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It’s that dreaded time of year again – the period leading up to Christmas where everyone is scrambling for presents. End of year deadlines weave in between store closings as shopping lists become never ending scrolls of utter shit.
Not for Charlie, however. She took it as a blessing.
Except this year, Sam tried roping her in once more. He always does. This year, he’s outdone himself – organising an office Christmas party karaoke night. ‘Anyone’s who’s anyone will be there,’ he had said to Charlie. ‘Please come,’ he had begged.
So Charlie came.
Sam had dragged the team to Chili’s. The plan landed on Chili’s, then Karaoke, however the list Sam made of what they could do was comprehensive and three leagues short of an excel spreadsheet. Charlie always admired the seemingly infinite amounts of knowledge he seemed to have around event planning, a skill she was never that good at. He always knew which bars to go to, what the vibe was, how to organise a fun itinerary, and how to get people to do things just outside their comfort zones, but never enough to not have fun. Charlie, on the other hand, was much more of a no-nonsense planner (if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it). The same bar, the Golden Chalice, was her favourite thing to do.
But it wasn’t Charlie’s choice, it was Sam’s tonight, and that meant mozzarella sticks and karaoke.
Sam had rallied together Charlie, Adaline, Darryl, Mark, and a few other colleagues from the office. They had a booking at nine for karaoke, a decision Charlie gritted her teeth through accepting. And then Sam suggested margheritas. Just how fucked up are we getting? Charlie was glad for it, really. What need is there to hang out with more than the important people in your life?
Hollow wooden destitute brown painted the walls as everything was lined with built in LEDs. Bland blue seating occupied the restaurant as the lot of detectives sat within a booth. Charlie made sure to be next to Adaline and opposite Sam, in the corner.
The first array of dishes came out – blooming onions, mozzarella sticks, and an array of sauces. “Are you high?” Charlie had asked jokingly.
“Nothing wrong with a heap of oil straight to the gut at the end of the year, I say!” Sam laughed.
“Oil and alcohol, nothing like it,” Charlie said, raising her glass.
“Nothing like it,” Sam clinked glasses with her.
Charlie dug into the Franks Red Hot mozzarella sticks. She was hungrier than she thought. She realised she hadn’t eaten too much before coming – not since a small, late breakfast in front of ER. And these mozzarella sticks were… addictive. She tuned out everyone else’s conversation as she ate.
“Charlie?” Sam’s voice cut through the hubbub of Chili’s. She looked up at him from her plate, mouth full of mozzarella. She raised an eyebrow, unappreciative of being disturbed. “Save some for the rest of us,” he said, half joking, half concerned. “There’s more food coming,”
Charlie looked at him disdainfully. “Exactly,” she said, biting into another stick.
“Hey,” Adaline whispered into Charlie’s ear. “If you ever need a break, grab my pinkie and I’ll get us out of here,” she said. “I’ve technically got a sick grandpa, so,”
“Is he okay?” Charlie asked.
“It’s a cold he’s already recovered from,” Adaline and Charlie chuckled.
“What are you two whispering about?” Sam said with a coy smile.
Adaline scowled at him. “Name a woman, Sam,” she sipped her drink.
“What?” he gave a nervous laugh.
“You heard her. Name a woman,” Charlie said, finishing her margherita and wiping her mouth. A small smile crossed her lips as Sam stumbled, already far too inebriated for this conversation.
“Michelle Obama,” he eventually stammered.
Charlie burst out laughing. It was a rare sight for the rest of them. “You’re a joke,” she said.
“You’re laughing,” he said, smiling. His intention in the phrase was lost on Charlie.
Charlie picked up the last mozzarella stick and bit into it like a starved wolf. Sam didn’t notice the rest of the food arrive as she refused to lick her lips. She noticed him watching her and spoke sarcastically through her chewing, “Something on my face?”
“There’s a lot going on there,” he said endearingly, gesturing to her mouth with a napkin.
“You invited me,” she said, taking it off him and wiping her mouth. She threw the napkin at him after cleaning her face.
“My apologies Charlie Wheeler, I thought I invited a human being, not a rabid animal,” he said. Adaline whispered something to Darryl beside her that Charlie could not catch.
“A classic Samuel Ferris mistake,” Charlie picked up a slider and took the largest bite she could. She almost got three quarters of the burger in her mouth alone. Stunned, Sam picked one up himself and bit into it, retaining eye contact with her.
He nodded, swallowing his mouthful. “Nothing like it,”
“Nothing like it,” Charlie repeated. “I need the bathroom. Move,”
Charlie splashed water over her face. She could feel the alcohol loosely hold on to her, making her sluggish as it began to act on her brain. She was still relatively unaffected, a heavy weight thanks to dad. She spat in the sink and dragged her hands down her face. The bathroom door opened, and Adaline walked through.
