by Sherie Keys
She decided that going out with him would be the best thing for her at the time. She was curious to learn more about Angelo. Still, she didn’t want to give in too easy.
“My grandma warned me about you. She says you’re no good and I should stay away from you,” Charlotte told him. She may as well be honest about how her grandma felt about him.
“Yeah, I kind of got the idea she might not like me. I’ve done some things in the past, but don’t judge me based on what other people say,” he told Charlotte.
“Easy for you to say,” she said, still skeptical about going out with him. They had already spent one night together, so she knew that part was pretty good. It was everything else that still scared her.
“Look, how are you going to know if I’m a good guy or not unless you go out with me yourself? I could show you a real good time,” he told her. They had managed to make it all the way back to April’s home. Charlotte had never felt a walk go so quickly -- too quickly,
She stood in front of the house with Angelo and looked into his big brown eyes. The porch light came on, and she pushed him behind a tree in the neighbor’s front yard. She looked at the porch and didn’t see her grandma but suspected the light might have come on because she was watching.
She leaned in towards Angelo and planted a huge kiss on his soft lips. She lingered there for a moment. “Tomorrow night. Pick me up here after dance,” she told him. She gave him another kiss and ran up the porch steps. She looked back and saw him peek out from behind the tree.
When she went inside, she saw her Grandmother sitting in the living room. She was afraid about what she might say. She only asked how dance was, however, and Charlotte was able to get away pretty easily.
She walked upstairs and started to strip down. Her clothes were stuck to her skin from the sweat, and it felt good to finally get them off. She realized only once she was topless that her window was open. She realized Angelo must have sneaked out the window after their encounter, and that’s how he had gone unnoticed. She walked towards the window and looked down. It was a steep jump, but if he was skilled enough, he could have used the ledges of the doors and windows as stepping stones.
She peeked across the alley and into the other yards. It wasn’t like a typical city, as the lots were a bit further from each other to allow for larger properties for the wealthy population on the other side of the street. She looked to one of the houses and saw a light on in one of the windows. She couldn’t see exactly who it was but realized quickly that someone was standing there. and was about the size of Angelo. It was far away, but she could still tell that he was looking back.
Chapter4
Charlotte poured her grandmother a heaping serving of chili. Since her grandfather had passed, Charlotte’s grandma didn’t cook for herself much at all anymore. Her grandfather, George, had done most of the cooking in the house, so once he was gone, April stopped eating as healthily. That was another reason that Charlotte’s parents thought it’d be good for her to move in with April. Though chili wasn’t the healthiest of meals, it was still something hearty and warm to get the two through the next few days. Chili wasn’t exactly a summer meal either, but Charlotte was a bit limited in the food she knew how to make. Her mother had done most of the cooking for her in the past.
“How you doing at dance?” April asked. She was getting thinner the older she got. Since she didn’t like cooking, she would sometimes avoid eating altogether. Charlotte made sure to serve her so that she could give her a large portion rather than the small one that April would serve herself.
“Oh, you know how it is. I’m just trying to stay focused to get the lead role. If I can land this, it’d prove that I actually made something of my summer,” Charlotte explained.
“What, hanging with your grandmother isn’t enough?” April asked. Charlotte didn’t realize how her words could be twisted to hurt her grandmother until it was too late.
“You know what I mean, grandma! I just want to prove I’m passionate about dance, so I can try to get back into a decent school next year,” Charlotte explained. April awkwardly stirred her chili and quietly ate.
Charlotte couldn’t deny that she was nervous, but she felt more confident after every practice. She was a hard worker who always kept up with the moves and never stopped, even when she thought her muscles were going to explode. Though she was able to prove she was dedicated, that didn’t always equate to talent. Charlotte worried she didn’t have the star-quality that some of the other dancers had. There were plenty of girls there that looked more like someone that would be on a magazine cover, and Charlotte worried she didn’t have the look or sex appeal. She was certainly attractive but also shy and reserved, some qualities that can seem frigid to certain people.
There wasn’t much getting in the way of Charlotte’s chances, but there was a lot to lose if she didn’t get the part. Her mother and father had set such high goals for her throughout her life that she started to raise her own expectations to that same level of impossible achievement. Even when she succeeded in the goals she set for herself, part of her still felt she wasn’t good enough.
She had gotten to a point with this particular production that if she didn’t get the part, she might not be able to recover. She started to get overwhelmed with the thought of not getting a role in the play but calmed herself down with the reminder that she got to see Angelo again that night.
“Will you be OK if I go out tonight?” Charlotte asked. She was an adult but still had to make sure that her grandmother was OK with her leaving the house while living under her roof. Her grandmother could survive on her own as well, but it definitely helped to have an extra set of hands around.
Charlotte also worried April might become too dependent on her during the summer and tried to keep her distance a bit from her grandmother. She would still be in the city and could help in emergencies, but Charlotte wanted to make sure her grandma maintained the same level of independence that allowed her so much freedom through all the years since she had lost her husband.
“I was wondering why you was all dressed up. It’s not with that Italian boy across the street, is it?” April asked.
