The sound of the clock snapped me awake. I glared at the glowing red numbers on the face of device that had so blatantly pulled me from my dreams. The traces of them were still imprinted on the backs of my eyes.
A man with dark hair and red eyes and a boy with an eye patch. Both had been dressed in Victorian garb. They had looked at me, the boy with the eye patch reaching out a hand as if asking me to take it. Just as I had reached for him though I had woken up and the vision of the pair was quickly fading.
With a sigh I smacked the alarm silent and sat up in bed. After taking a minute to fully wake up I walked towards my bathroom and began to get ready for school. Today was my last day and it was mostly practice for Graduation. A week before I had finished my final exams and in a few weeks I would be moving to New York to start at Julliard.
"Charlotte! Breakfast!" My Mom called just as I stepped out of the shower.
"Getting dressed! I'll be down in a few!" I replied and began to pull clothes out of my closet.
I found a pair of black jeans and pulled them on along with a plain white t-shirt and purple flats. My jet black hair went up into a ponytail and after rimming my eyes with liner and mascara. My eyes were my favorite part of my face. They were a rich but oddly colored brown. Sometimes in the right light they even looked red in color. I was the only one in my family to have them since my GrandMother Charlotte who I was named after.
Once I was satisfied with my look for the day I stuffed my iPod and phone into the back pockets of my jeans, grabbed my violin case and headed downstairs. My Step-Father Bryce was already there eating his usual eggs and bacon while reading the paper which I didn't expect. Usually he had left for work before I left for school and didn't return until dinner. When I sat down he looked up.
"Charlotte?" he asked.
"Yes Dad?" I asked, the name leaving a sour taste in my mouth.
Bryce insisted on me calling him 'Dad'. My real biological father had died when I was 3. He had the same dark hair as me and had been smart, funny and talented at whatever he tried. I had so many wonderful memories of him that were still sharp in my mind. It almost felt like I was betraying him somehow by being forced to call Bryce 'Dad'.
Bryce was controlling, domineering and rude in general. I hated having to put up with him. He was pretty much a bastard but I kept my mouth shut around him for my Mother's sake. I had learned a long time ago that I may be the one to mouth off but it was my Mother that got the punishment.
"Why weren't you down here the Moment your Mother called you?" he asked.
"I was getting ready for school." I replied.
"All that time and that is what you look like?" he asked taking in my look.
"Yes sir." I nodded.
"Well it's rather sloppy. If it was any other day I'd make you change but it's just your rehearsal. You should be grateful." he said.
"I am. Thank you." I nodded and a Moment later my Mother came in with a stack of pancakes. I smiled when I saw that they were cut into the shape of graduation caps with little bacon tassels.
"I love it Mom." I said looking at her.
"I'm glad sweetheart. I'm so excited for you. Your whole life is going to start soon." she smiled her eyes dreamy.
She hadn't ever gotten the chance to actually have a life after high school. My Mother had gotten pregnant for me in the middle of her senior year when she was 18. Because of that she'd forgone collage and married my Dad. When he had died in a car wreck a few years later she had been devastated. At least until she met Bryce when I was 6. They were married not long after and 12 years later here we were.
"I'm excited too." I smiled.
"Of course you are! You're going to Julliard! I will miss being able to hear you play your violin but I know you're off to do wonderful things." she grinned.
"I certainly won't miss that screeching the two of you call music." Bryce grimaced.
"Oh don't be so stuffy Bryce. You know you'll miss Charlotte." My Mother said.
Bryce didn't answer but instead looked at his watch.
"Charlotte I believe that you're going to be late if you don't leave soon."
I pulled my phone out of my pocket and my eyes went wide. I was running late.
"You're right. I should go. I'll see you all in a while." I smiled and stood up.
"Come home right after practice okay?" Mom smiled.
"Sure thing." I replied.
I kissed my Mom on the cheek and gave a wave to Bryce before heading out to my car. It was an old school Volkswagen Beetle. It was a gift that Bryce had begrudgingly presented me with when I was 16. It had only been given to me so that he wouldn't have to drive me back and forth to my violin lessons anymore. It was one of the few decent things that he had ever done for me.
The drive to school took no time at all but it was pain to find a spot. Once I finally managed to find one in the Senior Parking Lot I hurried inside, sliding into my spot in the auditorium seats that would be reserved for the graduates.
"What the hell took you so long?"
I turned and saw my best friend Hailey looking back at me. Her hair blonde hair had a fresh green streak through her hair in honor of 'school spirit'. I really knew that it was just to piss off Principal Kirr who was an uptight, pushy old woman who was rumored to be having an affair with Cindy the school's resource Officer. None of us really liked her and frankly I was toying with the idea of flipping her off as she handed me my diploma.
"I lost track of time." I replied.
"Well you're lucky because if they had taken roll yet you wouldn't be walking tomorrow." Hailey hissed.
"I know I know." I replied waving her off.
The teachers called roll and then we spent the next two hours doing brainless graduation exercises. We walked back and forth across the stage a million times and listened to them talk about dress code a million and one. Finally though they let us go.
"So a bunch of people are going to Louie's for lunch. They're giving discounts to the graduates. You up for it?" Hailey asked.
I sighed, "Bryce told me to be home directly after practice."
"Oh come on! He's such a dick! You're 18 years old! Are you really going to let him tell you what to do forever?" Hailey asked.
Hailey knew everything about me. Except for just how much of a dick Bryce really was. She never came over and never heard Bryce's comments towards me or heard him yell at my Mother. If we wanted to have a sleepover we had it at her place since she had her own apartment.
However at the back of my brain I knew that Bryce was at work until at least 6. It was only 1 now. How long could it take to grab a bite to eat?
"Alright but I have to be home before Bryce or he'll blow his stack." I said.
"Great! C'mon!" Hailey said and grabbed my hand, dragging me towards my Bug.
If I had known the ramifications of my decision I don't think I would've gone.
Hanging out at Louie's was a blast. Most of the Senior class was there and everyone was wandering around from table to table, talking, signing yearbooks and snagging a spare fry here and there. Hailey and I never had a precise group we hung out with so a little bit of everyone showed up at our table and by the time I left my yearbook was full of signatures.
"Oh my god! Did you see Vaughn and Melissa making out in the corner?! I thought they were going to swallow each other! I mean I know she's going off to band camp next week but really? Did they practically have to have sex in public?" Hailey laughed as we walked towards my car.
"She's going to be gone for 3 weeks. It's not a lifetime!" I agreed.
"Speaking of time what time is it? I don't want to miss Jeopardy." Hailey replied.
I rolled my eyes. Hailey was a Jeopardy addict and it was nearly impossible to watch it with her. She answered the questions and muttered to herself the entire time. It was distracting and annoying.
Pulling my phone out of my pocket I glanced at the clock and nearly had a heart attack.
"Shit!" I groaned.
"What?" Hailey asked.
"It's freaking 6:20! I was supposed to be home before Bryce got there! He's definitely home by now. I'm in so much shit." I said shaking my head.
"You go home. I'll catch a ride with someone else." Hailey said.
"Are you sure?" I asked.
"Totally. I don't want you to get in any more trouble than you already are." she replied.
"Alright. I'll call you after the fireworks." I sighed and with a wave climbed in my car.