by Casey Peeler
The stoop is hopping, and most people are already drinking. I have decided not to drink until I begin to get ready. I plan to have a good night, especially since I feel safer knowing Joe will be there.
As we sit on the stoop and people watch, Joe comes by with Mark.
“Hope you girls are ready for tonight!” Mark smirks.
“You bet your ass we are!” Anna smarts off with her hand on her hip in her strong Northern accent.
They both laugh and Joe proceeds to tell me that he will stop by before going to Whiskey River. He also informs me that he is riding with the lacrosse guys tonight, but will be there looking out for me the entire time. I smile and give him a hug before he walks back to Irvin.
As a hall we order pizza before getting ready for the night. Georgia rides with me to get the pizza.
“Char, anything new?”
“Nope, in a way I hope maybe he’s done playing games, but I know that’s too good to be true. I’m just trying to have fun and experience life.”
“You’re stronger than I would ever be if that happened to me. I would probably never leave home for anything.”
“I decided the day I walked away from Cash at the club that I had to focus on me. That’s what I’m doing. I’m almost to the point where I feel comfortable here. Joe is amazing, and I know I can count on him. He really likes Piper, too!”
“Yeah, that was pretty damn obvious at Hank’s!” She giggles.
We arrive back at the dorm and everyone piles into the hallway including Sarah and Hayden. We don’t bother to get plates; we just grab a partner and share a pizza straight out of the box. I drink a Choice Cherry Gold and offer everyone on the hall one, even Misty. Surprisingly, they all want one except Cassie. She’s just a little unsure about it.
“Dang, Charley! You’ve been holding out on us! Put a little vodka in that, and we got a Charley’s Special!” Hayden announces.
“Guess we might have to try that out; I’ll bring an extra case back after Christmas for that! Whatcha think?”
“Sounds like a plan to me!” Hayden says and everyone agrees. Misty acts like she didn’t hear a word we just said.
After eating, we shower and get ready for an epic night out. I pull my Desquared2 jean mini skirt, slide on a chocolate brown tank then pair it with a cream colored chunky knitted asymmetric cable top that has button detailing to the front at the chest, a wrap effect neck-line and short capped sleeves. When you put it with the skirt, the front is higher and shows off the denim, but the back leaves the illusion that is all I have on. I pull my chocolate Lucky boots from the closet. Those cost me a pretty penny, so I only wear them for special occasions. I add my horseshoe rhinestone belt for accent. I take a few minutes to rummage through my jewelry box to find the perfect accessories… found them! I put on a pair of horseshoe rhinestone studs, the matching ring, and Cash’s necklace before applying my makeup.
We still have forty-five minutes before it’s time to go. I walk to Caroline’s room and pour myself a glass of her PJ before returning to my room to finish my makeup. I call my parents and Cash before going out for the night.
I call my parents and fill them in on my exam schedule and inform them I will be home on Tuesday around three. Dad can’t wait for me to get home because he has the one ready to be mounted on the living room wall. Tessa goes on and on about Dustin. I’m so happy for her, but I’m afraid she is going to get burned. Cash is counting down the hours till I’m home, and we are able hang out at the club. He also informs me that he will be waiting for me at my house by two on Tuesday.
We hang up and I finish putting the final touches on my makeup. As I add a little more highlight to my eye shadow, there is a knock at my door. “Hold on a sec!” I yell. I finish my left eye and walk to the door with the brush in my hand. I open the door to see Joe sitting on the floor across the hall holding an empty fifth of Jack Daniels. He pulls his piercing eyes towards mine, and I’m not sure what is going on in there, but something is beyond wrong. He staggers as he stands. He walks towards me, and if I didn’t know better I would say he is about to cry.
“Joe, you’re scaring me. What’s wrong? Is it your Grandma?” He shakes his head no. He looks like he is trying to talk, and I’m unsure if he doesn’t want to or if the news is that bad.
As he reaches my doorway, he takes his hand and embraces my cheek. “I’m so sorry, Squirrel! I’m so, so sorry.” He begins to sob. I pull him close, wrap my arms around him and try to comfort him. I have no idea what is wrong, but I will help him fix it.
“Joe, what are you sorry for?” I take his face in my hands, and he looks into my eyes. He says the words I never thought I’d hear.
“It was me, Squirrel.”
My mind is completely confused. What the hell is he talking about? Oh. My. God. Please tell me it isn’t so. There is no way. It can’t be. I take a step back from him without moving my eyes from him.
“What do you mean, it was you?” I can feel my heartbeat beginning to increase and my chest beginning to move double time.
“I’m so sorry. I… I… helped Dylan.” I stop and replay the words over and over in my head. Then it hits me like a Mack truck. I start to shake my head no as tears fall down my face. This cannot be happening. He nods his head yes, and this is all the reassurance I need before I lose my damn mind.
The heat begins to rise to my face. My insides begin to tremble, and I use every ounce of my being to fight back. “Get out!” I grit through my teeth. ”GET OUT! I said!” He continues to stand there. My voice crescendos to a screeching yell. I make my way towards him as I say the words one more time with a choice word added in. “Get the FUCK out now!” I walk up to him and try to push him out of my room. He doesn’t budge. I begin to push, scratch, punch, spit, and use words that I never knew were in my vocabulary as tears continue to stream down my face. “G-g-g-get out!” I cry.
An audience has begun to build around my doorway. Joe begins to move from my room, but not before I realize someone else is removing him. Tori, Anna, Jenny, Cassie, Caroline, and Georgia are trying their damndest to move him. Tori is at a loss for words, which I have never seen. The world is moving around me, but I am completely still.
Joe is in the hallway; I hear Georgia. “Joe, I think it’s time you left. I don’t know what the hell’s going on, but you will not hurt her. Do you hear me?” She is talking like she is my mother. “If I hear one word about Dylan Sloan, you or anyone else involved, I will hunt you down and whoop your ass myself. Got it?!” Tori’s face is puzzled with the mention of Dylan’s name. “Get the hell out of here before I call campus police.” Joe does not talk. He takes his fifth and staggers down the hall. The girls are completely shocked, and Georgia rushes to my side.
Mascara runs down my face. I fall to the floor, and every ounce of fight I have is long gone. Georgia embraces me, and a dark, deep sob escapes my chest that I have been holding back for seventeen months. Georgia reaches across to my bed, picks up my phone and scrolls through my contacts. She finds the only one that has ever mattered and hits send.
“Char-coal what’s goin on?”
“Cash, this is Georgia.” There is a long pause. “Joe is helping Dylan.”
To be continued…
Finding Charley (Full Circle #2) release spring 2014
About the Author:
Casey Peeler grew up and still lives in North Carolina with her husband and daughter. Her first passion is teaching students with special needs. Over the years, she found her way to relax was in a good book.
After reading Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neal Hurston her senior year of high school and multiple Nicholas Sparks’ novels, she found a hidden love and appreciation for reading.
Casey is an avid reader, blogger (Hardcover Therapy,) and now author. No Turning Back (Full Circle #1) is her debut novel releasing September 30. Finding Charley (Full Circle #2) will release spring 2014.
Her goal is to one day be an author who is recognized nationwide like Ja
mie McGuire, Colleen Hoover, Tiffany King, and Amanda Bennett.
When Casey isn’t reading, you can find her listening to country music, spending the day at the lake, being a wife and dance mom, and spending time with friends and family.
Her perfect day consists of water, sand between her toes, a cold beverage, and a great book!
Casey Peeler’s Links:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/caseypeelerauthor
Twitter: www.twitter.com/AuthorCasey
