Chapter 12

Charlotte

I came home from school and sat around waiting for the time to go by so that Dimitri could join us for dinner. I was too excited to sit still and do homework.

I danced around in my room and tried on several different outfits. I could not make up my mind about which one I liked best. I asked Juan’s advice, and she told me I should wear red if I wanted to stand out.

“It’s the color of romance,” she said. “I’m sure he would find you more desirable if you wore red.”

So I wore red and put on some makeup—light and natural because I did not want to look like I was trying too hard. I took out my contact lenses and wore my glasses because he had told me that I looked cute in them.

I went downstairs and it felt like flowers were blooming in my stomach. My mother had five raw filet mignon steaks in the fridge. The table was set neatly, and I felt a bit shaky.

“Sit down,” Ned said, and pulled out a chair for me. “You look like you might fall over.”

“This is exciting,” Andrea said. “I can’t wait to meet your friend!”

I hoped I would not regret inviting him. My family could be overwhelming and pushy. I sat at the table and gripped my chair.

“What time did you say he was coming?” Andrea asked.

“At six,” I answered.

“That was ten minutes ago,” Juan said as she came downstairs.

My chest ached, and I checked the clock and realized my sister was right. Dimitri was ten minutes late.

“Maybe he is stuck in traffic,” Ned suggested.

“Maybe,” I said.

I remembered how he had failed to show up for our movie date. Maybe he was not reliable. I tried my best to stay positive.

We waited until it was half past six.

“Maybe you should call him,” Juan suggested.

“His phone is broken,” I said.

“Do you have his parents’ number?” Ned wondered.

“No,” I said.

When Dimitri was two hours late, we accepted that he was not coming. I was embarrassed and had lost my appetite. I went up to my room without eating anything.

Once there, I could clearly hear what was going on downstairs. Everyone else made sandwiches, because it was already late and Andrea did not feel like cooking anymore.

“What a terrible boy,” Juan mumbled.

“We don’t know what his reason is for not showing up,” Ned said. “Let’s wait and find out before we start hating him.”

Andrea said, “I like the way you think.”

I heard a drawer open and feet moving. Moments later, someone was climbing the stairs. I counted the steps until Juan knocked on my door.

“Charlotte,” she called. I did not answer. “I can hear you crying.”

Juan entered my room. I had the blankets over my head as if I could hide forever. Amore lay next to me for comfort. My hair was spread all over the pillow, and I squeezed my eyes shut.

Juan put a plate on the bedside table and sat down on the bed. “I brought you food.”

“I’m not hungry,” I mumbled, and wondered if Ned didn’t object to having food in my room because he pitied me.

“At least don’t hide from me.”

Slowly, I pulled the sheets away from my face and wiped off my tears. My throat felt tight and raw. Juan took my hand. “Boys are dumb.”

“You’ve never been stood up before,” I said.

“Yes, I have!” Juan said. “Have I never told you the story?”

I shook my head. Juan tucked her hair behind her ear and smiled as she spoke. “About three years ago, when I was your age, I met this boy. His name was Brendon.

“Brendon was gorgeous. He was tall and fit, and he did so well in sports. One day, he came over to me, and we started talking. We got along really well, and he asked me if I wanted to go to dinner later that week.”

“I agreed and assumed it was a romantic date, not just two friends hanging out. I showed up at the restaurant and waited for him, but he never came.”

“That sucks,” I said.

“It gets worse,” Juan said. “I spoke to him about it the next day. He had ditched me for a guy!”

I laughed. “He was gay?”

“Yes!” Juan said. “And I seriously thought he had a crush on me.”

The laughter made me feel better. I squeezed my sister’s hand. “I don’t think Dimitri is gay.”

“If he is not into you, he must be gay,” Juan argued. “Why do you like him so much?”

“I can talk to him freely,” I said. “I’m not afraid to be myself. We get along so well.”

“If you can talk to him freely, you should tell him how he made you feel tonight.”

“I will do that,” I said.

We made buttered popcorn and watched a movie. We fell asleep next to each other and almost overslept the next day.

My mom hugged me when I came into the kitchen. I ate breakfast quickly and left as soon as I could. I tried to avoid conversation with everyone.

I could not focus at school, and one of the teachers yelled at me for daydreaming. I apologized, and then daydreamed further.

When the final bell rang, I was thankful because I could go home. I hurried toward my car, but once I could see it, I stopped still. I blinked to make sure that my eyes were not deceiving me.

Dimitri was leaning against the passenger door. He looked up at the sky and only noticed me when I cleared my throat.

“Hey . . . ” he said.

I crossed my arms and gave him an angry look. I could tell that he was nervous—as he should be.

“Can we talk?”

“Sure, we can talk,” I said angrily. “What did you have to eat last night?”

A guilty expression crossed his face. “I can explain.”

“You always stand me up and come up with some excuse.”

Dimitri looked down. He appeared tired and lifeless, and his eyes were sad. I tried to stay strong and resist the urge to forgive him immediately.

~Don’t let your soft heart get the better of you~.

“Let me show you what happened last night,” he finally said.

I watched him as he stood hunched over gazing at his feet. Something was most certainly off. “Alright.”

I unlocked my car and opened the driver’s door. That was when a group of college students came walking down the street. They were loud and drew much attention to themselves.

Quinton was one of the boys. He was laughing with his friends, and he noticed me the same time I noticed him. I diverted my eyes, but he came over anyway. I was about to get into my car when he reached me.

He put his hand on the door and said, “Hello, Charlotte.”

“Quinton,” I said tightly.

“I was hoping I would see you again.”

“I can’t say the same,” I mumbled. I still felt stupid for freaking out in the graveyard, and I was also upset that he had ditched me.

He looked down guiltily. “I owe you an apology.”

I tilted my head to the side and waited. The boy swallowed and met my eyes. “I am sorry for disappearing on you the night of the party.”

I took a deep breath and decided to let it go. If I were him, I might also have run away from a crazy girl. “I’m sorry I freaked you out.”

“You were just drunk,” he said casually. His dismissal of the idea of the ghost and putting the blame on alcohol was clearly the logical explanation. “Anyway, I was hoping I could make it up to you.”

“Right now?” I asked.

“Yeah. We can go get some ice cream.”

“I’m sorry, but I’m already going somewhere.”

“With who?”

“Him.” I gestured to Dimitri, who was sitting in the passenger seat.

Quinton frowned and shook his head. I remembered that Juan told me he found himself another girl at the party after I left. I hoped the sight of Dimitri made him jealous.

“Oh. Okay,” Quinton mumbled.

He took one last look at Dimitri before going back to his friends. I had a feeling I would not hear from him again, and it was no loss.

“Who was that?” Dimitri asked as I climbed into my car.

“Just some jerk I met at a party.” I started driving. “Where are we going?”

Dimitri looked out of the window. “To the hospital.”