Playing with Janet

Insane. That is what Charlie is going to become if she hears another piggish squeal coming from one of Hayden's groupies. It's sixth period and during this time the girl would normally be rejoicing because the school day would soon conclude. However, for the last forty minutes, she has been doing the exact opposite. This, ladies and gentlemen, is what she would deem as agonizing torture at its finest. The world must want to watch her suffer. That has to be it.

Charlie's convinced that every single person in the universe is conspiring against her. She can barely tolerate one class with the school's so-called Knight in Shining Armor (pun intended), who always causes the estrogen levels to skyrocket through the roof wherever he ventured. So how is she supposed to handle three hours of irritating giggles and obnoxious whispers for the next one hundred and eighty days?

The answer is simple, she can't. She doesn't have the patience.

If this is going to be the case, she might as well drop out at this rate. She sees no point in continuing. She will not be able to focus properly and before they even reached Thanksgiving break, Charlie's a hundred and twenty percent positive she'll wind up suspended at least ten times because of these relentless girls. She has nothing personal against Hayden. It isn't his fault that he's been blessed with good genes and a heart composed of pure gold. Sometimes, she just wishes he'd grow a backbone and tell all of those obsessive hags to hop off of his dick for once. Okay, maybe not in those exact words but you understand, right?

Charlie has known the guy for years; they actually grew up in the same neighborhood. Ever since they were five, they have been attending the same school which meant they carpooled often. Believe it or not, the two of them were even considered to be friends at one point. Back then, being involved with Hayden Knight was actually quite all right. They would talk about comic books and video games, play catch and kick-the-can. Doing things kids their age did.

Then bam!

Puberty came a knocking and he transformed into an instant chick magnet. His braces were out of the picture. He sprouted six inches over summer break and his voice grew deeper. Girls were constantly flocking around him, like moths to a flame or bees to honey, and naturally the two of them drifted apart. Charlie didn't sulk or mope though. It wasn't her style. Besides, she met Jillian soon afterwards and wasn't given the chance to miss her friendship with Hayden. Like they say: when one door closes, another one opens.

The bell rings at last and the first person to shoot up from her seat and evacuate the room is Charlie. The halls begin to fill up with students streaming in from every direction. She dodges them without a problem and scurries towards the parking lot. She has to be at work in an hour and a half which gives her just enough time to squeeze in a quick powernap and perhaps even a little snack. She is the first to reach the truck. A few seconds later, Alexander climbs into the back seat. With her patience wearing thin, Charlie counts down the amount of time Ian has before she leaves his sorry ass stranded.

Five minutes has gone by and that's when the girl sticks the key into the ignition slot, locks the doors and fires up the vehicle. Just as she is ready to back out, her older brother comes scrambling to the passenger's side. He bangs against the window and flashes a cheeky smile, one she does not find the least bit amusing. "You're late," she states with the windows cracked.

"Oh come on, Charlie. My last class is at the back of the school," he defends, panting slightly. "I got here as fast as I could."

"Not good enough for me. Have fun walking home," she deadpans as she removes her foot from the brakes.

"You're not really going to leave him, are you?" Alexander queries, brows arched.

"No," Charlie sighs. If she does, then Ian will definitely return the favor. After she successfully pulls out, she beeps the horn, telling her brother to get in.

"I knew you weren't going to abandon me," Ian muses happily.

She turns to him, with the intention of giving him a warning, but instead freezes. Her blood runs cold and she clenches her teeth. A shiny substance stains his lips and as she examines him more closely, she notices how disheveled his hair is along with his shirt. This could only mean one thing. "You ass-hat," she seethes as she slaps the back of his head. She couldn't believe him! The audacity! She should have left him when she had the chance!

"Ow! What was that for?" he shouts in return.

"For lying to me!" she fires, piqued. "Who were you making out with this time? Forget it! I don't want to know. The next time you're late, I won't be so lenient. Remember that."

"So you caught me." He shrugs offhandedly as he relaxes against the seat. "I have no regrets. I'll do it again if I get the chance," he declares, a dopey grin still sprawled out across his face as he stares out the window. "It's definitely worth the walk home," he whispers. His behavior sets off red flags in her head and Charlie shoots him a look oozing with disdain before she drives off to fetch their baby brother.

"What's her name?" she questions at last.

"What?" Ian swallows and sits up straight, his posture tense. "W-why do you want to know?" he stammers.

"Well you've been giggling to yourself for the past ten minutes like a little school girl, which means that something's up. Are you going to tell us or what?" She makes a sharp left turn, throwing Ian's body up against the door. God, is his sister's driving atrocious! He'll most likely become a regular patient at the hospital by the end of the year because of her!

"I was not giggling like a little school girl," he argues; it's obvious that she had bruised his ego. Men.

"Alex," Charlie calls in reinforcement and unfortunately for Ian, the third party sides with her.

"Whatever. You don't need to know," he grumbles, remaining silent for the rest of the ride. They pick Cameron up where they had dropped him off at in the morning and head back home. For the second time, Charlie hits the curb while pulling into the driveway. Sometimes, her family can't help but wonder how she managed to pass her road test. Eventually they decided that a miracle must have taken place. That, or the instructor feared for his life and didn't want to have her come back and repeat the exam again. Smart guy.

