The Tragedies of Chemistry

Chapter 14- Plan B for Black

Charlie's POV Continued.

Andy, Noah and I sat outside a frozen yogurt shop sharing a cup of double fudge yogurt wih oreos and mini reeses cups. Andy was preparing for the party while Noah and I sat there quietly.

"This Halloween party has to be epic," Andy exclaimed, "Or else what the fuck is the point of my high school existence?"
"I don't think you're going to die if we don't have this party," I said.
She threw her hands up in the air, "I might as well be! What kind of person would I be if I saw the opprotunity and didn't seize it?"
"I think this party has become too much of a big deal for you," Noah said worriedly, "I don't even know if I want this party completely."
"Of course you do!" She assured. "This is a big deal for us. For Christ's sake this is our senior year! I don't want to leave this school without any memories. We have to make them while we can!"
"I don't know about this. I don't want my house absolutely trashed. My parents would kill me."
"Don't you worry about a thing," She promised, "If anything goes wrong, I'll pull the plug."
"Promise?" I asked. She put on a brave smile and nodded.
We heard a honk from behind us. We all whipped around to see Madison and her two other clones sitting in her shiny blue porsche. She waved shamelessly at Noah from the driver's seat. He smiled back.

"What are you cats up to?" She asked but only staring at Noah.
"Just party planning," He answered.
Her and her friends squealed with glee. I cringed at their excitement. "You're throwing a party and you didn't invite me?" She pouted her bottom lip. He took it like a fish on a hook.
"It was a last minute thing," He said, "But you're all invited if you want-"
"We still have some things to go over!" I shouted, "With so little time, we don't know if people will actually show. We might not even have it-"
"Leave it to me!" Madison urged, "I'll make sure everyone knows about it."
"It's this weekend on Halloween so dress up!" He added. Andy stomped on his toe causing him to yelp and glare at her. She glared at him right back.
"Perfect! Text me the details Noah and don't you worry about a thing! Call me!" She yelled as she was already driving away. I shrank back in my seat, bracing myself from the wrath of Andy.
"Why'd you stomp on my toe!"
"I was supposed to be planning this party! You just completely handed it over to her! I didn't even want her to come!"
"It's my house Andy and they're my guests! How come I can't invite who I want?"
"Of course you can but not her!"
"There's nothing wrong with her Andy! She was being completely copperative!"
Andy crossed her arms, "She's manipulating you and you're letting her."
"You're so dramatic, grow up." His face softened, "Are you jealous?"
My eyebrows shot up. Andy Black jealous? Ha! Andy didn't answer. Noah nodded as if he knew she was. "Andy you're always going to be my bestfriend. She wouldn't take that spot away from you. I wouldn't let her."
I patted Noah's arm. "Try again. Andy doesn't care about that kind of-"
"You better make sure she doesn't too." Andy growled. I looked at her with wide eyes. "Now let's go back to your house." She pouted, "You guys are going to help me with my Physics homework, I'm a test away from failing. "
Noah hugged her side. "Okay Andy, whatever you want." He looked at her fondly as if she was his little sister or girlfriend. I was leaning more towards the former though.

I weaved my way through the long hallway, making my way back to the living room. If I've never seen a nice house before, I knew forsure that I have. Noah's parents were wealthy and their house didn't hide it either. I tried to stop comparing his house to mine but I couldn't help it. It was everywhere I went. However when I passed the kitchen, I noticed something I didn't notice before. Although noticed would be an understatement. It stopped me dead in my tracks. My heart ached for what was in front of me.

The boy in the picture had golden brown locks that hung in front of his face. Green silver that were too familiar for me to forget. His straight nose and strong jaw were similar to Noah's. I was looking at a picture of JJ Lockwood. His smile stood wide and prideful. I couldn't help but smile myself because he was that kind of person to have a smile like that. Noah had the same one. I didn't even notice his presence until I felt him stand beside me. I flinched. "I'm so sorry. I saw this and I couldn't help but notice it."

"It's alright Charlie, you don't need to be sorry for looking at it." He gazed back at the portrait, "He was a great brother. The greatest man I ever knew."

My heart yearned to touch him in comfort but I held back. "I am so sorry for your loss Noah, I really am."

"That's okay." He said, "Sometimes I think I took his loss better than my parents did. They wanted to keep me out of this town but all I did was want to come back to the place where my brother grew up. I'm here in this house and it feels exactly like home and it's never felt like this anywhere else. Now that I'm here, I don't want to leave."

"Then don't."

He shook his head, "I have to. My parents have decided to sell the house."

"What?" I asked.

"Yeah," He said, "They didn't even plan to discuss it with me either. They said I could stay until the end of the semester and then that's it, they're selling the house."

"I thought they would at least let you be able to stay until the end of the year." I said.

"I thought so too but all they care about is giving this house away more. I have no choice but go back to homeschooling in Europe and go wherever my parents dump me off." He paused, "I only have two more months and I'm going to have to take a plane back to Amsterdam."

"Two months?" My eyebrows lifted, "Wow, you're going to have to leave in January huh?"

He nodded. "At least I get to spend New Years here with you guys."

My heart warmed, "Yeah and maybe you can come with me and Andy to her grandma's cabin for winter break."

His smile widened, 'Yeah I would love that. Maybe Madison would be up for that too."

The moment was over. "What?"

"Yeah," He smiled, "I mean of course its far too early to ask her but maybe around that time she'll want to."

I laughed lightly. "Bring Madison to Andy's cabin? Yeah that is not a good idea."

"I'll take care of that. Andy won't bite if I beg her not to."

"We'll see about that."

"Plus, Madison isn't that bad. I have a great time with her."

My mouth pulled in a tight grin. "Well, I'm happy for you."

"Really?" he asked. I nodded in return.
"Well anyways," I changed the subject as fast as I could. "What are you thinking of being for Halloween?"
He chuckled, "Nope. No idea. You?"
"Uh, I'm probably just gonna use my Cleopatra costume that I've used for the past two years."
"You can't do that!" He laughed, "You can't just use the same costume three years in a row? You gotta buy a new one."

"Uh, I don't know about that." I said, "I might not really have the money to buy a new one."

"Well that's alright, I can buy it." He offered. My eyes widened automatically and I nervously chuckled.
"No, no you don't need to do that." I replied.
"But I want to, if you don't have a costume, you can't come to the party."
"I think I'll be fine," I laughed, "Really. Thank you anyways."

"Well alright," He smiled. "But seriously Charlie, a friend of Andy's is a friend of mine. If you need anything, ever, just tell me."
I smiled back. He was so kind and generous and he didn't even know it. He didn't know how much that had meant to me because money is but an object to him. He probably has his future locked and loaded too due to very wealthy parents. He had everything and yet that didn't change him. It didn't make him selfish or greedy. I liked that about him. I liked a lot of things about him. He was different.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" He smiled. I snapped out of whatever trance I was in and didn't realize I was staring at him the entire time. My cheeks reddened and I averted my eyes. "Uh, I'm sorry. I got lost in thought."
"About?" He asked. I swallowed.
"Noah! Charlie! Come back in here and help me with this goddamit!" Andy shouted from the living room. Thank god for her outbursts. We both walked back without a word.
..
Antonio Sabato Jr. as Daniel Porter. Charlie's father.