CHAPTER 11

"Oh, wow! You sold all the tickets already? That's great! Here, let me have the rest. The show's next week and I think it's okay if we have extras since there might be last minute purchase right?" Damien said as he took the money and the rest of the unsold tickets. There were only about 30 tickets left. I don't know how much extra tickets Ally has, but I've sold more than 70 tickets! Okay, Caleb did, but Damien doesn't have to know that.

I gave him the extra tickets and he put them in his backpack. We were at the auditorium at the Visual Art building. Damien and a few other students involved with the play were practicing for the opening night that would happen in a week's time. It was a play about a serial killer or something and how he became a serial killer. Urgh, there's bound to be blood and whatnot. Gross. I don't know if I could sit through that.

I sat in the left side of the stage, helping the prop team to finish making the props that would be used in the play. I kept stealing glances at Damien who was busy rehearsing on stage. Saskia was there, too and was sadly part of the cast, too. Great, just great! She's been glued to Damien's side for the whole afternoon, much to my dismay.

I was sitting in the audience with some prop guys while we were taking a break when my phone vibrated in my pants. I took it out and saw Caleb's name texting me. I unlocked my phone and read the text.

Caleb : Charlie, where are you? You want to go grab something to eat? I just finished my training and hungry as eff!

Me : Sure! I'm at the auditorium in the Visual Arts' building. I would be done in fifteen minutes. Where do you want to meet?

Caleb : Oh, really? Then, just sit tight. I'll come to you. We'll go together.

I smiled at my phone and shook my head slowly. Well, Caleb's coming here. That would mean Saskia would get distracted by Caleb and I could have some alone time with Damien. That could work...heh heh..

About 15 minutes later, the auditorium door opened and a head peeked in. The familiar blonde head bobbed through door and I smiled. I beckoned Caleb to come in. I was helping the prop people packing up the materials and cleaning the backstage. Damien and Saskia were on the stage, talking with a few other actors. All looked up when they heard someone come into the auditorium. Caleb sauntered to the stage with a smile on his face. I saw Saskia smiled and sat up straighter when she saw Caleb walking towards the stage. She quickly turned from Damien and stood up as Caleb reached us.

"Hi, Caleb!" Saskia said cheerfully as she got into the 'hot girl flirtatious stance', ready to nab Caleb's full attention.

"Hi! Hey, how are you?" Caleb said politely, clearly forgetting Saskia's name. I went out to greet Caleb.

"Hey, stranger! You're right on time!" I said as I went to Caleb, grabbing my bag off the stage floor as I did so. Caleb brightened when he saw me.

"Hey, gorgeous! You're ready to go?" Caleb asked as he waited for me to go down the stairs.

"Yeah. Um, Damien, we're done here, right?" I asked. He looked at me and then at Caleb.

"Uh, yeah, sure." Damien said, looking suspiciously like he didn't want me to go. Wow..Dare I just ask him to come have dinner with me and Caleb??

"Um, Caleb and I are getting some dinner. You guys wanna come?" I asked, mentally crossing my fingers, praying that he would say yes.

"Sure! Can I come, too? I can, right?" Saskia said excitedly.

"Uhm, yeah! Sure, why not!" I said as I glanced at Caleb. He smiled but it didn't reach his eyes. Huh.. Weird. Caleb's usually all for eating together. To him, it's the more the merrier.

"Yeah, sure. We're pretty hungry anyway. Uhm, so where are you guys planning on having dinner? You guys decide and we'll meet you there." Damien said with a smile. Wow..What a pretty smile... I literally swooned. On the inside, that is. No use scaring the guy before we're endgame.

"Burger Park. That ok?' I asked. Damien nodded his head and smiled.

"Ok, great idea. We'll meet you there, ok?" Damien said and Saskia waved and stared at Caleb. I sighed happily as I skipped to Caleb's bike outside the building. I took the helmet from Caleb and started humming to myself. Caleb didn't say anything. I looked over at him with a huge smile on my face.

"Why so grumpy-looking? It's a beautiful day! And I'm in a great mood!" I said as I grinned at Caleb, who finally chuckled. I climbed onto the bike behind Caleb and impulsively hugged Caleb. He kinda stiffened a little bit, but his rigid body relaxed almost instantly. I put my chin on his shoulder and looked at his profile. I could only see his eyelashes and nose from my vantage point, but it was enough.

"You're a great guy, Caleb. Nicest, most caring guy I've ever met. And you'll make one special girl happy one day! Like, as happy as me right now!" I said as I hugged him tighter by his waist.

"You know, I never told you how happy I am that you're here. You kinda make my life here bearable. You know I love you, right?" I said, still giddy from the prospect of having a sort of double date with Damien.

"Yeah, you're not so bad yourself, Charlie." Caleb said in a lazy drawl.

"Yep, that's why you love me." I said absently. Just then, Caleb started his bike.

"Yeah, that's why I love you..." Caleb said between the roars of his bike. The bike lurched forward and I grinned as I imagined that tonight would be the start of everything with Damien. I'll make sure of that.

Caleb's POV

I should give up. I know I have to. Charlie has made herself clear. To say my heart is broken to a million pieces is an understatement. I'm old enough to grow out of this stupid crush. Move on and forget that I ever liked Charlie. She clearly sees me as her best friend's little brother and tonight, she made it much, much clearer by flirting with Damien like crazy. Right in front of me. It was painful to watch. I swallowed hard and fiddled with the straw of my soda. Even the burgers tasted like cardboard.

