Chapter 1:
Charlie awoke to her alarm clock the next morning and yawned slamming her hand down on it's off button. She rolled on to her back when the screech ceased and looked up at the plain ceiling. In her home she had plastered enlarged photos of her friends and family and things she'd taken random pictures of covering from corner to corner on the ceiling. But not here. She didn't have the time to do that since she'd be living in a dorm room for the remainder of the school year.
Rolling out of bed her feet met the cold hard wood floor and she shivered. She went over to her closet and pulled out the uniform she'd found the night before. Going in to her own attached private bathroom she readied herself for school.
After about a half hour a clean Charlene padded down the stairs in her new school uniform. I hate plaid. She thought miserably as she headed towards the kitchen to get some juice and something to snack on before she left. "Good morning Charlene." Charlie looked up and saw her grandmother already at the table eating her breakfast and drinking what looked to be coffee.
"Good morning gram, and would you call me Charlie. Charlene is so formal." She said with a kind smile.
Imogene nodded and smiled back at her. "Get some breakfast and come sit with me." She said kindly. Charlene looked around and saw a basket of muffins and snatched up a poppy seed and then grabbed the pitcher of orange juice from the fridge. She walked over to the table setting that was placed for her and sat directly across from her grandmother at the four-person table. She poured her juice and then set the pitcher in the center of the table before sitting down.
"There's something I wanted to ask."
"Feel free to ask me anything?" Imogene smiled across the table.
"We had a dog, back home and right now he's staying with a friend for me, but I was wondering if he could come live with us." Charlie asked skeptical of her grandmother's decision.
"Are you responsible for it normally?"
"Yes. Definitely he's my dog actually, but he sort of became the family pet. His names King and he's a rottweiler, husky, shepherd mix and he's sweet and adorable…"
"I don't see why you can't keep him here, Charlie. As long as you make a schedule and a list of things that he'll need for David."
"Oh no, I wouldn't want him to feel obligated…"
"David is a very nice man. He took care of my Ruby until she passed three years ago."
"Oh I'm sorry." Charlie said curious as to what a Ruby was. "Was Ruby your dog?"
Imogene nodded. "Yes. And she lived passed her life expectancy. She was a saint Bernard. So if you leave a thorough schedule of King's needs on the fridge with any information David will need King will be properly kept during the week while your away at school, and then you will care for him on the weekends when you are home."
Charlene thought it was fair. After all she really couldn't take King with her to the school, somehow she didn't think they'd let her have a pet there. "Thank you that would be wonderful. I'll call Kara after school today and plan his trip."
"There's something about a pet, that just warms your heart." Imogene said kindly.
"King is my best friend and the last month without him has been very hard." Charlie confided. "I am so use to him sleeping at the end of my bed or cuddling up to my legs, but while I was at the state facility I didn't feel that warmth and it sort of depressed me."
"I understand." Imogene smiled and then glanced at her watch. "Oh dear you need to get to school. You know the way?"
"Yeah but how am I supposed to get there?" Imogene smiled pulling some keys out of the pocket of her blue knit sweater and stood up.
"Follow me." She said. Charlene followed her to the door that led into the three-car garage from the living room and went inside with her. She flipped the light switch on and there sat a deep sea blue metallic 650i coupe BMW.
"You bought me a BMW?" Charlie asked incredulously seeing the large bow on top, which really hadn't been necessary.
Her grandmother handed her the keys and smiled at her. "Let's say it make's up for the birthday's and holidays I never got to see you." Imogene said kindly.
Charlene grabbed her in a squeezing hug. "Thank you so much." She said excitedly letting her go to go explore the new car. "Mom and Dad were going to get me a car for my birthday but they didn't get around to it."
"How long have you had your license?" Grandma asked.
"Two years now, but I never needed a car before. School was so close that I road the city bus to save myself money on gas. And that way I could save money in my bank account for other more important things at the time."
"You know you're very smart Charlie."
"Thanks."
