I’m caught in a trap.

Well, writer’s block.

They say when you have writer’s block, just start writing about it and things will naturally come to you. That has never worked for me. So I’m staring at my wall with a NASA poster trying to come up with something, anything.

Since it’s Monday night I decided to go the One Trick Pony instead of being miserable at home.

It’s another wonderful evening once I arrive. The theme tonight is Christmas in July. There’s at least 20 Santa’s, and 15 Sexy Santa’s Helpers in the bar. There’s even eggnog, I weird looking Christmas tree in the corner, and Christmas lights strung up all over the walls.

This time I am not underdressed. I'm wearing my horrible Christmas Sweater with a picture of Shrek on it that says SHREK THE HALLS.

I expect to see Annabelle this evening, excited for another performance, and maybe we can do something else stupid tonight. Well, she seems to have some kind of amazing radar because she finds me after I’ve only been sitting for five minutes at the bar.

She has a Sexy Santa’s Helper outfit on and candy cane earrings. Annabelle takes me by the arm, leans in and shouts over the music to follow her outside. So, I take her hand expecting to be led to the patio but instead she takes the side exit to the alleyway between the bar and the closed pizza parlor.

I can smell her cinnamon perfume when she gets close to me and puts her hand on my arm, gripping it tight. She seems a little angry and I don’t understand what’s happening.

“What do you think of me,” Annabelle asks. “Did you like the other night?”

“Uh yeah, yes,” reply. “I would love to spend another night with you and get to know you more.”

Her words don’t match her body language and I get confused.

“I bet you’d like that wouldn’t you? I bet you’d like to tell me all sorts of things,” she says through grit teeth.

I wonder if this is like Charlie. Where I think he’s angry, but he’s interested in me. I assume that’s what’s happening again and take a leap of faith.

I walked a few steps forward, and now she’s backed up on the wall. She no longer looks angry but has another look on her face that I can’t understand.

I’m leaning close to her, and I try to be smooth but I’m still unsure. I tell myself I came here to be a new man. So that’s what I’m gonna be.

“I would love to be alone and tell you all sorts of things,” I whisper in her ear. “I want to do all sorts of things to you.”

I kiss the side of her neck and enjoy more of the way she smells. She starts to shiver and moan the more I kiss her up and down. I held her hand again and moved my face closer to hers.

I hesitate for a split second and go for it.

We kiss quietly, and giggle to each other. We’re a little awkward in the beginning, the sort of kissing you do when you kiss someone new for the first time. When you’re still learning what they like.

I run my fingers through her soft her as I start to kiss her deeper and longer, and she starts to shake. I stop her and realize she’s standing on the tip of her toes just to kiss me.

So, I bend over a bit, and we start again, faster, harder. I tell myself to slow down but I feel like I’ve waited so long just to know her in a different way. My hands move to her butt, and she doesn’t stop me as I start exploring her body.

Someone opens the door behind us, and we stop.

I turn to look and it’s Charlie.

He’s dressed as Santa and has a guitar with a small mistletoe taped on the front. He looks to the ground and his eyes never leave it as he speaks.

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

“I was looking for you and Evangeline said y’all went out this way,” Charlie said. “Guess I know why.”

Annabelle adjusts her very short dress, fixes her hair and sighs. She’s braver than me, telling the truth instead of making excuses.

“I’m sorry Charlie,” Annabelle says. “I can’t wait on you to make a move. You should have told me you liked me a long time ago.”

I now know the face of true anger and hatred on Charlie. I thought it was before, but the look he gave Annabelle seemed like it could make her burst into flames on the spot.

I can’t tell her that Charlie likes me. I wouldn’t tell anyone unless he was comfortable with that. So, I was a coward and said nothing.

“You’re despicable,” Charlie tells her. “You know I don’t stand a chance.”

And for some reason my chest hurts, my heart is folding over and over like origami when I see the way she hurt him. His eyes go red, but he doesn’t cry, and he’s trying to be strong but his voice cracks.

“You always talk about leaving here, becoming famous, doing all sorts of things when you leave here Annabelle Lee. Well, leave and never come back,” he says.

“I will leave. I will become a star.”

“There are hundreds upon thousands of singers and ain’t all of them are famous.”

“Don’t you-“

“I’m a better singer than you. I’ll ruin you. I swear it.”

Charlie slams the door shut and the high I was riding on now crashes down. I never told Charlie I was interested in him but I didn’t want to hurt him.

“I think I’m gonna go home Nick. I don’t wanna argue no more tonight.”

“That’s ok. That’s fine. Just promise to call me later?”

“I promise.”

And she does.