A tale of True Love

"Pam, Pam? This is reality calling to Pam. Please come in!" Pam snapped out of her daydream and looked at me as if to so ‘what?’ "Wake we have work to do!"

‘Beep, beep! Beep, beep’ Somebody’s phone went off.

"Why don’t people think to turn the volume off? That reminds me I better check my phone." I looked at my screen 1 message received. "Rady, Daz or Lou no doubt." I said to Pam as I went to read the message. "Rory? What the fuck does he want? Taking the piss I expect!"

‘Charlie, I know you won’t believe me but I want to talk things out. Can you meet me in long corridor at 2 o’clock? I will turn up this time, I promise! Tb Rory.’

"He wont turn up!" Pam said as she read the message.

"Yeah, I know, but we’ll be in long corridor more than likely more than likely anyway. We don’t have anything better to do." I said.

"I guess. So text him back then!"

‘ Yeah sure. We’re usually there anyway, so don’t think I'm just hanging around waiting for you! Cya. Luv Charlie.’ I got a report saying he’d received my message.

"Oh well. We’ll just have to wait and see now." I said, then got on with my work.

That was 7 months ago and this time he did show up, unlike last time. He told me how his mind was taken over by weed but he was stopping and he’d be back to normal. He said he was going to stop hanging around with Joe, Craig etc. and he wanted to start hanging around with me again. He said a couple of weeks/months would be tough while he was quitting drugs and cutting back on fags. I helped him through the tough times, we became best friends again and later he asked me out. During that time we also became really good friends with Ed, Rory’s mate. He asked Pam out but she turned him down.

"Hey babe. Love you!" Rory said to me as he arrived at the bus stop with Rob. He walked up to me, pulled me, then stood next to me and put his hand in my back pocket. This happened nearly every morning at the bus stop before school.

"So what’re we doing this weekend? Do you wanna stay at my house Friday night?" he asked me.

"I can’t I'm looking after Adam and Josie this Friday night."

"Do you have to/" he pleaded.

"No, but it’s an extra 10 quid and I could really do with having as much money as possible. Sorry babe but I need the dosh. I’ll ask if you can help, if you want."

"Ok, but I’d rather we could have ‘us’ time." He replied sounding disappointed.

"I know it’s not ‘us’ time but to make up for it a bit do you want to stay at my house on Saturday. There's gonna be Lou, Pam, me, maybe Lou’s boyfriend, Ben, if he comes up. You can invite Ed as well. I’d ask him but he wouldn’t come if you weren't."

"Ok at least it’s time together but when are we gonna spend a night just us two?"

"You better not be suggesting anything. I've told you not yet, if you were."

"That’s not what I meant. Yeah I want that. But I meant just spending a night cuddled up on a sofa, or bed with a cover watching films and eating pizza or something." He said honestly.

"Maybe next weekend. I’ll have to see if I'm baby-sitting and what I'm doing, but it’s a maybe." He smiled seeming happy with that idea.

Then the bus pulled up, he took his hand out of my back pocket, took hold of my hand and led me onto the bus.

Ed had saved Rory and me a double seat and Rob a seat next to him. Conversation then changed to skateboarding, BMXing and music. Rory asked Ed about Saturday and he said it sounded cool.

I got to school and in lesson I had to break Pam out of yet another daydream about Ed.

"Look, he asked you out and you said no. You missed your chance, get over it. Oh btw. Ed’s and Rory are staying Saturday as well." I said and Pam smiled as she came back to reality and figured out what I’d said.

"I know, but I didn’t him then! Is Ed really staying? Oh god what’m I gonna wear, during and to sleep in? Oh shit, oh shit." Said Pam beginning to panic.

That lunchtime we just hung around as usual. Pam jealousy looking and Rory holding hands and getting off. Everything was normal until Craig turned up.

"Hey Rory! Haven’t spoken to you in a while." He came up and said casually "Can we talk over there a minute, please?" he asked. Rory went slowly sliding his arm from round my waist, he looked at me meaningfully, the look meaning ‘I haven’t done anything, promise! I have no idea what he wants.’ I sighed and turned to talk to Pam.

"Charlie!" Rory shouted me over.

"I’ll be back in a second." I said to Pam and went over to Rory and Craig.

"I know it’s unfair to ask, but Craig really wants a fag and I could do with on. Thing is we don’t have any so I wondered if you’d come with us to the shop and buy some?" I know you don’t like me smoking very much and you hate being asked to buy them, but could you do it just this once please?" he asked apologising as he said it. While Craig just stood there looking hopeful.

"Sure." I said cheerfully and Rory looked at me shocked "I wunt mind one myself for that point. But YOU better be nice to me!" I said looking at Craig. "I’ll just grab my lighter out my coat and tell Pam I'm off and see if she wants out."

