Surviving Chris

Chapter 2

The warm Indiana air hits me in the face as I exit the airport with my bags. Today I left Monica, my best friend since birth, but I get to meet up with Angela at our dorm. We were accepted into Bull State University. Angela had the choice of going to almost any college she wanted, but she couldn't bring herself to leave her family. We've been friends since I moved to Indiana my freshman year.

    As I walk to the car with my mom I start to look around. Home sweet home, I guess. Don't get me wrong I love Indiana, I mean, I've lived her for four years now. It's just, well, Florida will always be home.

Something catches my attention at the news paper stand and I stop. I start to walk over and read the big bold letter that are on the front page: "Beware Serial Killer at Large!" A serial killer in Aurora? No way. This has to be the newspaper reporting on a different town, hell, a different state!

Mom looks at me and then back at the newspaper I'm preoccupied reading. "It started this summer while you were away." She informs me. "Whoever it is, they're still out there. So I want you to be careful Charlotte. I mean it." I look at her processing what she just said. A serial killer on the loose in Aurora, Indiana. The same Aurora that has the population of 3,500 people. Well, less now I suppose.

Mom begins walking back to the car, and I follow her. As I sat down in the passenger seat in my mothers car she asked me how my summer was. "Did you have a good break with Monica? She asked, hopeful of my answer. Monica's dad passed away a few days before graduation due to a gunshot wound. I didn't know very many details of his death when I arrived on their doorstep, but as the days went on they ended up telling me. Some things you don't have to bare on your own and I'm glad they felt comfortable enough to confide in me.
"Yes we had a lot of fun at the beach", I replied knowing what her next question would be I said, "Yes the are doing good considering what happened to them, mom." My mother gave me a soft smile and sighed in relief.
"It was probably nice for Monica and her mother to have a distraction from that this summer with you around" she said after a few moments of silence.
"Actually, Monique was a bit preoccupied." I say.
"Oh? She was? With what?" Mom questioned.

Mom stops at the stop sign and turns on her blinker. Good, we're almost home. I can't wait to see my dorm.

"Monique got a job at the grocery mart downtown to pay the bills. She's been working a lot actually. Maybe keeping her mind off Dewayne?" I suggested sadly.
"I can't imagine losing Richard" mom says as she pulls into our driveway.

    Honestly,  I wouldn't know what to do if my dad died either. He takes care of us. Works his butt off to provide and make sure we have everything we need. I looked out the window and sat quietly for the rest of the ride while my mother rambled about what she and my dad did this summer.

    The sound of the car shutting off breaks me out of my thoughts. I unbuckle my seat belt and get out. Mom and I grab my bags from the car and go inside the house. It's quiet.  Dad must be at work. He prints newspapers at our local newspaper company. 
"Charlotte if we want to be at your dorm at a decent time then we need to leave pronto", mom yells from the kitchen. I grab some of my things from my room and start to pack them in the car "Is that everything?" Mom asks from the door. "I just have a few more things to get and I'll meet you in the car" I say walking up the steps to our house. As I'm walking to my room I hear the car start up. Mom must be waiting for me.

    When we get to Bull State University, I spot Angela's car. She must be waiting for me. Angela is early for everything. You know, the early bird catches the worm and all. Mom parks a few spots over from her car and gets out. I follow suit and grab some of my bags. As we're walking the hall I start to read the numbers on the dorms. 24, 25, 26, aha 27! As we walk in, I notice Angela hanging a poster of Tom cruise. I'm surprised to see her in overalls and a striped T-shirt. Usually she's in a sweater or some type of plaid. I kick the door closed and Angela jumps. "What the h-" "Charlie! You're here!" She yells
. I smile. And hug her "I missed you Angie. I feel like I haven't seen you in forever!"
"That's because you left me after graduation. Who does that? I thought we had plans and I had to spend it with my parents" she says jokingly. I giggle.
"Okay girls, are you going to help me with the rest of the things?" She asks pointing toward the way we came.
"Coming mom." I reply. I look at Angela who is already putting some slip on shoes on.
I start to walk out knowing Angie will catch up eventually. I can't believe I'm in college. Me. Charlotte Nicole Lewis in college. I'm going to be a lawyer. I start to smile. Studying with Angela definitely paid off.

I meet mom at the trunk and she starts to hand me boxes for me to carry in. Angie passes me while I'm walking back to the dorm room. She sneakily winks at me as if to say "We're in college now!" I smile struggling with my boxes. Gosh. What did mom and dad pack in these things? Bricks? I set them down on the bed with a huff. I start to unpack as mom walks in with a duffel bag and Angela with my last box.
"And where do you plan to put all of this Charlie?" Angela asks with wide eyes.
"Trust me, I was not the one who packed. If I was I would've just brought clothes, shoes, and hygiene products" I reply.
Mom rolls her eyes while Angela and I laugh.
"You never know when you might need this stuff" mom says while pulling out a cutting board. This makes us laugh even harder. Eventually, mom is laughing too

After Angela and I finished unpacking we decided to just sit on our beds. Angela decided to read her book. Personally, I'd rather listen to music than read a book, but Angela says it's like visiting different worlds. I decided to take a nap. The plane ride over here has me jet lagged and now that I've relaxed I definitely feel it.

I woke up to Angela shaking me awake. "Charlie?" I hear faintly.
I roll over and look at her rubbing the sleep from my eyes. "Yes?" I reply.
"Can we go get some food? I'm starved." She says pleadingly.
"What time is it?" I say rising to sit in my bed. "5:30" she says looking at her watch. "Can we go now?" She asks impatiently.

I rose from my bed and began putting my shoes on. Angela leans against the door of our dorm waiting impatiently for me to finish getting ready. I put some perfume on and put my hair in a pony tail. "Where are you wanting to eat?" I ask.
"I'm not sure" she says. "I've heard The place next to Baby's Bar is great!
"Okay we can go there. Let me just grab my purse and a jacket." I reply.
"Charlie, it's 70 degrees out" she says opening the door.
"I know but the wind may get cold or what if it rains?" I counter.
She just nodded walking next to me out of the dorm hall.