"You're very welcome. Now your bag that was by the front door, David brought and put in the trunk while you were getting ready. So you should get going." Imogene said watching her exuberance while looking the car over with bright eyes.
"Ok. I'll be back Friday night." Charlene smiled at her and then Imogene pushed the button to open the garage door and Charlie got in and started the car. She shifted into the proper gear and backed out of the garage and up the small drive to the main circular driveway and pulled out after the tall iron gates opened for her.
As she turned on to the main road a hummer pulled in front of her from the driveway just down from hers and she cursed herself cause she wanted to see what the car could do. Looking around to check that it was clear Charlie got a wicked grin on her lips…I shouldn't. She told herself.
Than again if it's going to kill me I might as well have my kicks with it. Her devilish half thought making her smirk grow. The opposing lane was clear so she threw the car in to second, then third, and then fourth gears and transitioned perfectly clutching and accelerating till she was right up on the Hummer and then veered in to the opposing lane and threw the car into fifth and blew passed the black hummer.
"See ya." She said playfully glancing in her rear mirror as she got back into the proper lane. She speed down the road, getting up to sixty and deciding that, that was pushing her luck in case there were cops up ahead and slowed to the speed limited of forty five and kept it constant there all the way to the Academy.
Parking in the designated student parking lot, Charlie departed from the car and headed in to the building as quickly as she could after retrieving her messenger bag from the trunk of her new car. As she came in to the building she ran smack dab in to another person successfully knocking said persons books and papers to the floor.
"I am so sorry." Charlene said and bent to help whomever she'd bumped. Looking up she saw a young blonde about her age with blue eyes and wearing the same uniform as her. Duh it's a private uniform wearing school. Charlie mentally chastised herself.
"It's ok." The girl smiled gathering everything up till they were both standing again awkwardly. She stuck out her hand for introductions. "Sarah Wenham."
"Charlene McKenzie, but you can call me Charlie." She shook the girls hand before they released and it was slightly awkward again.
"You're the new student right?"
"Do I have it stamped on my forehead?" Charlie asked jokingly with a smile.
Sarah laughed at the joke and shook her head. "No, nothing like that it's just you remind me sort of me when I started here this year. Quiet and a little shy, don't worry most of the students here are really nice."
"Thanks. Hey there's no way I could have you show me the main office to pick up my schedule is there?"
Sarah nodded and gestured her head down a corridor indicating for Charlene to follow. "Of course I can. So Charlie where are you from?" She said starting polite conversation.
"Seattle, Washington. I studied in art there at the Seattle Academy of Arts and Sciences." Charlie told her.
"Wow. Seattle that's further than me. I transferred in from Boston." She explained.
"Ah, yes that isn't far at all." Charlene teased her lightly.
Sarah giggled. "So if you don't mind me asking what exactly brought on the change of scenery?"
Charlie sighed and they turned down another corridor. "Um actually I had to move here to live with my grandmother. My parents they died in a car accident a little over a month ago. It took some time for everything to be sorted out and now here I am."
"Oh I am so sorry." Sarah said sympathetically. "My boyfriend lost his father in October as well."
"I'm sorry also." Charlene said knowing she was just trying to relate as best she could.
"So what should I know about you?" Sarah asked changing the subject.
"Sorry?" Charlie inclined turning to look at Sarah as they walked.
"Well I'm going to make you my new friend, what do I need to know about you?" Sarah said nicely.
Charlene wasn't sure really what to say, she hadn't made friends in a long time. The last friend she made was Kara in second grade when the young girl had accidentally spilled milk on her from across the table. Charlie had smiled, told her it was ok and gave Kara her milk box to replace the one she spilled. It was just a bonus that Charlie had hated milk back then.
"For starters, I haven't made a friend in ten years." Charlie laughed.
Sarah smiled at her and laughed with her. "Seriously?"
"Well I talk to people, but most of the time it's just Kara and me. Kara's my best friend, we're like sisters both of us being only children. I'd do anything for her and vice versa."