“You okay?” Adaline said.
“Fine,” Charlie said. “Oh god, we still have karaoke after this,”
“Do you need out?” Adaline held up her pinkie finger.
“No, no I’m fine.”
“You eaten anything before those mozzarella sticks?”
“Small breakfast,”
“I see,” Adaline joined Charlie’s side, putting a hand barely on her shoulder. “You and Sam are…” Adaline trailed off, trying to see if the words were in Charlie’s expression. Charlie looked at her disconcertingly. “Very playful,” she chose her words carefully.
“It’s been a long year,” Charlie smirked, getting out her lipstick from her pocket.
“He hasn’t really been seeing anyone recently, has he?” Adaline said.
Charlie reeled back in surprise at the question. “Oh, uh, I guess not,”
“It was 2017, right? His last relationship?”
“Yeah, I guess,” Charlie applied her lipstick in the mirror. “He’s been more invested in work the past few years,” Charlie had a bit more bitterness in her voice than she intended.
“I think he’s found someone,” Adaline said.
“Found someone? What do you mean?” Charlie’s eyes furrowed.
Adaline snorted, biting her lip. “I don’t know. I’m drunk,”
“Did he tell you something?”
“No, I’ve just been sensing something different about him for quite a while now,”
“Different in what way?” Charlie said.
Adaline gave her a quizzical look and examined her face deliberately.
“What?” Charlie said.
“Someone’s curious,” Adaline raised an eyebrow.
“He’s my partner and friend, so yes, I’m curious as I’d be surprised if he hid something like that from me for whatever,” Charlie’s slurred words trailed off as she decided she had too little energy to finish the sentence. “Fine. Keep your secrets,”
“Oh, it’s no secret,” Adaline said, giving a maniacal laugh and turning away.
“Are you fucking with me?” Charlie gave a half-hearted chuckle. Adaline didn’t respond, instead choosing to leave the bathroom, continuing to laugh uncontrollably. “Bitch,” Charlie said, following her.
They walked back over to the booth, where Sam gladly waved them back over.
“The Chili’s parking lot sure is chilli,” Sam stumbled out the front with the receipt and a smile on his face.
“Thanks Sam,” Adaline said shortly.
“Where’s the karaoke place?” Charlie said.
“Down the road, oh so conveniently,” Sam led the way ahead, locking arms with Adaline and Charlie on the way. “My dear women,” he declared. “Do we have any songs in mind?”
“Are you gonna have a tab?” Charlie asked.
Sam cleared his throat. “Do you only like me for my money?” he pouted. She hated when he pouted. She didn’t know if she wanted to rip his face off or wrap her legs around him.
“Why else do you think I stick around?” Charlie said.
“A handsome face, perchance?” Sam said.
“I wanna sing Queen, I think,” Adaline blurted out.
“I want tequila,” Charlie said.
“Tequila?” Sam shouted. He let go of both of them, and started to loudly sing the tune of ‘Tequila’ by The Champs with the other coworkers, joining them in conversation.
“Oh, he’s wasted,” Adaline said. She offered a pinkie finger to Charlie, but Charlie didn’t take it.
“It’s… endearing,” Charlie said.
It was a small box of a room, cosy or cramped depending on your outlook. Charlie sat at the back, ordering shots through her phone mostly for herself. Next to her sat Adaline.
Sam pushed through their colleagues to sit next to Charlie, a cosmopolitan in hand. Mark started mutilating ABBA on the mic, forcing Sam’s lips to lean closer to Charlie’s ear to speak to her.
“Up we go,” he smiled, teasing. He sipped his drink.
“Fuck off,” Charlie shouted back, downing another tequila shot.
Sam grabbed a mic and joined in the song. “Young and sweet, only sev-en-teen!” he shouted into her ear. He soon got up, brushing his pants and downing his glass. He slowly turned around, reaching his arm out to Charlie, his other hand planted on the mic. “—you can dance, you can jive,” he beckoned her to dance with her, but Charlie remained. “—having the time of your life!” he pouted. He grabbed Charlie’s hand and pulled her up, giggling.
“How are you blackout after only a few margheritas?” Charlie said.
“DIGGIN’ THE DANCING QUEEN!” Sam twirled. “You’re impressed, admit it,” he grinned.
“I sure am, Sam,” Charlie gently let go of his hand and sat back down.
“When are you getting up to sing? What are you singing?” Sam’s words slurred.
Charlie sat back down. “In your dreams!” she shouted.
Sam pouted again.
