Chapter two: Thrown away showing little to no importance…..

"Dad...Dad I'm home. Sorry I'm late I just had to drop something off at the library and..." Charlie's voice faded as her dad walked into the living room. Smiling brightly he raised an eyebrow and questioned.

"Where did you say you were again?" His eyes were sparkling. Charlie felt a lump in her throat and tried to swallow it as she placed her hoodie onto the coat hanger and walked in closer. Standing a good few feet in front of her father she began once again.

"I just dropped something off at the library. An overdue book that's all."

"Oh I see." As she looked past him she started moving towards the kitchen. Opening the fridge she pulled out the chicken she had already seasoned and reached for a frying pan in the top shelf. Placing some oil into the heating pan she looked back towards her dad and shrugged her shoulders.

"Is there something wrong?"

"No I just was wondering who exactly you went with. To the library I mean."

"Oh that right.." pausing for a moment she slowly placed once of the cutlets into the pan and distracted herself with the sizzling noises. Taking a deep breath she racked her brain before giving an answer to his question.

"I went with Becky. She wanted to see if they had the Grapes of Wrath or some other fancy book. You know her she loves to read. A real bookworm actually." Sprinkling pepper over the slowly cooking chicken she placed a fork into it before flipping the meat over in its pan. She tried not to look at him as he was walking closer to her. Hairs were beginning to stand up over her neck and she felt shivers reach her spine. Something wasn't right. Had she said something wrong? She wasn't sure.

"Becky called a good while ago. Asking for you. She said she hadn't gotten a chance to speak with you before you took off after school today. And she was wondering what you were up too. So you were saying?" She was now fully concentrating on the chicken as she felt her dads hand clasp over her own. He was now grasping the pan handle tightly and was breathing down the back of her neck. She felt cold inside afraid of moving yet terrified of staying in that very spot. Before she had a chance to think anything over the sound of a loud crash came to be and she felt an immediate burn to her face. The chicken and pan was now faced down on the floor and her hand covering where the oil had made its print on her face. She felt the skin pulling as it broke quickly. She screamed out in pain but was quick to look back to him. His hand connected with her face though when meeting his eye.

"Don't lie to me Bytch! Where were you?"

"I umm...I was.." Her voice was shaky as was her body. She felt the tears yet wasn't letting any of them fall. She hadn't cried in front of him in some time now. Decided he didn't earn the satisfaction of watching her break down. Wiping the blood from her upper cheek she hoarsely squeaked out.

"I just stopped by at the playground. Through a couple of hoops around."

"What did I tell you about playing ball with those boys Charlie."

He never mentioned anything before. She never even told him she played with the fellas. How did he know she was playing ball with them? She saw the sparkling satisfaction in his eyes and held her breath. He had been spying on her. He knew because he saw with his own eyes. Chances were Becky hadn't called yet he had gotten her to confess and he had already seen her there earlier. Biting her lip with force she tried to block out the next several blows. It was like a game. Once she was down she immediately picked herself off the floor to be sent down again. He hit her a good amount of times and watched as she spit blood from her mouth.

"Bite your tongue baby?" He asked laughing as he left her sprawled out in one big heap of mess. Yelling quickly he commanded her to find something for dinner. It was apparent the chicken was now of waste. Sighing and moaning out in pain she tried her best in pulling herself off the floor. She wasn't broken all that bad. The extents of his damage were just that of her eye, a cut on her head, and a bloody lip from where she accidentally cut the skin with her teeth. He had done much worse several times before. Heading for the kitchen for the second time this evening she quickly pulled a cloth from the draw and began washing away the blood. It killed to press water and pressure against each cut but she had to prevent them from growing infectious. Then she was back looking for a dinner supplement. Not finding one edible thing she came up with an idea. Calling for her dad Charlie shook.

"D...Dad...h..how about we umm...o..order out?"

