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Clubhouse .66.

Chapter 1 - 051666

By Kt ZPublished 6 years ago 47 min read
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Her red rain boots were muddy. Very muddy. So muddy that when Charlotte stepped through the door of her mother's home, her mother's once pristine white carpets were now littered with muddy foot prints. Before Charlotte could even greet her mother whom she had met in the doorway, her mother already started barking at her for the mess.

"Good lord child! Quit that! You stay right there, and take those damn muddy boots off!" She brought her wrinkled hands out in front of her, waving them around trying to get her daughter to not walk any further.

Her mother, who will only be referred to as Mrs. Haus, shuffled her bare feet over to her daughter, a look of disgust plastered the older woman's face as she got a better look of the mud.

"Oh good lord Charlotte, where the hell have you been anyway to get so filthy? I know it's been rainin and all but-" she muttered breathlessly before Charlotte opened her mouth and spoke.

"I've been out," she said quietly, no louder than a whisper.

"Out?"

"A walk is all." Charlotte kept her head down and tried to scurry past Mrs. Haus, hoping her long red locks would act as a shield.

As soon as Charlotte tried to quickly escape anymore of her mother's questions, a tight grip attached itself to Charlotte's arm.

"Charlie...a walk?" She kept a grip on the girl so that she had no option but to stay.

"Yes. Just a walk is all," she whispered, still avoiding eye contact.

She could feel her mother staring. Her mother's eyes burned into her and needless to say made Charlotte feel more vulnerable, like she was trying to read into Charlotte. The girl wanted nothing more than to shrink down until she was nothing, until she disappeared.

"Like I'd believe that for a second. You think I'm stupid or somethin' Charlie?"

"No, no mamma..." she whispered again, standing still shaking her head.

"Look at me..." her mother threatened. Her voice was low but still gentle.

No response.

"God damn it Charlotte Clair, look at your mother when I'm talkin' to you!" She raised her voice in frustration and eventually, Charlotte did as she was told.

The teenage girl raised her head sheepishly and turned it toward her mother, her brown eyes making contact with her mother's pale blue ones.

"I don't know how many times I've told you, stop lookin' for him. It's been a week and it ain't safe out there. Two others are also missing and now Jude too. But I can not lose you baby, you hear me?? It's bad enough we've already lost one and I beg you not to make me sick like this. I know-"

Charlotte tried pulling her arm from her mother in frustration interrupting her sentence, but she was only free for a few seconds before her mother caught her again.

Mrs. Haus yanked the girl back to where they were standing previously.

"Charlotte honey, I know he's you're friend and all, but you need to stay outta this. For your safety."

"Mamma, no one's looking for him... no one cares and-"

"You know good and well the police have been searching, night and day since it was reported. He'll turn up just fine. He's done this same song and dance before and returned just fine. But you gotta stop, and calm down-" she paused for a moment looking at her daughter with sad eyes and sighing before continuing on...

"Now go on take a warm shower, relax, then get ready. We're goin' out to dinner with your father later tonight."

The distressed teenage girl let out a deep breath, swallowed hard before muttering the word "okay" and gently pulled away from Mrs. Haus, making her way to the staircase.

Charlotte didn't know why all of this was happening. In fact, she didn't know much of anything it seemed anymore. Slowly, day by day, everything started becoming out of balance. She was seeming to lose control and that in itself was Charlotte's greatest fear of all.

The seventeen-year-old was now forced to study at home, as she had been kicked out just two weeks ago from "Lenora High", her neighborhood's public high school. Unfortunately, the situation that was at hand was one out of Charlie's control, not that she liked Lenora high, but if she wanted to leave she wanted it to be her choice. No one else's. The fact they were moving all the way to Michigan at the end of the year, leaving behind the only life Charlotte had ever known seemed to hurt the girl the most. Charlotte liked seeing the world; she loved exploring but she always knew she was coming back. Consistency was a big deal to the girl and when there was no consistency and too much rapid change, the teenager crumbled at the weight of it. That was the only problem. It's not like she had that many friends. In fact, Jude was really her only one....

