Chapter 8

I slowly opened my eyes. It looked like a hospital room but I wasn't sure. My eyes shifted and I looked at the door. I could hear a footsteps and a ringing phone. I looked to the side, I was hooked up to an IV. I looked at my arm, it was stuck in my wrist as well. I couldn't remember how I got there. The door clicked and I looked back over at it. My parents entered talking with one another. I think they assumed I was still asleep.

"I can't believe she'd do this though Angel."

"Ben...sweetheart look at me...it was nothing we did...we just didn't know...and now that we do, we can do something about it."

"I know but Hope I...I've always been afraid of this...I never wanted this life for her where she felt like she didn't fit in it."

My dad began to cry. I've never really seen him cry like that before. My mom wrapped him in a hug.

"She's been through so much, but you and I both know she's going to be alright."

"Until she isn't again...I hate this for her so much Hope."

"Ben...please listen...and try to understand that she's going to get better, we have to believe that."

"I believe she will but...what I can't believe is how we let it get this far...I've tried everything to make sure she was happy and safe...have I not given her everything?"

"Sweetheart...we've done all we can for Harmione."

"No...No we haven't."

My dad sighed and turned away from my mom.

"If we had, she wouldn't be here now...we did something wrong..."

"Ben we can't do anything about what we did or didn't do...what matters is what we do next..."

My parents stared long and hard at each other.

"Maybe I should take her out of school."

"Don't do that, it will only make things worse."

"Then what should we do?"

"Well...we could keep her home for a few days...look after her...get her back on her feet again...find a good diet for her...and take her to a good-"

"Therapist?" My father interrupted. "No...No Angel you know how I feel about that."

"I know baby, but maybe they can help, maybe she can tell them things she feels she can't tell us..."

"And why wouldn't she tell me?"

"Ben..."

"Forget it... I don't want to talk about it anymore today...I just want her to sleep and get better."

I watched my mom nod. My dad stood with his hand above his belt, holding his waist.

"And Justice and Jesse?" Mom asked.

"Gwen can bring them up here sometime later...hopefully Harmione's awake by then."

My dad sighed again and reached in his pocket. I watched him take a cigarette and a lighter from his pocket.

"I'll be right back." He told Mom. I had no idea that my Daddy smoked.

"Ben...take it easy...please."

The door shut behind Dad, and Mom looked at me. I quickly shut my eyes and pretended to be asleep. I felt Mom's hand stroke my head.

"Oh my precious babygirl...you and your father are so much alike...I didn't really go through this, not directly... it was never really me I hated..."

Mom continued to talk to me even though she thought I was asleep.

"I hated not being able to bring some happiness to your Daddy... until I found out I was all the happiness he ever needed...now your Daddy... he's been here..."

I wanted to open my eyes wide in response but I kept them shut. There was actually a lot about Dad I didn't know.

"He fights with himself all the time... never knowing if he's ever good enough for anyone...but the both of you are worth so much to me...so very much."

She kissed my head and sat in a chair beside the bed. She held my hand tightly. Mom never knew I heard every word.

At visiting hour, I got to see my brother's, Gwen and Kevin, and my cousin Genesis. Genesis was 9 years old now.

"So, you feeling any better?" Gwen asked me.

"A little." I replied.

"Doctor's said you were dehydrated and that's why you passed out." Kevin said after. I looked over at my Dad. He was looking out the window with his hands in his pockets.

"Daddy..."

He turned and quickly grabbed my hand.

"What Angel...I'm right here."

I just stared into his eyes. I couldn't believe what I put him and mom through. I don't know what came over me but I couldn't stop. I began to cry.

"No...no...no...don't cry babygirl."

My dad wiped my tears away.

"I'm sorry." I sobbed softly.

Dad let got of my hand and hugged me.

"Don't be sorry...it's alright."

I cried into Dad's chest in front of our family. I looked at Genesis. She had tears in her eyes.

"It's okay Harmione." Genesis finally said. Kevin rubbed Genesis's back. Jesse and Justice stood at the foot of the bed. I could see their scared and sad looks on their faces. I began to feel even worse. I almost took myself away from them. From all of them. Dad pecked the side of my head.

"You're gonna be alright now." Dad whispered.

The door opened. We all looked up, it was a nurse.

"I'm sorry but there's a few others out here that want to see Harmione."

"Others?" Mom pondered.

Deanna, Kimberly, Irene, Lacey, Jaynie, and Charlie entered the room.

"Guys..." I uttered softly. Deanna ran over to me and threw her arms around my neck and cried. She almost choked me.

"Why did you have to scare me like that?!"

"Don't choke her Deanna...please." Dad told her and pulled her off.

"I'm sorry but you scared me to death...I didn't know what was happening."

"We got scared too as soon as we heard." Lacey replied.

"Um...here." Irene mumbled, and handed Mom a basket of muffins. "My mom made them."

"Thank you so much Irene...give your mother our thanks."

Mom placed the basket on the counter behind her.

"Harmione?"

It was Charlie. I looked over at him and he waved shyly.

"Well...this room is getting crowded we'll take the twins and head on home." Gwen told Dad.

