The night air was warm and humid as Charlie walked down the sidewalk. She knew she should've stayed inside and asleep now since she had to wake up in a few hours to go to school. Though that's what she knew she should do, instead she was wondering the dark streets alone. Her Grams was fast asleep on the couch. She fell asleep while watching her TV drama with a bowl of something almost spilling from her lap.
Charlie closed her eyes as she walked, enjoying the sounds of the crickets and silence. She didn't know where her destination would be. But she didn't have many options since it was, after all, the middle of the night; reaching the early morning hours. The only people still up were the teens risky enough to party on a school night. But Charlie noticed on her second day that parties weren't a big thing in this town. Sure there were bonfires and things of that sort but no full on parties. She wondered if Holden ever went to one of those parties or bonfires. He is on the school swim team and the swim team seemed to he the big sport of that school. Which was strange, in Charlie's opinion.
Like a moth to a flame, Charlie's legs led her to the one place she felt calm. She stood at the edge of the pier and glanced at the empty beach. The water glinted in the moonlight, looking dark and beautiful. It was the most bizarre sight and she couldn't get enough. Her hometown in Washington was under a constant cloud cover and rainfall. There were the few days of sunlight but it wouldn't last long with the incoming clouds. Before she had to live with her Grams Charlie had never seen this much sunlight. Her pale skin was not used to the exposure so she had a slight sunburn that was starting to peal. She was hoping the sun would make her tan enough so she didn't look too out of place with these Californians.
Charlie took off her sandals and took a few steps in the sand before stopping. She moved her toes around, feeling the sand cover her feet. She walked onward in the dark, going to the part of the beach that looked as though there was no one present. The place hidden away had a large rock leading into the water. Tall enough that if she sat on it she would only get her feet wet.
The sound of the waves rolling in casted an enchantment on Charlie, causing her to relax. She loved being so near the water. It reminded her of her parents. But she loved the water even before her parents sudden death. It was a car crash. The most common sudden death accidents that claimed most every person's life. Though they didn't hit another car. It was dark, raining, and her father didn't see the turn in the road though they drove on that road almost everyday. Charlie wasn't with them. If she was she would have drown in the car along side them. She was thankful but the pain was too much and she wished she was actually there with them.
Charlie laid back on the rock and stared up at the stars. The sky was clear, the stars seemed to shine bright. Though some moments in life seem to be ugly, the beautiful moments still seem to appear. The world moves on. It doesn't stop for anyone.
Something that would make this moment better would be a pillow since the rock was quite hard. Charlie folded her arms under her head.
"Out of all the places and times." A feminine voice said, startling Charlie. She sat up but the rock she laid on happened to be thin so she fell off and to the water with a splash. The water was cold but nice against her heated skin. She popped her head above the water and breathed heavily.
"Oh my goodness, Charlie, are you okay?" Mrs. Hartel asked, standing on the shore edge, not quite going into the water. Charlie stood up, the water dripping off of her body. She held her arms out and shook them out, letting the water fling off. She walked over to the shore edge and looked down at Mrs. Hartel with annoyance.
"I didn't mean to startle you." She said, taking off her jacket and handing it to Charlie. "I seen someone walking along the sand and I came to tell you that the beach is closed after eleven. Come on, let's get you out of those wet clothes." She said, grabbing Charlie's sandals from the rock and wrapping an arm around Charlie's waist to guide her. It was awkward since Mrs. Hartel was so short compared to her 5'11 frame, her head going to Charlie's chin.
Even if Charlie tried to sign something to Mrs. Hartel she doubt she'd be able to see since it was so dark. But then again she was able to see it was her so she could read it.
'It's fine, I can go home.' Charlie signed which gained Mrs. Hartel's attention.
"Nonsense, it's fine." She brushed off, leading Charlie to one of the houses along the beach that she didn't notice before. The lights in the house were on along with the one on the porch. A man sat on a bench on the porch with a bottle of beer in his hand.
"Hey honey, we got us a wet one." Mrs. Hartel commented, causing the man to let out a loud laugh.
"No, kiddin'." He said, as they climbed the stairs. "I'll go get a towel." He said and went inside the house.
"That's Tony, my husband. And you can call me Ruth, by the way. No one but me will know." She winked as Tony jogged out the door holding an ugly bright pink towel.