Jude was an odd boy. Tall, thin, nearly eighteen, and drank a shit load of black coffee. A newer student at Lenora High, always quiet and kept to himself, listened to way too much David Bowie and tried way too hard to be a Sid Vicious doppelgänger.

In the boy's spare time, he was seen practicing taxidermy, spitting on his mother, and eating little children after he sacrificed them to Satan himself in his basement. Only, that wasn't true, that's just what he led everyone on to believe. The reality of his Friday nights consisted of taking care of his disabled mother and reading Kurt Vonnegut.

Needless to say, he was definitely the spitting image of a stereotypical outcast. But maybe that's why Charlotte felt so pulled in by him. Every girl these days wanted a mysterious troubled soul to fall in love with.

Although an outcast, Jude Laurence definitely was a superstar at the school. Everyone knew him, he was sure to cause a scene in a very silent way, but he was never one to receive any positive attention. In fact, Charlotte was the only one who had treated him with such kindness and respect.

The boy had transferred to Lenora from the rougher side of town. And in the privileged neighborhoods that Lenora was in, the fancy bastards rarely saw those "less fortunate" than them. If word got out that you came from what they referred to as "the other side of the light," you were sure to have a bad rep from the moment you walked through the door. It did have its perks, but definitely its downsides.

Quite a bit of time had passed and Charlie was now standing in her bathroom, looking at herself in the dirty mirror, staring intently at her damp hair and runny makeup. She sighed before snatching the washcloth to start removing the mess on her face.

She continued thinking. Thinking about what the shitheads at her new school would be like in Michigan since it would only be in the matter of roughly three months that she'd get to meet them. But those thoughts faded as she realized she was only thinking about that to get her mind past the thoughts of Jude Laurence. She had no clue where he would have gone, or if some bastard were to have taken him. She didn't know why any would want him out of all people.

Charlotte traced her steps, everywhere she had went this day...

She had started her journey walking through the woods that they often cut through during their venture from school, yet no sign of him. She then made her way to the town center, knowing good and well she'd never find him there but it was simply the quickest way to get to "the light."

The light was a traffic light, and half the time it was out of order. Everyone knew once you passed the light, you were in dangerous territory. You were no longer in the clean streets of Lenora. You were on the other side of the light, sometimes just shortened to "the other side." The humble home of drug addicts, whore houses, gangs, and gun violence. Out here was no game, and Charlotte was well aware of what she was getting herself into but she had to keep looking.

The girl had dozed off into a trance and realized she had been scrubbing her face in the same place for some time now. She also noticed the loud knocking on her door coming from Mrs. Haus. It rang in her ears.

"Charlotte! baby!" She continued to pound.

"Yeah?" Charlotte blinked hard before reaching the handle and opening the door.

Her sweet mother stood there, proudly holding her once muddy red boots.

"Just returning these. Thought I'd save you some time and just cleaned them myself-"

"Thanks momma," Charlie spoke monotonously before shutting the door on her mother.

"Charlotte?! I know good and well that you did not just slam that door in my face..." Mrs. Haus was clearly becoming quiet agitated with her daughter's rude behavior, especially after doing such a nice task.

Luckily, Charlie realized her mistake rather quickly and opened the door, this time collapsing into her mother, wrapping her thin arms around the woman.

"I'm sorry momma I just-"

Charlotte felt tears sliding down her cheeks and she hadn't realized how worked up she had gotten.

"It's alright... I know you're worried, and stressed about so many things my love. You just have to hang in there for me?"

She didn't answer. She didn't know how to respond to that, so instead she continued to stand there sobbing, her face buried in her mother's shoulder.

Mrs. Haus was more than shocked to see this. She very rarely saw Charlotte cry, and Charlotte would never show much or any affection to her family. That's how Mrs. Haus knew how serious the situation was.

"Honey... honey you gotta listen to me. Okay?" She put her wrinkled hands on her checks, wiping her tears with her thumbs. Mrs. Haus' blue eyes pierced the girl who was being forced to look.

