Notice Me (15 page)

“What problems?” I asked sitting up now. “Will, is there something you aren’t telling me?”

“It’s not for me to tell you. Megan would kill me.”

“Will you said no secrets remember? I want to know.” Will looked down at the floor. I could see he was torn. “Please tell me Will, you are worrying me.”

“Megan slept with Tim Scott!” Will blurted out so fast I didn’t think I heard him right.

“I’m sorry, are you being serious,
Tim Scott
?”

“Yeah, it is all around Field Organisation. Father was quite impressed with Tim for managing to get in between Megan and Charlie.”

“That is sick. Do your parents have no respect for people’s feelings? Does Charlie know?” I asked suddenly.

“He does now. Megan told him last night after the party. I am sure he had already gathered what was going on. The poor guy, he looked crushed. I never realised how much he loved Megan till then.”

“Where was I when all this was going on?” I asked. I would have remembered something as big as that if I had been there.

“Dancing with Maisy,” I just nodded it made sense now. Charlie walking to get some air towards the end of the night and Megan following him almost begging him to listen to her. I can’t believe I hadn’t noticed what was going on.

“Why didn’t Megan tell me? I could have helped,” I whispered in fear for Megan. If she lost Charlie I knew she would spiral out of control, but it would be her own fault.

“She knew how disappointed you would be in her. She really hates herself at the moment.”

“Really, she seemed rather proud of herself last night at her party.” I was becoming angry now. Megan might lose the best thing that had ever happened to her. How could she have been so stupid?

“Tim has been pursuing her for years you know that. Megan was drunk, Tim took advantage.” Will was trying to defend his sister. I was not having that.

“So every time Megan gets drunk she can cheat on Charlie? Is that what you are saying?” I began to raise my voice.

“Calm down Shannon. We all know you have a crush on Charlie. You don’t have to defend him. We already know he is innocent in all of this. Megan is the one in the wrong,” Will spat back.

“What are you talking about Will, Charlie is a friend? He is… or should I say
was
dating my best friend.” My eyes were filling with water. Where had all of this come from? I had never seen Will so nasty. I hated this side of him. “Anyway, all women are attracted to Charlie. That isn’t his fault. It does not mean I have a crush on him, so grow up.”

“Sorry, I didn’t mean that please forgive me.”

“You told me last night you would never keep a secret from me.” I suddenly was so angry all I could see was red.

“That wasn’t my secret to tell. Come on, Shannon.”

“I’m going Will. I… I can’t stand to look at you at the moment.” I grabbed my clothes quickly putting them on. Will stood with his hands over his face.

“Shannon, please. Let’s not fight over their mess,” Will pleaded as I reached his front door.

“I think you have made enough of your own mess for us to fight over Will.” With that I walked out slamming his front door hard behind me. Will didn’t follow me.

Chapter 11

As I stood on the street in my silver dress from last night, I was left with a dilemma. Who do I check on first? Charlie was clearly the injured soul in all of this. Did Megan really deserve a shoulder to cry on yet?

I shuddered as I saw my reflection in a shop window. My hair was a chaotic mess, and my eye shadow had run as well as my mascara. Charlie’s flat was nearer so I decided I could clean myself up there while I checked on him first.

As he opened the door Charlie looked worse than me, which was bad.

“Shannon, what are you doing here?” He asked stunned.

“Will has just told me. Are you alright?”

“Yeah, I have known for a while,” he replied letting me into his flat. “It just hurts when it gets shoved in your face.”

Charlie’s flat was very small and basic, just one room to be exact. I could see his double bed, small black sofa and tiny blue kitchen all in one glance. The walls were covered with his work. His workshop was in the basement. I had never been down there but neither had Megan. Charlie liked that space to be his own.

“I still can’t believe it. When I go and see Megan I will give her a piece of my mind.”

“You came to see me first?” Charlie asked surprised.

“Yeah, she is in the wrong.” I sat on his sofa while Charlie leaned against his kitchen worktop. “Do you mind if I use your bathroom for a second?” I asked suddenly, remembering what a state I looked.

“Why are you still in last night’s clothes Shan? Haven’t you gone to bed yet?” Charlie looked confused.

“I left Will in a rush.”

“Why?”

“It doesn’t matter,” I replied getting up to go to his bathroom.

“Do you want a tea?”

“Tea would be great thanks. I will be back in a few minutes.”

“Take your time, no rush bookworm,” Charlie almost smirked.

I came out feeling a lot more human having washed my face and tying my hair up in a bun. Charlie had moved onto the sofa. He was motionless staring out the window.

 “That feels so much better.” I smiled as I sat next to him.

“Did you and Will have a fight?” Charlie asked turning to look at me.

“Why do you ask that?”

“Will just called me to ask if you were with me. He wasn’t happy when I said you were.”

“Don’t worry about Will and me. So do you feel up to telling me what the hell happened last night?”

