Girl at the Station

A hint from the past

Charlie waited for her to answer when a big tear rolled on her cheek. "E, please tell me. I want to help you," Charlie said. She sniffed and wiped the tears away.

  "Long time ago, my father was German and my mother was Russian. They both hated each other. My dad was a spy sent to kill my mom's sister. Instead, they met and my dad deserted the mission. They got married and had me. The people my father worked for vowed to kill everyone in his family. They got my mom and dad. All that's left is me," she said. Charlie started at her and took a deep breath in and exhaled it.

  "Well, we should get you cleaned up." Charlie took E into the bathroom and wetted a washcloth. He cleaned her arm, then her face. E flinched at the stroke of the cloth. Charlie looked for gauze and wrapped her arm.

  "You'd make a good doctor," E told him.

  "I learned from past experiences," he replied. They both laughed.

  "You should get back to Peirce. The curfew's at 10."

  "I'm not just gonna leave you," Charlie insisted.

  "Charlie, I think I can take care of myself," E replied.

  "Let me wait with you until your uncle gets home," Charlie suggested.

  "Charlie-"

  "E"

  "Fine, you can stay."

  "Thank you," Charlie said. He sat himself next to E. "So, what do you do here?"

  "Well, eat, sleep, wake up, go to school, come back and work in the shop," She replied. Charlie looked over to her bookshelf. Charlie grunted. "What?" she asked.

  "Why do you have so many books?" he asked E.

  "Oh, those? They were my grandmother's. She would always tell me 'books are a girls' way out of reality'. She gave me the books and my grandfather made the bookshelf."

  "They're so old," he picked one up and blew the dust off. "And dusty," Charlie added.

  "Hey, they're from 1897, what do you expect?"

  "They're that old?"

  "It was only 20 years ago, Charlie."

  "That's old!" He said.

  "Oh, whatever," E replied.

  "Play any sports?"

  "Nah, been too busy. I spent half of my life in that shop," E replied.

  "Considered any?"

  "No, actually."

  "I think you'd be good at softball," Charlie said.

  "Is that because you play baseball?"

  "Maybe," Charlie said sheepishly.

  "Yeah, well, I'm a little preoccupied at the moment so, that'll have to wait," E replied. There was a knock at the door.

  "Evangeline, it's me."

  "That's him," E went to the door and opened it. A man in his early 40s' walked in.

  "Hey, Griff," E said.

  "Hey, Eva," he replied. He stopped to look at Charlie. "Hi, I'm Griffin," he shook Charlie's hand.

  "I'm Charlie," he replied.

  "You go to Pierce?" Griffin asked.

  "How'd you know?"

  "You're wearing a Pierce uniform," he told.

  "Oh, right. Well, I better be going it's almost ten. See you tomorrow, E," Charlie went out the door. He rode the train to Pierce. It was past ten. Charlie took the stairs up to his dorm. So far, so good. He was about to open the door when he thought he heard a voice. It was Headmaster Colt. Charlie fumbled with the lock, trying to be as quiet as he could be.

  "Charlie?" Crap. Charlie turned around.

  "Yes?" he asked.

  "What are you doing? It's past curfew and you have classes tomorrow. Would you care to explain yourself?" he said.

  "Well, you see, I was out visiting my mum. I am very sorry an it won't happen again, sir," Charlie spat out.

  "I hope you're aware that visiting hours are five to seven, young man."

  "Yes, sir. It won't happen again, sir."

  "I hope not. Now, get to bed." Charlie didn't bother to change and went to bed. Charlie and Chase did their morning routine and headed downstairs for breakfast. Charlie got his food and went to go sit down next to E.

  "Hi," he said.

  "Heard you got busted last night."

  "You heard that?" he said.

  "Yeah, by now the whole school knows." she took a bite of her roll.

  "Really?"

  "Gossip around this school is like air. All of the girls need it to live," she explained.

  "Great. Now Gabriel knows."

  "I told you to go home," E protested.

  "I wasn't just going to leave you. You almost died," Charlie fired back.

  "That's life, Charlie." She finished her roll. A bunch of girls started to walk towards Charlie and E. "Speaking of the devil," E mumbled. A girl in the group sat next to Charlie.

  "Hi, I'm Clairey and you must be Charlie," she said.

  "That's me."

  "Let me see you schedule," she plucked the paper out of his hands. "Great! We have literature, German, and maths together!" she exclaimed. "See you then!" Clairey hopped away.

  "She was nice," Charlie said.

  "Little words of advice, that's Clairey James. Her father owns one of the biggest oil company's in the world. She looks nice, but that girl is trouble," E explained.

  "Someone jealous?" Charlie played.

  "Please, that girl is mean. She's like every other girl at an academy. Pretty, rich, but as dull as a brick," E stated. Before Charlie could reply the bell rang. E started to walk away when Charlie noticed that she was limping.

  "E?" Charlie called out.

  "Yeah?

  "You weren't limping yesterday, were you?" Charlie asked.

  "No, I was," she replied. She turned into the storm of people, like nothing had happened. But, Charlie could tell that E was lying.