Between friends, differences in taste or opinion are irritating in direct proportion to their triviality -W.H Auden

Chapter Seven: Technically, it's your fun place.

Charlotte's POV

"This shit is your idea of fun?" Cat asked, looking around. We were seated in a coffee shop -- "Real Coffee" which in my opinion is a really lame name to give to a coffee shop or any shop at all -- located downtown. I looked at Cat.

"You're right. When you," I said, looking at Daniel "said we were going to have fun, this isn't exactly what I pictured."

"What? I like coffee." He shrugged, taking a sip from his cup. "And besides, I haven't been in this part of town for 8 years now, I missed it and I wanted to catch up."

Cat glared at him. Obviously thinking about things relating to death or pain. "Now listen here mister, you better get me the hell out of here, or this place isn't going to be the only thing you'll miss."

I've never since him look so scared. It was funny. He slipped a twenty dollar bill on the table. "Let's go." he said before running out of the shop.

Cat smiled and followed, evidently proud of herself. We left the coffee shop and took our positions in the car.

"Okay, where to?" I asked, looking at Daniel.

Daniel turned and looked at Cat. I followed his gaze.

"What? You're the one driving." Cat said leaning back on the seat.

"But you're the one who demanded we leave our fun place" he pointed toward the coffee shop "and go somewhere else."

"Technically, it's your fun place." I said to Daniel "I found it crappy."

Cat snorted. "Tell me about it."

Daniel rolled his eyes. "Whatever. Where do you both want to go?"

"Let's go see a movie. Its not like there's anything else to do." I suggested.

"Yeah. I can't believe you planned an afternoon of fun and this is what you came up with. I'm disappointed." Cat scoffed.

I laughed but when Daniel cast me a death glare, I stiffened and looked away. "I hope you have cash with you. I didn't bring any. And I love popcorn." Cat yawned.

"To the movies it is." He shook his head, started the engine and drove off.

                                        —————

"Damn! That movie was hot!!" Cat yelled as we walked out of the movie house.

"I know right? It was amazing." I replied.

"Arrgh! Shut up the both of you. Chick flicks are disgusting. Its always the same thing. The girl meets the guy, they fall in love and get married after going through shit. What's so amazing about that? Y'all watch the same thing over and over again but in different plots." Daniel grunted.

"Oh you're just grumpy because we didn't like your stupid definition of having fun." Cat mocked.

We got into the car.

"Which is?"  Daniel asked.

"Sitting in a run down coffee shop surrounded by old people who are probably gonna die tomorrow." She replied.

"And this is better? Watching boring Chick flicks?"

"Hey, they're not boring. At least not to me."

"Me too." I added.

"Let's not forget the fact that you ate 5 buckets of popcorn. What the hell did all that food go?" He asked, looking at Cat.

"I was hungry alright. And I warned you didn't I?"

"Whatever. Let's just get out of here. Its sickening." Daniel muttered and ignited the engine.

"It's 6 already. Let's go to the club." Cat offered.

"I hate going to the club." I said. Actually begged,I didn't want to go. It was always crowdy and sweaty and disgusting.

As if sensing my distress, Daniel said with a smirk "Then to the club it is."

"Fucker."I murmured and sank down in my seat. He never turned down a good opportunity to humiliate me.

"What was that?" He arched an eyebrow.

"Nothing."

He let out a breathy chuckle and drove off to my torture ground.

           
                                       ***************

Twenty minutes later, the group was seated at the bar of a club. The disco lights were rolling and dots of blue,green and red were everywhere. People were moving frantically on the dance floor, sweating.  Charlotte was the epitome of discomfort. She kept looking around and shifting uncomfortably in her seat. Daniel and Cat  were in fact enjoying themselves, and drinking like tomorrow was never going to come. Charlotte just stared at them.

"Are you going to drink something or are you just gonna sit there and stare like you haven't seen me before?" Cat asked, taking a huge gulp of her tequila.

"Thanks. I'm good." Charlotte replied, obviously scared of best friend's drinking.

"She's such a chicken." Daniel laughed, talking to Cat.

"Totally." Cat replied, looking at Char.

"I'm not a chicken. I can drink. I just don't feel like it." Char said, looking at the both of them with daring eyes.

"Yeah, right." Cat looked away. Probably searching for something.

"You know what? let's play a game." Daniel offered.

"Sure. Which one?" Cat looked at him.

"Never have I ever." He replied with a smirk. As if he knew something they didn't.

