Chapter 5: In you I trust…..

It had been a little over a week since the last time she entered Tree Hill school halls. They were the same as when she had left them. Though it was only just about nine days of absence to Charlie it felt like a lifetime. Looking around to her fellow students she felt eyes follow her in every move she made. The doctor had thought best for her to stay on bed rest for fourteen days but going against his request Charlie fought to come back. She couldn't be held captive in that house for any longer. She wouldn't survive. So this morning she decided to venture out of the house and make way best she could. She had spoken with the principle and he and each of the teachers found themselves empathetic to her situation. After all suffering a terrible car accident the way she had was cause enough for them to worry. Sighing she made way over to her locker and reached for the lock.

"Twenty four…thirteen…Shoot!" Dropping one of her crutches clumsily to the ground she hit her hand to the metal beside her and groaned in frustration. She had to struggle in keeping her balance and herself upright. Biting her lip she pulled at the broken skin and looked downward at the lost crutch.

"Need a hand with that?"

Noticing the blur of auburn hair Charlie smiled happily that someone was kind enough in offering a helping hand. Bending over the stranger quickly grasped her crutch and placed it securely back into the blondes hold.

"Here you are. Let me…"She gestured to the concealed locker before reaching out and turning the knob. "What's the combination?"

"Umm… twenty four, thirteen, seven." Charlie watched as she swift fully opened the metal cubby and smiled back her way. "I'm Haley James. We have chem. Class together right?"

"That we do. Thanks Haley. Its kind of tricky getting used to these things."

Haley let a look of sympathy cross her features and Charlie smiled in her showing care. Not many other people even bothered to notice the state she currently found herself to be in. And even if they noticed, they didn't act upon it.

"Yeah I heard what happened. It must have been some car accident huh? You look pretty banged up. Not to be rude or anything. I just noticed the bruises and of course the leg. Not to mention your swollen lip…I'm gonna stop now." Haley laughed nervously as Charlie just shook her head. She had never once witnessed someone spill so many words without as little as one breath in between. It almost amazed her.

"Really don't worry about it. And yeah it was pretty rough. Never experienced anything like it I'll tell you that much." Trying to keep Haley from noticing the building tears she looked around quickly before speaking in a rushed tone.

"I actually have to run but I'll talk to you later. Or maybe I'll just see you in chem." Reaching for her books she turned herself in the opposite direction and tried her best at fleeing away. It was hard of course with the two sticks of wood and the enormous cast that resided in covering most of her right leg. She almost succeeded in making an exit before losing herself and tumbling downward to the floor. Crying out in pain Charlie lifted her head brought a hand to her mouth. Releasing a sob into her hand she grimaced as she felt the tear in her side. Shaking off the hands that were now circling around her she boasted.

"Haley I'm fine. I c..c..can take care of my..m…myself." She cried looking down at the tiled floor. Not wanting to break but seeing no other way of hiding it. The pain was too much. Not just the physical pain either. The lies, the images, the memories, it was all building up inside her. The last week or so had been the most difficult Charlie ever had to face. She wasn't sure just how long she would survive. Not with the way things were going. Feeling someone slowly lift her off the ground she turned once again to argue.

"Haley r..really I'm…Mouth?"

"Charlie! What happened? Look at you. Are you alright? I mean of course you're not alright. Come here." Taking a hold of her side Mouth lead Charlie into the R.A room and sat her into the empty seat. Closing the door behind them he then stood before her.

"Here take a seat. What happened?" He ran a hand over her cheek careful not to make contact with her broken or swelled skin. Grazing it softly he tucked a piece of hair behind her ear and let out a loud breath of air.

"So I g..guess you haven't heard a..a..about the c..ca..car accident?" she stuttered slowly closing her eyes tightly trying to force the words out. She was broken up over the fall that it was hard for her to speak. He looked at her carefully before kneeling affront of her.

"Car accident?"

Nodding she cleared her throat before releasing.

"Yeah. It was ba..bad. I was in the h..hospital for a couple days. Broke my leg all up, b..busted my lip, cracked a couple ribs. I'm in r..rough s..sh…shape."

"Charlie?" He spoke her name in a whisper. A form of a question and with such gentleness in his tone. She watched him look her over carefully before his eyes grew wide with concern. She felt his hands soon reach for her shirt as she too wondered just what he was viewing. Feeling the bottom of her shirt rise she looked horrified at viewing the bleeding wound. The cut much larger now than before and slowly leaking her bodies blood. She didn't want to see it. To know that this was the price she paid for…for well nothing. Letting tears fill her orbs she looked to mouth shaking her ever so slowly and spilling a few solemn tears.

"this doesn't look like...This wasn't from any car accident was it?"

Shaking her head even more frantically she reached out to mouth before feeling his body hugging to her. Her hands wrapped around his back and feeling the warmth of a friend caused her to cry even harder. She wasn't going to tell the world about her abuser. She wasn't going to tell anyone really. The only person she would let in on this little secret was the one boy she knew would keep her secret safe. Clinging to him desperately she whimpered.

"You can't tell anyone mouth. You can't…y..you…please don't tell."