Chapter 1 : Just Like in the Movies

The scenes played over and over again, with an almost movie-like quality to them. Cruising down the street just like any other day, mum singing in her sweet soprano voice and octave higher than the blasting radio. Charlie loved when mum sang along to the radio, a hobby she had given up around her ex-husband. She had only recently restarted after he had been taken away in handcuffs for abusing his wife and their child. Cassandra hand started her new life, and even married her old high-school sweetheart, Alexander. An amazing concept since Cassandra had moved to the city that never sleeps to raise a child instead of always dreary Lima, Ohio.

Cassandra placed her left hand on her driving husband's upper arm and belted the upcoming words, "To my friends in New York, I say hello. My friends in L.A. , they don't know. Where I've been for the past years or so. Paris to China to Colorado. Sometimes there's airplanes I can't jump out. Sometimes there's BULLSHIT that don't work out." Adding extra emphasis on the curse word by loudly bellowing the word out of the open passenger window.

Charlie did not hide the obvious giggle that drifted from the backseat of the gold Honda Pilot, continuing where mum left off, Charlie and Alex harmonized the rest of the chorus. "Mum, why did you ever stop singing? You are so wicked at it."

The driver of the car huffed, "We already went over this." This was Alexander's way of scolding Charlie. He called this tactic "Reaching Teenage Level." Although Charlie constantly reminded him that he would need an awesome time machine in order to do that. He now cleared his throat and paused for dramatic effect of course. "We stopped our wonderful, carefree lives to have a beautiful baby instead of going to our senior prom."

Cassandra chimed in, "Of course, we totally don't regret that decision. Because honestly Charlie you are the best thing that ever happened to me. And to Alex, who was there the day you were born."

Alex held his hand horizontally in the air and zipped it to the right in one quick motion. "Fun time. OVER." He then slammed his hand on the dashboard, "But it's okay because I love you as if you were my own."

Charlie gave a brief eye roll towards Alex's direct, after he broke out into fake hysterics. "You are horrible, Alex, you know that. And plus," Charlie smiled at him ruefully in the rear view mirror, "I am your kid. Just because it isn't biological doesn't mean I don't think of you as my old man."

Alex slowly down to the red light at the four way intersection before swiveling his head to look incredulously at Charlie. "I Am Not OLD !" he protested, turning to Cassandra and smiling. he took her right hand in his left and gently rested it on the console in between the driver and passenger seats.

"I love you guys." Charlie mused from the backseat. "Ewwie, mushy!" Charlie's parents kissed lightly as the traffic light switched from red to a bright, glowing green. Alex gingerly tapped on the gas as impatient drivers honked their horns insistently at the small vehicle. The car slowly rolled in a straight path into the intersection.

The next scene happened rather quickly. In one instant, Charlie's family was slowly following the traffic of downtown Brooklyn. In the next, a large midnight blue suburban was speeding towards an obvious red light on the car's right hand side. The driver was haphazardly swerving in his lane, and easily broke the 55 mph speed limit by thirty points. The scariest thing of all was that Charlie and her family were not paying attention, and the driver of the suburban was not stopping. Finally, it crashed through the dinky Honda Pilot and set it spinning down a nearby embankment.

Charlie shot upright in bed, panting heavily and covered with a sticky cold sweat. Sitting uncomfortably up in a bed, in a house, in a city, that Charlie barely knew also added to the hysteria. It was 2:45 a.m. This had been one of the worst nights, out of a very long list of nights that Charlie had woken up from dreaming about the car accident that had stolen Cassandra and Alex's lives. To really add the cherry to the top of the cake, tomorrow was Charlie's first day at school, at a new school, since the accident. The summer was over, and it was time to stop hiding.


does everyone like it so far . as for those of you wondering how charlie survived a car crash and the parentals didnt , miracle ?

song = good life ~ one republic