Her school didn't take the vacation over so well
'considering how poorly her academic skills are already'. What they didn't know was half the reason Charlotte was going was only to improve her grade. They wouldn't be complaining then, huh?
She assumed she wouldn't need to bring much- money wise- but carried along a couple hundred dollars and nearly emptied her wallet while filling her station wagon with gas completely. Truly, the little, old car could probably skip the journey- and Charlotte was unsure if it would even make it the whole way, but she was desperate. She knew if she was careful enough, maybe they would force through the long travel.
And on Friday, she was ready. Charlotte was a very organized person (when it came to all things but school) and had everything set and planned out before 8:00.
And as it turns out, her sister couldn't watch Granger so she turned to her friend- something she really didn't want to have to do. Apparently the sister was too busy getting massages in L.A to help her out. Charlotte was 'shocked'.
Resting her hand on the old dogs head, she turned the fan on for him and made sure he had fresh water and food before her friend arrived later that day. Even in his old age, he was upset to see her go (he'd been that way since puppyhood) and gave a weak whine as she closed and locked the door behind her.
Charlotte was on the road. It was quite a drive- Maine to New York, so she begged and begged her rusted, creaky station wagon with the messed up breaks would heave the whole distance without any issues.
Of course she was wrong.
The car, about a little more then halfway, spluttered and gagged to a halt and gave Charlotte just enough to veer off and creep against the rail on the border of the main road. About half a quarter mile walk was a diner and a towing place with a little pets tore on the side, and she would be able to find help there. Plus she was starving, and who doesn't like puppies?
The diner was stuffy, and heated even though there was only a few people there. She ordered Frenchfries and a coffee, despite it was nearly 1:00. The towtruck could bring her close enough to the town to get to a mechanic who fix up her car during the stay and have it back to her two days in.
The hills begin to roll higher and higher as they neared Red's Junction, though the trees began to break off and Charlotte noticed it was suddenly cold.
"Chilly isn't it?" he asked her, watching her struggle to pull on one of her sweatshirts.
"Yeah. Is it like this all the time up here?"
He nodded and suddenly decided he no longer wanted to talk and his eyes flickered back to the road. "And here is were we part." The man breathed, scratching at his chin as he dropped out of the car.
She had to use the ATM at the mechanic company to get more money for her trip, considering the car's repair (including breaks) would cost her almost all of it.
After paying the man, who gave her directions on how to reach the town about a half mile straight, she head out to walk this odd landscape.
It was rural, but also full of concrete and smoke and just...stiffness. The hills didn't look so green anymore, the sky's blue shattered with ill grey clouds.
Honestly, the area was rather ugly.
And before she knew it- there it was. A big, wooden sign with sloppy grey letters engraved, 'Red's Junction'.