"quit you're stuttering. What are you retarded. r...r...r...re..retard." He imitated with a laugh and she felt completely embarrassed. He used to do the same thing when she was of a younger age. She couldn't talk because she had seen far to much turmoil in her young years and she had a horrible speech problem. He of course only made it worse. Now at the age of seventeen everything was straightened out but yet when she grew worried or nervous or after his antagonizing beatings she would close up into that childhood girl once again. True though now it wasn't as bad .Looking to the ceiling she counted to ten calming herself down before trying once more.

"You want to umm... order o..out?"
"Yeah sure since you're apparently useless and not able to make a decent dinner. How about Lee's Chinese?"
"Oh well I was thinking maybe K...Karen's Cafe"
"What the hell is that?"
"Just some restaurant I tried out once. It's p..pretty good there. Food is wonderful."
Charlie watched as he thought it over for a couple of minutes and then he handed a fifty dollar bill to her. Nodding his head he spoke with venom.
"I want you back here the instant the food is done. You understand?"
"y..yes sir. I'll be back as soon as i can. Anything specific you want?"
"Just make sure to bring the change back."
She nodded and reached her coat. Then as fast as she could she walked out of her house and into the mid-day air. It was only evening. Only around five o'clock. Not nearly near nighttime. She shivered thinking of the darkness. She hated nothing more than being stranded with him at night hours. Of course he never tried pulling any stunts on her. She swore the day he tried touching her in that way she would run away. She had already tried once or twice before with no luck. She promised never to attempt again for the punishment for trying was far to harsh to deal with. The only way she would ever walk away was if he touched her the way he shouldn't. Well another way he shouldn't. A way that only husband and wife shall touch. That she would never take. Thank god he left that part of her alone. Once she was off the street that held her jail of a house she let the tears fall. Not a stream of them or a great amount but a few here and there. Her face stung in the place the skin had been torn. The salt gently caressed it and she grimaced with the feel. Taking her hair from the pony tail she made sure to cover each of her marks. She didn't need anyone to see her now ruined facial structure. She would rather save the embarrassment. Feeling air fill her lungs when she saw the lights of Karen's Cafe shine in the distance she began to pick up speed. She wanted to reach there as fast as possible. Enter into a different world of where normal people roamed. To feel safe for just a moment. Feeling the heat of the place warm to her skin she walked over to the counter and was met with a older blonde woman.

"Hi welcome to Karen's what can I get for you."

"Oh...uh is Lucas Scott here by any chance?"

"Are you a friend of his?"

"acquaintance." She spoke softly. She felt wrong in saying they were friends. They weren't exactly that she was sure. She didn't want for him to feel marked with that brand so acquaintance seemed to fit nicely. They weren't strangers after all. The blonde just smiled with understanding and said in her kind voice.

"I'm sorry but I'm afraid you missed him. Is there anything else I can do for you?"

"Yeah two dinner specials to go?"

"Sure thing dear."

Placing the order in the back the blonde was back in no time standing before Charlie.

"Would you like anything to drink? On the house?"

"No thanks. Is it possible to use your phone though?"

Gesturing towards the white phone she granted access and Charlie quickly dialed a rather familiar number. When a woman answered and said that her son was out for the evening Charlie decided on another.

