Four Doors Down(37)

The doorbell rings. When I make no move to answer it, my mom sighs and goes to open the door while I stare at my phone, debating if I should call Charlie.

My mom clears her throat behind me and I turn to see her standing in the doorway with Charlie behind her. My jaw falls open slightly, I’m so shocked to see him here. He’s picked me up from my house countless times, but he’s never been in, not whilst my parents have been home. He’s always messaged to tell me to come outside or beeps his horn. My mom raises an eyebrow in my direction, then excuses herself from the room. Charlie looks at me and offers a small smile. I return it tentatively. Please don’t break up with me. He wouldn’t be smiling at me if he were going to break up with me, right?

He walks over and sits down beside me.

“I’m so sorry,” I tell him immediately. “I shouldn’t have picked a fight. I didn’t mean it.”

“You know, Becca, it’s been a long time since I’ve had a girlfriend. I guess I just forgot about checking in all the time and seeing you all the time. You were right, I should have called more. I was busy, but that’s all, I promise. There’s no one else. Just you.”

“So you’re not mad at me?”

He smiles. “Just don’t start fights again for no reason, okay?”

I actually feel weak with relief. I clamber onto his knee, wrap my arms around him and kiss him like my mom’s not in the house. He pulls away after a minute and picks my arms up from around his neck, turning my hands over so that my palms are facing him. He slowly starts to stroke my left wrist, running his finger over the skin softly. It feels relaxing and intimate and wonderful.

“You know, your wrist has been looking a little empty,” he tells me.

I pull my eyes away from my wrist and look up at him. He’s smiling at me. He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a simple silver charm bracelet. I gasp in surprise.

He remembered!

A couple of months ago I lost the charm bracelet my mom got me for my sixteenth birthday. I spent days and days looking for it but eventually figured it must have fallen off at some point. My mom was furious but not as pissed as I was. I loved that bracelet. I wore it every day and was devastated I’d lost it.

Charlie reaches for my wrist and gently fastens the clasp. The bracelet has just one charm on it—a guitar. “The guitar is for me,” he tells me. “So even if I’m off doing my thing, I’ll always be with you.”

I grin from ear to ear. I don’t care how cheesy that is, it’s the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me. It’s like in the olden days when boys used to give their girlfriends their signet ring. This is what that feels like. It feels like a commitment. He reaches over and pulls my head down to meet his and gives me the sweetest, gentlest kiss imaginable.

I love him. I actually love him. It’s on the tip of my tongue to tell him when he grins mischievously at me, glancing toward the door to make sure my mom’s not hovering nearby. “You know my parents are out tonight,” he whispers.

Relief floods me. He’s forgiven me and everything’s back to normal. I nod my head and let him pull me to my feet. I yell goodbye to my mom and I’m out the door and in Charlie’s car thanking God that everything is back to normal and that he still wants me.





Sam and I are sitting with Erica at a table outside of school. Erica has just been dumped by her latest boyfriend and is suitably devastated. Well, it is her birthday so pretty crappy timing. Personally, I don’t think it’s that big a loss. I mean, the guy was shorter than her and permanently reeked of garlic, but being the good friend that I am, I went and picked up a box of donuts after school and brought them back for after she finished drama club. I’m on my third with half the box to go when I look up and see Jake, Ryan, John, Mason and another girl, Katie, standing by the table.

“Hey guys,” Jake says and sits down. Ryan and Mason join him while John and Katie step closer standing just behind them. I frown but manage to stop myself from pulling a face. Apparently Ryan and I are on speaking terms again now, so I can’t exactly moan if he sits at the same table as me. And he did buy me all that candy.

“Who bought those?” Ryan asks, nodding at the donuts.

“Becca,” Sam replies. Apparently that’s the answer they wanted because both Ryan and Jake immediately help themselves. My jaw drops open.

“Hey, they’re for Erica!” I exclaim. I glance over at her, but she doesn’t look the least bit bothered about sharing. She’s just staring at them like they’re some sort of mythical creatures. “It’s her birthday,” I explain.

“Happy Birthday, Erica,” Ryan says, giving her his trademark cocky smile. She practically melts and I have to bite my lip to stop from grinning. I’d put money on Erica not knowing that Ryan knew who she was. He’s probably just made her week.

“Thanks,” she mumbles, turning slightly pink. Ah well, at least they’ve cheered her up. “Well done on getting Homecoming King,” she tells him quickly.

I have to hold back a snort and glance over at Sam, who is smirking back at me. This is not the Erica we’re used to, all shy and tongue-tied. Ryan did get homecoming king at the dance last week, just like I predicted. Ryan smiles back at her, looking like he’s trying hard to not start laughing. “Thanks, Erica.” He turns to me and raises an eyebrow. I start to laugh. He’s so full of it.