Callie*

After the fight I had with Maddie, I felt lost, dazed and confused. Not only had I pretty much lost the best friend I'd ever had since pre-school, but also, she was spreading stories about me behind my back...yet they all began to surface as Maddie was a popular girl. She really was, and the fact that her mother was filthy rich, most likely more rich than Robert and Jill, didn't help either. She was pretty much known to be able to drop money at the drop of a hat and get her way. And she always got her way, whether at the stores, around the city, or at the school. And the St. Christine School for girls was no exception to the rule. She had the nuns wrapped around her little finger, and for the most part they believed her.

I began to carry a flask in my gym bag because I just couldn't handle school anymore. All of my friends whom I thought were my close friends, pretty much abandoned me because Maddie said so, and on this particular day, Robert and Jill had just come home from Spain, and things were particularly rough for me at the breakfast table as I not only was late getting up for school, but also, I had a massive hangover, one which Robert never knew about to begin with.

"I tried to wake you up thirty minutes ago! Where have you been, Callie?" Robert sat at the head of the breakfast buffet, dressed in a suit and was reading the New York Times as he sipped his grapefruit juice and his coffee sat on the other side of him, most likely getting cold. Jill was eating her bowl of oats and berries quietly as she was also looking down at her ipad, most likely at the rundown of the weeks events. And of course, Jude was there, eating his waffles and sausage links all the while his science book was propped open. Of course, no one paid attention to the next, yet the fact that I was thirty minutes late to the table was a massive sin.

"Ya...I didn't hear you," I slumped into my chair as I grabbed a bagel and began to smother it with honey cream cheese.

Robert folded his paper and set it in front of him rather hard, enough so that everyone stopped what they were reading and looked his way...except for me. "So, I heard that there was an incident earlier in the week? Something about a messed up kitchen and front sitting room?"

I continue to ignore him as I grab the coffee pot and pour my own coffee. He's so wrapped up in yelling at me, he doesn't even notice, and I take a giant sip before I look at him defiantly. "Ya? And?" I set my elbows on the table as I give him a look of challenge, and almost smirk as his eyes darken and his frown deepens.

"What do you have to say for yourself, young lady? Esmeralda had to come and clean it up the next day?"

"No, I cleaned it up, Dad..."

"I wasn't talking to you, Jude!" Robert snapped at Jude for even daring to interrupt his rant to me, and I rolled my eyes as I pulled a small part of my bagel and shoved it in my mouth. He turned to me once more to send out his rage and anger, something I was now beginning to be immune to.

"So, what do you have to say for yourself?"

"Look," I stood then as I grab the rest of my bagel and shove it in a napkin before dropping it in my bag. "I said I was sorry. I helped Jude the next day. What more do you want, Robert?" I pick up my mug of coffee and take another gulp as he now stood and slammed his fists into the breakfast buffet, making me jump which only began to anger me even more.

"You need to start taking responsibility, Callie Quinn! I won't stand for this! You're to set a good example to your little brother! He looks up to you! Do I make myself clear? You're grounded! You go to school and you come home! Do you understand? Huh? Answer me, dammit!"

I rolled my eyes once more as I slammed the coffee mug down on the table, some spilling over the edge and onto the cream tablecloth. "Yes, I understand you...Robert." I slammed my chair against the table as I shifted my bag on my shoulder and began walking towards the door so that I could take the elevator to the ground level.

"Stop calling me Robert! I'm your father for crying out loud!"

That's what started it all today, and honestly as I sit in third period, listening to the most boring lecture on the Cold War, I can feel my pounding head begin to take over. Every day around this time, I tell myself that I'm not going to drink today. And every day around this time, I falter. Raising my hand, I take the hall pass and head to the bathroom where I enter the last stall and remove my flask. Just one swig. That's it.

I flinch as the burning sensation slides down my raw throat and warms my small body. I never did finish my bagel from earlier this morning, and the though alone makes my stomach lurch. I take another long swig before exiting the stall and run smack into Maddie herself.

"I thought I told you NOT to use this bathroom. Yet here you are," she folds her arms in front of her staring me down and trying to use intimidating tactics, but I don't flinch.

Instead, I push past her to the sink and turn on the water. "Last I checked, you don't own this bathroom, Maddie, nor do you own me...soooo..." I begin washing my hands, and she takes me off guard as she snatches my bag from my shoulder.

"I didn't hear you flush, so why are you washing your hands? Huh? What do you have in this bag?"

"Give it back!" I reach across, but she's faster as she holds it up in the air and smirks at me.

That doesn't stop me from trying to jump up which makes me awfully close to her face, and she scrunches her nose as she must smell the bourbon on it. "Awwwww gross! Are you drinking? And at 10 AM? I'm bringing this to Sister Evelyn!"

"No, stop! Maddie!"

But she's faster as she marches towards the sisters's office, and I'm not far behind. I plead the whole way. "C'mon! Maddie! You'll get into trouble too! I bet you have a few joints in your locker!" I try bribery, but she doesn't fall for it as she knocks on Sister Evelyn's door.

The next thing I know, she is spilling the contents of my bag which consist of lip gloss, a makeup mirror, two tampons, a lighter, my rolled up bagel and of course my flask. I stand there red faced and the most embarrassed I've felt in a very long time, and as Sister Evelyn scolds me, telling me the woe's of alcohol and how the devil got inside of me, I zone out. Robert is called, and I just don't care anymore. I want out. That's all. Jude no longer looks at me. I've lost Maddie. My mother isn't here for this. I can't take another moment. I want out, and I want out now.

Poor Callie :-(*