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Hudson
Its late and we’ve put in a full day at the studio. Charlotte has been blowing my mind with her lyrical genius, and we already have a solid song for the album. I told the boys all about it, but she seemed to shrink into herself. I hate when she does that. It's almost like she doesn’t believe me when I say how great she is which kills me. The more time we spend together, the more I notice it. If it's just the two of us, she’s fun and bubbly and bursting with creativity.
We’ve kept it out of the bedroom and have managed to pull off the being friends thing, but truth be told, it’s getting harder by the minute. Today we’ve been working with the band, putting the words with a rhythm. We’ve almost got all the equipment put away when a very loud woman bounces into the room and throws herself into the waiting arms of Mason. She must be Simone, the label’s other artist and his girlfriend. I continue packing my guitar up and putting it against the wall, then make my way to the other room behind the glass. My eyes can’t help but catch Charlotte’s, but she shyly looks back down to her notebook.
“So, everyone will be coming tonight. Big party, my house, lots of food and booze, and little to no morals.” She winks at Charlotte who sinks back against the wall, hoping no one can see her. Fat chance of that ever happening, beautiful.
“I see your ass hiding, Charlie; you are coming! As a matter of fact, let’s go up to your place get you all dressed up and you can ride with me. Mason, baby, make sure the band comes.” She kisses him and pulls an eye rolling Charlotte out of the room. The boys don’t really need any convincing when it comes to a party, and Bandit assures Mason we’ll be there. After changing our clothes, we all pile into the waiting cars at the curb.
Pulling up to a large gated mansion, I decide, for not the first time, that signing with Marcus was the best decision Headspace ever made. Once inside the grand house, I notice almost every surface is white. White floors, white couches and chairs, white everything, and I worry about how badly my bandmates will be trashing this beautiful home once the party really starts. I decide since Ryan isn’t here to babysit, the responsibility falls to me. I need to keep them in line so we can keep the peace with our hostess.
The kitchen fills up quickly. Mason lays out shot glasses, and a few more people show up with food and alcohol. Shots are raised into the air and consumed by the dozens, everyone standing in a large circle around the pristine white island. I make an excuse to leave after one drink and find the back door that leads to a magnificent patio that overlooks the beach. Their voices dim, I stand against the railing to enjoy the gentle waves rolling in. I’m not out here long before I hear the patio door slide open again, turning to tell them I’m good for a bit, thinking it’s probably Nick. I’m stunned silent at the vision before me.
My shy, sweet Charlotte is clearly escaping the party, thinking she can hide out here alone. When she spots me, she stops short and wobbles a bit on sky-high strappy heels. She’s in a very short blue dress that makes her legs look a mile long, and I can’t help my delighted smile.
“Don’t say anything.” She says this as she pulls her now straightened hair over her shoulder in an attempt to cover her very exposed cleavage.
As much I love the sight of her, I am dreading anyone else looking at her. A strange protectiveness comes over me, and I slide out of my flannel sleeves, leaving just my black t-shirt on. I walk over and she gladly accepts my offering. I can’t help the immense joy I feel as she wraps herself in my shirt and looks up at me with a grateful smile.
“Thank you,” she says, a wee embarrassed.
“You look truly amazing, Charlotte. Why do you want to hide?”
“It’s just not me.” She shrugs.
“You are a total mystery to me, love. Sometimes a sex kitten, other times you seem to want to be invisible, but always you shine whether you want to or not.”
She blushes and turns to the ocean, leaning against the white iron gate. A quiet moment passes as she stares out at the beautiful sunset.
“Sometimes I wish I were someone else. No, most of my life I’ve wished I were someone else. Pretending to be confident came easier to me the night we met, but you have to realize by now that I’m not really like that. I wish I were, but I’m just not. I’m the awkward girl who would rather hide in the hallway than socialize at the grand ball.”
I can’t help myself. My heart is bleeding for her. I’m the farthest thing from shy, but I see her pain shining through her tough exterior, and I wonder to myself who made her like this. So afraid to be herself, I’ve seen her awesome plenty of times when we’re alone and know someone put that fear in her eyes.
As much of a mistake as I know it is, I put my arm around her, and we just stare out at the water for a while.
“I, for one, Charlotte, like you just the way you are, but I do wish you would let others see how amazing you really are. You have no reason to shy away from anyone. Everyone that knows you loves you.”
Her smile is coy, and she soon pulls out of my arms. I feel the distance in more ways than physically but don’t know the right thing to say.
“We should probably go inside,” is all she says, which I know is the last place she wants to be.
