Saving the Reject | Michael Clifford | Editing

p r o l o g u e ;

| n e w y o r k |

The office was a quaint, homey room, as chaste as any other room would seem to be, but it was what took place in this room that could make or break you.  The two women, like the office, seemed not to be in a professional state of mind.  Their conversation was benevolent, occasional laughter erupting between them, like old friends.  You would never have guessed that they met merely thirty minutes prior.

"Well, Charlotte," said the older, blonde woman to the near-student sat before her.  "I can honestly say you've moved to the top my list.  It was an absolute pleasure speaking with you face to face."

"The pleasure is mine, Mrs. Scott," Charlotte graciously grinned, getting to her feet as her superior did the same.  It was surreal to her, shaking hands with the dean of her dream school.  So far from home, she found sanctuary there on the NYU campus.  "It's an amazing experience," she continued, "just being able to walk around campus."

"Well, if all goes well, I'll see you back on campus next fall," Mrs. Scott smiled, igniting a blissful elation in Charlotte, something she has never been used to.

Ten minutes later, Charlotte looked up at the sound of car horn she hardly recognized as her brother's rental, but was relieved once she was positive it was him.  She absolutely adored the long sleeved, business casual dress her brother's fiancée had given to her to wear for the interview, but the two of them seemed to have forgotten that while it was winter time back home, it was the sweltering summer in New York.  Charlotte learned the hard way.

"So?" Dawson implored the second Charlotte opened the passenger side door - on the side opposite that of which she was accustom to.  Everything seemed to be so different there in the United States, but it was a difference Charlotte was in dire need of.

Charlotte was quick to pull her auburn hair up and adjust the air conditioning, but was slow to respond to her brother (that was intentional, of course).

"I'm not moving the car until you tell me," he deadpanned, and he intended to keep his word despite the odd looks people were giving the vehicle (having been stalled in a no parking zone).  Dawson was stubborn and determined, but so was his little sister, and as they simpered at each other, there was no doubt at all that they were siblings, despite their contrasting appearances.

"Where's Emmy?" Charlotte smirked, though she was well aware that her attempt to divert her brother from the subject would fail.  Dawson had never been one to easily get distracted, even as a kid.

"It's a surprise," he smirked, feeling once again that he had the upper hand, though in reality, the ground was very much level.  "Now, how'd it go?"

"It's a surprise," she retorted, a proud sneer across her face.  Dawson stared at his little sister for a while longer, waiting for her to finally give in and tell him, but, in the end, he was the one to give in, starting the old economy car.

"Considering you're not in tears, I'm gonna assume the best," teased Dawson, evoking a chuckle from his little sister.  "But Charli," Dawson started, his tone quickly turning more serious.  The use of her notorious nickname seemed to finally snap Charli out of her professional trance.  The abridged title was given to her by Dawson himself, when she was first born, and from then on, that was the only thing she was addressed as, by all but her parents (but she was a bit thankful for that).  "Just know that no matter what happens, I'm so proud of you."

College was a dream, and though now more realistic than ever for Charli, it would never be a reality for Dawson.  Life moved too fast for him, and he was never able to catch up.

With a sympathetic smile, Charli placed her pale hand on her brother's shoulder, whispering a soft but sincere, "thank you."

-

"Wow," whispered Charli breathlessly.  She couldn't believe that she was actually standing atop the famous Empire State Building, looking across the city from the best view possible.

"Pretty amazing, isn't it?" responded a British accent.  Charli didn't seem to react at all as Emmy stood beside her suddenly, but she had been too entranced by Manhattan at it's prime, shining brightly in the night.  "Just think, this time next year, this could be your home."  Finally, Charli looked to her right to face her soon-to-be sister-in-law, smiling as her blonde, curly hair whipped across her face with the force of the wind.

The ginger looked back out to the sea of skyscrapers, taking the image in as if it would be her last time ever seeing it, causing very doubtful, very serious thoughts to slip into her mind.  "Emmy?" she prodded gently, immediately grabbing Emmy's attention.  "What if I don't get in?"

Emmy turned to the young girl she has become very close with in the past two years, and saw an insecurity that Charli had never allowed her to see before.  All of the sudden, she felt as though she were looking into the eyes of her sister.  "Though I have complete faith in the fact that you will get in," she started, "here's what you would do: two years, max.  You spend two years at a well paying, full time job in Sydney.  You gotta save up; live with family so you don't have to pay living expenses, never eat out, unless the person you're with is willing to pay for you, and live routinely and simply.  Save all of the money you possibly can, and when those two years are up, you buy a plane ticket, and get the hell out of Sydney and never look back."  Though Emmy never talks about it to Charli, Charli had known that Emmy was speaking from experience.  "Please, don't ever think you're out of options."

Charli smiled to the Brit, sending her a quiet thank you as Dawson walked up and excitedly prattled on and on about different facts surrounding the Empire State Building.  Naturally, Emmy nodded along, convincingly pretending to be completely interested in the topic, though she, like Charli, had begun to tune him out.

Buy a plane ticket, and get the  hell out of Sydney and never look back.  Not such a bad plan.  That had been settled into her mind a long time ago: get out while you can.  But where would she go?

Right here, she thought, as she looked out across the Manhattan skyline.  This is where I will become myself.