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  "Don't do this now, Eva."

  "I can't keep doing this to myself, and to Charlie."

  I looked at Eva. I couldn't believe she was about to tell half the school that we slept together.

  As I look at Charlie walking over to us, I knew things were about to get even worse.

  "What's going on with you two?"

  Eva looked at Charlie and then at me.

  "Would you like to tell her what really happened, or should I?" she asked.

  I looked at Charlie, my heart about to break into a thousand pieces. I don't know how much more of this I could take. Charlie needed to know what really happened; even if it is in front of half the school.

  "Will someone tell me what's going on?" Charlie asked in a quiet voice.

  I put my cup down on the table and sighed.

  "I guess I will. It's time you knew the truth Charlie. About everything."

  Charlie

  As the beat of Drake's "Started from the Bottom" was banging through the speakers, I was wondering if the neighbors heard any of the noise escalating through the walls.

  I hope not. I thought as I was searching through the room for Michael.

  As I was walking over to the bathroom, I noticed Eva and Michael by the kitchen table talking.

  "What is she doing here?" I asked as I went over to the table.

  A sense of jealousy started to go through me as I watched the two. She has nerve showing up here after what she's done. As I was approaching the table, I noticed that Eva threw her drink at Michael in a violent rage. I ran over to the two.

  "What's going on with you two?"

  Eva looked at me and then at Michael.

  I looked at the two and realized that the stories the two told me were a total lie. There was more to their story that they were letting on. And now, I wanted to know the truth.

  As if Eva was reading my mind, she looked at Michael and sighed.

  "Would you like to tell Charlie what really happened, or should I?"

  Michael took a deep breath and put his cup down on the table.

  "I guess I will. It time you knew the truth Charlie. About everything," he said as he was walking toward me.

  He noticed that everyone was looking at him as he approached me. He put his hands on my shoulders. I jerked my body away from his reaction.

  "Just tell me what's going on with you two."

  "Please Char, can we go somewhere else and talk about this?"

  "I want to know now," I said through clenched teeth.

  "Yeah Michael, Charlie wants to know the truth," Danielle said as she came up to us.

  "Shut up, Danielle," Michael said while looking at me.

  I already knew what happened between Michael and Eva, but I had to know for sure from both my friend and my boyfriend.

  Michael looked down at the plush carpet and took a deep breath.

  "Charlie, what I'm about to tell you, it has nothing to do with you. This happened way before we met and it doesn't change how I feel about you. I love you..."

  "Just tell me what happened. Please!" I cried.

  "Charlie, Eva and I just didn't kiss at that party. We slept together."

  Everyone looked at each other in complete shock. Danielle looked at Michael with her hand over her mouth.

  I swallow the lump that was forming in my throat as I tried to blink back tears.

  Danielle went up to Michael and looked him straight in his eyes.

  "You slept with her while we were still together?"

  "Why do you care now Danielle? We're not together."

  Danielle smiled at Michael.

  "Because that gives me more reasons to do what I'm about to do to you," she said as she went back over to me. I looked at her and rolled my eyes.

  I went over to Michael. I didn't know what I was going to do. I'm was in shock that he once again lied to me.

  "Why you didn't tell me about you and Eva? Why did you lie to me about it?"

  "Because I didn't know how you would react to it. In fact, I didn't even know about it until Eva told me at Range. I was drunk that night. I didn't even remember what happened."

  "Oh, so you blaming alcohol on your actions! I can't believe you Michael."

  "Let me explain..."

  "There's nothing else you could tell me about that night. You two had sex!"

  "Oh please Charlie! You act like you're so innocent. If Michael only knew who you really are," Eva said.

  "What did you say?" I asked as I went up to Eva.

  "Calm down you two," Ashley said as she went over to me and pulled me away from Eva.

  "You know, Eva is right," Danielle said.

  "Why are you still here?" I asked again.

  Danielle looked at me and smiled.

