Spiders Crawl

Six

Flashback

...

As I was opening my eyes, a certain someone yanked open the curtains, blinding me.

"Hiss!!!" I covered my eyes and mom laughed.

"Wake up vamp." She smacked my foot playfully.

"But it's Saturday." I muttered as my eyes adjusted. I could then see her clearly. Her wavy brown hair, green eyes, and tannish colored skin. I noticed she wore a dress.

"Did you forget?" I shrugged. She sighed. "Today is that banquet my boss is throwing. He invited you as well." I gave her a puzzled look. "Forget it. Just wear this." She threw a beautiful blue dress on my bed. It was original and simple. I noticed it had her signature of the tag.

"You made this?" I asked shocked.

"If course! Last time I remember, I design clothes." She laughed. I asked her to leave and changed.

"Wendy! Glad you came!" Richard, mom's boss, kissed her cheek. Then he noticed me. "Carmen?" I sighed.

"Charlotte. Hey." He just looked at me and turned his attention back to mom. I grew tired of just standing there, so I wandered away and ended up at the snack bar.

After what seemed like 7000 crackers, a guy my age approached me.

"So whats up?" He casually said. I was stunned by how he just greeted me.

"You know, you must be the first guy at this party who isn't a snob." I complimented. He just chuckled and I smiled.

"My name's Harry." He held out his hand. I realized who he was.

"Wait, Osborn?" He nodded and I shook his hand before he felt rejected.

"Yeah. My dad brought me along. Said I should get to know the rich." He grabbed a cup I was sure had champagne. He got another and handed me one. "What about you?"

I accepted the drink and traced the cup's rim. "My mom, she's a designer. we might not be rich, but maybe one day." I finally took a sip. The liquid burned my throat a bit but got over it soon.

"Trust me, being rich isn't all that amazing." He muttered. I looked at him. How could he say that so easily?

"Well, It's better than living in a rented house." He gazed at me wanting to know more. I put down my drink and told him all about my life. How my mom has to work late at night to just gain a few extra bucks. How her bosses pass off her ideas as her own. How our landlord always threaten us to pay more.

"I'm sorry." He said. I was tired of rich people looking down on us and saying 'sorry'.

"Like you care." I said more harshly than I wanted, but letting go of my problems always had that effect on me. I spare my mom the worries by telling her I liked our current life, I'll wait 'till next year for our road trip.

I left the party, passing by mom who tried calling me back. As I entered the elevator, I saw Harry stare at the floor. He looked as if he had regretted saying anything. The doors closed at I waited in the Lobby.

"What happened, Charlotte?" Mom asked as soon as we got home. I ran to my room, her running after me. We stopped at my door.

"Mom," I chose my words carefully. "I don't want to live like this anymore." She stared at me shocked.

"What do you mean? You said you liked it here." She seemed a bit hurt.

"I know but," I felt bad for doing this. "I want more." She gave me look.

"More? I can barely afford now! I can't do anything now!" She said sadly.

"But why! Why can't they give you a promotion, or get a better job!"

"You know why. The company I work at, they don't like the idea of me getting better."

"Then leave!" I shout a little too loud. She gives me a look but says nothing.

"I love my work. You just started at the Bugle right?" I knew what she was doing. She was trying to justify her passion with mine.

"If you leave now, maybe another company will accept you and pay you enough to have the landlord off our backs!" I grabbed her shoulders.

"Its too late." She avoided my gaze. "I already gave them my entire collection." I stared at her wide eyed. How could she do that. I let go of her.

"Dad would have tried everything for us. He would never have given up so easily." She slammed her hand on the wall, making me jump. Talking about dad was always taboo.

"Don't you dare, Charlotte Elizabeth Rider, bring your father into this." I panicked as she used my full name. "He left us-he left you-to crawl on the streets desperate. If it weren't for me, you wouldn't even be in school." Tears streamed from her eyes. She noticed me tightly grasping my door handle. She realized that she scared me. "I'm sorry." She reached out for a hug but I just quickly went into my room.

She called for me to open but I just took off the dress, put my headphones on, and slipped under my covers. I played music, blocking out my mom.

...

I woke up shaking. I opened my eyes and saw Peter looking down at me.

"Pete?" I slowly got up and checked my watch. It was way past my curfew. "Damn it! Mom will kill me!" Peter seemed as if he was going to say something but I was already gone.

I got home and wondered why there was Harry Osborn on my couch. Then I remembered.

Mom died.