Love Notes (7 page)

I stop talking. I just don’t have any words left in me and I need to get up and leave. I can’t bear for anyone to see me cry, least of all him. I start to get up and leave, and I feel his arm stop me and gently lock on to my wrist, which feels like perfection despite how miserable I'm feeling. Just a simple touch from him makes me feel things. Things I have never ever felt–on my wrist of all places.

“Please stay.” I turn around and look at him. I mean, I take a really good look at him. I’ve always heard the saying, the eyes are the window into the soul and as I look at him I understand what that means.

He seems visibly upset.

“Why?” I can’t help but ask.

Maverick sighs and starts speaking quietly. “I don’t know how or why you see yourself like this, and I would like to beat the shit out of the person who ever said or did anything to make you believe this, but I can guarantee you that you are the only one in this whole school that sees yourself that way.”

“First, you are anything but plain.” He scoots closer so it’s just between the two of us and in this moment, it's as if no-one else exists. “Second Charlie, I love your name. It’s sexy as hell. Thirdly, you have the prettiest blue eyes I’ve have ever seen. Your hair when it hits the light has a reddish tint to it that make your eyes sparkle. You are anything, but uninteresting. I could listen to you talk for days. Plus, those curves of yours drive me to the brink of insanity.”

I’m beyond speechless, and I honestly don't know what to think of his words. I do know however, that he seems to mean every single one of them.

“Are you crazy,” I demand?

As seriously as possible, he says, “Maybe, but not about that.”

The bell rings, signaling that lunch, as well as our talk is over. I start gathering my things for my next class, and he blurts out something that stops me completely dead in my tracks.

“Go out with me–on a date. Let me prove it to you.”

“I’m not so sure that’s a good idea.”

“Why? One date–just one and if you have a terrible time, we don’t have to do it again.”

“We will see,” I say and turn to leave.

Maverick grabs my hand and pulls me into him. We are so close I can feel his breath on my face. “One date Charlie, just one, give me a shot.” I glance up into his eyes, and I’m completely lost and will agree to almost anything. Being this close to him makes me feel completely incoherent.

“Okay,” is my only response.

He sighs, “Thank you Charlie.” He sweetly kisses my forehead. “I’ll see you in chorus, okay?”

I nod weakly.

He then turns and walks away leaving me standing there, mouth hanging wide open…

13- Maverick

Walking to my next class was not an easy task. In fact, the rest of my classes I can’t pay any attention and I don’t hear a thing the teachers say. All I can think about is Charlie. I have never in my life met a girl who was so self-conscious about her looks–never. I’m baffled and frustrated as to why she is so unaware of how beautiful she is and why she calls herself overweight or any of the other awful things she says about herself. Truth be told, it pisses me off. I can’t help but wonder what has made her feel this way, and I can’t help but vow to do something about it. I didn’t mean to hurt her, in fact, it nearly broke me to see her so upset.

I’m also a little surprised at myself for being as bold with her as I was. I mean, I’m a confident guy, but I have never felt so inclined to catch a girl by her arm to keep her from walking off and roll her back into me. My heart was pounding with an unexplained need. Having her so close was amazing and frightening at the same time. She felt so good in my arms and fit so perfectly. Almost like she was made for me.

Talking and being with her for the forty minutes at lunch was definitely not enough time. I need more. Especially more time to convince her, that I am the guy for her. More than that I need a way to convince her of what I see and others see. She needs to see how amazing she is.

The great thing is I get to see her soon…

Chapter 14-Charlie

As I walk to choir class, I’m still recalling the moment of Maverick reeling me back in and the sweet, chaste kiss he gave my forehead. Just thinking about him causes shivers to race down my body and causes goose bumps to rise up all over my arms. I have no idea why I feel like this or what it is. I just know that I like how he makes me feel.

My thoughts drift to being asked out on a date and what the hell my dad is going to have to say about it. It scares the living shit out of me, truth be told. I’m not sure of his reaction and what he may say or do to torture me. Because that’s what it is–torture. I also know for a fact that he will not let me go out with anyone, until he meets them first, which will probably mean dinner at the house. The thought makes me physically ill. I think I may be sick. I’m scared as hell about what he could or will say. That whatever my dad says, will be something that Maverick may actually believe. He might see all of the horrible things that I am and go running for the hills.

