Fearless

| XXVIII | - A Risk Worth Taking

Charlie watched her as if time itself had stopped and she was moving in slow motion, slow enough for him to burn the beautiful image of her into his mind. She was smiling, that same smile she always had on her face, the same smile that used to anger him and warm his heart. It was now a smile he constantly longed to see and it was always on her face, but it didn't seem like enough.

He wanted more of her. He wanted to see more sides of her than the smiling and caring side she showed everyone. He wanted to see her cry, laugh, get angry, get jealous; he wanted to witness every emotion she seems to hide.

He had went to her work yet again. The only times he could actually talk to her--since his phone was still smashed to pieces--was when he went to her house randomly or showed up at her work or school. Talking to her at school never seemed like enough so he'd always go over, but on the days she worked and he couldn't go to her house, he craved her more. 

He watched her greet each customer with a smile, that smile lightening the entire world, each one getting brighter and brighter. He was amazed by her, constantly. Her life wasn't the greatest yet she still managed to smile like that, he envied her. How could she smile like that after her mother passed? How could she smile like that knowing her own father can't stand to be around her? How can she smile like that when the popular assholes at school bullied her?

What made her so happy?

Every time she was done with a customer and turned to help Molly make drinks, she looked at him and smiled the most beautiful smile. It was different from the one she showed the customers, different from the one she always had on her face. She looked even more breathtaking, if that was even possible. 

"His eyes have been glued to ya since he stepped into that damn door," Molly commented, bumping hips with Susie, causing her to blush lightly, tucking a piece of her hair behind her ear. Molly smiled at her. "You're so madly in love, aren't you?"

Susie's head lifted up to look at her, an even brighter blush stretching over her cheeks. She laughed sheepishly and nodded. "Yeah, I really am."

Molly watched as she had looked at him and smiled. She already deeply cared about her so seeing her smile with nothing but pure happiness for once had lightened her old, cold heart. "If he treats ya badly I'll take care of him for ya," she said, placing a hand on her shoulder.

"Huh?" she asked, blinking confusedly at her. Another smile cracked on her face and she laughed. "Oh, Molly, you don't have to worry. Charlie would never do anything like that to me. He looks rough on the edges, but he's very kind and gentle to me."

It was as if she was glowing. Molly was amazed. What they had was something special. Molly only managed to smile at her and continue making the drinks. "After you're done with that go ahead and take a break."

Susie only nodded and finished the few drinks she was making and walked to the booth Charlie was sitting at, instantly smiling that bright smile at him. Before Susie could even get a word out, Charlie leaned over the table and kissed her, an awful blush spreading across her cheeks. He pulled away from her, his ears red as well, but his eyes were filled and swirling with such adoration that captivated her. 

"You've been working a lot lately," he commented, his eyes sparkling.

She smiled softly. "I know, I'm sorry about that. I'm trying to save up for college."

He looked at her a bit shocked. "College?" he asked, feeling stupid for saying it. Of course she was going to college, she had great grades and integrity, he, on the other hand, was going to get his high school diploma and that's it. However, his heart suddenly thumped in his chest as he tried to figure out in his mind which college she could possibly be going to. "Which college?" he asked, trying not to sound nervous.