Chasing Cars

Chapter Eighteen

A/N: Sorry if this is overdue... honestly I hate writing these questioning chapters... but it's here now so don't hate me! I wrote the epilogue to this book before I wrote this chapter haha. Enjoy though, writing this was a pain :P

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"Well if it isn't Sue." Charleston said as soon as I entered the room. The way she said my name made it sound like it was some nasty word she'd been forced to utter rather than something as simple as my name. It's not like my name was weird.

"Yeah...it's me..." I answered, unsure of what to say. I stared at the principal, who wasn't facing me. Instead, she was bent over her desk, her arms wildly thrashing through the papers and McDonalds messes, seemingly searching for something.

"Looking for something?" I asked, hoping to make the principal think I was an overly friendly person with no bone to pick with anyone, which wasn't true but that didn't matter. It only mattered what Charleston thought of me now, as I'd made a horrible impression with my sudden freak out at Karev and Andrew. Hopefully she didn't think too badly of me after that episode.

But it seemed like she was proud of me for it, so maybe it was a good thing she saw it. She seemed pleased with my little performance. Maybe she liked me and I had nothing to worry about. Maybe she had multiple personality disorder and the Charleston I was about to be questioned by wasn't even Charleston. Maybe the personality I'd be talking to was named Irene and was a very kind woman. Maybe. Hopefully.

"Nothing that is any of your business," Charleston replied distractedly, still shifting through her mess. I took a seat on the familiar chair on the right. 

"Your office is disgusting, you know." I said in disgust, not at all afraid of her hearing me. "Why, thank you!" the principal answered, beaming.

I rolled my eyes. Of course she would take pride in a disgusting office. It wasn't even worth describing, as it looked the same as it had earlier, when the three of us were in here. So I sat there, boredly chewing gum and staring at the principal in front of me. 

It was the first time I'd ever really taken in her appearance. She wasn't much to look at honestly, in fact, she was kind of weird looking. I found myself wondering if there was a Mr. Charleston, but I didn't really want to ask.

"So you're a friend of Karev and Andrew, huh? Wonderful. Peachy. Glad to hear that paralyzed girl actually has friends." Charleston mused, not looking at me and instead watching a ladybug crawl across her ceiling before she jumped up and squished it with her thumb. Gross. Then she proceeded to reach over to a bag and eat a handful of french fries with the same thumb. Extra gross.

"Erm... Yeah Karev has friends. Like me...and Andrew...and Amy..." I said slowly, trying to think of all the people Karev interacted with. It's not like she was completely alone. She talked to almost everyone, but she kept few close friends. Fine by me, I mean, nobody could take my place as her number one best friend so I was cool with her only having a small group.

"Interesting," Charleston replied, looking bored out of her mind. I wondered why she was even taking us in for individual questioning. It's not like she was saying much. She looked like she wanted to get out of here. I didn't blame her if she did, I wanted to as well.

"Why am I here alone?" I asked, wanting to get straight to the point. I leaned forward, studying the principal's face for any sign of dangerous emotions. Finding nothing, I relaxed and raised my eyebrows. What a fun time I was having. Not.

"I feel like it's easier to read people when they're alone. It was too complicated when all of you were in here," she shrugged, staring at me uncomfortably. I had no idea she could read people. Well, maybe she couldn't. Maybe she was trying, and failing. Maybe what she had said was just an excuse.

"Are you going to torture me or something?" I asked. Why not know if something bad is going to happen, rather than be surprised. Charleston looked taken aback at my question. She had clearly not been expecting it, and I was glad that I had taken her by surprise. Surprise gives advantage. 

"Why, no. That is not what I had planned." she yawned, looking down at a dirty old watch on her wrist. "Sue, could you do me a favor?" she asked suddenly, fixing an intense gaze on me. I shrugged and nodded. Surely whatever she wanted me to do would be more interesting than what was happening now.

"Just grab that can over there and place it on the very edge of my desk." she told me, pointing to what looked like one of those gasoline carrying cans that you keep in the back of your car just in case you were to run out. I shrugged. With the knowledge that Karev had given me, I guessed that she was probably keeping some old McDonalds drinks in here or something. Maybe she'd force Andrew to drink it when it was his turn for questioning. Who knew what she needed it for.

I lifted the heavy can and carried it - quite awkwardly - to the principal's desk. I set it where she wanted it, on the very edge. One third of it hung off the edge, and I was sure she'd have me push it back at least a little, but all she did was offer me a rare smile and thank me for my assistance.

"Can I go now?" I asked, unsure why I was even called in here in the first place. "Yes, you may go. Send your Andrew friend in here, will you?" she asked, not looking at me anymore. "Sure thing," I said, turning toward the door and opening it. 

"Your turn, pal," I said to Andrew, pointing into the office and stepping out to join Karev at the bench. "Was it bad?" Andrew whispered, looking nervous. I shook my head. "No, it was rather pointless really."

"Great!" he said, looking optimistic as he said bye to Karev and walked into the office. "That was stupid. There was absolutely no reason for me to be in there. She didn't even really ask me anything." I told my friend, flopping down on the scrappy bench and turning to face her.

"I know..." she answered, staring at the floor with wide, vacant eyes. I knew that look. There was something going on. "What's wrong, my friend?" I asked, scooting closer to her and staring at her with huge eyes that always made her uncomfortable enough to open up about whatever was on her mind.

"I have a feeling," she answered easily, not even trying to hide that something was wrong. "What kind of feeling? Do you think you're going to die? There's going to be an earthquake? Your dad will come back to life? You'll make more friends? Come on Karev, there are lots of feelings you could have." I asked, trying to joke with her to bring her mood up a bit.

"A bad feeling." 

Okay, so that was a start. "About...? Come on K, I need details here." I laughed, not wanting to bring the mood down. "I think that maybe it was Andrew Charleston wanted to talk to all along. I think she only took us in to make it seem like she had words to share with all of us."

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It's up to you people to decided if Karev's feeling is true or false. Obviously I already know, but you'll have to wait to find out soooooooo hope you like my cliffhanger. I feel like I haven't done one in a while.

I had a hard time writing this, as I didn't know what to include in any of the three chapters about questioning. Which means the next one will probably be a pain as well, so I'm going to start it now. I already wrote some ideas while I was at the rehearsal so maybe I can use that to create something more interesting than this chapter or the last chapter, you'll have to see. It gets better, I swear. I wasn't expecting these ones to be so boring haha.

I just might update again tonight. MIGHT.

~RiRi the Taco Eater (love this nickname tho)