My happiness and willingness shocking both Craig and Rory.

"I’m off to the shop with Rory and Craig to get some fags. So you should go find the others, unless you wanna come." I said to Pam.

"You’re alright." Said Pam showing she really didn’t want to. "I’ll go see Hayley and that lot. Will you be back before reg.?"

"Yeah, should be. Cya." I said and went to my locker to get my lighter.

We walked easily out of the sports hall car park with nobody paying a second glance. I was used to this as me and Rory often went to the shop or (much to Pam’s jealousy) met Ed at lunch. We went in the shop, I got some choccie and then went up to the counter.

"Can I have 10 Lambert and Butler as well please?" They happily handed them over the counter without any doubt. We left the shop and went a quiet road where no one ever was. I opened the packet and Rory took one, I pulled the packet away as Craig went for one. He looked at me confused. I just smiled and offered him one again.

"Thanks a million. You’re the best!" Rory said lighting his, and mine together, with my lighter. Then before he started smoking it he kissed me because he knew I didn’t like how he tasted after.

We all finished one, I gave Craig another two and he put them in his bag then we set off back to school. I produced a packet of mints from my pocket as we got to the school gate.

"Good idea." Rory said taking two. "When can I get another fag?" he asked.

"I’m going home off the bus, no-one’s gonna be in. wanna come round and we’ll go to the park." I said spontaneously.

"Sure, cool."

As we got back into school the bell rang and Pam was at her locker.

"First or second?" I asked her.

"Second." She replied

"I better go to form." Said Rory kissing me and leaving.

"Bye, love ya!" I shouted after him.

"Love you more!!" he shouted back.

"You are one lucky cow!" Pam said turning to talk to me. "You get Rory and I don’t even get a boyfriend, never mind one like him."

"I know." I replied with a big grin and went to form very happy, eating mints.

That night I got on the bus (the second) where id planned to meet Rory, to be greeted by a begging Darren.

"Craig says you’ve got some fags. Can I have one please, please, please, please, please, pleeeeeeeease?!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I’ll pat you!"

"Okay, I suppose, but don’t used to it." I handed over a fag and he seemed happy enough. Then Rory got on, and grabbed me in a hug that seemed like he hadn't seen me in years.

"What was that for?" I asked.

"I missed you of course. And I really appreciate you getting on with Craig at lunch. It’ll helped me out." He said cheerfully. Then his face fell worried about my reaction to what he was about to say.

"Tomorrow night Craig's invited me round to his to get high off our heads. I know what it did to me last time but one time wouldn’t hurt. Do you mind?" He pleaded.

"I suppose you can BUT don’t get back into the habit!"

"I won’t, I promise! We were sat at the back and Ed had told us he was getting on our bus that night. So we sat at one side on the back seat, well, Rory was sat normally while I sat leaning on his shoulder with my feet up on the seat leaving room for Ed at the other end. Rory leaned his head round to look at me.

"You look tired." He said looking concerned.

"I am a bit, but your still coming to mine even if we just watch TV." I replied with certainty.

"Why don’t you lie down and go to sleep for a bit I’ll wake you up at Fishers. Yeah?" He asked

"Sure." I said. He kissed me and I put my head on his legs. I was asleep before Ed got on the bus.

Then when the bus got to Fishers Rory nudged me.

"Charlie wake up, we’re at Fishers." He said, then when I opened my eyes he kissed me back to reality.

"I'm freezing now! Why is it when you wake up you’re always cold?" I complained. I sat up and saw Ed.

"Hey Ed. How’s u’s?" I asked him.

"Good. You move a lot when you're asleep, Rory didn’t mind though and we got chance to talk ‘bout some stuff." Ed replied.

"Here." Rory came into the conversation and passed me his hoodie. "You said you were cold."

"Thanks" I said and pulled the hoodie over my school uniform. He rang the bell and we got of the bus at Morrisons.

We then went to the park, we sat on the swings and I swung while Rory smoked two more fags. Then we went to Morrisons and bought some stuff, went back to my house and ate it, watching TV.

It got to 9pm and Rory set off home then at about 9:30 my mum and dad got home.

That was on Wednesday. Thursday Rory went to Craig's but came to school on Friday normal, as he ever was.

"Hey Charlie. Love ya!" Rory shouted as he got to the bus stop. "Last night at Craig's was class…"

"I don’t wanna know at the moment I'm knackered. I got next to no sleep last night." I replied, then with good timing, yawned.

"Why not?" he asked.

"I was doing my business studies homework and watching TV until 3am this morning."

"Ah, well that explains it."

"Oh yeah. Paul says it’s ok for you to help tonight but as a trial run only, so if you're a good boy you can come from now on and I’ll pay you eventually."

