Chapter 51: Novel About Pants

"Oh, damn it, you're just too late, Elizabeth!" an angry complaint sounded.

The game was already over by the time she got there.

"Hey, Theresa, what's up? Just you three here?" Elizabeth walked up and asked her classmates.

"Oh, right, this is Charles, my friend!"

Elizabeth introduced Charles to them, and Charles stepped forward to greet them.

"This is Theresa. The one reading a book with short hair is Camille. And the one with the big chest is Lilith!"

Charles looked around and found that Camille with the brown short hair was the prettiest; although her figure wasn't as good as Elizabeth's, the proportions were quite nice.

As for Theresa and Lilith, Charles wasn't really interested. Their wild build and looks weren't to his taste.

"Jack and the others are up there," short-haired Camille put down her book and pointed to the Pacific Park amusement park on the pier.

"Ladies, how about we hit a bar first and relax a bit, then continue tonight?" Charles clapped his hands and suggested.

Along the beach road heading north, the group arrived at Sonny's Bar and got a table.

"Order anything you like," Charles didn't mind; beer, whiskey, champagne, tequila - all were fine. However, he didn't prefer vodka and rum.

Theresa, Camille, Lilith, and Elizabeth cheered and black beer and tequila were immediately ordered.

Enjoying the beautiful Pacific Ocean view through the glass while drinking iced drinks, the earlier disappointment of losing the beach volleyball game quickly vanished.

Before long, a group of four men led by Jack arrived as well.

"Elizabeth, why are you only getting here now?" The towering Jack, at least six foot three, walked over and saw Elizabeth sitting with Charles, which made him a bit unhappy.

"Jack, this is Charles, my friend!" Elizabeth stood up and tugged at Jack.

Camille pulled Charles' arm and quietly reminded him, "Jack's on the basketball team. He likes Elizabeth!"

Charles got it; a basketball player, no wonder he looked so strong! He figured he likely couldn't win in a fight with him due to Jack's large build.

Charles had grown up in the chaotic East Los Angeles community and had been in many fights; if he fought, he'd fight to the end.

"Come on, everyone drink up. Tonight we'll hit A Cup bar for their electronic music themed party," Charles stood up and had the waiter bring more bottles.

"A Cup! Cool," Jack's three companions were excited to hear this. A Cup was one of the best clubs in the area, known for its hot girls!

The atmosphere was set; with booze and hot girls, these guys could solve anything.

Charles accidentally knocked Camille's bag to the floor.

"Sorry, let me pick that up for you!"

"No worries."

Charles bent over, and a book fell out from her bag. It must have been the one she was reading before.

He picked it up casually; it was The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, published by Ann Brashares in 2001.

"Camille, this novel!" Charles said while holding up the book.

"A great novel. Charles, have you read it too?" Camille didn't expect to meet a young guy who liked this kind of book.

Charles shook his head, remembering only the movie adaptation The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, which had two installments.

One of the main characters was played by Blake Lively.

"Is this novel really popular?"

Camille hesitated, but a chubby guy nearby mocked, "It's a boring novel. How did it stay on the bestseller list for so long?"

"Camille, how boring, just a story about four high school girls and a pair of jeans!"

Facing the ridicule, Camille raised a middle finger and retorted, "Damn it, Roger, it's a meaningful book about friendship and growth among four girls!"

The chubby guy continued, "It's only popular among female readers. We guys wouldn't read it."

Charles stroked his chin, glancing back and forth between the novel and Camille. This type of youth literature about friendship and growth among young women?

Charles understood that Elizabeth and Camille were both from USC's School of Journalism and Communication, with Elizabeth in public relations and Camille in media studies.

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants didn't make much at the box office. He watched the movie mainly for Blake Lively's performance.

Why did they make two films then? Anyway, the movie reviews seemed pretty good.

"Camille, let me have a look at that book!"

Charles snapped his fingers and called for the waiter, handing him a credit card.

The message was clear: drink as you like and charge it to the card later.

Charles wanted to find a quiet place to read this book properly. As for the hot girls, making money was more important.

"Sir..."

"I'm going to read for a bit. Take good care of them!" Charles said as he got up with the book.

"Guys, I really want to finish this book now, so excuse me for a bit, I'll be back later!" Amid their surprised glances, Charles left.

They all looked at Elizabeth, who shrugged helplessly and smiled, "Charles said he works behind the scenes in the movie industry. Maybe his parents are big shots in Hollywood."

Charles found a quiet spot near his car, sat down, and started reading The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants.

*****

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