"Okay." Cat agreed the same time Char disagreed with a "No."

"And why not?" Daniel asked Char. Amusement written all over his face.

"Because." Char looked away.

"Because.....?" Cat inquired.

"Just because."

"Because you don't have the balls?" Daniel smiled.

"I do have the balls. I just don't feel like it." Char said, too quickly.

"What exactly do you feel like doing?" Cat asked

"Never mind. Let's just play the stupid game."

"You do know it involves drinking right?" Daniel added.

"Of course I do." Char replied.

They ordered six bottles of drinks and filled their glasses.

"Okay. I'll go first. Never have I ever had sex." Daniel said smiling.

He and Cat gulped down their drinks and waited for Char to do the same but she didn't move. She just looked away. They both laughed so hard, tears were falling out. Char felt like dying. This was why she didn't want to play the game. She hadn't done any sexual stuff.

After the laughter died down, Cat continued. " Never have I ever given..." She looked at Daniel "or received a blow job?"

Both she and Daniel drank but Char just sat there. Nothing. They both laughed again. This time harder.

"Okay. Char this is an easy one. Never have I ever kissed someone." Cat said, thinking Char would have at least kissed someone. But Nada. She looked them in the eye and shook her head.

"Wow." Daniel looked surprised. "I can't believe this. My best friend has never kissed someone and I don't know."

"Me too." Cat said looking at Char. "Is there something wrong with you?"

"No. Please let's talk about something else." She said.

Daniel and Cat looked at each other. "She's weird." Cat mouthed.

"I know." Daniel mouthed back.

"Hello!" Char snapped her finger in their faces. "I'm right here."

"Char you need help. You want me to hook you up with someone? I know a guy who's -"

"I'm fine." Char cut her off.

"If you say so."

Char looked at Daniel, waiting for his comment but he just stared into space, clearly thinking about what just happened. This was why she hated going to clubs. She didn't belong here. Now Daniel is going to see her as someone with no 'experience'. This is bullshit. She stood up, carried her bag and walked out of the club. She couldn't take the embarrassment. Daniel and Cat followed behind her. When she turned back and saw them, she walked faster.

"Where the hell are you going?" Daniel yelled. She walked even faster.

"Home!" Char yelled back.

"Why?" He yelled again.

"Because I feel like it!" She answered.

"Oh now she feels like doing something, are you kidding me??" Cat yelled.

"Shut up!" Char yelled again, walking even faster than before.

"Char, we're sorry we laughed at you because you're as innocent as a baby. We didn't mean it." Cat said.

"It was kind of funny."  Daniel whispered.

Cat elbowed him in the stomach. "Ow! What was that for?"

"Apologise. Stop making things worse." Cat whispered back.

"Char, I'm so- I mean we're sorry for laughing at you." He said.

Char stopped and looked back at her friends. She was being childish. "I know, I'm sorry. I'm just embarrassed. You're right. This is stupid. I haven't even had my first kiss yet. I'm hopeless."

"Char, don't say that. It feels good to have a friend that's not polluted." Daniel said, catching up with her. Cat cast him a death glare. If glares were bullets, he'd have died on the spot. He quickly looked away.

"That helps a lot." Char replied sarcastically.

"You're perfect the way you are and we love you for it." He said again with sincerity. Cat smiled.

"Thank you." Char smiled at her friends. "Now let's go back. I really can't walk home. My feet are killing me." She walked towards the direction of the car.

"Thank God. I miss my car already." Daniel said following behind her.

"Freak." Cat scoffed. "Today was fun though."

"Yeah it was." He smiled.

Getting into the car, they drove home. Daniel dropped Cat at her house. When he got to Char's house, he stopped in front and glanced at her to see she was already asleep. She looked so beautiful that he couldn't resist leaning forward to tuck a strand of hair behind her right ear. He got out of the driver's seat , walked around, opened the passenger's seat and carried her out of it bridal style. He opened the front door, walked in and looked around. No sign of Mr and Mrs Winston. He moved up the stairs and walked into her bedroom. After tucking her in, he sat at the side of the bed and watched her sleep. She looked so peaceful. She hadn't had her first kiss. Well, he was going to change that, even if she didn't know.

He leaned down and grabbed her plump lips in his. She tasted divine. She stirred a little, whispering vague things.

He pulled away and leaned down again to kiss her forehead.

"Goodnight Charlee." He whispered and walked out, heading home.