"Only payment I need is to be with you!" he said then kissed me romantically.

"That’s sooo sweet!" I said with a grin.

We went to school that day but I didn’t see him at lunch because I had a D-T then Pam needed to talk to me about Saturday. What time she should come round, what we’re doing, what time she needed picking up on Sunday, what she should wear and stuff like that.

"What the fuck am I gonna wear? Ed’s gonna be there so I have to make an effort, without it looking like I'm making an effort. I don’t know want to be too obvious." Pam said. I just looked at her with a confused face. "I want to make it so he asks me out again, without making it obvious that, that’s what I'm doing."

"Why not wear some flared jeans, you can wear a baggy T-shirt and a dark blue or black jacket, seeing as you don’t have any hoodies."

"That’s not anything special. I’d look like someone just going to town."

"Yeah, that’s what Rory and Ed’s kinda look is. The more you fix yourself up the worse your gonna look in there eyes. To some extent." I stated. Pam looked confused.

"Okay, I’m gonna trust you on this one but only ‘cos you know Ed better than me and you know what Rory likes."

"Just trust me, wear that and it’s the best you can do. And don’t wear make-up or spend ages on your hair, you’ll just destroy it."

"Okay, fair enough I trust you."

The first bell went and long corridor began to fill up. Rory walked past me and gave me the sweetest smile ever.

"Aaawww moment." I told Pam.

"Your so lucky to get someone like him he's the best ever! Ed’s second and, hopefully after tomorrow, mine." Pam said hopefully. The second bell went and we split up to go to registration, then last lesson.

I got on the bus late that evening and was confused because Rory wasn’t there yet. He arrived just before the bus set off, at a run.

"How come you're so late getting the bus?" I asked him.

"Sub kept us in, stressing at us like hell ‘cos we hadn't done the work." He replied.

"Okay hunny-bun. Do you mind if I go to sleep again? I'm knackered!

"Sure go ahead. I need to talk to Ed about this chick he fancies anyway. G’nite."

I woke up for a minute to hear ‘Pam’ and Ed saying he was thinking of asking her out again. Then I fell back to sleep again thinking about what Ed had said.

I went home off the bus, after Rory had woken me up at Fishers, and Rory went to his house. He was going to get changed then text me and meet me at Morrisons. I went home, changed into a pair of jeans & T-shirt and brushed my hair. My phone bleeped and I set off down to Morrisons.

"Hey babe!" Rory said when I met him "Wanna come round to mine until we go to brat-sitting?"

"Sure." I replied

"No-one’ll be in ‘cos Sam and Liam have Aikido and my mums off round to Kirsty's house."

"What are you suggesting?" I asked suspicious.

"Nothing, it just means we don’t have to put up with my brothers or worry about my mum being around."

"Ok then, let’s go." I said setting off. He caught up with me, took my hand and we went to his house.

We hung around at his ‘til 8, then went round to Adam and Josie's house.

"Oh no! What’s HE doing here?" asked Josie sounding disgusted. Rory looked annoyed.

" Rory. No matter what they do just let me handle them or they’ll complain and you won’t be allowed to come again. Please don’t do anything." I pleaded, and then as he was looking like he was going to explode, still angry, I kissed him softly on his lips. His expression then melted into a smile.

"Okay, but only because I love you and want to be able to come again, to be with you." He said with honesty in his, beautiful blue, eyes.

" Josie, he's here because I want him to be here and your dad said it’s ok. Be nice. He's my boyfriend so you have to be nice." I said with a stern look.

" He's your boyfriend?" She asked disbelieving.

" Yeah and if you’ve got a problem with that please keep it to yourself." She didn’t reply she just went and sat down.

They went to bed at 10:30, I put Kerrang on and we just curled up on one sofa. We talked the night away and I fell asleep at about 1am, Rory later. I was so happy and he was so warm next to me. It was the first time we’d slept so close, before we’d either been in separate rooms or separate beds. We needed to earn our parents trust and this weekend we had two nights to do this. If we were good and didn’t get up to anything we’d be allowed in the future. I was really looking forward to that, he's my one true love, I'm sure of it.

That night I dreamt a dream so clear I could be certain it was real. I was walking into a room wearing my design blue flame-wedding outfit, with a tiara of gold and silver flames atop my head. I passed a mirror on the way in, I must have been about 20. My spots were gone, my hair long and straight and I’d grown.

I entered a room and there stood Rory in barbed wire black baggies, barbed wire jacket to match and a white shirt. He was about 18, his babyish face had changed slightly to a dreamy, fit one and my heart missed a triple beat and sped at the sight. I walked down a black carpet and passed our families. Lee, Ed with Pam, and all my other friends some of which I didn’t know, yet. I stood, faced Rory and we each spoke vows we ourselves had written, in Rory's case with help from Adam (best man). Lou (maid of honour) started to cry sweetly and I noticed a very classy engagement ring on her finger, and now I think about it she kept smiling at Ad.