“No, just some friends from dance,” she said with a mouth full of chili. Something about talking with food in her mouth made it easier to lie.
“Well, I suppose there isn’t anything wrong with that. I’ll probably watch my shows and go to bed after this anyway. Just make sure you’re up a little earlier tomorrow. You shouldn’t be sleeping in too late.”
Charlotte had woken up at 8:00 A.M. that day, and she worried about what her grandma considered a not-early time to be.
“Of course, grandma!”
“Do I know any of these girls? They from the neighborhood?” April asked.
“No, I think they’re mostly from the suburbs. None of their names sounded familiar at least,” Charlotte responded.
Charlotte hated lying to her grandmother but knew it’s what she had to do to make sure she wouldn’t get in any trouble going out with Angelo. Her grandma could control her only so much, but since her family already had low expectations since she had gotten expelled, she worried that she might make things worse if they knew about her and Angelo seeing each other.
She didn’t even know if she would want to stay with Angelo that much longer, as they hadn’t been on a real date yet. She liked Angelo so far but certainly carried her own fears and anxieties about getting too involved with a potentially dangerous man.
“I know you’re going to be dating. I’m not stupid. I remember being your age. I just want you to be smart about it,” April explained. “There’s a lot of bad guys out there. Not everyone can be as sweet as your grandfather.” April had been married to a police officer who was shot on duty. He died years ago, but April hadn’t dated since. She stayed devoted to her husband, even though death did part them. It was that kind of dedicated love that made Charlotte fear falling too deep in with someone. She didn’t know if she could handle that
heartbreak her grandmother had to deal with.
“Grandma, I wouldn’t do anything to disrespect you in your own house,” Charlotte told her. The words stung in her mouth like dry whiskey. April would certainly think it disrespectful if she knew Charlotte was on her way out with a man
April specifically asked her not to date. Still, Charlotte had a different understanding of it all. April only knew Angelo for the things she read in the paper or the assumptions she made from his appearance. Charlotte saw a different side to him. A side that saved her in an alley, and one that wasn’t afraid to embarrass himself to get her to go on a date with him. Charlotte wanted to investigate that more, and when she was sure he was a good man, she would hope to help her grandmother see that side as well.
Charlotte heard two beeps from outside. She wasn’t sure what car might be picking her up, but she figured there wouldn’t be anyone else waiting for her outside. She ran to the front window and peeked through the curtain. Outside was a black Mercedes Benz SUV. The windows were tinted, but she figured it was Angelo. She had only seen those cars driving around celebrities in downtown N.Y.C.
“I think that’s them, grandma!” Charlotte said.
“What kind of friends you have that drive that?” her grandma asked. Charlotte ignored the question and gave her a quick hug and kiss on the cheek.
“Don’t stay up too late, grandma! Love you!” Charlotte shouted as she pranced down the stairs and walked to the car. The door opened for her, and she slid in before her grandma got a chance to see anyone else sitting in the vehicle.
Angelo looked stunned once Charlotte got into the car. They were both sitting in the back seat with a driver up front. She was wearing a shoulder-less white dress that hugged her curves perfectly, or what few she had, at least. She had a straight and slim dancer’s body, but with the right outfit, she had a little booty that would pop out if she wanted it to. She had sleeked her hair back into a tight ponytail with curls bouncing out. She had perfectly shaped her baby hairs, and her makeup was on point. She was feeling confident, and there was no denying she looked good.
“You looked like an angel walking up to my car,” Angelo told her.
“Maybe I am,” she teased back. He leaned in fast and gave her a hard kiss. She kissed back, biting his lip ever so softly.
“You been out here yet?” he asked her. Charlotte wasn’t old enough to legally drink, so she certainly hadn’t been out yet. She had a fake I.D. she used when visiting N.Y.C., but she didn’t go out much back home in the suburbs.
“Nah, this is my first time. Where we going?” she asked.
“You’ll see,” Angelo teased. He was wearing a black shirt buttoned all the way up and tucked into sleek black jeans. He had on black dress shoes as well as a soft black suit jacket to top it all off. They looked perfect together with their contrasting outfits. His facial hair had started to grow long as well, giving him a scruffy and grittier look than the guys Charlotte was used to dating.
Angelo pulled out a bottle of scotch and poured two glasses. Charlotte was small and young, so she was certainly a lightweight when it came to drinking. It usually took her three or four wine coolers, and she would be dancing on tables in her friend’s basements. She still wanted to keep up with Angelo and prove herself, however, so she grabbed the drink when he handed it to her.
“To a great night out,” Angelo said, raising his glass. Charlotte clinked hers to his and they took a sip. It stung her tongue and burned her throat, but she did her best to sip slowly. When she did indulge in hard liquor, it was usually to take a shot, not have a relaxing drink. She knew it was part of getting older, and she liked the way it felt to sip scotch in the back of such a luxurious car.
She’d become hesitant about risking her future, but he made her feel like a dangerous woman. If she were to get caught drinking underage, it would get her in even more trouble than she already was with her parents. She didn’t know if her grandmother would accept that either.
