Page 1 of Of Course, Cutie
1
Charlie
October was the worst month of the year. Halloween was a bullshit, stupid holiday. Pumpkin spice tasted like hot garbage, and no, the vibrant hues on the trees weren’t beautiful. Red, orange, and yellow were garish, hideous colors.
I hated watching those ugly leaves cling to the branches for dear life, but I hated it more when they fluttered to the ground, losing their battle. They represented death, even a year later. They always would.
“Charlotte Cox!” Matteo called across the courtyard of our quaint little city college. It wasn’t a friendly greeting. His hands were on his hips, and his lips were pursed. My fabulous best friend was pissed, and I knew exactly why.
I cupped my hands around my mouth and yelled, “What’s up, Mattie-boy? Love the scarf!”
The corner of his mouth twitched, and he rolled his eyes. Matteo loved compliments. I could worm my way out of this fight. “I know what you’re doing, Charlotte.” He marched his skinny little ass over to me and sat next to me on the bench, shoving his hands in the pockets of his pea coat.
Matteo was the only person in the world allowed to call me Charlotte, and I was the only person who called him Mattie. We each hated the names, which was a fun little part of our friendship.
“What am I doing, Mattie?” I blinked innocently.
“Put your big blue puppy-dog eyes away! I am furious with you!”
I groaned and covered my face with two gloved hands.
“You love me, don’t you? Don’t you, Charlotte?”
“You know I do.” I’d RSVP’d no to Matteo’s extravagant Halloween party. There were over two-hundred people on the list. I honestly didn’t think he would notice. My bad.
Matteo raised both of his perfectly manicured black eyebrows. “You do what? Say it.”
“I love you.” I rolled my eyes and stared up at the gray afternoon sky.
“Fuck yeah, you do. So why aren’t you coming to my party?”
I turned to glare at him. “Because I hate Halloween! And you have so many stupid people at your parties! And… you know.” We first met at Matteo’s Halloween party last year. He found me high as a kite and mid-emotional breakdown in his backyard.
“Charlotte, come here, beautiful.” Matteo tucked me under his arm and gave me a big sloppy kiss on my cheek. “I know you hate this month. That’s why I have a relaxing day planned just for us next weekend. I bought every season of Parks and Rec, Modern Family, and The Good Place. I found fuzzy blankets and facial masks with actual gold flakes in them, and I’m going to make those little lemon cupcakes that you love!”
I laughed and slumped against him. “You’re the best, Mattie-boy.”
Matteo rolled his amber eyes. “Obviously. So you’re coming to my Halloween party because I need you there, and you need to meet more people!”
“I don’t like people. You know this.”
“But you’re lonely, and you need to get laid.”
“Shut up. There’s nothing wrong with being a virgin.”
Matteo snorted. “Okay, sweetie. Being a teenage virgin is fine, I guess, but you’re turning twenty in a couple of months. You can’t be a twenty-something virgin. That’s embarrassing.” He teased and gave my shoulder a playful shove.
“Don’t even, Mattie.” I shot him a glare. “The second I meet a guy that interests me, he can have my V-card. Until that time comes, shut your fucking face about it.”
Matteo threw his head back and laughed. “All right, all right. I’ll keep an eye out for a guy that might hold your attention.”
“Great.”
“Okay, let’s get back on topic. I need you at my Halloween party.” Matteo chewed on his bottom lip and glanced sideways at me. “I invited Jonah!”
“Oooooh!” I sat up and laughed. Matteo had been crushing on Jonah for months. “Mattie, you’re hot as fuck. You don’t need me!”
“No, I do. I do need you! I’m so nervous that I’m going to piss myself just thinking about his gorgeous sea-green eyes!” Matteo stood and started pacing in front of the bench. “I need you to be my wingman and pick up the pieces of my broken heart if it doesn’t go well!”