Charlie was outside on the lawn, she was talking to Charlotte as they sat on the white bench. It was a typical afternoon in a small town like Bluebridge, where people spend their time together just talking, sipping tea, or take an afternoon walk along the pathways. Some spend it at the lake or on a picnic at the grassy field. He'd miss all those things, he'll remember it as his hometown. Bluebridge will be a place where he'll probably visit once a year and less often with each passing year.
He was watching them from inside. Her smile was infectious, he smiled just looking at her smile. 'Cried for months' her mother said. She really did love him, something he still has a hard time believing. He was going to be better this time, he can't slip up again. Whatever it takes to keep her in his life, he will do it.
He stepped out of the front door. Charlie waved at him to come and meet Charlotte. "This is my boyfriend Tom ... this is Charlotte, my s
When he was a boy, he never really pictured how his life would be when he grows up. Throughout his adolescence, when he explored with girls and his sexuality, he never had an image of what his dream girl would be like. He never really thought about it.When he met Charlie, he just knew, it had to be her.She wasn't a light packer. She stuffed his Honda with three suitcases and three boxes of her belongings to last her for the whole summer. She sat on the passenger seat, lifted her lean legs on the dashboard, the sun reflected on her face and hair, he thought he must've been dreaming.He was moving to the city that he always said he would, he was going to start working where he always said he would, and he was accompanied by the girl of his dream. The girl who had pushed him to chase his own dreams.She was his reason for everything. Most importantly, she loves him."What?" Charli
"Here's your change, Charlene, don't forget to tell your mom that her orders are coming tomorrow," Mrs. Cooper handed out the money she took from the register."I will, Mrs. Cooper," she replied."It's so good to finally see you out and about, your mom finally let you go and do groceries ... huh?"Charlene smiled, "Yeah, I'll be seventeen in two weeks, I think it's about time she let me do some errands by myself."Mrs. Cooper laughed, "Well ... your parents are just being protective of you ... you're such a fine young lady, no wonder they've been keeping you locked up in that big ol' house o' yours."Charlene laughed softly and tucked her hair behind her ear, "Alright, Mrs. Cooper, I'll see you tomorrow, then," she took the groceries off the counter and walked toward the door.Just when she was about to open the door, it was opened from the outside. A boy walked in, ice-blue eyes, strawberry blonde hair, his big nose slightly crooked, and hi
Dinner was served at 7 PM every night. Bill Ludlow liked his meal warm and ready for him when he arrives home. He liked it even better when his wife, Catherine, and his two daughters sat at the dining table, waiting for him to have dinner together. They greeted him with a perfect smile and the courtesy of ladies from an upper-class family.They exchanged stories of how they go about their day with Bill usually dominated the conversation. He meticulously laid out his plans and rules so each and every member of the family know who's in charge and what they have to do. Obedient is the key to Bill Ludlow's heart, the girls had learned that if they obey their father's rules, they can ask for almost anything."I've invited my good friend,Lloyd Friedman to your birthday party, Charlene," her father said.She nodded even though she didn't know who it was."Lloyd is coming all the way from Gastonburry?" Catherine asked.Bill nodded, "He's coming with
"A Ludlow girl?? Oh man ... you're out of your mind, bro, there's no way ..." Samuel commented. Tom had been with almost every girl in town, but he never crossed to the other side of Bluebridge where the better halves were living, let alone Bill Ludlow's daughter. "You don't wanna mess with Bill Ludlow, he's got grip on this town, don't wanna know what he'll do to you if he found out you're messing with his daughter," Ryan agreed.He wasn't planning to mess around with this girl, though, not really. The moment he laid eyes on her, it was pure attraction. He'd never been attached to anything in his life after his mom left, he learned to mend for himself from such an early age. He explored his sexuality by having casual sex with many girls, but never really have a steady girlfriend before. When he saw Charlene, something inside him felt tamed, withdrawn from his usual wild ways of approaching the opposite sex, it was a feeling he didn't recognize.His family fell apart a
He was good with his words, but then again, Charlene was not allowed to go to the store again after that day. After a few days, she had accepted that she might never see him again. She walked to and from school with her friends, always looking around to see if she can find a familiar face along the way. But she never did.There are many walk paths to get from one place to another in Bluebridge, most people go by bike or motorbike, the most common was by foot. The only time people go by car was to go out of town, or if you're a Ludlow or the very few upper-class families in that very small town then you get to go around town by car with a driver.She was walking home from school that day, she and her friends Mandy and Kayla took the usual route past the lake near the woods. There were people swimming in the lake, they heard them laughing, jumping into the lake and splashes of water. They were teenagers, a bit older than them, not from their area, sure enough, her eyes w
Despite what her mother said to him, he couldn't resist the urge to see her again. She was the only thing he could think about when she's not with him. He waited behind a big tree, not far from her school, biting on a toothpick with his back and a foot up against the tree and one hand in his pocket.He has a noticeable appearance, other than his visible good looks, he has a presence that distinct him from a crowd. She was starting to get familiar with him that her eyes would easily find him. She had butterflies rushing to fly away from inside her stomach as he was approaching her. She knew when he came to her school that day, he was pursuing her. Something most boys wouldn't dare the soonest they found out she was Bill Ludlow's daughter. He had a devil-may-care attitude that was most attractive to her, yet the minute he was in her presence, he would shrink into an awkward harmless little boy that made it hard for her to believe that he was as bad as the things she heard about
The house was transformed into a party venue. Workers have been working since morning, putting up lights, flowers, setting up tables, inside and outside the house. The lawn had been mowed, tents were hoisted. The kitchen had been cooking non-stop, caterers have arrived with more variations of dishes to serve throughout the night.Her parents had invited 150 guests aside from Charlene's friends. The caterers provided 20 waiters and waitresses to make sure the food and beverages were prepared and served properly. There will be at least 250 people crowding the party. She looked stunning in a white halter neck dress that her mom had chosen for her. She put on some make-up and earrings. She brushed her hair casually because her naturally wavy hair looked gorgeous on any occasion. She finally came downstairs with Mandy and Kayla when it was almost dinner time. The guests were already gathered up under the staircase, having hors d'oeuvres and champagne. They all looked up to see her
Landon emerged from the crowd and came over to where Charlene was sitting with her friends. Inside, the music was playing, and people started to make room for a dance floor in the center of the main hall. "Hey, Charlene ... it's time for your dance, your dad asked me to look for you here and do the first dance together," said Landon, extending his hand to Charlene."Oh, my ... I'm not very good at dancing," she looked at her friends to bail her out, but they were actually encouraging her to go for it."I can help you out with that, don't worry," he assured her.She took his hand and nervously walked inside. The guests were clapping for them, Landon turned her around to face him, they touch palms, and put his other arm around her waist. He put her other arm around his waist, their faces almost touched. She had never been that close to a guy before, she turned her face to her right, and saw her parents smiling widely looking at them starting to sway on the dance f