Adaline sat next to Charlie as she sang ‘Don’t Stop Me Now’ by Queen. Sam sat opposite them, talking to one of their colleagues. His shirt had three buttons undone as he leant back, his legs spread and his arms drooped over them, sleeves folded up to reveal his forearms. His cheek rested against the side of the couch as he spoke, his hair a mess. Charlie didn’t know how long she’d been staring at the sweat beads dripping down his neck onto his chest until Adaline’s elbow nudged her side. “Join me!” she shouted. “I can’t embarrass myself alone,”
“I’d rather shoot myself, Adaline,” Charlie downed another shot of tequila.
“You’re having a lot of those,” Adaline said.
“I barely feel it,” Charlie stood up. Her body wobbled as she clambered towards the bathroom.
“You’re no fun,” Adaline shouted into the mic.
Charlie pointed a middle finger behind her before leaving the room.
“Oh, I’m up,” Sam said, finishing his drink. Everyone laid back on the couches, throats sore and bodies aching from alcohol. Yet, Sam prevailed with an undying spirit, his body loosely following along. It was towards the latter half of hour three of karaoke, per Sam’s extension of their time. His tie was wrapped around his head, his shirt half unbuttoned and fully untucked, and his shoes off. The purple, blue, and red lights from above him grazed his face as he took the stage. Iris by the Goo Goo Dolls came on.
“And I’d give up forever to touch you,” he started, and Charlie sunk into her seat. Adaline grinned beside her, watching Sam’s display with unrivalled glee.
Charlie, drunker than she thought she was having lost count of the tequila shots by this point, stared at him as he put on the song, mesmerised. He stared at the screen in front of him, clearly blacked out and tunnel visioned. His concentration stiffened, as a small amount of sadness dotted his face – a sadness only Charlie seemed to clock. It reminded her of the tears he shed in the rain for Cassidy Sawyer – he made the same expression with his eyes.
He then locked eyes with Charlie, and a blush rushed over his face, like he could tell she saw it. Immediately, his face softened, and he reached his arm out towards her from across the room.
Charlie smirked, and to her own surprise, slowly got up. Sam’s eyes brightened as she did so, belligerently making her way to the stage, stumbling over legs as she did. She grabbed a mic, and to Sam’s surprise, started screaming along to the lyrics.
“—when everything’s meant to be broken, I just want you to know who I am!” she and Sam sung together. Their voices were raspy and sore as they echoed across sleeping and sleepy figures swaying along. Adaline cheered from her spot, taking pictures never to be deleted.
The song ended, prompting Charlie to drop her mic and go back to her spot to get her things. “Home time,” she seemed to mutter under her breath. She stumbled back and forth through the crowd, bidding goodbye to the general room.
“You’re good to get home?” Adaline said.
“I’m an adult, yes,” Charlie said.
“I’ll walk you,” Sam said.
“I’m catching a cab,”
“I’ll walk you,” Sam repeated.
“Fine,”
“See you Monday,” Adaline said as Charlie rushed out the door, not waiting for Sam. He quickly caught up, putting a hand on her shoulder to lean on.
“I need my shoes, Charlie, slow down,” Sam said. Charlie belligerently came to a stop. Sam hopped as he got his shoes on. His hair flopped up and down and Charlie could see down his shirt to all the moles that gently caressed his chest and stomach. He violently stood up, standing closely next to her in the karaoke lobby. “Ready,” he whispered in a puff.
She turned towards the door, immediately striding forward.
“Wait up, Goo Goo!” Sam said, catching up to her as they entered the brisk, cold street.
“What did you just call me?” Charlie said.
“Goo Goo because Goo Goo Dolls,” Sam made a cheeky smile.
“You’re insufferable,”
“You’re a terrible singer,”
“Ditto,”
“Christmas?”
“What?”
“You wanna spend Christmas together this year?” Sam looked up at her with an earnest, nervous smile.
Charlie stopped in her tracks and turned to face him. “Again?”
“You don’t have to come to my Christmas family function if you don’t want to,”
Charlie started waving at cabs as they passed by. “Oh—What—What would we do, then?”
“You and me. Maybe a movie,”
Charlie looked back at him, once more, trying to figure out if he was fucking with her. His earnest smile continued, as a tiny pool of drool made its way out of the corner of his lips. Instinctively, she clasped his chin in her hands and wiped it with her thumb. “You’re drooling,” Charlie said, rescinding her hand, realising how weird a gesture she just made.
“You’re drooling,” Sam muttered.
“Sure, let’s do Christmas,” Charlie said. A cab pulled over, and she got in.
“Yippee!” Sam leaned on the car into the window. “Thanks for coming, Miss Wheeler, and get home safe,” he said.
“Goodnight, Sam,”
And with that, the cab sped off. Sam watched it disappear around the corner. He brushed himself off, wiping his face curiously. Soon enough, he headed back inside, his everlasting, radiant energy bolstered evermore.