Progress (The Progress Series) by Amy Queau Read Free Book Online Page B

you are!” A sudden voice came from the door.
    He didn’t look up and continued staring at Charlie with a smug grin on his face.
    “You ran away! Who are your friends?” the girl said giddily.
    Charlie turned her head and tried not to stare at his date. The girl was about five feet tall, a hundred pounds, and had on a very small pink tube top and black miniskirt. A sleeve of tattoos trailed down her right arm. Curly brown hair fell down to her collarbone and she was wearing a sleeveless jean jacket.
    “They’re no one. Let’s go.” He grabbed her arm and marched her back through the bar and out the front door.
    “Whatever,” Paulina said.
    “I thought he was going to kick the shit out of me!” Troy said.
    Charlie fought to hold back a tear. Stupid stupid stupid. What was I thinking? Did I think a dress and some makeup would make me pretty enough for him? I’m such a dumb-ass. He thinks I’m no one.
    “I should probably go. I’ve got to work tomorrow,” Charlie finally said.
    “Are you okay to drive?” Troy asked.
    Nothing could have sobered me quicker than this night. “Yeah, I’m good.”
    *
    When Charlie got home, she ran to the bathroom and scrubbed off all her makeup, buffing so hard that it turned her eyes red and her face a bright pink. She brushed her teeth, turned off the light, and got into bed.
    “You’re nothing, Charlie Johnson. Nothing. You’re a waste of a human being. A huge, worthless, disgusting human being.”
     
    No one was there to hear her sobs.

Chapter Eight
     
    Charlie had to behave as though Jesse hadn’t broken her at the patio party. I can’t let him know how much he hurt me. There was so much she wanted to say to him, but knew that he wasn’t capable of giving her any answers. Besides, there was too much at risk. What if he said something she didn’t want to hear?
    What if he thinks I’m just a fat slob with a never-ending supply of cigarettes?
    Who am I to be angry with him? I am no one. He enjoyed his evening with his tattooed siren. There have been no signs that he views me as anything but a friend. If I stay mad at him, he’ll be gone and I don’t know if I’m willing to let go of him yet. It’s not like he’ll pursue your friendship or feel the need to apologize for his actions. And honestly, has he said anything that hasn’t been true? Inappropriate, yes. But a lie, no, not really…
    She sat in the bar after her shift and waited to see if he’d join her. Just as she sat and ordered her beer, Jesse threw himself into the booth and stared at her.
    “So, what are we going to do tonight?” he asked.
    As pissed off and confused as I am right now, I can’t stay mad at this gorgeous man.
    “What did you have in mind?” Charlie asked with a sigh.
    “I was thinking we co uld go on a road trip!” he said, bouncing in the booth.
    “To where? You forget how broke we are.” She couldn’t help but grin at his excitement.
    “Thanks for the reminder, Captain Obvious. I don’t know. How much gas do you have in your tank?” he asked.
    “I could get us to Cedar and County Road forty-two. That’s about twelve miles. Let’s go!” she exclaimed without rising from her seat. He noted her sarcasm.
    “Okay, okay. But let’s get out of here,” he said. “I wanna go find some trouble…”
    “Trouble? Not too much, please.”
    Taking the last cigarette from her pack lying on the table, he rolled his eyes and motioned for the door.
    They went out to her car and he popped a Bosstones album into her CD player. He eagerly began pounding on her dash with the beat of the drums.
    “I love this song. Just wait, the next one is even better!” he said as he skipped ahead to the next song. “Oh, hey – take me to a gas station. We need smokes.”
    “Okay.”
    She drove to a convenience store close to her house and parked in the lot.
    “I’ll be right back. You need anything?” he asked, peeking his head back in through the car window.
    “Nope, I’m