Becoming Ready

Chapter 3 - Special Occasion

It was very loud inside John's house. Every sixty seconds it seemed like someone had to yell, "TWO ONE!" in reference to the graduating class of 2021. The chant would catch on momentarily, then die off as whoever started it would do another keg stand.

Charlie sat in the corner in a slight daze. She had come here in order to get her mind off what her parents had just told her, but of course, it wasn't working. Alex, Jessica and Rachel attempted to make conversation with her, but gave up shortly after noticing she was not in the mood to celebrate. Taylor was glad Charlie was there, but she wasn't the type to sit in the corner at a party. Nor did Charlie want her to. There was no point in ruining anyone else's night.

Her phone buzzed. It was Shawn.

'Damn it,' she cursed herself. She had completely forgotten to text him earlier.

Hey, what are you up to? I thought I'd hear from you when you got home.

She typed back. I am so sorry. I got some really weird news from my parents and I just blanked.

No worries, he wrote. Are you at home? I can come pick you up and we can go out to eat, or whatever you want. You can tell me the news.

She sighed. She felt terrible about forgetting to contact him. I'm at a party, actually. You want to come?

Three dots popped up, then disappeared. Charlie's heart skipped a beat. She almost started typing again, but then the dots came back.

A party, huh? I don't know if I should. I didn't go to any of my own graduation parties because all the drinking.

Charlie felt like an idiot. Of course he wouldn't want to come here. Shawn had graduated High School last week as well, and like he said, he definitely hadn't gone to any parties. They didn't exactly mix with sobriety.

You're right, I'm sorry, she typed. I can leave. I'm just at John's house, where I had my 18th bday party, so I'm not far from home. Do you want to meet me at my house in like, 20 mins?

After she sent that, she reminisced about her eighteenth birthday party last fall. That was the night she realized Shawn was into her.

He responded quickly. Don't leave, please. You shouldn't miss your graduation party because of me.

She couldn't help but smile at her phone. Shawn was so sweet. That's really nice of you, but I'd rather hang out with you.

He didn't say anything after that. Charlie wasn't sure if he was just trying to give her space to enjoy herself, or if he was more upset than he let on. She was terrified that it was the latter. They had only just started their relationship, and she didn't want anything to get in the way of that. As she continued to think about it, she felt more and more like she had screwed up. She texted him a couple more times, but got absolutely nothing back.

Anxiety swelled in her chest with each passing moment. First it was losing her house, and now this. A part of her wasn't surprised. She felt like things had been going a little too well in her life. Surely nothing was allowed to go that smoothly for her. It never had before.

By the time John appeared in front of her holding a red cup full of beer, Charlie practically begged him to give it to her. She chugged it down without any reservations, despite having abstained for months. Six months, to be exact. She stopped drinking when Shawn had.

"Go Charlie!" John cheered.

Taylor walked over, her eyes wide in surprise. "I thought you didn't do that anymore?"

Charlie tried to hold in a burp. "Special occasion, I guess."

Taylor watched her suspiciously, but didn't say anything. She wasn't going to tell Charlie what to do in this situation, even if she didn't approve.

Charlie went outside to the keg to get a refill. She didn't chug this one, but she didn't exactly sip it slowly either. She walked back inside the house, looking for a place to sit, when she saw the front door open.

Her jaw dropped when Shawn walked in. 

**Eek!