. Remember to eat, and order something really expensive and make sure he pays. Stop biting your lip. Call me when you get home.

The message brought a big smile to my face. Daniel could always make me laugh, even when I was nervous and I wanted to double over with stomach pain.

.

chapter
4

the date

The doorbell rang, and my dad called for me. “Charlotte, Blane is here, honey.”

My dad, Lenora, and Daniel were the only people who called me Charlotte. Everyone else called me Charlie.

My dad was talking to Blane in the entryway. “Hey, sweetie, you look very pretty,” Dad said.

Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Lenora spying from the kitchen.

“You look great, Charlie!” Blane said, flashing me that dazzling California smile. He seemed eager to get going. Obviously my dad had intimidated him, as he did with most people.

I hugged my dad good-night and yelled good-bye to Lenora, who quickly ran into the kitchen, afraid that she had been spotted.

We walked to the car. Blane drove a new BMW, and he definitely wanted to make sure that I realized what kind of car it was. I acted very impressed, although I’m not one that really cares at all about what kind of car someone drives. I have very little interest in cars at all, but I faked it because I could tell that it was important to him.

“What does Daniel drive? I know he drives you to school a lot, right?” he asked.

This was a strange conversation to start off a date, I thought, but I guess this was what they called small talk. “Um, Daniel drives a truck,” I said cautiously.

“Of course he does,” he said, sounding kind of snippy under his breath.

I quickly changed the conversation. “How is football going?” I asked.

He went on to tell me how Coach Pank was playing it safe by starting Gomez for the first game, and he thought the coach was making a mistake.

“I mean, you play your best player in each position, am I right?” he asked rhetorically and continued talking.

We entered the restaurant where Blane had made a reservation, and he even requested a special table that had a beautiful view of the lake outside. I smiled at him for his thoughtful gesture. We sat down at the table and continued talking about football, and then we ordered our dinners. We finished our conversation about football, and Blane told me how impressed he was with my knowledge about the sport.