Onward Journey (Broken Descent Sequel)

Dreams

"You know what, Charlotte? I don't care if you're mad at me. You can be mad at me all you want, but at least tell me why. Why are you treating me like this?" Bruno asked as she sat with her arms crossed on the couch.

Charlotte continued to give him the silent treatment, maintaining eye contact with just the T.V. The tour bus had very little room for her to "hide."

"Fine," he snapped. "You'll learn one day. You won't be able to do anything you want, like be a vet, without talking to people...especially if there's a problem."

"Well I don't wanna be a vet anymore anyway!" Charlotte finally yelled, turning around and heading toward her bunk.

Bruno followed her back to her lower bunk, sitting beside her.

"What do you mean you don't wanna be a vet anymore? Just like that? It's all you've been talking about."

Without any response, Charlotte crossed her arms and turned off the light. Bruno immediately turned the light back on, causing her to glare with fire in her eyes. Pointing toward a stack of books and papers, Bruno spoke.

"Well you still have all these books and articles...I don't think you really changed your mind."

Tears streamed down her face and a lump formed in her throat. Shakily, she slid the stack of papers from in between the textbook. She handed them to Bruno.

"I'm..." Charlotte stuttered. "I'm failing math right now."

Bruno furrowed his eyebrows, scrunching his face. When he spoke, his voice sounded harsh and stern.

"Did you study?"

Charlotte took the bed.

"These are all pre-tests for my math test," she said softly. "I failed all of them...and I need to take the test today. I just don't get...any...of this stuff. I studied so hard ...it just doesn't make sense."

"You'll figure it out. Don't get upset about something like this. This shouldn't change anything about you being a vet. It's a challenge. That's all."

Charlotte continued to cry and she could no longer communicate as well with him. His voice got softer, and even turned into a whisper. Bruno lightly rested his hand on top hers. Tears dripped on her lap. When he saw them, he pouted. She looked over to the wall which hung pictures of the two of them, in the opposite direction of Bruno.

"Being a vet is your dream...you can't just let it go that easily," Bruno said, gently rubbing her hand.

Her lips quivered as she tilted her head down toward her lap. Her breath became staggered, her lungs seemingly desperate for air.

"I'm too stupid for my dreams," she sighed quietly.

Slowly Bruno dragged his hand from hers, up her arm, resting between her forehead and hair. Pursing his lips, Bruno scooted in closer toward her and faced the same direction as her. He told her a lesson and story she'd heard many times.

"Oh Peanut," he sighed. "Life gets really hard sometimes...believe me...I know. When Motown dropped me all those years ago...I did the same thing that you're doing now. I thought that that was the end of it and I had to do something else with my life. Someone told me that I wasn't good enough... and that's how you feel now. You feel like you're not good enough..."

"Yeah," she cried softly.

Bruno grabbed one of the papers and held it.

"All this means...is that we need to come up with a game plan. You're way too young to think you won't make it...it's so early. I can help you with all of this though."