  "I'll get to your misdeeds later, but I want to go back to Michael. After I learned this new piece of evidence, I feel like it's only right to do what I have to do."

  Michael looked at Danielle with a pleading look on his face. Evidently Danielle knows something about Michael too.

  "You need to leave Danielle. Now!" Michael yelled.

  "Why now Michael? You wanted her to stay earlier," I said angrily.

  "Thank you Char for that. I really appreciate it," Danielle said.

  I sighed as I was about to walk away from Michael and Danielle. I didn't think I could listen to any more lies from him.

  But why are you upset? It not like you been a saint lately, my conscience delivered to me.

  "Don't leave Char. There's more to this saga."

  I turned around and looked at Danielle.

  "You think this is some kind of joke?"

  "No. I'm just trying to get the truth out. You need to know who Michael Collier really is."

  She turned around to face Michael. Michael looked at Danielle as if he wanted to rip her head off.

  "For once Danielle is right. I really would like to know who you are since I'm learning so much about you now," I said while looking at Michael.

  "Please Charlie. I will tell you everything, but can we please go somewhere private to talk."

  "Whatever you have to say you can say it now."

  Before Michael could say anything, Danielle rushed in and began talking.

  "Allow me to tell Charlie about your misdeeds Michael. It's only fitting if I do," she said in a cheerily voice.

  Michael went over to the kitchen table and poured himself another drink. I couldn't believe how Michael was behaving right now. Instead of trying to clear things up, he decided to give up and start drinking! While Michael was getting even more drunk, Danielle came up to me and smiled.

  "Well Char, turns out Michael is not the guy you thought he was. In fact, he's just like every other guy living in this world, a straight up dog."

  I started to give a little chuckle to that last remark.

  "I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but this also concerns your new friend Brandy," Danielle said. She started to look around the room frantically in search of Brandy.

  "Brandy, why don't you come on down and join us for this."

  I started to fold my arms across my chest. What does Brandy have to do with what going on with Michael?

  Brandy walked over to me and Danielle and gave her a disgusted look.

  "Charlie, don't listen to whatever Danielle is dishing out to you. She can't be trusted."

  Danielle looked at Brandy and started to laugh.

  "Oh please bitch. You're the reason why Michael and I broke up."

  "Don't even pull Brandy into this. You're the reason for us breaking up," Michael said in a slurred voice.

  "Oh why don't you go back to your drinking, you damn drunk!" Danielle yelled.

  "Will someone tell me what the hell is going on?" I yelled.

  Michael walked back over to me, Danielle, and Brandy and sighed.

  "Well Charlie, since you want to know. I hate to tell you this, but you weren't the first black girl Michael slept with. Not only did he sleep with your slutty friend, but you
r new gal pal Brandy," Danielle said with a satisfied look on her face.

  I looked at the two in shock. This was starting to become more unbelievable by the minute! I looked at Brandy and remembered the conversation we had when I first came to Belmont. She looked me straight in my face and told me that she didn't even have feelings for Michael.

  "I don't believe this. After you told me that you two were just friends and that you never had feelings for each other."

  "It was before we met. It all in the past now," Michael said.

  "No it's not Michael, and you know it," Brandy said.

  "Oh not you too," Michael said while throwing his hands up.

  "You left me no choice," Brandy said. She looked at me with a sincere expression on her honey-colored face.

  "I'm sorry for what I'm about to do, but you have to know the truth Charlie. I can't keep pretending any longer about how I feel about my baby's father."

  All the color in my face, probably even my whole body, was draining quickly from me.

  I could tell I wasn't the only one that was stunned. Practically everyone, including Danielle, was either confused, or was in dismay. Maybe this is all a dream. That's it. I'm in my room, comfortably snuggled in my bed, having a horrible dream. If I could just wake up, then this would all go away...

  But as I looked at Brandy, who was on the verge of tears, Michael, who was looking at me with an apologetic look on his face, and half the whole school looking at me with sad looks on their faces, I realized that this was not some bad dream. This was reality in its worst form.