Still, being with Angelo made her less afraid of these things. He was so cool and collected that Charlotte wondered if he was ever scared. There’s nothing he wouldn’t do for her, making her feel safer than she had ever felt. She was normally teased for being a goody-two-shoes, but she was doing her best to destroy that image as much as possible.
They arrived at Red Lounge before Charlotte was able to finish sipping her drink. She finished it back and looked at the club they were about to walk into. She’d heard Tina mention this place before, but only as somewhere that she couldn’t afford to drink.
Charlotte would have normally been stressed out about going to an expensive place like that if she were with her friends, but she had hoped Angelo was planning to pay. She wasn’t into gender stereotypes, but knowing that he had recently inherited hundreds of millions of dollars, she had hoped he would at least offer to pay for a couple of her drinks.
Everyone seemed to know who Angelo was once they stepped out of the car. She was also nervous about them accepting her fake I.D. She hadn’t used it in Jersey City yet, and she was worried she might embarrass Angelo if they turned her away.
He held her hand as she slid out of the car and wrapped his arm around her back as they walked in. She realized once they were walking towards the door that she was starting to feel the buzz of the Scotch. She was decent at maintaining her balance, however, and having Angelo’s arm wrapped around her only made it easier.
They walked right up to the bouncer, and he opened the door for them both, not caring at all whether or not Charlotte had an I.D. with her. She instantly relaxed realizing being with Angelo gave her privileges she didn’t expect. She felt like a celebrity, everyone staring at her and Angelo together.
This club was unlike any Charlotte had seen before. It certainly became clear when she walked in why it was called Red Lounge. There was circular lighting on the ceiling that gave the bar an elegant glow. The music was loud, and the chatter was louder. It felt good knowing that she didn’t have to worry about getting in trouble at this bar. It was clear she wasn’t the only one underage at this location, as young people were the majority of those in attendance. She was glad she was with Angelo and didn’t have to worry about any of the other college-aged kids hitting on her that night.
It was nice, but being out at night only made her long for the city more. She had been to a nicer club in New York City, something she couldn’t stop thinking about. Maybe she was being more judgmental because she was bitter she wasn’t spending her summer there. She looked over at Angelo. At least they had managed to meet each other.
He led her to a table in the corner wrapped in red booths. He signaled his hand to a server to bring them a few drinks. They were sharing the booth with a few other people, but Charlotte still felt like a V.I.P. where they were sitting. The bartender brought over two reddish brown drinks, and Charlotte realized that they were the only ones getting table service. Angelo hadn’t even talked to the waiter about what to order. He instantly knew to bring over two of those drinks.
“So, do you make all your dates drink these? Should I trust what’s in it?” Charlotte asked. She wondered if he had done this with other girls.
“Trust me, baby, you’ll like it,” he told her.
She wasn’t quite sure what she was drinking. It had a citrus taste and burned her chest. There was a cherry in it as well but nothing else she could recognize. She was a bit relieved that he had ordered for her, as she wasn’t experienced in what to drink when going out. She sipped it down and realized she was drinking a little quicker than her body could handle. The music was loud, and she needed to focus. She looked around at the people around her.
Everyone was wearing dated outfits. She felt like she had stepped into a bar from three years ago. She felt like the people were being a little loud and rude as well. She realized these critical thoughts she was having were her mother’s. These people were having a great time. Being so judgmental only made her have less of a good time. People were allowed to wear what
they wanted. Being around Angelo was already helping Charlotte loosen up a bit.
Angelo scooched closer to Charlotte and set his drink down, freeing a hand to wrap around her thigh.
“You look so beautiful tonight; you’re really driving me crazy,” he whispered in her ear. She didn’t hear him at first, and he had to repeat it twice, but it still made her head tingle. She leaned over and kissed his cheek softly.
“You’re looking pretty handsome yourself!” she shouted, much louder than he had whispered, though she still had to repeat herself before he heard it all. Staring into his eyes and laughing was enough to keep her satisfied in the club that was making it so difficult for them to hear each other.
More people started to fill the bar, and she was ready to start dancing. It was only going to get louder and sitting at the booth was getting uncomfortable. She needed to move her body; she was feeling loosened up. Angelo had seen her dance at practice, but he wasn’t prepared for the moves she would try to pull on the dance floor.
“Will you dance with me?” she asked.
“Haven’t I danced for you enough?” he asked, smiling.
“Oh, come on, I want to dance,” she jokingly whined, standing up and tugging on his hand.
“I don’t like to dance in public. It doesn’t look good for me,” he shouted to her, looking a little more serious this time.
“Oh fine, I’ll go find someone else to dance with,” she teased, turning around and pretending to walk away. He stood up and grabbed her hand, pulling her in fast. He kissed her and gave her a little push towards the dancefloor. She grabbed his head and led him through a crowd of people to a place they could really start to dance.
The music was loud and fast, like a soundtrack to her that night. The bass beat through her arms, and she couldn’t help but move her entire body, making sure to touch Angelo the entire time. She would grab his hand, and when she let go, she would grab his other hand. If they weren’t touching arms, she’d make sure they would grind or move their legs together.