"Jude, he's an odd boy and you've even said that yourself. Odd boys do odd things. And like I've told you he's pulled things like this before. Look, now I know you really care about him and he's your best friend, but you can't tear yourself up over this! He's going to be found. I have no clue when, but he'll turn up. I don't know why he's gone, but I know he sure as hell wouldn't want you sobbing like this."

Charlotte knew her mother wouldn't completely understand and she wouldn't allow herself to get upset at her. She only bottled up emotions, sucked up her tears and nodded.

"Yeah mom...yeah You're right. I um... I'm just gonna get ready now, I'll be down soon," Charlotte pulled away sniffing, avoiding eye contact, shutting the door behind her and starred at the mirror again.

Around an hour had passed, and Charlotte was sitting on the edge of her bed, pulling on her freshly cleaned red boots once more. She was now somewhat composed, makeup neatly painted on her face, clean clothes and brushed hair. Not much was on her mind anymore besides the fact she couldn't help but think her mother had some truth to her words.

She had to carry on without him.

Charlotte jumped off the bed, smoothing her black clothes out with her hands before heading out the room and into the hallway.

She stomped down the stairs, her boots smacking against the ground.

"Charlie!" Her father's voice called to her.

As soon as she heard his low voice, her blood boiled and eyebrows furrowed.

"Yeah?!" She called back, stomping down another hallway to the kitchen.

"You ready to go kid?" He asked, sitting in the wooden kitchen chair, acting as if nothing were wrong.

"I guess so," Charlotte snapped.

"Well it's your turn to pick the place tonight Charlie. We can go anywhere ya want to, I'll even let you drive since you really haven't been out much and-"

"Would you quit with that already!" The little girl raised her voice out of pure frustration.

Her father's smile quickly faded and he cleared his throat and nodded.

"Alright then. But my decision still hasn't changed. I want you to pick a place and drive. Okay?"

"Yeah whatever."

Charlotte was about to walk off and head on outside but her father muttered something to himself, which cued her to stay. She rolled her tired eyes and spun back around sharply.

"Look, I know you're on edge because of this...boy. But trust me honey, I know a bad man when I see one. He ain't worth it."

"That's real funny, coming from you ya know." She marched back over to the man, leaned in, smacking her hand down on the table and glared at him straight in the eyes.

"Now what's that supposed to mean darlin?" He whispered, grinning an evil, sick grin.

Mr. Hausa knew good and well what she was referring to.

"It means stop putting your dick in other women," she backed away slightly, now looking away from her cheating scumbag of a father and stared at the bandana tied around his wrist. He always wore it, she never knew why but was told to never ask.

Charlotte just kept staring at it, feeling her father's eyes watching her.

"Wha-" she glanced to see that her father's eyes grow and his wrinkled mouth gapped open, in pure shock of what came out of his daughter's mouth.

"I know. I saw everything, you damn bastard."

She was so lost in her head that she didn't even notice her father had completely disregarded the crude accusation and was holding out the car keys in front of him. The jingling echoed in her brain and she stared at them.

"You gonna take em or not?" Mr. Haus chuckled, trying to keep the mood light hearted, walking on eggshells with the teenager.

Charlie couldn't believe he had completely ignored what the girl had just called him out on. But she was sick of being in his presence.

Without a word, Charlotte walked a few steps towards her father before snatching the keys from him and shoving them in her pocket. No emotion on her face.

"Why don't you go start the car up, get some heat going? David and your mother and I will meet you there. Looks like mom's finishing up in the bathroom."

The man smiled too much.

It was disgusting.

As she was going to turn and head for the door, a firm grip attached to her wrist, stopping her from moving. The string hands yanked her back, forcing her to turn around and face her father.

He was glaring now.

"What do you say Charlotte?"

His voice lowered, smile faded, and he spoke sternly through gritted teeth.

Charlotte gulped hard, breathing heavily before spitting out the words, "thank you daddy."

"Better." He smiled grimly before releasing her arm, watching intently as his daughter scurried off to the front door.

When the seventeen year old reached the door, she let out a sigh, possibly of relief as her father made her uncomfortable. Filthy man. But she was outside now, on the lit front porch, away from him.

