It's been around ten days since Charlie's birthday party, and Duff hasn't called her a single time. She also made no attempts to contact him at all. She really didn't want to see any of him, and thus she didn't know if Bobbie and him had something between them or not. To be perfectly honest, she was really curious about that, but asking Bobbie was the thing she wanted to do the least. When she and Charlie's family left a couple of days ago, she looked absolutely as satisfied and pleased with herself as at the very beginning.

Charlotte's been trying to distract herself from thoughts about Duff by taking extra shifts at work. She has been hanging around at the restaurant day and night, and it really helped her unwind. She's been earning more money as well, and it really gave her hopes to enter college in September.

- Hey Charlie! A coffee, to the table eighteen!

Wendy shouted out her order and disappeared in the crowd. Charlie shook her head and went to pour some coffee into plastic cup. Table number eighteen was the furthest of then all tucked in the dirtiest corner of the room, thus nobody really wanted to carry anything there and tried to make somebody else do that. But Charlie was the least important person in the whole Johnny Rockets company, so she had to go there herself.

To Charlie's surprise, there was no customer waiting at the table. She cursed and stopped so suddenly she nearly spilt the drink on herself. She saw somebody appear in the shadow.

"What the fuck?". Charlie thought to herself.

The unknown person began moving. It took a few steps towards her, and she recognized Clark, her colleague, the ultimate Mr Good Guy who she mistakenly considered to be called Gary.

- What the hell is going on? Where is the guy?

- Didn't you understand? There is no guy except for me.

Charlie cringed inside. The way he was speaking seemed to be taken from some cheesy movie.

- Sorry, what?

- I just wanted to see you, Charlotte.

- Me?

Clark's lips moved and he frowned.

- Yes. You know, beautiful, from the day I met you everything has changed for me. The sun shines in another way, and my heart has a new, crazy rhythm...

- What do you want from me? - Charlie asked directly, having put the cup aside and goggling at him. She was astonished and a little disgusted by his speech. Does he assume she'd take him into consideration?

- You are a goddess, Charlie. You make every other woman there seem bland in comparison.

Woman? Does he really think these skinny, acne-covered girls are actually women?

- Excuse me, but what should I do...

- I just want a little kiss, - he announced, awfully smirking and pursing his lips. Charlie jerked away.

- Nah, don't ask!

Shivering from horror, she dashed out of the room into the staff's and took off her apron on the way.

- Charlotte! - Clark called, clenching his fists, - don't betray my dreams!

- Shit, Charlie, whatcha doin'? - Wendy, the head of the waiters, shrieked when she saw Charlie putting on her denim jacket.

- I am going home! - Charlotte replied, lifting her bag from the floor, - home, Dee!

- But silly, you have to work, don't you? - Wendy remarked with a grimaces of exhaustion on her face.

- No, - Charlie objected, shrugging her shoulders, - I've done my shift, and I decided not to take extra today. So long, Wendy!

She nearly ran her way out and stopped in the doorway, inhaling fresh air and beaming like a moron at the sight of the tickly warm sun.

Her and Elles' flat on Delaney street was hardly a block away, and Charlie made a decision to take a stroll home. She was walking slowly and gracefully, smiling at the strangers passing by, her hands in her pockets. She was free, she wasn't remorseful about Duff, and the sun was shining brightly right above her.

- Chuck! Chuck! Charlotte!

She shuddered at the sound of her name being cried out and turned around to see who was calling her.

Somebody was waving at her from the another side of the street. The traffic lights changed, and on the pedestrian crossing she saw Scott hurrying in her direction.

For a moment she stood still and thought how handsome he looked in his sea blue polo shirt that really went well with his aquamarine eyes. He appeared to have tanned even more, and it made his even teeth look snow white.

- Hello Chuckie! Whatcha doing here?

He approached her and greeted by kissing on the cheek. The touch of his lips sent a few shivers down her spine.

- Hi Scottie! Just going back home from Rockets. And you?

- Had some business in town. You know, delivery work for the firm, nothing big.

Charlie last saw him a day after her birthday, but it seemed like a thousand years ago. Every time she met Scott, there was something new about his appearance and personality that she noticed. For instance, she has never paid attention to the adorable dimple he had on his cheek.

- Oh, I see. Where are you going now?

- I don't know, - he said lazily, scratching the crown of his head, - I thought about visiting my baby cousin, just to check how she's doing...

- Hey, let's go then. I've got the keys! - Charlie suggested, pointing at the house. Scott agreed to tag along, and a couple of minutes later they were standing in front of the door with Charlotte opening it.

- Closed, - she muttered, turning the handle, - so I guess Ellie's not home...

