Lieutenant Charlie Bartowski

Chapter 1 – Stanford

Freshman Year - 1999

"Jeez, why are these books so freaking heavy?" I muttered to myself.

I was desperately trying to make it across campus with out dropping any of my books.

Unfortunately, I didn't see the stone steps descending to the quad. What idiot puts stairs there?

And so that's how I dropped my books and I landed on unforgiving cement. That hurt like a bitch!

"Ow," I moaned from where I lay flat on my back.

"Hey," I heard someone say.

I opened one eye to see a guy kneeling at my side. He had a nice smile, great hair, and awesome build…the dude is friggin sexy.

"Are you alright?"

I sat up and rubbed my aching head. "I think I may just live," I said in a dramatic voice, eliciting a chuckle from him.

I was about to grab my books when he scooped them up for me, "Let me get those."

"Well, look at that, chivalry isn't dead after all." I gasped.

He smirked as he looked at my books, "Drama, huh?"

"Yeah, but that's my second love. Psychology, Sociology, Criminology and technology, I'm all over it." I said brightly.

"Right there with you … um…" Bryce stumbled over his words as we made it across campus.

"It's Charlie. What's your name or am I gonna have to refer to you as 'that hot guy' when I tell my friends about the guy who carried my books for me.

He laughed, "Bryce Larkin."

"So, is it just Charlie? No last name? Isn't Charlie short for something?"

"I could tell you." I hesitated and then whispered. "But then I would have to kill you."

"Oh really? So what am I gonna refer to you as?" He was checking me out, without shame as he carried those books. How come when he lugged those friggin' things it looks effortless?

"Really and what's a girl without a little mystery?"

"Oh, I got it! Until you tell me what your whole name is I'm gonna call you green eyes!"

"I guess I'm just gonna have to deal with that, huh?"

"Unless you wanna tell me your name."

"Nah, I'm good. Well this is my stop," I said as we were in front of my dorms. "Thank you so much Bryce." I kissed him on the cheek and grabbed my books.

I turned around and walked to the door.

"Hey Green Eyes," Bryce said. I turned to look at him with my hand on the doorknob. "Maybe, we'll see each other in class."

I bit my lip, letting him squirm for a minute. "Perhaps," I teased.

"Save you a seat," He smiled and I walked into my dorm. Jill and Cherie were both sitting in our makeshift living room.

"A little help, girls, I know you're both awfully busy doing nothing, but could you give a girl a hand." I said and Jill and Cherie lightened the load.

"No problem, Char, so who was the hottie chatting you up," Cherie asked. She thrived on gossip, if you want everyone to know everything you say within about a day's time, tell Cherie.

"Cher, he was not chatting me up."

"Yeah, he was," Jill elbowed lightly in the ribs as we dumped my books on my bed.

"Think what ever you want to think, but he was not chatting me up, he was just being nice." I shrugged.

"Oh, my naïve, little Char." Cherie cooed.

"Shove it Cherie."

"You know she's right, Char." Jill parroted…with that annoying look in her eye.

—

6 month later

"Chuck, I have work to do. You know memorizing Shakespeare and performing it is a completely different thing. I have to prepare, ya know? I have to speak those lines like I was born to utter them and become the character that I must play. I have to live, breathe, think, and eat like I am Hermia. So, no I cannot hang out, even if you are dating my best friend, Jill." I said as I paced the room.

"Did Hermia pace, a lot, because you've been pacing the room since I got here?" Chuck said from where he was sprawled on my bed.

"Shut it, Charles."

"Oh, c'mon Charlie! I'm not gonna let you sit here and obsess over your drama class. I mean really? The easiest class out of your schedule is what you are gonna worry about most people would worry about psychology or sociology, but no. You worry about a play that you memorized when we were eleven?"

"But Chuck, it has to be perfect, what if—"

"No one will throw rotten tomatoes at you if you aren't perfect and I have no doubt you will be. And if you continue to freak out, you are gonna psych yourself out so much that you will make yourself mess up! So relax." He was tossing my rubix cube up in the air.

"How do you know no one will throw rotten toma—" I snatched it away before he could catch it and placed it on the desk.

"Charlie, come on!" Chuck groaned.

"Hey, Chuck, you in there," A deep voice said and pushed my door open. There stood Bryce Larkin. "Oh, hey Green Eyes, I had no idea this was your dorm. I totally forgot…slipped my mind." The wicked smile on his face said otherwise.

I smirked. "You did, huh?" I placed my hands on my hips.

He walked closer, "I had no idea this was the same building." He shrugged.

I edged closer, "Well you have been here once or twice."

He got closer to me, "O, take the sense, sweet, of my innocence! Love takes the meaning in love's conference. I mean, that my heart unto yours is knit so that but one heart we can make of it; two bosoms interchained with an oath; so then two bosoms and a single troth. Then by your side no bed-room me deny; For lying so, Hermia, I do not lie."