"We're back!" Cameron announces as they all usher into the house. Their father is nowhere to be found and they assume he is at the office. Next, they all split up and go about with their own business. Alexander is in the living room, sitting on the floor with his syllabi scattered in front of him on the coffee table. Ian is on the patio out back, his fingers fiddling away on his phone as he allows the beaming sun to kiss his skin. Cameron is in the kitchen fixing a snack up while Charlie is basking in the comfort of her bed. To say that today has been a painfully long day would be an understatement. Maybe she could release her pent up frustration at the batting cage. That's what she always does and, so far, it has never failed her.

The doorbell echoes and Charlie furrows her eyebrows. A visitor at this hour? It has to be either: a) a girl scout trying to coerce them into purchasing more cookies which will ultimately lead to obesity, diabetes or both, or b) a salesman trying to scam them for their credit card numbers. Whoever it is she does not plan on entertaining them. She'd leave this to one of her brothers. "Charlie, you need to come down here!" Alexander hollers as he gulps at the guest who had rudely crossed the threshold and entered their home without invitation.

"Seriously?" Charlie grits as she forces herself to get up. How difficult is it to tell someone that they aren't interested? Peeved at her brother's incompetence, she marches downstairs. Why is she always the one doing this? She is about to scold Alexander for bothering her when she is greeted with the sight of the big breasted, cheating bitch herself. Great, what the hell does she want?

"What are you doing here?" Charlie glares, showcasing how gravely displeased she is with Janet's unannounced arrival. Who does she think she is waltzing in here like she owned the place? Does she not know that she is clearly unwelcomed or do they have to post a huge sign that reads: no two-timing hussies allowed out on their front lawn for her to get the hint? What's a girl got to do? Clearly, Janet over here didn't comprehend a single word from their last conversation. If she had, she wouldn't be showing her face around this part of town.

"I want to speak to my boyfriend," she declares snottily as though she has the right to demand for such a thing. The nerve of this girl. How thick-skinned and shameless could she get?

"Cam, go to your room." After he's gone, Charlie snorts out loud and clucks her tongue. "I'm sorry, you must be confused. The douchebag you cheated on Nick with lives in hell so why don't you do us a favor and go join him. That's where you dug your way out from, isn't it? Now get out before I drag you out by your extensions, you superficial demon."

Realization dawns on the older girl and she takes a daring step towards Charlie. "So you're the little bitch who answered my call." She proceeds to examine her from head to toe before she scoffs. "What a joke. You're nothing compared to me. Who are you to butt into other people's business? Why don't you run along and get Nick for me or else you'll regret it," she warns, jabbing Charlie's shoulder with her bird claws.

"Excuse me?" Charlie replies with her teeth clenched. She then registers her words. "And here I thought he was actually serious about you. You don't even know who I am," she cackles, confusing the intruder. "Listen here, Janet."

"My name is Jane." She cuts in, irritated.

"Did I ask? No. And to answer your question, Janet, Nick's my older brother which means I have every right to get involved," Charlie proclaims. The look of horror flashes behind Jane's eyes. Pissing off the sister of the guy she's trying to win back is not part of her plan. "Especially if it involves unfaithful girls like you. You're so shameless that it's repulsive. Now that you know you'll never get another chance with him, why don't you leave? You know where the door is, don't you?"

Regaining her confidence, Jane holds her head up high and carries on. "I don't care who you are. I'm not moving until Nicholas Whitmen comes down here and speaks to me face to face."

"All right. Have it your way," Charlie hums. Alexander shakes his head and runs a palm over his face. He can already tell how this is going to end.

"Ow! Let me go!" Jane cries out as she scratches Charlie's hand, which is clutching onto her hair. Charlie ignores her, brings her down the steps of their front porch and throws her to the ground. "You crazy bitch!" she screeches as she stands up. Charlie usually prefers punching the people she doesn't like in order to knock some sense into them but, because she can't risk getting sued for assault, she refrains from unleashing her wrath.

"You have five seconds to get off of our property before I punch your face in and call the cops on you," she advises, despite the urge gnawing at her insides.

"I'm not afraid of you!" Jane counters, foolishly believing she still has shot.

"Oh yeah?" Charlie challenges as she rolls her sleeves up to her elbows and cracks her knuckles.

Jane flinches and retreats. "This isn't over. Mark my words! I'll have Nick wrapped around my finger in no time. Just you wait!"

Charlie pretends to lunge for her and the little stunt has the girl scrambling to her car. As soon as she disappears from her sight, Charlie sucks her teeth and looks down at her arm, now littered with fresh cuts. She's experienced worse, so this is nothing to her. Sure her dad is going to chastise her for resorting to violence once he finds out what she has done to Jane, but she couldn't care less. She could have done more damage if she wanted to. Hell, he should be ecstatic that she let her go with all thirty-two teeth still intact.

Charlie has been so riled up dealing with Jane that she doesn't even notice the moving truck parked across the street from her house and the pair of mischievous grayish-blue eyes that has been watching her the entire time. "Sweetheart, can you come help me with this?" his grandmother requests from the first floor.

"Sure thing! I'll be down in a minute," the boy replies, lips pulled up into a curve. What a funny little thing fate could be indeed.

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Author's Thoughts: I had soooo much fun writing out that scene with Charlie and Janet! It was so funny. What did you guys think of the confrontation?