Because of Haven Beach

28 | blatherskite

blatherskite (n.)

a person who talks at great length without making much sense

* * *

THE next few days were nowhere near as eventful as Christmas was. I was still riding the high of knowing I'd stay in Haven Beach and being newly in love, but nothing significant happened.

Delaney, Aubrey, and I spent an entire day playing with Delaney's new puppy. The highlight was definitely getting slobbered in kisses. Another day, Eli brought me to his brother's hockey game. I found myself watching Eli more than the game, but I blamed it on not understanding hockey. Either way, it was a ton of fun.

While I was off having fun with my friends, my mom spent most of her days at the lawyer's office. She brought copies of the security camera footage to these meetings. And judging by the copious amount of time she spent there, the footage was helpful in building our case.

I was beyond thrilled that we were one step closer to finally cutting Mark out of our lives.

My fun during winter break paused when my mom took me to get my wisdom teeth out. I was terrified before the surgery, convinced that I would bleed to death if the anesthesia didn't kill me first.

My worrying was for nothing when I woke up after the surgery and giggled all the way home.

"Let's get you on the couch," my mom said, trying to lift me out of the car.

I squirmed out of her grasp. "No. I wanna stay in car."

"C'mon, Char, it's cold. I don't have time for your games."

"No."

"Charlotte."

"No, no."

"Do I need to drag you inside?"

"No, no, no."

She quirked an eyebrow, "So you're coming inside?"

"No, no, no, no."

After a few more minutes of arguing, she coaxed me into coming inside.

Flopping onto the living room couch, I was entranced by whatever cartoon she put on. It was meant for kids, but the jokes were the funniest thing ever to my drugged brain. I couldn't stop laughing at the way the bunnies walked. Bunnies didn't wear clothes and get into trouble!

The doorbell rang, interrupting my show. Muttering curses under my breath, I forgot my wooziness and went to answer the door. As soon as I stood up, my legs wobbled as if they were made of spaghetti.

"Charlotte, you're supposed to be resting," my mom sighed, grabbing my biceps and dragging me back to the couch.

I smiled up at her, probably looking certifiably insane with the bloody gauze in my mouth.

Shaking her head, she turned around and jogged to the door. "Eli! Hi, I didn't think you were coming over."

I perked up. Ellie was here! I could finally figure out if he loved me too!

"Charlotte invited me," he said, stepping inside. "Plus, I didn't want to miss this. Is she still crazy?"

"No, didn't 'vite you," I called from the couch. "But you can stay. That's order."

He chuckled, grinning at me. "Yes, you did. You texted me, and I quote, 'doc stole tongue come help get back.'"

"Don't 'member," I said, making a note in my foggy brain to check what else I sent out onto the internet—hopefully nothing bad. "Ellie-Welly, come sit. Watch Max 'n Ruby wif me!"