Charlotte Haus stood their with her head down, tears building up in her tired, helpless eyes. Her vision blurred and she swallowed the sadness.

The girl knew se must compose herself, and couldn't be acting upset around the rest of the family. That it would be worse for her case if she showed any pain.

She sucked it up real quick, and was about to starting making her way to the cracked driveway when something caught the corner of her eye.

Underneath the welcome mat, a little corner of what looked like black paper peaked out from the side.

Charlotte hadn't noticed it before and didn't know why all of a sudden she noticed it now. For all she knew it was junk mail, or a flyer someone stuck to the door that fell.

She had a gut feeling that it was more than that. Maybe it was her conscious hoping it was something important.

The girl bent over, grabbing the corner of the paper and pulling it out from under the mat.

She examined the paper, holding it close to her face, seeing "c101066h."

The front made no sense, and she didn't understand quite what this was until she opened up the folded piece of paper. That is when everything started falling into place.

"8. Lenora park. Barbed wire. J051666l"

Chapter 2- Roaches, Busted Lips, and Jude

Charlotte Clair Haus breathed heavily as she saw the tall, lanky figure by the barbed wire fence. It was at the very back of the park, near a few homes, but no one ever went this far back into the park unless you were a kid going to smoke some pot.

But in this instance, the barbed wire fence was a meeting place. A secret one. It was quiet clear that no one could know of Jude's whereabouts. He simply had to keep it all on the down low, writing cryptic messages in a white crayon.

It was quiet, cars driving past was really the only sound that could be heard in the distance other than the rustling of leaves.

With confidence, Charlotte stood back a few feet before speaking out.

"Jude?" She kept her voice quiet.

The figure stepped out a bit further, the moonlight hitting the boy's face.

"Well look who got my little note," he smirked, staring at the girl.

"I only knew it was you because of your hand writing. You scribble like a five-year-old."

"I do, do I?"

The boy continued grinning and took a step towards the girl.

Charlotte looked away shyly.

"Did ya miss me?" Jude whispered to her.

Charlotte swallowed hard, knowing good and well he wanted her to feed his ego. It's what he always wanted. Reassurance that someone cared.

"I don't think you know what your whole 'running off' shit does to me," Charlie replied coldly.

"Well I'm here now aren't I? I always come back-"

"Yeah until the next time that you don't!..."

Jude let out a big sigh, slumping down a bit and not standing quiet as tall as he used to.

That was the thing about these too. They had a lot more control over each other than they thought. Jude could turn tough little Charlotte into a blubbering mess and Charlotte could make the all powerful Jude shrink down into nothing.

The boy stepped even closer to Charlie, their foreheads now being an inch or two apart.

Charlotte could feel her face heating up, and there were so many emotions she couldn't pinpoint the cause.

"I'm- I'm sorry. You're right ya know. I ain't always gonna be so lucky." He whispered, resulting in the girl having goosebumps.

Jude, dressed in all black as usual, towered over the five foot three girl. He was so close to her. And poor Charlotte was so relieved he was back that she just wanted to hug him. Both of them were never the affectionate types. An exchange of a hug was a rare occasion for these two. Both of them seemed to know how hard it was for the other one to admit feelings and to express them in such ways. Due to the harsh circumstances, and recent events that Mister Haus was apart of, Jude luckily read her mind.

"I just had some business to take care of, that's all. But I'm home now. I promise no more runnin' away."

He cleared his throat, wrapping his arms around the child size girl, engulfing her completely. Jude cradled the back of her head, running his hand through her hair. Charlotte didn't even take a moment to question why he was acting like this, in this moment she wanted it so badly.

In a lot of ways, Jude was the only thing she could ever have control over. She knew good and well he was his own person, she also knew when it came down to it, she had him wrapped around her finger. She couldn't let go.

The seventeen-year-old sobbed into the chest of the older boy, letting everything out that had built up for so long. With everything going on and being unstable, this was the only thing she felt she could rely on. Until he would run off again. But it was all living in the now.

"Shhhhhh. Charlotte?" He grabbed her head and removed it from his chest so he could look at her upset face.