Charlie sighed sipping his tea. “I knew Megan had slept with Tim a few weeks ago. I found out from someone at work. I wasn’t going to let him win so I just ignored it, but last night he was all over her. I lost it and hit him. Megan then realised I knew about them. It was awful. All of this was in front of her parents too.” Charlie put his head in his hands in shame.

“You hit him?” I was impressed.

“Yeah, I was so stupid.”

“Charlie, none of this is your fault. Don’t beat yourself up like this.” I placed my hand on his back trying to comfort him.

“Why are you here Shan?” Charlie asked softly looking up at me.

“To help you silly. I thought we were friends too,” I teased pushing into him gently. Charlie suddenly looked at me very intensely. I began to tremble as he moved closer towards me. I knew what he was trying to do. Why couldn’t I move? His beautiful blue-green eyes burned deep into mine. As Charlie’s lips touched mine I felt a shock. As if my body was being brought to life. I wrapped my arms around his neck as he pushed me against his sofa. I couldn’t believe someone as gorgeous as Charlie was kissing me. I became lost in the moment. Of course I had always wondered what it would be like to kiss Charlie. It was better than I had ever imagined. Our kissing became a little too urgent as Charlie’s hand began gliding up towards my leg. I tried to pull away. I wasn’t going to be his pay back to Megan.

“Charlie, come on we can’t do this,” I replied pushing him. It was harder than I thought as he began to kiss down my neck. He was making his attentions really clear. “Charlie, seriously stop! I am not going to be your revenge for Megan,” Charlie pulled back looking extremely apologetic.

“I’m sorry. I don’t know what came over me,” Charlie replied still inches away from my face.

“It’s okay. I should have stopped it before it started,” I replied shaking my head.

“Why didn’t you?” Charlie was still looking deep into my eyes. His face really took my breath away. How could anyone be that perfect?

“I’m not sure,” I had to be truthful.

“Shan…”

“I think I have to go, Charlie. I think coming here was a bad idea. I need to check on Megan.” I got up quickly. I knew I had to leave because truthfully I didn’t trust myself with Charlie. My body was making itself very clear. If Charlie kissed that way I could imagine how good it would feel to go all the way with him.

“Shannon, wait…” Charlie begged, but I was already out his door. I was doing well at fast exits today.

I got back to Megan’s apartment expecting to see a broken woman. I knew I couldn’t be angry with her especially after what I had just done. I really had no idea what had come over me, but kissing Charlie well, I never thought it would feel quite as good as that. Maybe I had never really got over my infatuation with him. I knew it was wrong of me, but I was glad I had experienced it. Charlie would probably never make that mistake again.

As I entered the apartment I heard laughing from Megan’s bedroom. I was so stunned it felt as if I glided in a wind of confusion towards her bedroom door. I had to know who was in there.

“Shan, wait!” Megan screamed as she saw me at the door watching Tim Scott on top of her. I felt nauseous as I walked into the kitchen placing my hands on the work top. I waited for Megan to put some clothes on and come out looking shameful.

“Shan, I am sorry I thought you were with Will,” Megan came out wrapped up in a shirt. I really hoped it wasn’t Tim’s.

“Megan what the hell are you doing?” I almost screamed.

“I know it looks bad, but this is the only time Tim and I…”

“Don’t lie to me Megan. Will has told me everything,” I interrupted. Tears came to Megan’s eyes as she dropped her head in her hands, sobbing.

“Oh God, I am such a horrible person. I am turning into my mother,” Megan sobbed.

“No, you are not Megan!” A voice came from behind her. Tim had come out now fully clothed placing his arms around her waist. I really saw red now. Megan hated Tim. Come to think of it so did I now.

“This is none of your business. Get the hell out of here!” I screeched pushing him with all my strength out of the front door. Tim let me. I must have looked severely angry.

Megan stood, tears streaming down her face. She looked pretty scared, I was glad.

“Shan…”

“No, you sit down and listen to me. Now!” I pulled out a chair. She sat quickly. “What the hell are you playing at Megan Field? Tell me everything. Do you realise what a state you have left Charlie in?”

“You’ve seen him? Is he alright?”

“Top of the world! Now spill it,” I glared at her. Megan looked down at the table too ashamed to tell me face to face.

“It happened four weeks ago. Will asked me to collect some paperwork from his office as I was in that area. Tim was there. He was really upset about a deal he had lost, so I agreed to have one drink with him.” I rolled my eyes, how stupid was she? “One led to a few. I really don’t know why I went with him. He was so vulnerable. I had never seen Tim like that before. He made me feel like a princess before I knew it I was back at his.”

“Didn’t you even think of Charlie?”

“He has been so distracted ever since Paris. You know how busy he has been. I hardly see him anymore.”

“That makes it okay then,” I yelled. “You still see him at least three nights a week, Megan. I really can’t believe you. Do you have any idea what you have done? Charlie may never take you back.”

“I know that.”