only my summer-friends-

[charlie haleck.]

&& she dances beneath the moonlight...

Her dress was red. Her eyes were sore. Her feet were dirty. The river's flow was loud in the windy night. Charlie Haleck was lost in her own life and she didn't know why...

It had to have been past midnight when Charlie decided to leave the party. Her step-brother had come up to Harper Valley for a party. The oddest part, it was a formal party. His date had bailed at the last minute and since Charlie had already lived there, her dad called her and politely asked if she'd go with Eddie. When Charlie had politely responded with a firm no, he politely bribed her with rent money for a year. She couldn't turn that up what with the diner running so slow. She felt bad yet, he did owe her on some level. She wanted him to care, not give her money. The money did come in handy without him caring those days though.

She'd told Eddie she'd only be staying until midnight and he'd listened. He didn't exactly want her there either. He hated the fact that she didn't have a very feminine name. He also hated that she was so different. He'd expected her to be some little goldie locks porcelin doll of a girl from day one. She'd crushed that hope on him.

So, Charlie had split. Where was she now? She'd wandered down from her apartment with Kallie to the beach. She knew another hour out wouldn't kill her or anything. Maybe she'd run into Alex. Or, maybe she'd run into Matthew Fayde. See, in the back of Charlie's mind, she'd wanted to run into Matthew Fayde on her own one day. She wanted to give him the scare of his life. She could have him shaking in his boots in a heartbeat. After what he'd done to Savannah, she wanted him as far away from Harper as possible.

Her dress was wrinkled and she decided it wasn't worth saving at that point. She sat herself down on the semi-damp sand in the moonlight and listened to the sound of the water moving in the night. Her shoes were left up the path in her car. She could only hope she'd not step on a stray piece of broken glass. Just down the beach was where they'd usually held their summer bon-fire/beach parties. Charlie loved those. Now wasn't a time for beach parties though. She was still a little shaken by Eddie's parting words.

Just before she'd left the party, he'd whispered in her ear something along the lines of, stay away from my family, they never wanted you to begin with. Charlie was not particularly fond of Eddie. Her head hurt from the poor conversation and stuffy business people who'd had their retreat party in Harper Valley. Worse yet? Charlie had to work lunch at the diner and those stuffy business men would most likely be stopping in during their tourist shopping. It annoyed her beyond belief. Hopefully, Eddie wouldn't be coming by.

She ran her hands through her hair after she'd pulled out Kallie's well-placed pins. Her eyes felt so sore from attempting a look of interest in topics she most certainly was not interested in. Her brain was still trying to figure out why anyone would possibly be so interested in stocks and shares. It bored her to death. She'd tried to throw in something about the latest indie band she'd heard on the underground internet community, but was instantly hushed and asked to go get a drihnk by Eddie.

If only a friend were there now, Charlie could actually use a drink just to chill out. She wished she could bring things back down to a mellow state. It was pathetic, but Charlie was used to it. She was so tired of dealing with the family that didn't even want her. Yeah, good friends, a beach, and a drink. Charlie missed her friends.

[Alexander Davies]

&&Because sometimes it all gets too much

Alex ran his hand through his hair in frustration, forgetting that the reason he went to the beach in the first place was to forget all that-and just relax. It usually worked, but right now he was just getting himself more and more worked up. The thundering ache he occasionally suffers in his temples were acting up again, and without immediate action of downing down two pills and going to sleep, it was likely to stay that way for a while. Just one more thing he wasn't prepared for.

He wasn't sure why he needed to go outside, but knew that he had to. Charlie was off to some party or another with her stepbrother, Jackie was on a rendezvous with Wyatt and Sav with Alec. Leaving him, to his own surprise, alone. The Tennison twins were off again as per usual, and even their parents were gone. The strange silence in the house pounded in his ears.

In an effort to get over it all, he wondered into Savannah's room, intending on 'borrowing' her camera for a bit. He was far from as good as she was, but he'd survive. Inevitably, his eyes ran over their mother's journals, ones that Sav had cared for so well and continuously pondered over. Unlike him.

He hated thinking about their past...it just hurts so much. Instead of telling Sav this, he feigned indifference-saying that he couldn't care less-and refused to look over the books like she did. What monster she thought him, he daren't think. But tonight, it was different. There was no one to taunt him like he was sure someone would, and so he picked up one of the photo albums and sat on Sav's bed, flipping through it slowly-how much harm could it do?

Quite a lot, it seems. They looked so happy, no idea of their sad future-it crushed him. The beach was the perfect runaway at so late at night-he needed to be alone.

So he stumbled on, taking of his shoes to enjoy the sensation of sand between his toes, holding them with one hand and a flashlight with another. As always, he was overawed by the majestic state of the sea. No sound could be heard other than the slight chirping of crickets and the waves bashing itself on the banks on the beach. It was almost magical.

To his surprise, he saw a figure standing near the surface. It just seemed right, so he walked over. As each step took him closer to the figure, the glittering blond hair told him of the person's identity, and a wave of relief swept over him. He just stepped behind her, his arms around her stomach and pulling her close. For a second he just stood there, breathing in her scent as different, unknown sensations swept over him. "I love you, Charlie," he whispered, barely aware of what he was doing.

[charlie haleck.]

Charlie looked out, letting the water draw her attention in. She needed to get away from her own mind so badly just then. Stupid Eddie had gotten to her in some stupid little mind game of his. Charlie was frustrated that she'd let him though. After all, Eddie had hatred built up over a period of time. Charlie didn't hate Eddie at all. She resented him in some ways but, hate just wasn't how she described it. She felt more annoyed that he'd said the things he did. No one ever though of Charlie, parentless and living with jsut her friends. Charlie had to lvoe it that way though. She and Kallie had their much awaited independence and strived to maintain it.

She felt the small wet tear slip from one of her blue-green eyes. She quickly reached to swipe it away. Eddie's words meant nothing to her, she was more than that. She needed to clear her silly mind. So, she filled it with thoughts of him. She imagined him being there then, walking down that beach.She imagined Alex just then saying the words she'd wanted to hear for so long. She imagined his arms wrapping around her, keeping her warm and safe. She imagined those words whispered in her ear, I love you. She felt the impact crashing in her heart. How could she live without those words?

"I've always loved you Alexander Davies." She whispered in turn and spun back on her heels to face him. Her hand came up to rest gently on his cheek. Suddenly, Charlie hit reality again to realize what had just happened. No, it was in her head, he wasn't here, not Alex. Had she really just said that? Had he really jsut said that? Was she day dreaming? No, it was night! She must've passed out in her car and she had to be fast asleep dreaming all this up. It was too great to be real. It was the moment she'd been dying for since she'd realized how she felt towards Alex. Her head suddenly felt a strange spinning sensation. Charlie was dizzy. It wasn't in a bad way though.

"Wait, you're here." Was all she could fumble out ridiculously. Charlie could feel the burn hitting her cheeks, she was embarrassed in front of the one person she'd doubted she could ever feel uncomfortable with. She prayed he wasn't in some sick, delusional fit or something. Last time she'd seen him, they'd just been at the diner in the morning. What had changed in between? Charlie prayed his words were true. She wasn't a praying type girl, but she'd have gotten down on her knees and said amen if it meant that Alex had actually meant the words that Charlie could've sworn just met her ears.