"Gotcha."
"I hate science, love scary movies, and most of my nights are spent with Ben and Jerry lately. I'm borderline strange and single do to the move. Anything I'm leaving out?" Charlie grinned.
"Strange? How so?" Sarah asked as they reached the doors to the office and waited to go inside. "You seem perfectly normal to me?"
"Trust me you'll see once you get to know me. I've sort of been down lately, but I woke up with the realization this morning that things happen for a reason, and while I might be sad about my parents and having to move I want to make the best of it."
"Good for you. Come on let's get your schedule and I'll show you your first class." Sarah was such a nice person that it was kind of throwing Charlene off. Back home the girls that looked like Sarah were stuck up and snobby, they always found something to pick on Charlie about, whether it was her hair, or her imperfect physical appearance they always found something, but Charlie ignored them.
After retrieving the schedule and a quick word with the provost Sarah took Charlene's schedule and looked it over. "Oh good you have three classes with me and my friend Kate, and two with Caleb and Tyler. You'll have Pogue and Reid in one as well."
"Not to sound like a complete spaz but who are those people you just said?" Charlene asked.
Sarah laughed and shook her head mentally slapping herself it seemed. "Sorry. Caleb is my boyfriend he's really nice, Tyler, Reid and Pogue are his friends. Pogue's pretty nice to he's not shy about talking to people. Tyler is very shy especially around girls, but it's cute really and Reid well Reid is the bad boy in the group."
"Every clique needs at least one bad ass." Charlie joked. "Between me and Kara I probably take that title."
"You aren't as bad as Reid trust me. He's constantly with the derogatory comments and usually ends up with a good whack upside the head from Kate or I." Sarah said rolling her eyes a small smile on her lips.
Charlie laughed. "Sounds amusing. So where's my first class?" She asked.
"Literature is this way, you can sit with me today, the boys were meeting up and then leaving because of a swim team function outside of school today, but you can meet them later if you come to Nicky's tonight."
"What's a Nicky's?" Charlie asked as they started on their way again.
"It's the local hangout. It's an old country type bar. Great burgers lots of stuff to do." Sarah explained.
Charlie nodded as they reached the classroom door. "Sarah?" Both glanced upwards and saw a young woman, their age with raven black hair and mocha skin. She waved and Sarah waved back and gestured for Charlene to follow her up to the row and they sit down.
"Hey Kate. Kate this is Charlie she transferred from Seattle." Sarah said quickly. Kate reached around Sarah and shook Charlie's hand.
"Nice to meet you."
"You too." Charlie smiled. The class soon started and things went smoothly after the teacher introduced Charlie to the entire class, each class went on much like that. A couple Charlie felt alone in cause Sarah and Kate weren't with her, but she just kept to herself and kept quiet.
Come the end of the day she started heading back to her dorm room when Sarah and Kate caught up with her. "You on this floor?" Kate asked, as they reached their dorm room door.
"Yeah. The end down there. All by my lonesome." Charlene told them.
"Hey so you want to go with us to Nicky's?" Sarah asked.
Charlie thought about this. She had all week before the boxes in her dorm would get annoying so she didn't see why she couldn't. "Uh sure. Why not? On one condition though."
"What?" Kate asked.
Charlie grinned. "I drive you give directions."
"Deal." Both girls said.
"See you around seven thirty." Sarah said and her and Kate when in to their dorm. Charlene went down to her room unlocked the door and let herself in. She started unpacking instantly and a few minutes later her phone rang.
"Cup!" Someone said enthusiastically on the other line.
"Cake!" Charlene laughed. "Kara I was actually going to call you in a few minutes."
"I know, my spidy sense was tingling. So how was the first infamous day at Spencer?" She asked.
Charlene shrugged to herself and then sighed sitting down on her bare mattress. "Ok. I met this girl, she's nice. Says she's going to be my friend."
"Well aren't you the lucky one?" Kara teased.
