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Five: Goldstone and Gastonburry
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2020-12-25 13:54:41Despite 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 him.
"I wanted to make sure you got home safe yesterday ... from your mom, that is," they laughed lightly.
"Apart from my mom nagging at me all night, yeah ... I was safe." Mandy and Kayla fell behind and walked at a slower pace.
"I heard your birthday is in four days? You'll be having a party?" Tom brought it up.
"Yeah, it's more like my parents' party, though, they invited more guests than I do ... I wish you could come," she said.
"And have your mother kill me ... or worse, your dad?" they chuckled as if they weren't even worried about being forbidden to see each other again.
"It's probably going to be a dull party anyways," she said.
He never had a birthday party before, his way of celebrating a birthday was entirely different from what Charlie was used to.
"What do you really wanna do on your birthday, Charlie?"
She took a deep breath and thought about it for a moment, she never really had a choice to do anything other than what her parents had planned for her, "Oh I don't know ... something fun and exciting, something different, what did you do on your 17th birthday?" she asked.
He twisted his lips and curled up his nose, "Oh ... God ... I can't tell you that," he blushed.
"What? Why?" there was an innocent look in her eyes that genuinely wanted an answer.
Tom was wondering how on earth would she take it if he'd told her that he was running around drunk and naked after a truth or dare game just before he had sex with a random girl who happened to be there at the time.
He scratched his head, "It wasn't a traditional celebration ... the kind I wished I hadn't done if I'd known you would be asking me about it," he laughed nervously, "It was just a gathering with friends, and we did all sorts of stupid stuff," he continued.
"No birthday cakes or anything like that?"
He chuckled, "No, nothing like that, no gifts, or toasts, ... there was some dancing, drunk dancing, mostly just friends doing silly stuff," he cleared his throat.
"That sounds like something I want to try ... I mean I've been having the same kind of party for sixteen years, it gets kinda old," she complained.
"I wouldn't recommend it though, you're a nice girl, you should have a nice party," said Tom.
She smiled, "You don't know me, Tom Raven, I may not be as nice as you think I am," she said with a playful tone.
He looked at her, "Really? I highly doubt that," he was amused by her remark.
"Is it true what they say about you?" she finally asked the question that was bugging her.
His chest clenched, whatever she has heard about him, can't be good, "I told you ... I'm bad," he wasn't going to hide behind a lie. He could see curiosity in her prying eyes, "Whatever they say about me ... I don't have any bad intentions toward you, Charlie, but I'd understand if you don't believe me," he was being serious.
"What are your intentions towards me, Tommy?" he was struck dead when she asked with a slight smile that was taunting him yet innocent enough to tell him that she was just teasing.
He shook his head, "I have yet to find out ... but it's all good, I can promise you that," he said.
"Do you have a girlfriend, Tommy?" there she went with another cheeky question that was driving him crazy.
He shook his head slowly, "No ... I never really had one." This was a surprise for Charlie, given the fact that he didn't deny having to sleep with all those girls, none of them were ever his girlfriend.
"I've never had one either ... boys are scared of me because of who my father is ... are you scared of me?"
He looked deep into her light brown eyes, his heart was throbbing faster, his breath shorten, "Terrified ... but it has nothing to do with your dad, though," he said.
She laughed, "My mom then?" She was playing with him, and he was helplessly mesmerized by her, he shook his head, lost for words.
"I think you shouldn't go any further than this, my mom might have her shotgun by now and she'll shoot you all the way from the front lawn," she joked.
Tom stopped his step as he watched her walking further away from him, he bit his lip, "I'll see you tomorrow?"
She giggled and waved. Mandy and Kayla walked pass him, "Bye, Tommy," they said in a girly way. "Bye, girls."
The more he's gotten to know her, the further their distance seemed to him. He knew what he's done, where he's from, he's not the least bit worthy of her. But his heart was already robbed of any right to deny what it feels for her, and she was opening up a door that he's now daring himself to enter. It would've been so much easier for him if she had turned him down, told him to 'fuck off', instead, she was challenging him to come closer.
So he waited by the big tree every day since, to walk with her from school. Each day they grew closer, not as close as he wanted them to be. She has a way of luring him in, then drew a line where she didn't want him to cross. It wasn't intentional, it was her way of wanting to know him better without letting him get too close. If only she knew how that had made Tom falling deeper for her with each passing day. The poor boy had already drowned in the gutter while she was still deciding how she feels about him.
"I have work tonight," Tom told her.
"What is it exactly that you do, Tommy?" she asked.
"Anything ... everything ... well, I have to deliver some stuff tonight, it's muscle work, nothing fancy, but it pays okay," he wasn't proud of his way of living but it was fair for her to know about it.
"Do you have to go away for that?"