Charlie wrapped the large towel around herself and looked at the floor. Her feet were completely covered in sand.
"Why don't you wipe off the sand from your feet and I can led you some clothes while I dry yours." Ruth said, smiling. Charlie nodded and used the towel to clean off her feet the best she could before Ruth led her inside. The lights in the living room were on and so was the light in the connecting kitchen. The house seemed small and very ocean themed. It was quite comical and cliche to look at. Charlie was led to the hallway and pushed into the bathroom.
"Towels are under the sink, I'll leave the clothes on the counter and take your wet clothes to dry them." Ruth said as she shut the door. This was beyond bizarre and inappropriate for a school staff member. Charlie glanced at the door before stripping out of her soaking clothes that stuck to her body. She grimaced at the sound of the wet fabric on her skin and let them fall on the floor before walking to turn on the shower. She didn't know if the water needed time to warm up or not but she stepped in immediately. The water pelted her brown saltwater soaked hair, making it spread down her back.
The door opened and Charlie stilled before it closed again. Charlie stuck her head out from the curtain and seen a pair of shorts and a shirt on the counter. She closed the curtain again and grabbed the first shampoo bottle she seen. She poured some in her hand before scrubbing her hair. And did the same with the conditioner. As she was about to wash her body the a knock sounded at the door.
"Mom?" Holden's deep voice asked before knocking again. "Hey, mom, I have a question." Charlie froze but stepped in soap that she happened to drop and placed her foot wrong. She slipped and fell down with a loud thud.
"Mom? You alright?" Holden said, opening the door. Charlie opened her eyes in horror and stuck her head out of the curtain. Her cheeks a deep red as her blue eyes locked with his wide hazel ones.
"You are... Not my mom." He said before turning red himself and leaving, shutting the door behind him. Charlie stared at the door in horror before getting up and rinsing off her body and stepping out. She rushed to lock the door before she reached under the sink to grab a towel. She dried her body before putting on the clothes that Ruth left for her. The shorts were big on her and so she spotted a hair tie on the counter so she tied the shorts back. The big shirt made it look like Charlie wasn't wearing anything at all. She ran the towel through her hair and left the bathroom in search for Ruth.
At the end of the hallway Charlie came face to face, well face to chest with none other than an embarrassed Holden. But Charlie was almost as embarrassed. Tony was on the couch laughing as he glanced at them. Ruth only smacked his shoulder in response.
"Charlie." Holden said, his voice cracking which caused his face to turn redder and the blush to creep down his neck. Charlie looked at the ground but neither of them moved from their position.
"I can feel the tension." Tony whispered to Ruth which caused her to smack his shoulder again. "Ouch, woman, that's abuse."
"Shut up." She said to Tony before speaking louder. "Charlie, why don't you sit down while we wait for your clothes to dry." Charlie only moved and sat on the recliner that was angled along the couch.
"I scared her and she fell into the ocean." Ruth explained.
"It's two in the morning." Holden said in disbelief. "What in the world are you doing at the beach at two am?"
'Couldn't sleep.' Charlie signed causing Tony to let out a soft 'oh'
"She's the one you mentioned!" Tony exclaimed, looking at Holden. "She said she doesn't like you, go away." He grinned.
Holden only rolled his eyes and glanced at his mom, "She said she couldn't sleep. Tony, go make yourself useful and go to sleep."
Tony stood up with a huff, "The thanks I get for spreading good cheer." He laughed before walking down the hallway. Holden sat down where Tony was and looked bewildered at Charlie.
"Why don't I call your guardian and tell her that you'll stay over for the night or I can drive you back." Ruth said.
'If it's alright, can you take me back, I don't want to deal with my Grams wrath.' Charlie signed. She gave a small grin, her posture relaxing.
"Oh course." She said causing Holden to ask what she signed. "I'll drive her back when her clothes are dry."
"Oh, alright. Well, I'm going to bed. I'll see you at the cafe tomorrow, right?" He asked, standing up. Charlie shrugged and he left down the hallway to his room, leaving Ruth and Charlie.
"He's going through great lengths with you, Charlie." She said, also standing up. She grinned at Charlie before leaving her sight to check on Charlie's clothes.