Chapter SevenCharlie

  I stare in shock after April, who is walking away with a satisfied smirk after winking at me. I am hyperaware that my face is redder than a tomato, my palms are sweaty, and my heart is beating at supersonic speed.

  I take a deep breath, cracking my knuckles to calm my racing thoughts. It was just a wink.

  But why did she have to wink in the first pce? Nobody does that anymore! And what’s with my sweaty palms?

  I stand up, wiping my sweaty palms on my jeans. As I do, I see Carl’s eyes widening in surprise. He hesitates for a moment, seemingly about to say something, but I ignore him, treating him with the same indifference he always showed me. At that moment, he felt as insignificant as he made me feel.

  I have a fshback to the words Flower- what, no- April said while she was speaking to him and I feel my face heating up, knowing she referenced me without doing it directly or implicating me. I smile, ughing to myself at the little gre she had on her face. In that moment, I feel more connected to her or anyone than I ever have. Sure, I’ve told others about what Carl has done to me, but she’s the only one who has stopped him or tried.

  As I walk away, I shake my head, forcing myself to think of anything else.

  She probably had her reasons, even if she referenced you, that doesn’t mean she did it for you. Stop being a delusional child Charlie, and grow up. For a moment, what my mother would say echoes in my mind, my mood plummeting.

  But she winked…at ME. That has to mean something…right?...

  ______________________________________________________________________

  “Charlie, I need to see you after css.” Mrs. Jenkins murmurs to me as she passes my desk, passing out papers to the css. I nod, immediately getting to work on the assignment while listening to the lecture.

  I wonder what she needs…I chew on the inside of my cheek, thinking.

  After css ends and I turn in my paper, I sit down at the front of Mrs. Jenkins's desk, waiting for her to address me. Instead, she sits at her desk and starts grading papers, checking her watch now and then while looking at the door as if she’s waiting for someone.

  I adjust the colr of my shirt nervously, suddenly feeling like I can’t breathe. “Am I in trouble, Mrs. Jenkins?”

  She looks up at me with a curious expression, one I can’t quite decipher. “Have you done something to warrant being in trouble, miss Charlie?” I shake my head in response, my heart stuck in my throat. “Then I don’t see why you would be in trouble, do you?” I blink before shaking my head and sitting back.

  She nods, looking out into the hall again before going back to grading, humming quietly to herself. Suddenly April comes through the door and quickly sits down beside me, her brown hair frazzled and her breathing ragged. “Sorry I’m te Mrs. Jenkins, Mr. Carbon held me back to talk.”

  Mrs. Jenkins looks up and smiles at her. “No issue April, Charlie and I were just waiting for you.” She adjusts her gsses, pulling out a piece of paper. “Okay, let’s see here…..oh here we go, Charlie, you’re going to tutor April. She’s been having some issues with understanding the information in css and Mr. Jefferson told me that you are the reason April here passed the st assignment in his css.”

  I blink, looking at her in shock. “Mrs. Jenkins, i’m not sure that’s such a good idea, we don’t….” I look over at April, who’s eyebrow in raised in a silent challenge, as if daring me to wuss out. I clear my throat and look back at Mrs. Jenkins, the silent challenge on April’s face making my blood boil. I refuse to back down, plus it’s not like we’re competing in this css anyhow. I don’t fear her. “You know what, Mrs Jenkins? I’d be ecstatic to tutor Flo- April and help her learn to retain information.”

  Mrs. Jenkins nods. “I knew you would agree Charlie. Now, you two will meet in the library after school...let's see...do Wednesdays work for the both of you?”

  April sits up, interjecting as I’m about to respond. “Um, actually Mrs. Jenki

  ns, I have soccer practice on Wednesdays. My only free days after school are Fridays.”

  Mrs. Jenkins blinks. “April hun, you do realize that if you don’t get your grades up, there won’t be any soccer practice for you? Wednesdays are the only day the library stays open after school, hun. I can’t make exceptions.”

  I clear my throat, interrupting. “Actually Mrs. Jenkins, Miss Patricia gave me a key for after school so I may read in the library since i’m not able to bring the books home. Fridays are actually the best possible time for April and I to meet logically as well.”

  Mrs. Jenkins pauses for a second, gncing back at April, then Charlie. “Very well, Charlie. Fridays it is. But I expect a weekly report every Monday on April’s progress, capisce?”

  I nod. “Yes ma’am.”

  “Good. You both are dismissed. See you tomorrow.” April and I stand up, collecting our pink passes and leaving the cssroom. I wrap my arms around my books bringing them up to my chest, leaving an inch or so of space between us as we exit. I nod to her as we part in opposite directions.

  As I walk to my next css, I can't shake the image of April’s silent challenge from my mind, the teasing twinkle in her eyes, the curve of her eyebrow as it was raised, the wrinkle near her mouth as she smirked…i shake my head, trying to focus on something, anything else. One thought still lingers in my brain though…who am I doing this for? Her? Or me…..?