"Yeah, every now and then I get delivery orders to the city, and stayed there for a couple of nights to wait for the goods and come back here."
"I've always wanted to go to the city, I hear Goldstone is an exciting place for young people to start out, instead, my dad wants me to go to college in Gastonburry, which is a dull little town for students with nothing else to do but study," she confided in him.
"Goldstone is definitely a lively city, it has a lot of opportunities for all kinds of work especially in the entertainment business ... I think I might try my luck there when I turn 21," he said.
Charlie smiled, "That sounds a lot better than 4 years of law school in Gastonburry, I'm so sick and tired of studying, trying to fulfill my parents' dreams instead of my own, there are so many options out there, but mine has already been chosen for me," her smile turned to a frown.
"What are your dreams, Charlie?"
"Not law school ... that's for sure ... I have many dreams, all of which does not have anything to do with law school, so I'm not gonna bother myself fighting with my parents for that, ... anyways, does that mean you'll be leaving Bluebridge after your 21st birthday?"
Tom nodded hesitantly, "That's the plan, there's not much I can do here, but there are lots of things I can do in Goldstone, I've looked into it every time I went there ... and you'll be leaving for college next year?"
Charlie exhaled deeply, "That's my dad's plan for me."
They were silent for a moment when they realized they were both going away at around the same time. "When will you be back from work?" she broke the silence.
"In a few days," he said. She pouted, her birthday is in a few days. "I want to be back for your birthday, but I'm not invited, remember?" he teased her.
"I'd like to see you anyway," she said.
"You will."
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Shiver Epilogue
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
Shiver Forty Seven
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
Shiver Forty Six: Mom
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Shiver Forty Five: About Goldstone
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Shiver Forty Four: Come Back To Me
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Shiver Forty Three: About Gastonburry
Bill Ludlow enjoys his coffee at the dining table every morning, with his wife serving him breakfast and the fresh newspaper laid on the table for him. Catherine sat on the chair across from him, sipping her own cup of tea. She was exceptionally calm that morning. She had planned a plan of attack on her husband in regards of recent development about their daughter. She was holding herself from lashing out after hearing about his one-sided decision in the engagement of her daughter and his business partner's son."It's awfully quiet this morning ... where is everybody? Are they all still asleep?" he asked."No ... everyone's away ... it's just us," she said calmly.He put down his newspaper to peek at his wife, "Really? So early? Where did they go?"Catherine put down her cup. "Charlotte's at her swimming lesson, Charlene went to her friend's house and Landon ... well ... I sent him home last night af
Shiver Forty Two: The Fight
He hadn't completely recovered from her words, 'It's over with him'. Something twisted in his stomach. He wanted more time with her. What happened? Did you break it off? Why? Do you know how much I still want you? She said she wanted to go to the screening with him, as friends? Can we go back to the way we were before? Can I kiss your mouth like the world is going to end?How he long to touch her when she said it, but then she walked away, crossed the lawn and someone came out from inside the house. It was him. He was staying at the house? He stood there in the dark and watched them interact."What the hell were you doing outside with that guy? It's him, isn't it?? The guy you were seeing last year?!" Landon was upset."It's none of your business, Landon," she dismissed him and walked past him.He grabbed her arm. "Damn it, Charlene!! Is that why you wanted to break up with me? Because he's back in y
Shiver Forty One: Happy Birthday Charlie
Ever since her father became Mayor, things were a little different around the house. Security guards followed him around, it wasn't necessary, it was protocol. They were always seen standing around his official car with nothing to do. The house had become a regular venue for the officials' wives club every other week. And on her birthday, all the same, people came as guests, which didn't feel so special to her anymore.Landon came barring gifts and mingled with her parents and their guests. She tried to avoid him by sitting with her friends and always find a crowd whenever he tried to talk to her. She never wanted to be alone with him anymore.He was on his best behavior. Charming, witty, and engaged in smart conversations about finance, politics, and the world economy. All the boring stuff he always swayed the grownups with, until he asked her hand for the birthday dance, which she couldn't refuse given the circumstances.
Shiver Forty: Bonfire
She didn't come to the bonfire the next day, but she cameto the one on the weekend after that. She didn't want to put herself around Tommy too often, it was still hard for her too. They both still felt the jitters when they sat side by side with each other, it was the only spot their friends left for her that night, right next to Tommy.He can smell her soft cologne as she sat down. The sweet smell coming from the nape of her neck, the place where she most loves to be kissed. He cleared his throat, hugged his knees while nervously biting on the toothpick in the corner of his lips."Hi," she greeted him."Hey," he nodded.She wore a dress with the skirt just above the knee. The fabric was light and loose. It hiked up when she sat, showing parts of her skin, glowing as the bonfire reflected on them. He tried not to look. He can smell the scent of her body lotion when she moved around beside him.