I walked even closer and placed a hand on his chest, "Lysander riddles very prettily: Now much beshrew my manners and my pride, If Hermia meant to say Lysander lied. But, gentle friend, for love and courtesy lie further off; in human modesty, such separation as may well be said becomes a virtuous bachelor and a maid, so far be distant; and, good night, sweet friend: thy love ne'er alter till thy sweet life end!"

"You are so ready," Bryce whispered and cupped my cheek in his hand. "C'mon Green Eyes, you know you are. Stop teasing me. You're killing me here."

"Bryce after the play you'll have my full attention. Mind unoccupied and hands free from their binds."

"Do I even want to know what you are insinuating?" Chuck interrupted.

"Not really man," Bryce said and then smiled down on me. His thumb dragged over my lips and then he kissed me.

"Ugh, man, c'mon!" Chuck groaned shielding his eyes, "that's my sister."

"You're perfect. You'll knock 'em dead this Saturday." He whispered against my lips and then kissed them. "Meet me for dinner tonight?"

"Same place?"

He nodded. "Same time."

"See you then, Green Eyes." He smiled and wiggled his eyebrows.

"Ya wanna play some video games now, because later I'm gonna be pretty busy." He asked my lazy brother.

"Video games, yeah." He looked like he was suppressing a gruesome image Bryce put into his head. Bryce's not so subtle innuendo should give Chuck nightmares because I know Chuck doesn't wanna think about his best friend and his sister doing each other.

"Alright. Out, both of you," I pulled Chuck off my bed and shoved him toward the door.

I took Bryce's hand in mine. "Thank you for getting rid of my panic attack about Saturday. I always get nervy during plays."

"I've noticed," he shrugged and smiled. "But it's been a pleasure, milady." He pulled me in and kissed me again.

"Seriously, guys." Chuck whined. "This is the last thing I wanna see."

Bryce chuckled. He tucked some hair behind my ear and winked. "C'mon Chuckster let's go." He pushed him through the door and then closed it behind him.

—

Senior Year - Final Semester – 2003

Books were scattered all over the floor of my room. Highlighters, pencils and pens were wedged between pages as makeshift bookmarks. Cold coffee was sitting on my desk.

But everything was already forgotten.

Because Bryce had his hand up my skirt again and anyone who says that wouldn't distract them is such a liar.

Especially when most of our clothes are scattered among our books and just as useless. I lay back onto my bed and pulled him into me kissing his neck, his shoulder, his chest.

He parted my legs and I kicked off my panties and he unclasped my bra and cupped my breasts in his large hands and kissed me. "I love you, Charlotte Bartowski." He whispered against my lips.

And he eased into me, slow and steady at first and then hard and fast just the way I like it. I met him with each thrust and curled my fingers in his dark hair and stole his breath with each open mouthed kiss.

I love studying. Well… I love having sex instead of studying.

—

April of 2003

I stared at the stick with the little pink plus sign…

It was the eighth one. And so far all of them had that little pink plus sign. I wanted to cry, scream, throw a tantrum like a child, but I'm not a child…but I'm not ready for this.

I'm twenty-two and I'm going to have a baby.

So I sat down on the floor stared at the digital clock and wrapped my arms around my legs. Just an hour and I have meeting with one of my professors.

It was imperative… It was imperative that I arrive promptly in his office at 4 PM.

And as the clock's red number's glared 3:40 I got up shaking as I walked from my dorm, through the quad and to my professor's office where I was met by Chuck.

"Charlie are you okay? You look terrible." He said, rubbing my arm comfortingly. "You're so pale."

"Thanks Chuck." I said as we both entered the professor's office.

And the news was so freaking great…we're expelled for cheating.

"What?" Chuck said in disbelief.

"Cherry on top of the fucking cake!" I screamed.

"Ms. Bartowski!" The professor said shocked that I actually said that. I was usually polite, screw polite my life is going to hell and I didn't even do anything. The baby was one thing, but now I'm getting kicked out of Stanford? No fucking way.

"What proof professor? What proof do you have that my brother and I cheated on your exam? I would love to know." I said crossing my arms over my chest.

"Ms. Bartowski I have been informed that both you and Mr. Bartowski were in possession of the answers to my test. I do not know how you got a hold on them, but I'm afraid that expulsion is what cheaters face."

"Charlie, don't—" Chuck saw another out burst coming on but like hell was I gonna just leave quietly.

"You wanna know what I think of you professor is that you're a hack and you deserve to rot in hell for what you did to us! Fuck you! And Fuck Stanford!"

I stormed out of the office and leaned against the wall as Chuck walked out. "C'mon Char, let's get packed. We'll go to my dorms first and then head over to yours."

"Sure," I murmured.

The day just kept getting worse. I lost my chance at a college degree; I lost my best friend and Bryce.

I don't need any of it. Any of them. It's just me and my baby.