I'll choose you. And I'll choose you over and over and over. Without pause. Without a doubt, in a heartbeat. I'll choose you. I'll keep choosing you.

Chapter Twenty-Five: Dickless

A big shout out to Snookums288 for the amazing cover below!!

Char practically ran dived into her room the moment she stepped into the house. How the hell could one person be so annoying?
He'd insisted, even after all the arguing and shouting, that he was right. How hard was it to just accept your mistakes and apologize for being an asshole?

"Arrgh!!" she screamed, folding herself deeper into her pillow. Everything was going smoothly. They'd kissed. They'd laughed. They'd been happy. Why did he have to go and ruin it by being so stupid? Speaking of kisses.... Char blushed as thought of their kissed and how they'd almost ripped each other's clothes off at the park. She laughed softly as the image of the old couple with disapproving glares ran through her mind. Everything had been fine.

Then he had to go and ruin it by opening his mouth. Her anger returned. All she wanted was to make a friend. And he had to go and be a huge dick in front of Ian.

Guys are so immature.

She got off her bed. If she kept thinking about Daniel and his stupid but handsome face, she was going to go mad. She walked into the bathroom. She quickly took a bath, changed her clothes and ran downstairs for some food. A quick trip to the kitchen, a bottle of orange juice and a plate of pancakes and eggs later, Char sat on her bed with her laptop on her thighs watching a movie on Netflix. She needed something to do to take her mind off Dickface.

She was halfway through the movie when her phone buzzed. It was probably her mother asking if she could manage on her own. She knew they weren't going to be back until night time. Leslie had been doing whatever she could to get Ryan out of the house. He needed every bit of exercise. He was just like Char. Char loved exercise. Just not as much as she loved wine... Or her friends... Or sitting on her ass... Or a combination of any of the above... Never mind.

She made sure to finish her movie without any interruption. She didn't want anything to ruin the rest of her day. She reached for her phone next to her on the bed, unlocked it and clicked open the new message without looking at the name above.

<I'm sorry we fought. I hate when you're wrong.> -D

Char re-read the message and frowned. What the hell? She looked at the name above for the first and scowled when she saw Daniel on the screen. She immediately straightened, ready to hit back. No way was he winning this.

<I see those penis enlargement pills are working. You're an even bigger dick than you were this morning.> -C

<Here I am trying to apologize and you keep insulting me.> -D

Char scoffed. Was he trying to make her feel bad? Because it wasn't going to work.

<You are so lucky I'm terrified of prison.> -C

<Why are you so unreasonable? You're giving me this attitude. I'm beginning to think you have an attitude problem.> -D

So now I have an attitude problem? This guy is really asking for a serious beating.

<I don't have an attitude problem. You have a problem with my attitude and that's not my problem.> -C

<I'm only looking out for you. Guys like Dickless are not good for you.> -D

Dickless? He'd already given him the name Dickless? Char shook her head. Daniel was a very big idiot.

<So what kind of guys are good for me?> -C

<Definitely not guys like Dickless. You need a very good guy to make you happy.> -D

<Well, does he live close to me? Cause I'd really like to meet him.> -C

There was a slight pause. He took longer to reply this time. When he finally replied, she wanted to rip her hair out.

<Well, am I supposed to pick him off the ground? They don't grow on trees you know.> -D

<You're such an idiot, Dickface. I don't want to hear anymore of your stupid talk.> -C

<Dickface? You fucking named me Dickface? Are you out of your mind?> -D

Char laughed.

<It's such a funny thing, how nothing's funny when it's you. You gave him the name Dickless and I can't call you Dickface?> -C

<I'm not Ian and you fucking know that.> -D

<I don't see no difference.> -C

<You know what? I'm actually happy I wrecked that shitty little piece of paper. At least I won't have to see his ugly bitch ass face again.> -D

Chat could practically see the fumes dancing out the words. She could tell he was angry.

<My patience is wearing thin. And by wearing thin I mean 'you're one smart comment away being bitch slapped so hard Google won't find you.'> -C

<Fighting online is so stupid. I mean, what are you going to do? Busta caps lock on me?> -D

<You should be ashamed of yourself.> -C

<I should be ashamed. Let's be clear. I'm not. But I should be.> -D

Lord, could you do me a favour and close your eyes for one second while I deal with a slight problem....

<I feel a spree coming on. It's either a killing spree or shopping spree. The choice is entirely up to you.> -C

<I should be given an award for not saying what I was thinking. Did you see his hands? I think he comes from the lineage of apes. So hairy.> -D

Lord Jesus, give me patience. Because if you give me strength, I'm gonna need bail money to go with it.

<You're so confused, you know that? First you tell me to go out there and get a man, when I finally find one, you tell me he's not right. Make up your mind already. This is getting old.> -C

<Yes. Maybe I am confused. But It doesn't matter because even if I'm drunk, I'll still know what and who is good for you. You mean that much to me. Are you mad?> -D

Char winced. He was acting like a jealous boyfriend. And he still hadn't said anything about the kiss. She wondered if he had forgotten. That would suck major ass.

<Don't try to make this about me. You know what you did was selfish. Yet you still agrue with me.> -C

<I'm not arguing. I'm simply explaining why I'm right.> -D

<Arhg! Fuck you. You are impossible.> -C

<No, really... Its adorable when you blame anyone but yourself.> -D

He was winning. Char knew he was winning. And she didn't want that.

