Meet Charlie

(5) The Side Nobody Sees

:)

***

"Academic probation?" Lorraine, My mum asked as I walked into the kitchen. Lorraine was sat at the table with one leg crossed over the other, and a stern look on her normally beautiful face. It was as if she was one of those villains in the movies that were waiting for the hero's presence. It reminded me of that so much, I wondered why she wasn't stroking our cat, Maya on her lap. It would make it the ultimate cliche for that moment we were having. Evil mother telling off her inccocent son. Well...not so innocent judging by what Lorraine apparently found out.

"Huh?" I asked, confused. Isolation was all that stupid teacher put me in. She didn't say anything about-

"I got a call from the school saying that you've been kicked out of class and not been turning up to isolation and detention for...weeks...months even. Not only have you been lying to me Charlie, but they also had no choice but to put you on academic probation". Lorraine scoffed in disbelief and rolled her eyes. I had no choice, but to stand there and watch as mum now paced the entire kitchen.

"I don't get you Charlie. Why have you suddenly decided to act like this? When you started to talk back to teachers and skip doing schoolwork, I honestly thought that was going to fade off with a little counselling - I mean, have you even been going to the school counsellor to talk about it?"

I just continued to stare at my shoes. I tried to say something, but nothing managed to come out. Almost as if there was someone keeping my mouth shut saying "no point saying anything mate."

"For god's sake Charlie!"

"They don't even know what the hell they talk about most of the time mum!" I yelled, mentally shoving the hand that was keeping my mouth closed away.

"They at least know better than you Charlie; that I assure you!"

That stung.

Lorraine sighed, held her head in her hands and rested her elbows on the kitchen counter.

"Academic probation," she muttered in disbelief and disappointment. Her voice was practically drenched in it. Which definitely didn't help my mind and heart which was already filled with guilt.

"Sorry," I mumbled, still looking down at his not - so - suitable for school sneakers. Why did I feel so guilty? I would usually just brushed off all the other times his mum had a lecture at me. This was somehow different. I guess it's true what they say about feeling more guilty when they're more dissapointed than angry.

Lorraine just kept silent and didn't say a word, but it just made the silence worse. Not awkward as such. It was more of a silence that could kill you with guilt as if it was a simple stab in the heart.

Suddenly, something broke that silence in half when an opening and a slam of the door was heard throughout the Foster's household.

A slumped figure with ruffled, dark hair and stubble walked in. The stepdad, Derek.

"Hey," it said with a croaky, deep voice. The croakiness of it is most likely from the six packs of cigarettes he goes through every day. This didn't manage to put off Lorraine in any way though. And I hated it. I hated him. Everyday, I would have to deal with his intoxicating breath anytime he was within ten metres of me. Everyday, I would have to deal with his dagger looking eyes anytime I caught his deadly stare. Everyday, I would have to deal with his deafening voice. Not for how loud it is, but for how aggrovating and irritating it was. Because of how sharp his eyes were, of course he immediately noticed something was wrong.

"What's up with you two? Why so glum?" Shut up. Stop acting like you care.

"Nothing, don't worry love," Lorraine said, smiling as he approached her. As Derek passed me, he made sure to slap me on the back(a bit too hard for my liking) and give me a wicked grin that looked so innocent to others. I, however, didn't respond with one back. Just a blank expression. Mentally, I was saying something along the lines of no thanks, I'd rather not be a friendly son to a bastard like you...sorry not sorry. Nothing like that came out though. That damn hand was covering my mouth again. This time it was saying "don't even try; you know your mum won't take that kindly. Neither will Derek."

Oh shut up. What do you know?

"Alot more than you; that I assure you!"

I hated that it imitated what Lorraine said to him earlier. But, I hated myself more because of the fact that I was having an arguement with a stupid made up character in my head. This has happened on many occasions. Most of them are the cause of me zoning out in class which is why I hated that thing.

"How was work hunny?" Lorraine asked Derek. Completely oblivious to the fact that she was just argueing about an important topic to her son.

That's another reason why I hated Derek. Whenever he was around, Lorraine would completely forget about me, her son. Everything they were just talking about. There was no "Oh, could you give us 5 minutes love?" or "Would you mind letting us talk for a bit hun?" Nope. Just "Oh how was work hunny? Oh Charlie? Who's Charlie? Oh yes, my son! Of course!"

Okay, maybe that was a bit of an exaggeration, but it's still true. Whenever Derek is around, Lorraine goes into a trance where I am suddenly not as important as her 'loving husband'. It was also frustrating. How I was the only one who could see this unpleasant and vicious aura around him that only brought more hatred towards Derek. In fact, I don't think I've ever called Derek my 'stepdad'. It only confused me more as to why his pure mum chose such a distasteful man. The more I encounter with Derek, the more confused I get.

His wicked grin. His ruffled (sometimes greasy) hair. His piercing green, dagger eyes. His slumping, dark figure and most of all. His horrifying aura.

"Work was fine Lorr," Derek replied with a peck on Lorraine's now dirty lips. Everytime they kissed or even made physical contact with eachother, it made me cringe and almost whinge on some occasions. It made me think of dirt and grime covering a fresh, new pile of clothes (Derek being the dirt and grime of course).

"And how was school kid? Didn't get in too much trouble did ya?" Derek chuckled, now looking towards me. One look into his eyes and I felt like my own pair were being watched by knives. They were trying to look into my soul. Almost like they were trying to hypnotise and take over my mind. Creepy, I tell you. However, I refused to show any reaction and put on my usual dirty look. I didn't manage to make it as dirty as Derek himself though, unfortunately. I probably never will.

"Fine and why don't you ask your wife about that second question?" I spat and then turned away and walked off; making sure to give Derek one last glare.

***

"What's up with him?" Derek asked with furrowed eyebrows.

"Don't worry about him, he's probably going through one of those teenage strops eh?" Lorraine lied.

"I guess," Derek said plainly whilst looking at the spot where Charlie left. After a few seconds, he went to the fridge to recieve his usual beer after work.

"You gonna tell me what he meant by "ask your wife about that second question"?" he asked.

"I don't know what he meant by that love. Maybe he's just stressed because of school and that," Lorraine lied yet again.

"Fair enough".

He then proceeded to dump himself onto the sofa, turn on the telly and sip his bottle of beer.

Lorraine did nothing, but worry about her son. After all, she lied to Derek twice during that conversation. She did know why Charlie said what he said to Derek. The only thing she didn't know though, is why she lied to her own husband.

****

i'm really hungry wbu