  This not even reality. This is high school. Front and center, I thought as I started to blink my eyes several times so I wouldn't cry. I can't cry, especially not in front of half the school.

  "Did I hear you right?" I finally managed to say.

  I looked at Michael. I wanted to ask him if it was true. Maybe Brandy is lying. Maybe she's still pinning over Michael and using this pathetic lie to break us up. But as I looked at Michael's expression, I knew what Brandy just told me was not a lie.

  "So it's true, huh? You have a kid?"

  "Please Charlie...."

  "No Michael. You might as well tell me now. Everything else is out in the open. Now please, tell me if it's true."

  Michael took a deep breath and sighed.

  "Yes, it true. But I just found out myself that Steve is my child."

  The tears that I tried to hold in were no longer a factor. I couldn't handle all the information everyone was telling me in such a short time. As Michael tried to comfort me, I reacted by giving him a hard slap across his left cheek.

  "Don't you ever touch me. Ever!" I yelled.

  I had to leave this party. And Michael. So I grabbed my purse that was near the sofa and ran out of the loft. As Michael was yelling for me to come back, I ignored him. I didn't want to hear him. After all I had given Michael. My body, my heart, and my soul, and this is what he gives me in return? As I ran out into the cool, brisk night air, I fell down on my knees on the grass and started to cry uncontrollably. Maybe what happened just now was a sign. Maybe this was God's way of punishing me for the misdeeds I had committed recently. I wasn't completely honest with Michael with my feelings with Derrick, and now I was paying for it. As I was looking up at the sky, I felt a hand brush against my shoulder.

  "Go away Michael!" I yelled.

  "It's Derrick, Char."

  I looked up and saw Derrick lying beside me on the grass.

  I looked at him and threw my arms around him.

  "I'm so sorry," I said in between tears.

  Right now, I was glad to be in Derrick's arms. In fact, that was where I should have been all along.

  28. Michael

  I watched Charlie run out of my apartment, and couldn't do anything else. I wanted to run after her, but after seeing how distraught she looked, I didn't know if I should. I looked over at Brandy, who looked at me.

  "I'm so sorry Michael. I didn't mean for this to happen."

  "Sure you didn't," I said in a sarcastic tone.

  Danielle looked at me and started to laugh.

  "Ain't karma a bitch Michael?" she asked while laughing.

  I ran up to Danielle and grabbed her arm.

  "This is what you wanted, wasn't it? You wanted me to be miserable because you are. You figured since you couldn't have me, no one else could either. Is that it?"

  Danielle looked at me with fear in her eyes.

  "Stop it Michael. You're hurting me."

  "I thought you liked it rough baby? You always did when you were with me."

  "Let go of me!" Danielle yelled.

  Chris came over and pulled me away from Danielle.

  "Come on man. Why don't you go get sober up?"

  I jerked my arm away from Chris.

  "I don't need to sober up. I'm fine."

  "No you're not."

  "I'm said I'm fine!" I yelled.

  Chris threw his hands up and sighed.

  "Whatever man," he said.

  "Now the show is over, so everyone get out."

  Everyone looked at me as if I was talking to myself because no one moved. I guess everyone was still in shock over what they heard. But I didn't care. I wanted everyone gone so I could figure out what the hell just happened. I picked up a statue that was sitting near the end table near the couch and sighed.

  "I guess I didn't make myself clear. I said get out!" I screamed.

  I raise the statue in the air and threw it. Luckily, no one was near the wall, because it went straight towards it. As I watched the statue shatter into a thousand pieces, people were either walking fast or running out of the apartment. When I noticed the last group leaving, I decided I needed to find Charlie. As I was heading to the door, Chris stepped in front of me.

  "You're not going anywhere."

  "Who is going to stop me? You?"

  "You have no business going out there in your condition."

  "Leave me alone, Chris."