He breathed heavily, knowing good and well she doesn't cry for just anything and that he had never seen her cry a day in his life.

"Charlotte why are you crying? Did I-"

"Can you at least tell me where the hell you were?! Why you have to be so damn secretive all the time?! Why you disappear?! And why the fuck you have blood on your lip?!" She exclaimed, raising her voice a little above a talking tone.

Jude grinned sympathetically, taking his sleeves and wiping the tears from her cheeks.

"I can't tell you that. All I can tell you is that I need you're help getting home and if I ever go 'disappearing' again, know that any notes with the letters and numbers that's me."

"You literally just said you promised no more runnin away!" Charlie snapped.

"I didn't say I was running away. I said I may disappear. Poof. Like a magician."

Charlotte breathed heavily, her chest rising and falling. Wiping her nose with her sleeve, she sniffed a few times and quickly pulled herself together.

"Why can't you write like a normal person, you shithead? My dumbass can't figure out your codes!!" She pulled away from him and backed up a little breathing heavily.

"I thought a smart ass like yourself could figure it out. Those numbers are my birthday. May sixteenth, nineteen sixty six. Those letters are my name. And the same goes for you."

Charlotte raised an eyebrow, eyeing the boy in front of her and then shook her head.

"Alright. I guess if you go missing I'll just look for some fucking numbers?!" She started shouting again.

"In case you didn't know, I won't be around here much longer! I'm leaving, to fucking Michigan of all the damn places. And I know people always say 'ehhh well we can write and call'. But eventually all of that stops and then what do you know!! Ya lost the one person that ever gave a shit about you and that you ever gave a shit about. So if you could relax and stay a while, that would be nice! Because I know you got some business to take care of but what about-"

"Charlotte!!" Jude yelled over her.

The girl took a breath, stopping mid sentence, becoming so flustered and frustrated with herself.

"You gotta calm down. I've done this twice in the year and a half I've known you. I wasn't gone for very long and I already told you I ain't going anywhere. Not for now at least, do you-"

He paused, furrowed his brows and narrowed his eyes.

"The hell are you looking at, kid?"

Jude Lawrence sighed exhaustedly, walked up to the girl to get a closer look. He noticed Charlie was staring at the ground, particularly at a Roach.

"Charlie?"

She didn't reply.

"Charlie!" He spoke louder, this time biting his lip as the confusion entered his head.

"God damn it Charlotte, what the fuck?!"

The girl made a noise. A small noise that sounded more as a whimper, like she wanted to form a word but she just couldn't.

"What?"

"Grace." She whispered, her head still down.

"What?"

"Grace." She once again had tears in her eyes, and Jude saw this as she looked up at him.

"Who's Grace?" He asked calmly.

"My- my si-sister." She stuttered and shivered.

Jude's mouth practically gaped open and his eyes went wide at her reply. Charlotte stumbled a bit, throwing the back pack that was in her back to the ground, and slid her back downs tree, sitting on the leaves and dirt. Jude took this as a sign to come sit next to her , and that's what he did.

The two sat there and Jude wanted to ask more about "Grace', but he figured he'd wait a little.

He was nervous. Very nervous about who this Grace really was. Jude deep down hoped that this Grace was just on a vacation, or moved away. He doubted it.

"Is she your older sister? Away at college and somethin happened?"

Charlotte stared at the Roach crawling near her foot and shook her head no.

"No she um... she was my little sister." Her voice was quiet and soft.

"Oh..." Jude but his lip, knowing where this story was going to go.

He shook his head, blinking hard, and tried his best to contain himself.

"I was ten. She was only six. And she wanted to draw with chalk in the driveway. Parents were at work so I had to sit out there with her, David was eight and at a friend's house. It was just Grace and me..." she trailed off a bit but got back on track.

"I um... I think she pissed me off or somethin? I remember storming inside the house and sitting on the couch watching cartoons. And I could still see her from the window."

Charlotte's voice was shaking as the memories started feeling a bit too real but she composed herself quite well. Although there was a huge lump in her throat that she couldn't get rid of.

She opened her mouth but nothing came out besides some sputtering.

"Take your time."