"So, when's the semi-finals?" Saskia asked with a sultry smile. I cracked a smile for her. It's not her fault she's not Charlie.

"Um, in two weeks' time. You're gonna come?" I asked absently. What the hell..Might as well enjoy her company. I glanced at Charlie who's giggling over something Damien said. I mentally took deep breaths. It's not her fault she's not attracted to me. Just leave her be... She deserves to be with whomever she wants. She deserves to be happy and Damien clearly makes her happy. I sighed as I looked back at Saskia, who seemed oblivious about my turmoil. But it's okay that she didn't know what I was feeling at that time. It's the fact that Charlie really didn't notice I was having a crummy time that got to me.

"Of course I'll come, Caleb. I won't miss it for the world." Saskia said with a saccharine sweet smile. I tried to smile, but it was too much effort for me.

When we finally called it a day, Damien suddenly turned to Charlie.

"Um, Charlotte. Are you doing anything this Friday night?" Damien said suddenly as we were walking towards the exit after paying for the food. I stopped short and glanced quickly at Charlie, who looked like she just swallowed a toad or something. Her eyes were wide and she didn't say anything at first. My heart fell. No question in what her answer would be.

"Um, Charlotte, it's okay if you're too busy. I, er-" Damien started to mumble when Charlie suddenly spoke up.

"Okay, yeah! Sure! I'd love to!" Charlie said a little too excitedly, her blue eyes shining brightly and she had the most beautiful smile on her lips. It was all for Damien.

And all hopes of ever being with Charlie crumble into this huge pile of crap, with my smashed heart lying pathetically on top of all that...

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Damien asked me out! He asked me out! I kept repeating the statements over and over again in my head. I was smiling like an idiot as we walked out of the burger joint. Damien was beside me.

"Um, well, I'll see you tomorrow at practice." Damien said as he stopped at his car. Saskia went into the passanger seat after she had thrown a meaningful look at Caleb. Caleb walked to his bike and put on his helmet wordlessly.

"Yeah, ok. See you tomorrow, Damien." I said, strangely breathless. He winked and went into his car. He gave one last wave before he drove off. Once his car was gone, I leaped and started dancing like an idiot. I was shrieking like a giddy pre-pubescent girl. After almost 2 years crushing hard on Damien, he finally asked me out. I sighed as I put on my helmet dreamily. Caleb gave me a strange look but I didn't care. I was too over the moon. I practically jumped onto the old bike that Caleb almost lost hold of it. I giggled apologetically.

"Sorry, Caleb. But I got a date! Can you believe it?! Me, going on a date with Damien!? Like, wow!" I said breathlessly as I absently wrapped my arms around Caleb's middle. Wordlessly, Caleb started the engine and the bike roared to life.

"Hold on, okay." Caleb said and then he sped off. I almost lurched from my seat, he took off pretty suddenly.

I was grinning like an idiot as Caleb drove the bike to my dorm. Scenario after scenario was playing in my mind. I imagined our date would be spectacular, of course. I would not expect less. I mean, it's Damien.

When we arrived at my dorm, I jumped off the bike and took off the helmet. It was almost 9 pm. And I have class the next day. So, I turned to Caleb and handed him my helmet. He took it wordlessly.

"Thanks for the ride, Caleb. Good night! Drive carefully!" I said cheerfully as I hugged him and kissed his cheek carelessly, like I usually do. He hugged me back and smiled wordlessly. Suddenly, I kinda sense something's amiss. I couldn't put my finger on it but it's there. I looked at Caleb who was getting ready to drive off. I suddenly touched his arm. He turned to look at me. I couldn't see his face anymore because he has pulled down his visor after I kissed him before.

"Hey Caleb, you alright?" I asked cautiously. Caleb turned his face towards me and then pulled up his visor. He looked fine to me. But then I caught it. Something lurking behind his hazel eyes. A kind of moroseness..Wait, he looked kinda sad.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Why did you ask?" Caleb said casually with a small reassuring smile on his lips. I frowned and scrutinized his face. I've known the kid since he was 4 years old, so I do know his face and expressions well. He rarely succeeds in keeping stuff from me. But then that was years ago. This Caleb's an adult. He could easily hide his feelings from me and I wouldn't be the wiser. But then, I could be imagining things. I took a deep breath and smiled at him.

"Nothing. Go home. You look tired." I said and Caleb smiled. Then, he pulled down his visor and drove off, leaving me on the sidewalk looking after his retreating figure. When he was gone from view, I finally turned around and walked towards my dorm, my heart suddenly singing again at the thought of going out with Damien in a couple of days. Plus, I'll get to see him tomorrow as well for rehearsals. And the next afternoon, too. Squeal!! I feel asleep with a huge, obnoxious grin on my lips. Lois thought I'd gone mental.

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Caleb's POV

Well, that's that. I have got to stop obsessing over Charlie. it's turning me into a recluse. I turn down invitations to parties and even dates. And for what? To watch her gush over the art geek. I hate him. I really, really hate him. Which is not fair really, but who cares? I can hate anyone I want.

Alright, Caleb, you're good-looking and a nice guy. Plenty of girls want to date you. And Charlie's entitled to the guy that she wants to be with. And that's not me. I groaned as I took my pillow and almost smother my face with it. I feel so pathetic. Why is it so hard to get over her? I've tried for years. I should just get over her already by now. I have to. She deserves to be happy and I can't make her like me if she doesn't want to. But it's going to be painful and excruciating to watch her with that arty farty bore... What the hell am I going to do?!