Chapter 5: Charlie

"How are you feeling today Charlie?" Dr. Jordanides asks as I lounge out on the worn leather couch, cracking my toes and exhaling loudly. "Better I guess. Been clean 94 days now. Guess that's something to be proud of." I say shrugging, refusing to make eye contact with Dr. Jordanides. I used to have Dr. White, but he was annoying and smelled like rotting fruit. Then came Dr. Jordanides, who decided she could "change me". She's a 20 something, fresh out of school with her perfect shiny blonde hair and her perfect smile and that "anything is possible" look about her. Sure she's nice, they're all nice, but she doesn't know what she's doing. She always approaches the sessions timidly, like I'm gonna bolt if she says something off. I mean sure, I am uneasy over everything that has gone on the past year or so, but I'm fine.

She starts scribbling down notes in her red notebook with her purple sparkle pen. The front cover has my name printed neatly in black sharpie ink and looks nearly perfect, unlike me. I was sent here by my friends. They wanted a better life for me. They wanted me to live up to my potential. I guess I'm just not feeling it these days.

I've been at Shady Oaks Rehabilitation Center for a while now. I've been doing what is asked of me and staying out of trouble. I'm just not the best at talking. I feel like I always say something I shouldn't.

"Charlie, I want you to visualize something for me." She asks in a calm, soothing voice. "Imagine the first day you started drinking. How did you feel after?" She asks, pen poised and eyes narrowed. I pause to think for a moment, then begin. "Pretty fucking great. I'd finally found something to occupy my time that could also help me forget." "And what is it you do now to achieve this feeling?" She asks, biting the cap on the pen. She had a habit of doing this when she thought she was onto something. Once she bit the pen so hard it started oozing fluorescent purple. "I cope. I talk to you and I write everything down. And I keep up with school work and go to group therapy. I do what is asked of me." "Do you not want to be here Charlie?" "No. I mean, sure, this wasn't exactly how I pictured my life being at 17, but I don't mind it. Everyone here is kind and willing to help." I say shrugging again and beginning to count the cars outside. I wonder which one is yours. Do you even have a life outside of Shady Oaks? I think to myself, my mind beginning to wander off. "Well, you're making progress." You say, capping your pen and closing your notebook, getting up and walking to the door. "Till next time?" "Till next time." I echo, walking out of her room and down the dimly lit halls, running my arm over the custard yellow stucco walls. The sensation sends sparks through my arm and all over my body. I pass a bathroom attendant sitting in a too small plastic yellow chair, smoking one of those electronic cigarettes. Ugh what I would give for a smoke right now. I think to myself, my mood softening as I pass him and keep walking down the long, winding halls. "Hey Charlie. Someone's here to visit you." Maria, the Latina nurse says as she flips her hair and walks past me, a tray of gauze and tape in her hands. "Thanks Marie." "¿Termina tu tarea?" "Si Maria. I finished my homework." "Bueno." She says, smiling widely as she continued down the hall, her shoes squeaking on the linoleum tiles.

I make my way to the office to see who could possibly want to see me. Its usually Diane, who doesn't act like herself now, because she knows everything. I guess I can be okay with that though, if I've changed since then, they were bound to.

Whoever it is, is talking to the secretary and ringing his hands. I walk closer. "Cam?" I ask, unsure if it was him. "Hey Charlie." He says back with a subtle and shy wave. "What are you doing here?" "I wanted to check up on you, see how its been going." "I'm so glad to see you." I say wrapping him in a fight hug. "Missed you too Charlie. You have no idea." He says, though his words are muffled. "Diane said she was by last week and that you're much better." "I'm a changed man my friend. I mean, hell yeah its gonna be a bumpy ass ride, but I'm willing to stop." "Good. That's really good." At this point we've both got the goofiest grins on and are just standing around, not doing much of anything. "Come on. Sit down. I wanna hear about what life's been like in Toronto. You headed to the NHL soon I suppose." I say, guiding him to the visitors section and sitting down next to him. "Not quite. Nasty concussion last year is making this season slow-going, but I'm getting there I guess." He says shrugging. "Diane tells me you have a girlfriend. It's about time." I say teasingly. "Yeah. Maya Matlin. She's got this beautiful blonde hair and blue eyes that sparkle when she smiles. And she plays the cello and... well she's perfect." A blush creeping onto his face. "Awe. Cammie's and Maya!" I keep teasing. A deep red blush creeps onto his face. "What about you man. What have you been upto?" He asks, eyebrows knitted. "Well I got clean and I'm going to therapy and all that jazz. My family is back on track and keeping up with everything and the people here are actually really awesome. Not the crunchy granola shit I thought it would be. This time around its gonna be different and I think-I think I'll be okay." I say smiling. Because for once, I actually had a reason to smile.

Hey guys! I really enjoyed writing this chapter. Charlie will definitely come up again, I promise. Please review if you get a minute. Thank you to Jessica, a loyal guest who has done two reviews for me and to HopelesslyFictional, who is my most loyal reader who always has constructive criticism. Hey stories are really awesome and I highly recommend you guys check out her profile.

Stay Classy,

Squeegee