shades of red

cadmium red;

"Hey, so I was thinking
for us to work on the art project,
we kind of need to be in the same location
for that to happen. So let's meet up; how
about tomorrow at 5 PM?" I felt my jacket's
button in between my thumb and index finger
as I asked him the question. I was still uneasy
from yesterday.

"Um, sure. At m-y-y p-place?" Charlie's body
tensed up suddenly as he bit his bottom lip.

"Uh...I don't know if my parents would be
okay with that."

"I c-can't come a-anywhere el-l-se." He started to
run his fingers through his hair, as if to desensitize
his emotions.

"Why not? I can drive you."

"I j-j-j-ju-s-t-st..I h-ha-have..t-t-t-w-w-two.."
His voice became raspy and shallow. It looked like
I had just given him news of the death of his
soul mate when all I did was ask him why.

"Okay, we'll do it at your place. Take it easy," I gently
pat his shoulder and gave him a small smile.

"Thank you." He whispered, barely audible, as if his
voice box was thrown into the depths of the sea so
far that it cut through time and went into the past where
pirates roamed the waves.