The High Life
Chapter 1- It was not stealing, it was permanently borrowing
Charlie was always misunderstood. She was the one in the corner of the classroom writing lines and pretending to think about what she'd done. That's when she actually went to school.
She was pretty, tall with dark brown hair and hazel eyes. To her dismay she got a lot of attention. She was always finding herself to be the center of attention. Her life was never easy after her mom died. Her dad was either at the bar, drinking his problems away or beating them out, using her as the punching bag. Now she found herself facing magistrate at the Boston South Court.
"Charlie Christensen, it seems you've been coming up before me for the last 6 years", the judge gave out a smile that could make a serial killer scared. "Can I help it if you don't get a promotion", Charlie said being her usual facetious self. "Miss Christensen is this some kind of a joke to you. I can assure you this is very, very serious. 1999, June 30, petty theft, November 12th, assault on a girl who was trying to squeeze past through a long queue, 2000, May 15th, caught with possession of illegal drugs, then again in 2001 on January the 2nd, 2002, picked up twice on the 13th of May and then again in December for assault, 2003, 25th August petty theft and now May 12th, caught trying to rob a 7/11. Seems I've let you off too easily, from an early age you were abandoned right, uh...age 11. (Charlie flinches) Another judge might care. I'm giving you a choice here and believe me I've never done this before. You can either go to Juvie or an at-risk school for teens in Canada", the judge surprised Charlie with that one. Charlie gave out a laugh. "Well, I'm waiting for an answer" "Who's gonna pay for this at-risk school, I thought they cost lots of money", she said sounding uninterested. "Oh believe me they do. But here we have an organization for struggling kids". "Like a charity", Charlie hated being seen as if she needed help, "Great". She said sarcastically. "Which is it Miss Christensen", the judge was losing her temper. Charlie sighs. "Guess I'm going to Canada"
To Charlie Mt Horizon looked more like some Summer Camp than a place for delinquents to go when no one else wants them. As she arrived at the gate, she saw a man waiting. The policeman got out of the car and opened the door for her. "Alright...uh names Charlie Christensen, street kid since 11, now 17, she's been involved in many crimes, uh... drugs, assault, her last offence was theft", the policeman sounded formal as he spoke to the man Charlie figured was the owner. "Thankyou". "Now if it's ok I have to get back. Big case, so I'll see ya", the policeman got in the car. "Bye", said the man.
As the policeman drove off Charlie took her chance to look around more. She saw the wooden dorms that looked more like those country bed and breakfast cottages with the floral wallpaper. "Charlie, Hi I'm Peter, I'll be your supervisor", the man said. "Now uh I've gotten someone to be your first week buddy. She'll teach you the ropes around here. Other than that, I need you to come to the infirmary, just to search, tell you all the rules, that kinda thing. Any questions?" "Are we allowed to hate you", Charlie said blandly. "Yes, for the first few weeks you are allowed to hate me, but I can guarantee that by the end of those few weeks, you'll grow to love me", Peter mused. "Or I could just kill myself", she said. A look of concern comes across Peters face. Charlie reminds him of a girl that graduated last year. And it really worries him. "Hello Shelby Merrick", he thinks to himself.
After a long day at the infirmary Charlie finally got to meet her "inmates". "So, you're Russian huh?" Kat, her new buddy asked as they walked across the field to the mess hall. Kat was an African American with long black hair. "Why would you think that?" "You have a look. I don't know, I can just tell", Kat explained. "I'm Irish, my dad was Turkish", Charlie said unenthusiastically. Charlie couldn't understand why Kat was in here. She was way too chirpy to have gotten herself into a situation like this. The girls walked into a big room with a sign on the door saying Mess Hall. As she walked in four boys stared at her. "Hey Kat, who's the newbie", a guy with jet black hair and darkish skin asked. "Oh guys, this is Charlie, she just got sent here, Charlie this is Binna, Ezra and Patrick", Kat introduced her. After exchanging greetings the two girls veered off again.
Later on in the night when Charlie had been shown around, she was exhausted. She couldn't remember the last time she's walked so much. She thought back to when she was on the streets and the most she did all day was sit around looking for coins. But that was before all the other stuff happened. After being shown her dorm she crashed on to her bed.
Kat had never known anyone with as much attitude as Charlie had. She was looking forward to meeting the new girl and when she came she was upset because Charlie didn't even want to do anything. She kept telling herself that this place was for people with issues and not all of them are gonna be easy to get along with. Finally, the girls walked in after a long hard day chopping wood. "So, how is she", Mac, a girl with light brown hair and freckles asked. "Uh, she seems ok, she wasn't very talkative but I guess that's normal," Kat told her. "She better be cool, I couldn't stand another Cristina", Shane, a tough gothic looking girl with died black hair said. "So is this what you guys do all day, sit around gossiping about people when you think there sleeping", Charlie sat up on her bed. "We weren't gossiping, we were just talking", Kat said. "Forget about it, I don't even care". The girls watch as she walks out of the dorm. "Nice", Mac mouthed sarcastically. A minute later a blonde girl that bares a striking resemblance to Barbie walks in and the girls go quiet. "Ok was that the new girl I just saw because she is not gonna get anywhere with an attitude like that", Cristina said as she walked in and plumped down on her bed. "Oh Cristina calm down, you'll burst another cell in that so called brain of yours", Shane teased. "You're just jealous". "Of what?" Shane asked wondering what she could possibly be jealous about. "Oh come on everything about me makes you envious", Cristina said actually believing what she was saying. "Yeah, I'm just desperate to become your clone", Shane remarked.
"Oh, and Shane, wearing black, its so 80's. So don't", Cristina said as she walked out. "Yes my queen", Shane bowed mocking her. "Ok, how is it humanly possible for Damien and Cristina do be a couple", Mac asked. "I have no idea. Anyway I gotta go help Pat with his writing. See ya later guys", Kat got up and walked out.