I reach the door, but instead of opening it, I lean against the wall and bang my head. I need to calm myself prior to stepping foot into class.
Lord, he’s gonna think I’m an idiot or worse a reject, which is what I feel like most of the time.
The sound of the bell ringing again, signals that I’m about to be late. I take a deep breath, straighten myself and walk into class.

As soon as I pass the threshold I spot Tori, but she’s not alone. To my amazement and surprise, sitting beside her is none other than Maverick. I slowly walk over, even though I’m dying to race over and sit next to him. He smiles and at that moment I think damn the consequences with my dad.

I ease down next to him, leaning over, I whisper, “I have one condition about our date.” He looks at me and says, “Anything.”

His nearness is killing me and my heart is beating so fast that it takes effort to even speak.

“You have to come to my house for dinner first; My dad will expect to meet you before he'll let me go out with you….” Shifting in my seat, I add, “I know that it may seem weird to even have to do that but…”

“Yes,” he quickly responds. I’m a little surprised that he agrees so readily. I honestly thought I might have scared him off.

“Are you kidding Charlie? Any way I can spend time with you I will, even if there are parents involved.”

“You’re kidding, right?” I ask.

He turns and stares me directly in the eye with a serious expression on his face. “I don’t kid Charlie, not when it comes to you.”

I see that for some reason in such a short amount of time this guy, this beautiful and sweet guy who seems so perfect, likes me.

Mr. Hall walks in while I’m staring at Maverick and thinking about everything that has been said and what it all means. I shake my thoughts and re-focus on my love of music and why I am in this class to begin with.

Maverick leans over and whispers in my ear, “We will talk later.”

I feel shivers cascade down my back all the way to my toes with him just whispering in my ear. Then like a big bucket of water being spilled over me, Mr. Hall begins to speak.

“Okay, people here are our plans for the semester. We are going to be in charge of a music festival that will be put on in front of the whole school during homecoming week, and it will help raise money for the arts in the school. You will be in groups of two or three, and make sure you pick something snazzy and fun! Go ahead and start picking your groups and start thinking about what you’re going to do.”

Maverick leans over me as soon as Mr. Hall stops talking, “Be my partner Charlie.”

“Can you even sing, at all?” I can’t help but ask.

“I sing in the shower, does that count?” He says this with a smile and his fantastic blue eyes are laughing at me. He’s just so damn charming and I could honestly give a flip if he can sing or not. I just want to be with him every moment that I possibly can.

I smile back at him as I reply, “Sure Mav, why not.”

“Aw, you gave me a nickname, Charlie.”

My face feels like it’s on fire. I mean like volcanic heat. I know my chest is sure to be all splotchy red now, and I’m sure he can see it, which is even worse!

“I like it,” he hastily adds. His face is serious so I know he’s not trying to make fun of me.

Tori nudges me, and I feel awful. Here I am having this conversation with Maverick and my new bestie is sitting right there getting ignored.

I turn and look at her.

She looks at me and smiles, like it’s completely okay that I’ve been ignoring her. “How do you feel about a third wheel?”

“First off, you are never a third wheel and second I would love for you to be with us Tori, sounds awesome. Now we need to decide on music.”

Maverick shakes his head and starts laughing, “Don’t look at me. How about I let the two of you decide on that?”

“You'll feel comfortable with whatever we pick?” Tori asks.

“Sure, I trust you both.” he responds

“Are you sure about that,” I ask.

“Positive.”

I look at Tori, and she has a twinkle in her eye like she’s up to no good as she says, “Oohh, this is going to be fun.”

Chapter 15-Charlie

After class Maverick says a quick good bye and high tails it out the door. He has a bit of a mischievous look about him. I shrug it off, and don’t think much more about it.

Tori and I start walking to the parking lot discussing music choices. It cracks me up, because Tori is all about putting Maverick in an uncomfortable situation.

“I can’t believe he said we could pick anything. Is he crazy? Does he not know what we are capable of and what we could make him sing? Crap, if he can even sing at all? Think about it. Big bad Maverick up there on that stage singing–with us. Anything we choose.”

Tori can’t seem to help herself and just bursts out laughing. She has such a loud and infectious laugh that I can’t help but join her. “Man he must have it bad for you girl, that’s all I can say.” Tori says.

I glance over at her shyly. “This is very new for me. I have never been in this situation and I can’t believe of all people
he
wants to date
me
.”