  "You need to calm down. I can't let you risk your life if you go out there looking for Charlie. In fact, why don't I go look for her to see if she's alright."

  "No Chris. I need to look for her. I'm the one who hurt her, so I need to go look for her."

  "Michael, I don't think it a good idea for her to see you right now. Just give it some time."

  I looked at Chris and sighed.

  "Fine, I won't go out there."

  "Good. Now why don't I put on some coffee to sober you up?" Chris said as he was heading for the kitchen.

  Bad move, I thought while Chris had his back turned. I had to talk to Charlie. I had to explain to her what really happened. I walked toward the door and opened it.

  "Sorry Chris," I said to myself as I walked out the door.

  While I was at the door, I heard Ashley asking Chris where I was. While Chris was cussing me out, I had made it halfway down the parking lot, when I saw Charlie and Derrick on the grass. I noticed Charlie was crying in Derrick's arms while Derrick was comforting her like she was a lost child in search of her mother.

  Figures he would go to the rescue, I thought as I walked over to the two. When I got closer, I noticed the two were talking. I suddenly stop in my tracks and hid behind a tree to hear their conversation.

  "I'm so sorry Derrick. If I didn't get in that fight with Theresa, and were facing charges, I wouldn't have transferred to Belmont, I would have never met Michael and we would have been together," Charlie said through hiccups.

  I looked up at the sky with an angry expression on my face. So that's why she transferred to Belmont. She was facing criminal charges!

  "Char, you have nothing to be sorry for. It's not your fault that Michael is a jerk. He hurt you in the worst way. You don't need any one like that in your life. And he sure as hell doesn't deserve you."

  What a jackass! I thought as I continued to look on.

  "At least you don't have to tell him about us," Derrick said.

  Charlie looked at him and nodded her head in
agreement.

  "I guess not. I just can't believe that he lied to me. But I'm not the one to talk. I've been lying to him too about us."

  Derrick put his arm around Charlie and kissed her forehead.

  "You don't have to worry about that anymore. Michael Collier is out of your life now. Now you can focus on other things. Like us."

  Charlie looked at Derrick and sighed.

  "Derrick, I don't know if I can. I really care for Michael. I'm going to need time to resolve all this."

  "But you said..."

  "Derrick, I just got a major blow tonight. I can't leave one relationship and pickup another. It's too soon."

  As I was watching Charlie and Derrick, every part of my body wanted to go over to them and give them a piece of my mind. After all the crap Charlie gave me at the party about me lying to her, she was doing the same thing! She lied about why she transferred to Belmont and about her relationship with Derrick! I closed my eyes and started to take several deep breaths. I couldn't believe this was happening. I was completely and utterly in love with this girl, and she had feelings for someone else.

  "I understand, Charlie. But just remember this, I will always be there for you and I will wait for you, because I love you and I'm not losing you ever again."

  "Thank you," Charlie said as she put her head on Derrick's shoulder.

  Derrick put a hand on Charlie's cheek as he leaned in close for a kiss. While I watched Charlie and Derrick kissing, my heart was slowly breaking in two. I slid down onto the grass as tears were flowing down my cheeks. I heard footsteps approaching. I looked up and saw Chris and Ashley coming towards me.

  "What are you doing Michael?" Chris asked. He looked at me with a worried look.

  Suddenly all the sadness I had in my heart was quickly turning to anger as I got up from the grass and went straight to Ashley.

  "Did you know?"

  Ashley looked at me with a confused look on her face.

  "Know what? What's going on Michael?"

  "Don't act dumb! Did you know about Charlie and Derrick?"

  I must have struck a chord in Ashley because all of a sudden her face became white as a sheet.

  She looked at me and nodded her head.

  "Charlie was going to tell you before she found out about what you done."

  I started to laugh at what Ashley said.

  "After what I'd done? Nothing compares to what she's done to me," I said as I turned away from Ashley and Chris and headed towards Charlie and Derrick.