The boy gently placed his hand on the girl's back, rubbing it soothingly. He could feel Charlie taking deep breathes.

"But I just kinda dosed off somehow. I don't know how I let myself do it... I woke up maybe thirty minutes before my parents came home. Gracey wasn't outside, but her chalk was. So I called to her in the house, wondering if maybe she came inside. But I was the only one in the house. And of course when momma found out everyone started looking for her. Wasn't until I was twelve that they found her remains in a cabin or something?"

"Cabin?"

"I'm not really sure. My parents would never tell me and I only know that much because I overheard some conversations."

"This happened here? In Lenora?" Jude asked, knowing that something as tragic as that was rare in these parts.

"No. Passed the light. Thats why my mother won't even let me be over there in broad daylight. Surprised you never heard about, it was all over the news, and papers, signs posted."

"I was a sheltered kid. I didn't know bad people existed until the age of 13... little did I know my family was full of them."

Charlotte grinned, liking that Jude didn't give the same bullshit to her as everyone else. The classic, "are you okay? I'm so sorry for your loss. She's in a better place. It's not your fault."

Her grin faded as she thought about it more.

"That's why you hate when I leave. You feel like you can't let anything out of your sight. You're scared I won't come back and it won't be my choice..."

"I can't be responsible for losing someone else and I can't handle it. I blame myself for it every day. Maybe if I had just sat out there with her, or brought her inside too.. or if I didn't go to fucking sleep!"

"Hey hey hey," Lawrence said sternly.

He shifted his body so that he could look at her better. The poor thing was all curled up into a ball, taking deep breaths and staring blankly. Jude gently put a hand on her face, and kindly turned it toward him.

"Don't do that to yourself. I never want you to take responsibility for me. If Jude fucks up, it's on Jude not Charlie. And I don't ever want to hear something other than that. Got it?"

"Yes." She whimpered.

"I promise, I won't leave."

"Okay." She whispered and nodded, leaning her head against the tree now looking up at the sky.

"Can we please talk about something else, Jude?" The disturbed Charlotte asked politely.

"Yeah, yeah sure."

The two sat there in silence for a solid fifteen minutes, both not knowing what to say to the other one. Sometimes however actions speak louder than words, and that's what Jude did as he snaked an arm around her. Jude pulled her close to him, trying his best to comfort the panicked girl.

Eventually though, the silence had to be broken by someone.

"You wanted something from me, it's why you asked me to meet you here."

"Because I need to come back. I wanna go home, Charlie."

Of course he wanted something, but Charlotte didn't mind as long as he was safe.

"Why do you need my help? Just go home if you want to go home."

"No no no. That won't work," Jude shook his head.

"And why the hell not?"

He looked at the girl and raised an eyebrow at her.

"Really? You don't have any clue as to why I just don't show up at my momma's doorstep?"

Confusion was the only thing on Charlotte's face and Jude got the hint he had to explain.

"Because, there would be too much exposing to do and running away is illegal. They'll send me to a detention center and start an investigation to where I've been."

"Alright well then what's your plan? And why do you need me."

"I'm going to rough myself up even more. I need you to say you found me stumbling in the park and I was like this. I'm going to tell them I was kidnapped and I escaped. I'm gonna say I was blindfolded and had no clue where I was, but that I had just ran and ran along a main road. I'll send them on a wild goose chase and they won't find evidence and the case will be closed."

He seemed quite proud of himself, but Charlotte only thought of him to be more insane.

She watched the boy jump up off the ground and he started to pace.

"You mean you want to tell me that's easier than saying you ran away? You want to tell police you were kidnapped?? Wouldn't that lead to a bigger investigation?"

"Just do it, okay?"

"I don't want to get-"

"Just please Charlie, for the love of God, please do it, okay? I need you to help me look like I've been starved, beaten, and fucked in the ass repeatedly by a 55-year-old white slob with a beer belly and receding hairline."

"Jesus Christ, Jude."

Jude gave a goofy laugh as he started throwing handfuls of dirt on himself, laughing hysterically out of nerves.

His odd actions made Charlotte visibly nervous, only she kept her mouth closed about his odd behavior.

