Hatred With A Burning Passion (Completed)

Chapter 3

Charlotte was sitting downstairs in the kitchen, sipping a cup of tea. Charlotte watched Nina stir the chicken noodle soup on the stove, every few seconds sprinkling some salt and pepper with her small, dainty hands. When Charlotte was having a bad day or was stressed out, it always calmed her down to watch Nina cook.

"Oh Charlotte, I'm so sorry," Nina said as she started on the arugula salad for that evening, "but if it makes you feel any better, you are the most determined and strong-willed girl I know. This Thomas guy won't stop you from reaching your dreams," she quickly turned off the stove and chopped up some cucumbers.

Charlotte sighed, "Thanks Nina."

"Ok, well you better start getting ready for dinner tonight, your parents and sister will be here in an hour. Dios mio! I still have so much to do!" Nina exclaimed.

Charlotte followed her to the front hall, where she started to dust the candles and priceless paintings on the walls."Ok, I will," Charlotte said softly, kissing her on the cheek before going upstairs to her room.

When the Hunters opened the front door at seven on the dot, Charlotte was ready. She wore an emerald green dress that reached her knees, crystal earrings, and her hair in a complicated updo that Nina made for her.

"Hello, darling," Charlotte's mother came into the room, an elegant smile on her face as she walked towards Charlotte, giving her a kiss on either cheek.

"Hi Mother, Father," she said as she saw her Father walk in with the luggages.

"Oh hey kiddo, didn't see you there," her father said, "I keep thinking about the awful service we had at that hotel yesterday. And my secretary told me it was five stars," he chuckled, shaking his head, "I really should call and complain tonight." He gave Charlotte a quick hug as he took out his phone.

"Oh sweetheart!" Charlotte's mother looked at her dress, "Whatever is the matter with that dress you are wearing? It is the color of vomit!"

Charlotte frowned, "Mother, this is a $450 Versace dress from the newest spring--"

"No! I don't want to hear it," Charlotte's mother interrupted her. "As it is I am not here often due to my thriving purse company keeping me in MIlan," Charlotte's mother reasoned. "Can't you wear something more appropriate the few times you get to see me?"

"Yes, Mother," Charlotte looked down, "I'm sorry." They all sat down for dinner, eating Nina's chicken noodle soup as a starter.

"Well isn't this soup just marvelous!" Charlotte's mother said, turning to Nina, "Thank you, Nina."

Nina nodded her head in gratitude.

"Could use a little more salt," Charlotte's father muttered under his breath.

"Speaking of soup, we are already at our second course!" he said, "Where is your sister for God's sake?"

Charlotte shrugged, hoping that her sister would not show up at all. Just then, the doorbell rang. Charlotte let out an exasperated sigh. Couldn't anything go well for her today? Nina opened the door to reveal her older sister, wearing just the right shade of green, of course, bringing out her sparkling green eyes.

"Rory!" Both Charlotte's mother and father stood up to greet Rory, looking at her as if she was their only pride in life.

"Oh Mother and Father! How I've missed you!" Rory hugged both of them, her wide smile revealing her blinding white teeth. Anyone who saw Rory would assume she was the kindest, most innocent girl in the world. But Charlotte knew better than anyone that Rory was no where close to that. Fourteen cruel years of living in the same house with Rory was a living hell. Thank God she moved out as soon as she went to college.

"Hi Rory," Charlotte said.

Rory glanced at Charlotte for less than a second, "Hey."

She turned back towards her parents, "I'm so sorry I was late," Rory said.

"Oh, don't worry about it," Charlotte's father said, "So tell me Rory, how is life?"

And here we go, Charlotte thought. All through the main courses and dessert, Rory went on and on about her beautiful, perfect life. How she passed the bar exam at Harvard Law, how she bought a new apartment, how her new boyfriend, Edward, just got his second promotion at the law firm. Charlotte just sat there, wishing she could be anywhere else but at that table, under the sparkling chandelier, within those velvet walls.

"And Charlotte, did you pass the AP Government exam?" Charlotte's mother asked with raised eyebrows, waiting for an answer.

Charlotte jolted out of her daydream. "Oh, I'm positive I passed, Mother," she said confidently, "We get the results in a few weeks."

"Good," she said, nodding.

"And any news from Yale?" Charlotte's father asked, "You know how important it is to us that you get in. It's Hunter tradition for medical school. From the very first Hunter, your great grandfather, to me. And you're next!" He smiled widely.

Charlotte's insides twisted in a knot. "I know, Father, and I've been working really hard," she took a deep breath, "But, they usually only accept one student from every high school if there is more than one applying for the same program."

"Oh my God!" Rory squealed, "You're never going to get in competing with everyone else at school!"

Charlotte rolled her eyes, "Rory, I hate to break it to you, but I do have the highest GPA in my grade. I was one of the only students to apply. So, that is why, Mother and Father, you do not have to worry. I have all of this under control. As long as I play my cards right, I'll get in for sure."

"I don't care what you have to do! Do you understand me?" Charlotte's father shouted, his face boiling into a lobster red, "If Yale does not accept you, our reputations at Westchester will be ruined!"

"For God's sake, we already told the Goldmans that you got in! Grandpa too!" Charlotte's mother cried out loud.

Charlotte winced. "I will do everything in my power to get in," she said, tears threatening to fall, "I promise you I will."

Rory squinted her eyes menacingly, "You said you were one of the only students to apply. So who are the others? Huh?"

"There is only one other. Thomas Wilder."