"Hello?"
"Hey is this Mouth?"
"Yep and this is?"
"Oh sorry...yeah this is Charlie. I was wondering if you by any chance had skillz cell phone number? I tried calling his house but his mother said he wasn't home. Same thing for Fergie." Charlie tapped the table looking around. She always felt like somewhere eyes were watching her. How she hoped at the moment that wasn't true. Twirling the cord around her finger she listened as Mouth talked on.
"You don't know Skillz or Fergie that well do you Charlie."
"what do you mean?"
"They don't have cell phones. They think its a waste of money and that only the upperclassman men bother themselves with that kind of nonsense."
Laughing she added.
"Yeah that sounds like them. Ummm well then I guess I'll just catch them some other time then."
"Is everything okay Charlie? You sound a little...I don't know... sad?"
"don't worry about me mouth. I'm good. I just, well don't be surprised if I'm not spending much time around the riverfront for the next while."
"Why not? You love it there."
"I know mouth but I have a lot of things I need to get done. My uh.. my grades are slipping and I need to get back on top of the ball if I'm gonna get a scholarship anytime soon."
She hated lying. She knew her grades were just fine but what was she to say. She couldn't tell him the truth. She couldn't tell him that her father didn't let her by the riverfront. And that he didn't want her to play ball with them. Trying her best not to cry she completed her conversation with. "Just know that I love you Mouth okay? And pass the message on to the rest of the guys. I'll be seeing you." Hanging up the phone even though she heard his voice continue speaking made her want to scream inside. She hated this. The fact that her father sheltered her from everything good in life. That he had such horrible restrictions. Just as she was about to lose it the blonde returned with a brown bag. She paid her for the food and exited the cafe. Leaving the warm feeling behind and dread seeking inside her once again.

She trotted along quickly until entering the court. She shouldn't be here she knew. But she needed to say goodbye to the guys she truly felt safe with. She already felt like crying out to them. Like placing hundreds of kisses on them and telling them over and over she loved them. Fergies offer even sounded appealing to her if that felt feeling loved by a man. She shook her head dismissing that last thought. She wasn't a tramp, slut, hoe, or any of those types of girls. She was still a virgin. That was the one thing she had the control and power over and she wasn't ready to let that go. She wanted to find the right person. Maybe even wait until she got married she wasn't sure just yet. She felt ease at seeing them there. They spent all their lives on this here court. She wasn't sure if they ever went home.

"What do you two live here or something? Where's junk?" Stepping over to them she placed the food down on the ground before walking over to them.

"What yo miss us dat much already princess? Or did you decide to come for some fergie love?" Charlie blushed at the statement. Just a minute ago she had said the same thing. That she would take him up on his offer. Course she knew that he was kidding. And also she would never go for that. Walking all that much more closer to Fergie she didn't think before wrapping her arms tightly around his neck and burying her head in his chest. She closed her eyes taking in the comfort she felt. She never felt this way at home. Not once since the age of four did she feel this safe. Fergie furrowed his brows with worry as he looked to skillz. They both were confused. Sure she hugged them regularly but never the way she was at the moment. Holding her to him he rubbed her back softly before asking out.

"You alright there Charlie." Pulling away she nodded her eyes filling with tears. She smiled though as she looked at him and gently touched his cheek.
"You're like a brother to me you know. Make me feel safe and protected. I love you for that."
"Always girl. Whenever you need it." Nodding her head she then moved into skillz arms.
"What's up baby girl.? he asked as she clung to him as well. She took in his scent not wanting to forget it while she stayed at the house for the next couple of days. She wanted to remember this scent and feel like she was home. Home with her true family. Feeling a tear slide down her face she pulled away and placed a kiss to his lips. As usual her and skillz had the more touchy feel type of love. She wasn't into a relationship with him because well she thought of him more as a friend. But sometimes it felt good to have the benefits with him. At least a bit of them. Kissing him harder then before she lightly tasted the bottom of his lip before pulling away. He looked surprised. Shocked rather that she had kissed him in such a way. She shrugged and said.
"Don't ever forget that kiss Skillz. No other girl can do you like that."
"Hellz nah they can't. Damn that was sweet dawg. Care for another go?" he winked and she just gave a soft giggle. Shaking her head she whispered loud of enough for them both to hear.
"I umm won't be back for a while. A couple of weeks. I need to straighten out some things in my life. But don't worry you aint losing me yet. I just have so much work to get done."
"Charlie you're acting.. is everything aight?"
Taking a few moves backward she reached for the bags. Blowing a kiss in each of their direction she felt the punch to her stomach. It was metaphorical no doubt but all the air seemed to knock from her when she saw the blue truck pull away from the outer skirts of the riverfront. Knowing things were to change when she got home she said a little prayer. She wanted one thing and only asked for one thing. That she would return to this court again.