<You know what? I'm going back there first thing tomorrow morning and when I see him, I'm going to ask for his number again.> -C

<You wouldn't dare.> -D

<Watch me.> -C

He didn't reply. Char was already regretting telling him that. She didn't like Ian romantically. He was cute, yes but he wasn't Daniel. She only wanted to be friends with him. He sold icecream, for God's sake. Who wouldn't want to be friends with the icecream man? That was like the best thing ever. She didn't have to wait long before she received a call. Daniel.

"Please tell me you're joking." he said the minute she answered.

"Do you hear me laughing?" she asked, internally relieved that he'd called. She was trying hard to keep the smile out of her voice.

"Char, you know I don't like him."

"You don't have to like everyone I date." she snorted.

"Of course I do! I'm your best friend." he shouted.

Why did that word sound somewhat wrong?

"Even if you call him, he's not going to come." he said softly.

"And why won't he come?" she asked.

"Trust me, he can't cum." he said, and Char could hear the smirk in his voice. She was tempted to laugh but she didn't want to lose the argument.

"Oh, I'm sorry! I didn't realise you're an expert on my life and how I should live it. Please continue while I take notes." she replied sarcastically, rolling her eyes even though he couldn't see her.

"You're not going there tomorrow and asking for his number." he stated. "I forbid you."

"You forbid me? You fucking forbid me? Well dad, maybe the reason your dick is so small is because you took one-third of it and shoved it into your personality." she nearly screamed. Daniel was driving her crazy. Who was he to tell her what to do?

He laughed. "It's a joke, not a dick. Don't take it so hard." he said and Char sighed. "But seriously though, you're not going back there tomorrow."

"You make me wish I had more middle fingers."

He laughed again. Char thought he was finding this a little bit too funny. "I take it that's a bad thing?"

She smiled. Some people just need a hug. Around the neck.... Until they tap out. Just when you start to become a good person again, someone comes along to push your buttons and BAM! once again it's back to bitch mode. "You have no idea. I'm getting that number and you can't stop me "

"Thanks for reminding me why I don't feel guilty I can't stand you."

"You know, sometimes I wonder how you put up with me. Then I remember I put up with you too so I guess we're even."

"You are about to exceed the limits of my medication." he said.

"Hmmm... I'm going to file your opinion right here between 'fuck this' and 'fuck that'." she snorted.

"You are impossible. Congratulations on your ability to create drama out of absolutely nothing!"

"Aww, what the fuck happened? Did you wish for a big dick and become one yourself?" she held her phone closer to her ear so she could rest it between her chin and shoulders, picked up her plate and glass cup and headed downstairs to the kitchen.

"You are offended with the things I say. Imagine the stuff I hold back." he said.

"You do realise one day I'll snap, right?" She dropped her plate and cup in the sink, walking back up to her room.

"I just wanted to apologize. You are the one that blew this out of proportion. Are you mad?" he asked hopefully.

"Yes."

"See, you're mad!"

"Don't keep asking me if I'm mad until I get mad then say 'See, you're mad!' because I will stab you." she threatened.

"Whoa, no need to get violent."

She waited for thirty seconds before replying. "Sorry about the pause. I was just trying to hang myself with a wire."

"I know you're upset. Why don't you post something passive aggressive in a Facebook status and not explain the situation to anyone? That usually helps." he was enjoying this, Char could tell.

"If you're going to be a smart-ass, then you have to be smart. Otherwise you're just an ass. And please, tell me if this sounds like a phone hanging up." she pressed the end call button and sighed.

Reason why I haven't committed murder today.
1). I don't want to go to jail.
2).

...yeah, that's all I got.

**********

Daniel flung his phone down angrily on the bed next to him. There was no freaking way in hell he was letting Char go back there tomorrow. Dickless could go jump off a bridge. If only Char wasn't this stubborn.

He stood and crossed to the window and pulled the curtains wide. Outside, the straggly pivet hegde still struggled to create a privacy barrier between his house and the Winstons' next door. He started at Char's old bedroom window, facing his across the way.

He'd done something really stupid today. And he'd enjoyed it. If Char hadn't stepped back when she did... That kiss had been a mistake. It wasn't supposed to happen. They'd both been caught up in the moment.

He unlocked the window and gave the frame a thump with his closed fistbbefore attempting to lift to push it up. It stuck for a moment, then gave in a rush. Cool air flowed into the room as he pushed the window all the way open.

He breathed in the smell of wet earth and green things. Maybe this...thing he had for Char was a reaction to being back home again after all these years. An X-rated form of nostalgia.

Or maybe he'd never quite gotten over the crush he'd had all those years ago, and it was only now that he was divorced that he was allowing himself to acknowledge the attraction again.

Or maybe he simply needed to grab a good night's sleep and wake up with some much needed perspective. Because at the end of the day, if it came down to a battle between short-term lust and long-term friendship, friendship was the winner every time. Right?

Right?

He took a few minutes to examine his injuries in the bathroom mirror before he showered. The bruise on his face was wasn't as bad as it was before. It was almost completely gone and while his ribs were sore, they weren't overly painful. He'd figured they were not cracked.

He showered quickly, then walked naked back into his old bedroom. His bed sagged in the middle as it took his weight. He rolled unto his side and closed his eyes.

A few hours of shut-eye and the world would right itself.

A breath theory, but as he drifted toward sleep, images from the day slipped into his unguarded mind. He saw Char's blue eyes staring into his, full of laugher and happiness. He smelled her warm, soft scent. He remembered the pink of her nipples. Felt again the press of her hands on his body.

The problem with lusting after someone you'd known for years was that it was hard to separate the lust from the liking and the love that has always been there.

He tried hard to remember why that was such a bad thing as sleep finally took him.

----

Is it just me or do Chaniel bicker a lot?