"Vivian or Charlie? What the hell am I supposed to call you now exactly huh? " Franklin's booming voice filled her ears.
"I happened to prefer Vivian to be honest." Micheal replied with a shrug and took a long slug of his beer. Charlie moved uncomfortably in her seat. It had been a long couple of hours and the hard ass bar stools weren't helping.
After Charlie's confession, Michael and Franklin were pissed. A little beyond pissed considering what they all were going through. It was an added piece of information that wasn't helpful to their overall situation. She wasn't angry with them herself. She understood. She had lied to everyone, even Lester (who Charlie was shocked hadn't discovered her identity. Or if he had, hadn't bothered to say anything) She couldn't even blame them if they would have pulled out their pistols and shot her dead. But, after a few curses and screams, the boys settled down. They decided that alcohol could sooth the situation and headed for the bar.
"Its Charlie now. I can't be using my old name anymore." Franklin grunted while Micheal mutter something under his breath along the lines of "Been there" though she couldn't have been sure. Charlie had spilled her whole pathetic life story out on the table for the boys. They, much to her surprise, sat quietly as she explained everything.
Vivian was an orphan from Liberty City who spent most of her time causing trouble for the local police. She learned very fast that if you wanted to survive in that city, you had to get a crew. A respectable crew was preferred of course, but those crews didn't exactly have open membership applications. After a few failed attempts and one arrest later, she learned that a skill made you much more valuable. So, it was off to school she went. Luckily the university she had applied too had a "No Questions Asked" policy and disregarded any kind of past felonies in attempts to give "hope to the future" or some bullshit. Charlie worked hard, shaped up, and graduated at the top of her class with a nice degree in Computer Science. After that, it was all about making a statement.
She started the same way she had done when she arrived in Los Santos; hacking away at bank accounts. Hit them where it hurts right? After a couple of weeks, she hit her mark and nabbed some mob bosses mistresses account. She didn't have to wait long for the cronies came running. After having to convince the mob boss that it was indeed a women who had hacked into the account, she was offered a position. Unfortunately, the respect was still a bitch to earn and she was at the bottom of the pole but, she had her foot in the door.
Vivian didn't expect criminals to have that much of a moral code, but some kind of order was required. The general disorder caused a couple of butt hurt lackeys to start up a turf war and eventually caused the cops to get involved (despite the added amounts of funds to their accounts every week.) Vivian was one of the first to be arrested and without the proper protection from the higher ups, she was fucked and not in any of the ways she liked.
Vivian took the first deal they gave her that sounded like freedom, testified and got shipped to a new city with a new identity. That's when the waiting game started. She expected someone, anyone, to pick up the hit they, not to her surprise, had put on her. But no one ever came. Month after month, weeks after week, Vivian watched her back. She watched every corner and double locked her doors. She even bought herself a pistol and trained down at the local AmmuNation. After a whole year of paranoia and anxiety, the mob boss had 'unexpectedly' passed away from unforeseen medical problems. Vivian spent that night with a bottle of whiskey and in a strangers arms.
And that was it. That was her. Or was her. Charlie wasn't Vivian. Charlie had done her best to not turn back into what Vivian was. But, Vivian was resourceful and power hungry. She was always in the back of Charlie's mind reminding her of who she really was. Reminding her of the skills she had worked so hard to obtain and the life they both hungered for. Vivian wanted back in the game and Charlie couldn't adrenaline was something she craved more than anything. That feeling of euphoria she got when her heart started to pound and her nerves started to shake. The blood rushing to her head and gave her a high she could replicate. It was an addiction, she knew, but she didn't want to stop.
So in the end Vivian got her way. Charlie started hacking again and that's how our story started. Now she was drinking beer with one of the most notorious bank robbers in history and his up and coming apprentice.
Michael slammed his glass on the table, causing both Charlie to stop Her train of thoughts. He stared at Franklin a moment before looking into her eyes.
"Well then, Charlie it is." Charlie couldn't help but smile.
I am so so sorry for the long absence. I have been thinking about this story forever and was finally happy to get time to write it, then BAM! Life hit me with a bat. But, things are slowing down now and I should be able to write regularly again. At least 1 update a week, if not more. Thank you all for being so patient!