"I can't fucking do this tonight. I lied my ass out of dinner telling my parents I was going to spend the night at Sylvia's house. They ain't gonna find out I wasn't."

"Wooooow. Classic Charlotte, huh." He crossed his arms.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"It's the same excuse you always use only the name changes. I figured they would have caught on by now. I also figured this would be the excuse you'd use anyway to come see me."

He knew Charlie too well. She knew he was completely right and was also shocked that her parents were still so gullible.

"Who the fuck is Sylvia anyway?"

"Some bitch I used to be friends with in ninth grade. My parents are so oblivious they don't know she moved to Toronto," Charlie got up off the ground, now standing in the spot that she was just sitting in.

"Then we pick this plan up tomorrow morning. Don't worry though, I had planned for this to happen just in case, so... we'll still be on schedule." Jude the walked over to the small child, standing right next to Charlie.

"Well what are we gonna do now? You have a place to stay?" Charlotte said picking her backpack up off the ground, digging inside of it, trying to find her pack of cigarettes.

"Nah. I was hoping to go home tonight," he sneered sarcastically.

"But-" he began again, "as I said earlier, I had a few back up plans just in case you were gonna throw me a curve ball. I knew you would."

Charlotte furrowed her brows at him and frowned.

"Well I'm sorry I got in the way of your plans," she barked playfully, putting the cigarette between her lips, then jamming her hand in her pocket to grab the lighter.

"So?" He shrugged.

"So? I was gonna sleep in my car. I guess you can crash if you want to but-"

"No, no, no. Too risky. Police patrol shit. They could see us. Pass me a cig, would ya?"

Charlotte put her own cigarette in between her lips, slipped her fingers into the pack of cigarettes, pulling one out. She bossed one to Jude with a shaky hand.

"Open." She muttered and he obeyed.

She put the cigarette in between his lips and jammed the pack into his hands.

"Light me up will ya babe?" Jude grinned, speaking from the side of his mouth.

"Stop that shit, you ain't James Dean... So I assume you have a better plan of where to sleep?"

Jude watched her fumble with the lighter, looking at her sweetly and patiently. She didn't catch his glances.

"Why won't you just tell your mom you felt sick and came home, and on your way, you found me." The two both blew out smoke, the cigarettes in between their thin fingers.

"No, that's too suspicious. I was out looking for you earlier today. She'll suspect something. You said you had planned for me to give you a curve ball so?..."

Jude breathed heavily and leaned his head back to look at the sky.

"Alright then. Plan B."

The boy started walking away, Charlotte didn't know where the hell he was off to. He had expected her to follow.

"Ummmmm?!! Jude?"

"Follow me, goddamn it!" He shouted playfully at her.

Charlotte threw her cigarette to the ground and stomped it out before running after him, trying to catch up to Jude.

"What's you're plan B huh?" The girl breathed hard as she finally caught up to him.

"Just give me your keys. Don't worry bout it." He didn't even look at her, just put his hand out, electing the keys to her precious baby.

"Yeah if you think I'm gonna hand you the keys to my car without even telling me where I'm going you're a damn idiot."

Jude put his hand down.

"Fine. You drive. But listen to my directions."

He was very demanding, more so than usual and Charlie was noticing how aggravated and on edge he had become.

After about a 20 minute walk to the parking lot of the park, the two had reached Charlie's black, 1983 Porsche 944. One of her most prized possessions that she worked so hard for.

"Charlie?"

"Yeah?"

"Ride or die."

Jude grinned, looking at the innocent girl who stared up at him.

He bit his lip, chewing on his lip ring, before gently pushing Charlie up against her most prized position.

Charlotte's heart was pounding not knowing what the hell he was going to do, wish she could just get in the car already and drive to wherever he needed her to go.

Jude, the cryptic boy, grabbed her hand, putting it above her head, and held it there, pinning her to the vehicle. He started to stare at her for roughly a minute before she spoke.

"Jude what are you doing..." she whispered, looking at him intently.

"I'm- I'm not sure...." he whispered back.

"But I'm sorry."

