WHERE ARE YOU CHARLIE?

NOW - CHAPTER 8

The day after, I hesitated for a long time before deciding what to do with my day. I'd already missed too many days at school, I really needed to go back.

Going to the community college was my only chance to get the kind of life I'd been dreaming of since I was a kid. Besides, my lunch card would provide me with a much needed meal.

I went to the laundry room to retrieve some candles and a box of matches, before making my way to the bathroom where I forced myself to have a shower under the freezing water. I was purple when I was done.

I looked at my watch and saw that I had just enough time to run to the bus stop if I didn't want to miss the bus.I made it within seconds, and I sighed out of relief when I finally found a free seat towards the middle of the bus.

That's when I noticed how quiet everybody was around me. I looked up and realized that they were all staring at me with weird expressions. I discreetly checked what I was wearing but all my clothes were clean.

Oh Well... I sighed as I put my headphones on my ears. It will all be over in a few months.

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"You're finally back..." Dennis mumbled as I was putting my books in my locker. "But you're even thinner than before..." He pointed out. "Where did you sleep last night?" That question made me frown. "When Sam phoned me, I kind of hoped you would come to mine..."

Great! Nice one, Sam!

"Didn't Sam also tell you that people like me caused nothing but chaos wherever they went?!" I snapped.

He winced at my unusual tone.

"Nope, but he did tell me he'd messed up big time..." His anger was hard to miss. "I hadn't understood just how much..." He finished with his hands fisted.

"Don't, Den..." I muttered. "It will all be over in a few months anyway..."

He furrowed his eyebrows at that.

"What the f*ck happened?!" He yell-whispered through clenched teeth.

"Let it go Den..." I tried to appease him. "Focus on Luce, on your own future..."

"Do you really think I'm going to stand back and watch my best friend be unhappy until the end of the school year?!" He was fuming. "I f*cking love you, Zoe!" His voice was getting louder by the second and people were now trying to make out what was going on. "Luce, Tash and Lea, do too!"

"I know that," I whispered. "And you're just as important to me..."

"School was your only happy place. I won't let anyone change that for you!"I froze in my tracks and stared at him in shock."Everybody in this town, and probably even in the entire district, knows about your...Hmm... Father and Charlie, Zoe..." He revealed. "I've always respected your choice not to talk about it... I kind of understood where you were coming from, actually..."

Once again, I had the impression that everything was crumbling around me.

"What do you mean everybody knows about my father and Charlie?!" It came out as a hoarse whisper.

"Just like people knew about Al Capone at the time, I guess..."

I took a step back, feeling dizzy. He looked confused by my reaction. I was speechless.

Al Capone?! What was he all about?!I bet Jim would just love that.

I had to snap out of this. It was too much. I had decided to come to school to get back on track with my education, not to add to my worries.