She's Not Afraid

Quite oddly, flashbacks of my childhood flooded back, as I went on my way, to be independent. Freedom, I thought. But it wasn't which I expected it would be, it was quite scary being all alone not depending on anyone else anymore.

Well leaving my home wasn't really much of a choice, after my parents had tried to force me to attend some private school, in which I refused to go, but well i will get to that later.

My things were stuffed into the backseats since their wasn't room in the small trunk, Not that their had been much anyways, just a old wooden antique chest carrying my belongs, and my backpack containing about $500 in cash that I had saved from my summer job.

$500, I thought, that wasn't nearly enough to start a life and try to finish the rest of high school. Did I mention i am only 17? Technically my birthday is in a couple months but you know whatever.

I checked the time on my watch, it was about a quarter to midnight, I better get going soon. But the problem is where do I go? I don't have any legit friends or family to call, all of them I either hate or wouldn't bother to even try calling. I scrolled through my contacts until I reached a number I hadn't seen in awhile. Claire White.

We had been best friends throughout elementary school and 8th grade, But when we both graduated to go to high school.; things basically turned to crap.

I guess you could have said I met up with the wrong group of friends, and she decided to stay all good girl with straight A's and her ever so popular nickname Miss. Perfect. I guess you could say we faded from each other being opposites and all.

She was the last person, I would want to call right now, but she's my only choice. I hesitatingly dial the number, my fingers shaking from the cold breeze from outside. Suddenly it begins to sprinkle rain drops in the misty dark atmosphere.

I quickly swing open the car door and sit in the drivers seat. I keep my engine off and headlights low to avoid being noticed. As the phone begins to ring, there is no answer. Its no use I thought, I reached my thumb for the end bottom. Then Unexpectedly someone picked up, I placed the my phone to my ear, waiting for a voice.

"Hello?' A groggy voice grumbled lazily.

"This is Clare, right?" I asked, pretending to fake yawn, or was It real? I couldn't tell anymore, lately I have been so sleep deprived and stressed out I could hardly think straight.

"Mhmm, who is this?" Claire asked, I shifted uncomfortably in the car seat.

"This is Charlotte." I kind of panicked a little when I hear her gasp. Was that a good or bad gasp?

"Hi ummm-" Claire paused for a second, she sounded clearly surprised she exhaled in the phone before countining "-wow its been awhile, like 3 years, why are you just calling now, in the middle of the night?"

"Can I ask you something?" she gave me a simple Yes.

I hesitated for a moment, suddenly feeling suffocated, I had a realization that if she said no, that I could be homeless or worse my past that I have been so desperately trying to run away from will haunt me once again. Here goes nothing I thought..

"Do you think I could stay at your place for awhile, just until senior year is over, Until I get on me feet again I really need your help your my last choice-" I felt like I begging now, and as I kept babbling on, she finally cut me off.

"Yes." She replied. I was shocked, did I just hear here right? But why would she do this for me after what I did to her? Why would she be so kind to forgive me? I don't understand her one bit.

"Yes?" I repeated.

"But you have to promise me one thing Charlotte?-" Yea anything I replied. "-You need to stay out of trouble, or at least try, if you cant do that i will have to kick you out."

"Yes" I lied. I couldn't truly promise anyone around me anything, I was always a rebel.

I drove along the long winding road, as the raindrops silently hit the windshield, I focused my sight on the street lights that illuminated yellow dark pavement.

It always amazed me how quite nights were here in Seattle, in such a big city. I unfolded my map safely as I still kept my eyes on the road, I was surprised I had already drove 200 miles from forks, my hometown. I'd be at my new home just before dawn.

Notes