"I guess, besides I can't spend the school year alone, it'd be to depressing…oh holy shit I have to tell you something."
"What?" Kara asked excited by Charlie's voice.
Charlie smiled to herself. "Gram got me a car. A BM-fucking-W. Can you believe that?"
"Holy fuck are you serious?"
"Yes. It's gorgeous Cake. Seriously."
"I want one." Kara whined.
"Too bad." Charlene mocked her.
"Anything else I should know?" Kara asked mock seriously.
Charlene laughed lightly. "No that's basically it. Oh and I talked with gram about King, he can come live with us."
"Ok. I'll see what my 'rents can do about getting him there by Friday for you." Kara said nicely.
"Cool thanks. I miss having him around."
"He misses you to Cup. Trust me does he ever."
"Why?"
"He does nothing but whine at the front door all day long. When I take him for his walk, he heads straight for your old house and scratches and the front door. I feel horrible pulling him away. I think he thinks you left him."
Charlene sighed. "I've never been away this long before."
"Would you like to say hi?" Kara asked sardonically.
Charlie thought about this. It was the goofiest stupidest thing she could do, but who cares. "Yeah."
"K hang on I'll put the phone on speaker…ok say hello."
"King!" Charlene said brightly into the phone.
"Keep talking his ear's perked up."
"Hey King, how's my big guy." Bark. "Really?" Bark. "You don't say." Bark. "I miss you too bud. I'll see you soon." Bark, bark.
"I can't believe you just carried on a conversation with a dog." Kara teased her taking the phone of speaker.
Charlie giggled. "Yeah me either, but hey whatever makes him not so mopey." Charlie said sweetly. "Alright I have to finish unpacking then I'm heading out with my new friends."
"K. I'll hug King for you and talk to mom as soon as she gets home."
"Tell them I said hi."
"I will. Bye Cup."
"Bye Cake." Charlie closed her cell phone and laid it on the bed next to her. She decided to get her bed made before doing anything else that way she could just come back and crash if she was tired. Her sheets consisted of navy blue jersey cotton pillow cases, fitted and top sheets which she quickly settled on to the bed and then a black satin comforter. And some throw pillows.
When that was finished she decided to change out of her uniform into some more comfortable clothes, which would get her through the night. Changing in to a pair of perfectly fitted light wash boot cut jeans, a white tank top over her black bra and a black fox riders hoodie. She started unpacking again till there was a knock at her door.
"Hey." She greeted Sarah and Kate. "Come on in I just have to finish stuffing these photo's into this filing cabinet." She indicated from a stack of eight by ten photos and a gray filing cabinet next to her desk.
"Take your time, no big rush the guys' are running behind anyways." Sarah said sitting down in one of the black satin butterfly chairs Charlene had set up and Kate took the other. "So you're in to photography?" Sarah asked.
Charlie nodded her head and then shrugged. "I'm an artist I find art everywhere. I take photo's to help me remember things, which I might want to paint later on. Sometime I incorporate the photo itself into the painting. See…" She grabbed a small canvas painting that had several small three by five photo's of flowers scattered about with uniquely painted ones sometimes over the picture and sometimes just surrounding it.
"That's amazing." Kate said kindly. "Do you do a lot of that stuff?"
"It really depends. I go through moods."
"Moods?"
"If I'm feeling gloomy I paint darker things, like rainy clouds over a crashing ocean or if I'm feeling lighter I'll paint softer things. If I'm feeling comical I paint dorky things and if I'm feeling flirty, sometimes I'll paint pinups, using my face as a model. It just really depends."
"Wow artists are moody." Sarah laughed making the joke.
Charlie nodded and smiled. "Yeah we are." She said and then started filing again. When the last photo went in she closed the drawer and turned to the girls. "Ready?"
"Sure are." Kate said. Her and Sarah stood and all three girls headed out of the dorm room.
AN: Ok there's the second chapter, how was it? Don't worry things will start to pick up soon. The boys will be introduced in the next chapter. And a different side of Charlene will come out to play.