‘I will love you with all my heart until it no longer beats and I am dead, gone and longer. I will never hurt you as long as life and death go on.’

Was just part of Rory's vows. Which you might think strange but I found really sweet. The rest were equally touching then we were married.

I then woke up and saw him laid next to me. It was light and about 9am when I checked. I woke him by putting my arm round him and gently kissing him on the nose.

He opened his eyes, blinked, smiled and kissed me back properly. We both sat up and I put BMXing on. Next thing Adam and Josie bounced downstairs. I sat back, he did the same, put his arm round me and I ignored the look of disgust on Josie's face.

I checked my phone and I had a text from Pam saying she’d be round at my house at 11:30ish. Paul got up at about 10, gave me £10 for looking after Adam and Josie and then we went round to Rory's so he could get changed and get some stuff.

At 11 we went round to my house to wait for Pam. When she got there we went to meet Ed. Pam had taken my advice on what to wear. On the way from Ed's to Lou's I told Pam about my dream.

" Me WITH Ed? Are you sure or were we just sat together?" Pam asked excitedly.

" You were definitely together. He had his arm round you were holding his other hand. You should have seen it, everyone was growd up and the lads looked more gorgeous than ever. Especially Rory!" I said.

" I wish I had seen it!"

Lou answered the door in a dressing gown and I gave Rory's hand a warning squeeze, (Rory and Lou used to go out and I wanted him to watch what he did and said,) and he looked at me as if to say ‘I wouldn’t dream of it. You're my girl now’ and I smiled.

"Lou, what's up?" I asked her.

"I’m ill. I've been puking all night. So I can’t hang round with you lot today or tonight but if I'm feeling better tomorrow I’ll ring you and I might be able to come out for a bit." She replied actually sounding ill.

"Ok, I hope you feel better. Cya." I said and we left so she could go back to bed.

"Right, let’s go to town then."

We went bowling and had a right laugh. I won but Rory would have. When he saw he was winning and I was second he fouled twice, I'm sure on purpose, I over-took and won.

We went and got a McDonalds and then looked round town for a bit. Then at about 3pm we got the bus back to Stonefall and ditched our stuff. Then we got skateboards and went to Hookie. Pam didn’t have a board but she was happy sharing mine so that didn’t matter.

Rory text Adam, he wasn’t doing anything so he came down as well and they had a skate and dares contest. Adam had to jump the steps from the courtyard to the path on his skateboard. Rory had to climb very high on a tree in the wildlife preserve (I couldn’t watch in case he fell, well nearly couldn’t,). Ed had to climb on top of a hut and jump off in his boxers, no T-shirt, no top, no trousers, but we did let him keep his socks and shoes on so he didn’t hurt his feet much. Pam loved this dare as she got to see Ed in his boxers. ‘Great I’ll never hear the end of this.’ I thought when I saw the smile on her face. ‘Doesn’t she realise I've seen Rory naked, from the back.’ I whispered this fact to her and she looked at me envious.

At about 8:30 we went back to mine. Adam had asked his mum if he stayed and she said it was fine. We watched Scooby Doo the movie. Me and Rory cuddled up cosily on the sofa, Ed and Pam sat on the floor and Adam sat in one of the chairs. Ed leant right into Pam's ear and whispered.

"Will you go out with me. I know you said no before but I was hoping you'd changed your mind." He was really quiet, I managed to hear but only just.

"I’d love too. Your all I could ever dream for." She replied with a smile.

Ed moved closer to her, put his arm round her waist and returned the smile.

"They're finally together as they should be." I said to Rory, and he nodded smiling.

"They make a good couple I have to agree." He replied.

"Not as good as us though." I said with a laugh.

"Very true!" He said laughing too "Very true."

Adam was sat looking lonely but then Harry came in, sat on his knee, Ad stroked him and seemed to cheer up. Poor Adam missed Lou but now she had Ben and didn’t need or even want Adam anymore. He really missed her and regretted breaking up with her.

That night I promised him that if she ever broke up with Ben he'd be the first to know about it.

I loved that night, just us together. Not long after Lou and Ben broke up and she got back together with Adam. Me and Rory and Ed and Pam are still happy together. Rory gave me an eternity ring saying we’d be together for eternity. Pam stays at mine or comes brat-sitting with me, most Friday and Saturday nights so she can see Ed as much as possible. Which I'm fine with.

I hope my dream will come true as soon as possible.

(Fictional story. Unfortunately.)

Charlie Dean 14 years.