- Oh, I see...

- Maybe you'd like to get in anyway? - Charlie asked politely, toying with the keys, - just to have a glass of soda or...

- Sure, I won't refuse.

- Okay, come in! - she opened it and gestured towards the hall, inviting him.

Scott made a walk around the house, jumped on Elle's bed a little, zipped through TV channels and only then asked to pour him some lemonade.

- So, how does it feel to be nineteen? - he smiled, taking a sip. Charlie made a gesture that expressed unsureness.

- Equally nice as to be eighteen.

- You're such a big girl now, - he mentioned, swirling the drink around in his glass. He lifted his hand, and his fingers made their way through Charlie's short, messy hair. He put a few strands away from her face. then touched her cheek gently. She watched him in amazement but didn't object.

Suddenly, Scott got up and pulled Charlie with him. She was in his arms, and he was hugging her so tight she coupdn't do anything. He pressed his lips against hers. She was trembling.

- Chuck...Charlotte...come on, - he whispered, feeling, touching, learning her. His quick, delicate fingers run down her neck, caressing the softness of her shoulders and breast. Charlotte couldn't help a moan of pleasure. He carefully pulled her shirt and took it off over her head, then distracted her from his actions with a gentle long kiss.

Letting Scott unzip her jeans, she threw her head back. Only now she realized that was what she wanted. She didn't listen to the sweet sexual nothings he was uttering while undressing but only thought to herself how didn't she understand this before. Scott was always there, and he was there for her, and it all was as natural as breathing.

Several moments later she was on top of him, lying on her bed. Somehow she didn't feel awkward or embarrassed like she did with Duff. Scott's glowing blue eyes were in front of her, fixed at her naked body, but she didn't felt any urge to run away or hide. He was with her, then he was inside her and they were one.

***

- You don't want to say you just went and left her there alone, do you? - Steven stared at him in utter astonishment, a drinking straw pointing at him like a weapon. Duff could do nothing but nod in agreement.

- Duh!

Steven's big sky blue eyes turned even bigger and rounder. His jaw dropped but he closed his mouth and gave Duff his best I-Hate-You-So-Much-I-Could-Kill-You-Look.

- You are an idiot, Duff McKagan. It's official and no treatment can be undergone.

- Heck, but why? I didn't do anything, she just made up a reason to take offence. You know, women!

- Unlike you, I do know women, and coming at another gal at her birthday part is the worst you can do, let me tell you, - Steven angrily put his glass aside and linked his fingers.

- But I didn't chat her up or anything...- Duff tried to explain away, - we just talked, discussed all these nothing, and I swear I forgot about her the other day!

That wasn't true, and they both knew it. Duff was blown away by Bobbie, he was infatuated with her. If there was somebody he forgot about, it was Charlie, not her. Bobbie was so little and lovely, and the way she pouted her lips when she was disappointed was the most adorable thing he has ever seen. He caught every word that escaped her tiny pink mouth, and he was absolutely convinced Bobbie was perfect. Her smile put him on top of the world and her silvery laugh made his stomach jump and go in knots. And, what's even more important, he was absolutely sure the blowjob she's given him was the best he's received in his lifetime.

- Do you want to fool me, your best friend, into this? - Steven knit his brows. - What are you going to do now?

- Me? Nothing! I didn't do anything!

- And that's your biggest fault! You should just, I don't know, kiss her, give her a smile, call her! Show you were thinking about her!

Duff sighed. He knew he probably should have behaved another way, but why did it feel so right with Bobbie then? With her, he didn't have to put any effort to appear likeable - she was struck by the only fact of him being next to her. She was so happy and grateful when he fucked her he couldn't help but want her more. Charlie was a long distance away, so hard to win, and Bobbie was easy.

- You are hopeless, King of Beers. You are going to end up alone, and a dog is going to eat your cold flesh, - Steven stated, folding his arms.

- I won't, what the fuck are you talking about?

- Please tell me you are not so stupid to believe you are meant to be together because she is brilliant at giving head, please!

Duff shook his head. At first, he was proud to boast about fucking such a cutie, but he didn't expect Steven to react like that. Now he too felt a twinge of guilt. However, he knew he trapped himself in the corner. Charlie won't listen to his excuses no matter how apologetic he would be.

- Seriously, man, don't get me sold all bass players are stupid. Call her and say you are sorry.

It was strange how much enthusiasm Steven gave him. Duff got up and confidently walked towards the receiver. He needed to get Charlie back, and he was going to do that, one way or another.

__________________________

♪ Blondie - One Way Or Another

Author's note: so, what do you think so far? How do you like Charlie with Scott? Read, comment, vote!