"Okay...boys be good for Gwen and Kevin."

"Okay Daddy." They said together.

I smiled at them. Deanna smiled at me and looked at Charlie, she then leaned toward my ear.

"He called 911 for you, and stayed here until your parents got here." She whispered.

"Really?" I whispered back.

"He met with your dad...and...your dad said he doesn't mind if you and Charlie date...he said something about he wouldn't want any other boy looking after you the way Charlie does."

"Daddy said that?"

Deanna nodded.

"It was a secret...so naturally everyone knows except you."

I looked at my Dad. He smiled at me. I looked at my mom. Tears came to my eyes and I smiled shyly back. They all left the room. Mom had to pull Dad's arm a little. It was then just me and Charlie.

"Charlie...listen I'm sorry that I-"

He quickly leaned toward me and kissed me. I had never kissed a boy before, so I wasn't sure what to expect. He placed his hands on my face, I felt his mouth open a bit. It was strange to me, but I trusted Charlie, so I allowed him to slip his tongue into my mouth. I had never felt this for anyone. I felt the warmth of Charlie's heart, and the sweetness of his lips. My hands trembled. I didn't know how to proceed. I didn't know what to think. We both breathed heavily as he pulled away.

"You scare me like that again, I'll kill you." He mumbled, his breath uneven.

"You stayed with me until Mom and Dad came...why?"

"I told you I'd wait for you...I love you stupid."

I blushed.

"Harmione Kay Tennyson I've been waiting for you, for 10 years."

We then started dating. A month passed and my parents had been watching me close at home, while my friends and the school nurse watched me close at school. There was no more running off to the bathroom after eating. February was now upon us and so was the 23rd Annual Valentines Day Dance. For the past 23 years the town; in association with the school has held it in the old community house. Deanna and my friends didn't go last year because it was for 10th through 12th graders only. They had another one for 7th through 9th grade once, but the 8th graders trashed the community house and they stopped letting anyone under 15 go. This year was different though because we were 15, and we were well able to take care of ourselves and the community house. We planned to go as a group, but the group understood that I was most certainly there with Charlie. We planned just to eat, dance and have a good time. We all needed that after what some of us have been through. The girls and our moms went shopping for dresses. Mom and I had it the hardest I think because Dad didn't want Charlie to look at me and get any ideas.

We scanned the store for many different dresses, and tried on a few. We went to several different stores before we found a dress shop downtown that had any dress you could possibly imagine.

Kimberly, bought a two piece long purple dress that was lined in taffeta. She decided she was going to wave her hair and wear sliver dangling earrings with it.

Irene, bought a long orange lace V-neck dress with a slit up the leg. She was going to have her hair in a up-do and very little jewelry.

Lacey, bought green strapless mermaid dress. She was going to keep her hair down and wear a tiara.

Jaynie, bought a tight black thigh length dress, with bell sleeves. She dyed her hair red this year, with an ombre of yellow, and orange. She planned to do a full blow out on her hair for the dance.

Deanna bought this, pink floral lace embroidery skater tutu party dress. She was going to do a curly ponytail. It was all adorable on her.

As or me, I bought a high neck bowknot lace cocktail dress, that came to my thighs, it was dark red with embroidered flowers, sleeveless, with bow around the waist. For my hair, I decided on going with a curly up-do, so you could see the collar of my dress better. It looked like a red choker. The night of the dance we all agreed to meet just outside the community house before we entered, just to make sure everyone was there. Kimberly and Irene screamed when they saw each other.

"You look so cute!" Kimberly screamed.

"No, you look so cute!" Irene said back.

I looked around, Jaynie and Kimberly were on their way up the community house steps.

"Hey, Hey." Jaynie said as she reached the top. She did a little spin for us. "New dress, new hair, what are we thinking?!"

We cheered at her and Lacey pretended to throw money. I laughed.

"Harmione!"

I looked up and saw Deanna. I ran down the steps and met Deanna at her dad's truck. We hugged each other and I held her hands.

"You look beautiful." I told her.

"Thanks...so do you...so where's Charlie?"

"Not here yet."

I quickly noticed something about Deanna. She smiled shyly.

"Your braces are gone!"

She laughed, and smiled some more.

I grabbed her hand and we rushed toward the girls.

"Girls, Deanna got her braces off!"

They screamed.

"Let us see!" Irene shouted.

Deanna showed off her new smile to the girls.

"Oh honey those are some straight, pearls." Jaynie told her as she looked at her teeth. I smiled. I hadn't been this happy in a while. Suddenly a pair of hands covered my eyes. I gasped. Someone leaned in close and whispered in my ear.

"You have to guess." They whispered. I bit my lip and smiled more. I knew it was Charlie.

"I don't know you'll have to tell me." I teased.

"Don't tell me you forgot me all ready, Rocky?"

I laughed and turned to face him. My smile disappeared and I just stood fixed on his outfit. He was in a dark black button up with a red tie, and dark dress pants, with red converse shoes. He smiled at me, and shifted his tongue. He had a piece of candy in his mouth, that he was sucking on.

"You aren't happy to see me?" He asked.

"No I am...it's just...you're...you're so handsome."

He blushed and turned away.

"I had to do something to look as good as you do."

I blushed in return.

"Okay everyone's here now." Deanna exclaimed. "Hi Charlie."

"Hi Dee." He replied.

"Wow...you clean up good mister."

"So do you."

Charlie wrapped his arms around me and put his chin on my shoulder.

"So what do you guys want do, dance first or eat first?" Irene asked us.

"Let's eat!" Lacey shouted.

"Yeah let's eat, I'm starving." Kimberly said after.

Charlie leaned into my neck and nipped my ear. I smiled.

"You smell good." He whispered.

"Thanks." I whispered back.

We entered together and there was a buffet of food. The community house was partly dining hall, and partly gymnasium. We got we wanted and ate in the bleachers. Jaynie wiped her hand off on a napkin and looked at the gym.

"They did a really good job on the decorations."

We looked at the gym after she said that.

"Yeah they did." Charlie replied to her.

"Look at these Valentines cookies they made!" Lacey shouted over the music. "Deanna try one."

Deanna took one from Lacey and ate part of it.

"That's really good, I wonder who brought those...Harmione, Charlie."

Deanna broke the cookie in half and gave it to me. I took a bite, and gave Charlie the other half of the cookie. I watched Charlie eat a small bite and put it on a napkin.

"Is everything okay?" I asked.

"It's too sweet for me." He replied back.

"Do you want me to get you something else?"

"No, I got me some chip and dip, I'm good."

Suddenly a tall African American boy walked over to us. He looked at Kimberly.

"Would it be okay if I dance with you?" He said nervously.

Kimberly blushed and her eyes widened. She wiped her hands off and took his.

"Let's go!"

We watched as they hurried to the dance floor. Jaynie stood up.

"Lacey, Irene, dance with me?"

"Yeah!"

"Sure!"

"Let's hit it girls."

The threw their plates away and made their way to the dance floor as well. The song changed to a much faster song.

"You girls want to dance too, I'll dance with both of you." Charlie asked.

"You both go ahead, I'm going to get me some more food, I'll join you later." Deanna left the bleachers with her plate and walked back over to the buffet table.

I looked at Charlie and he helped me down the bleachers. We got a little crazy on the dance floor as we danced near the other girls. Charlie did this weird dance move that just really cracked me up. He spun me around several times.

"How many times do I have to do this?" I said with a laugh.

"I don't know." Charlie laughed back.

Deanna then brushed in between us and danced with me.

"Sorry Charlie, best friends first."

"That's fine...I know you love her too."

"That's right, lover boy, we've been together way longer than you have."

Deanna kissed my cheek. I laughed. I danced a few dances with Deanna, and then a few with Jaynie. Jaynie is a really good dancer. Before the night let out, I was dancing without my shoes. A slow song came on, and the dance floor began to clear out. A few couples stayed. Charlie and I were one of them. I had never slow danced with a boy either. Oddly enough Charlie was just good at everything it seemed like. He was a great kisser and a great dancer. We walked outside for some fresh air. It was empty, except for the cars in the parking lot. There was an old baseball field, BBQ pit and swing set out behind the community house. I led Charlie to the swings. He pushed me back and forth. I felt like a kid again.

"So...if Ben Tennyson has alien powers, and your mom has magic powers does that mean your brother's have powers too?" He asked.

"No...we don't know if they ever will get them."

"That's too bad...you could have a superhero family."

I smiled shyly.

"Yeah..."

"Um...Charlie?"

"Yeah."

"That day you made fun of my necklace...that necklace was special to me because it contained a rock creature that I made when I was 4...I know longer have it because the creature died."

Charlie stopped the swing and I fell back into his arms. He held the chain tightly.

"You're amazing, you know that?"

"I wish I could feel that."

"I didn't ask permission before...but can I kiss you again?" He asked me.

"You can kiss me anytime you want Charlie...you don't have to ask me."

He smiled and leaned forward. I closed my eyes as we made-out on the swings. Before I knew what was happening, we lied back in the grass. I lied under him as he kissed me. I felt something strange. Something I've never felt before in my entire life. I felt hot, but it wasn't the temperature. His lips tasted so sweet, and he looked as if he felt the heat too. I wanted more. So much more, but I knew my Daddy wouldn't like it. Despite this I ignored my thoughts and focused all of my energy on Charlie. I felt my breasts tremble with anticipation. By a bulge in his pants, I could tell he felt it too. I allowed him to kiss my neck. I touched his chest, and an orb of pink energy pulled his tie loose. Charlie gasped and pulled away from me.

"No." He stated breathing heavily.

"Charlie..." I sat up. My up-do had fallen down, and my curly hair drooped past my shoulders.

"I didn't mean to go that far." He breathed. "I'm sorry."

"No...it's alright...I didn't mind-"

"Harmione no...I'm not gonna disrespect you, and your dad like that."

I sighed.

"One day..."

"One day." He replied back, and placed his hand on my face. "One day I'll let you see all of me...and one day I'll give it you...I promise."

He kissed my forehead. When I got back home that night, and laid in bed; I had dreams about Charlie. Wonderful dreams, that may have gotten me a little wet.