With that, he leaned in, pressing his busted lip to her forehead, kissing her gently.

She felt the cold metal from his lip ring.

Charlotte had no idea what was to come, or why he was sorry or why she was even agreeing to do any of this. All she knew was it was going to be just her and him.

Chapter 3- Aunt S' Bedroom Floor

Charlie kept her eyes on the dark road.

"God damn it Jude, I've been driving for fucking two hours and you still won't tell me what your grand plan is!" she shouted slightly, becoming concerned.

"A lil further. You'll know soon."

The girl glanced over at Jude, leaning back in the seat, eyes half open, grinning like an idiot.

"I hope you actually know where we are headed. Cause to me is seems like you told me to get on a random ass highway."

"Well, that's because that's exactly what I did," he laughed, giving her a funny look.

Charlotte's mouth dropped open as she stared at him for a quick second in utter confusion and frustration.

"I don't even know what to do with you anymore you weirdo. I tell you to give me directions and all you say is get on the freeway, I just don't understand all of this b-"

"Take exit five. Coming up soon," Jude interrupted.

"Sir yes fucking sir."

The ride itself was quiet. The radio was broken, which left silence. The two didn't talk a whole lot. They were stuck in their own heads and thoughts, there was a lot to think about of course.

"Light me up and sing me a song, it's too quiet in here. Please and thank you," Charlie asked politely, seeing exit two, knowing her exit was coming up soon.

"Anything for you, my little ray of motherfucking sunshine," he grumbled, taking the pack of Charlie's cigarettes from the glove box.

"Why aren't you singing?" She teased.

"Oh! Shut up," Jude fussed.

The boy took the cigarette and placed it in between Charlie's lips.

"People are strange. When you're a stranger..."

Jude began to sing quietly, snatching the lighter from the cup holder, lighting the girls vice.

"Faces look ugly when you're alone."

Charlotte took one pale hand to pull the cigarette out of her mouth, blowing thick smoke that filled the car.

"Women seem wicked when you're unwanted," Charlie joined in, grinning and feeling truly relaxed.

"The streets are uneven when you're down."

Charlotte Clair took another puff, this time peeling her eyes off the road, looking at Jude and blowing the smoke in his face.

"Exit 5," he pointed to the sign and ignored her smoke.

"So what am I looking for now?"

Jude chuckled.

"Aunt Sylvia's motel," he smiled, knowing how ironic it was to find a sign for a motel with that name.

"You're kidding?" Charlotte laughed, turning down a narrow street.

"Nope. Now look for the sign. Looks like there's a lot of hotels and restaurants down this way."

"What the fuck dude?! I have twenty dollars on me that I'll probably have to use to get gas to drive us back home! I have no idea how we can pay for a motel. Man, do you even know if this is a safe town? And more importantly, how did you spot this??"

"There was a sign, advertising it saying it was off of exit 5, my ray of fucking sunshine. Safety, eh who cares. It's part of the adventure isn't it? And as for the money, let's just say I came into a very large sum of it and there's no reason for you to worry."

"You're nuts," she laughed and shook her head.

"You're taking care of me. And I'm taking care of you. This is how we work, Charlie."

On the inside, Charlotte was gleaming. These feelings towards Jude would come up occasionally, and she didn't know what to think towards it. But she knew it was going to be ride or die with him.

She knew he was crazy, and that she was committing to something she knew very little about. At the same time, Charlie was the kind to do anything for her friends. If they go down, she goes down with them.

In her defense, Jude was particularly good at getting people involved, using his connections to help himself. It also helped his case that he was a rather attractive young man, and being 'bad' and mysterious was something that appealed to young girls.

Of course, Charlotte would never tell him that unless he acted on it first. Jude, as much as he wanted to seem careless, bad, fearless, and mysterious, did care about the girl. He would do anything for her to a certain level, but again, he'd never be so blunt about it to Charlotte. It would take away the effect of what he had going on.

Charlotte spotted the sign to the motel, lit up in blue lights. She made a left into the parking lot of the small motel.

The outside was a small two story building, and looked old but was well kept none the less. It's exterior was brown wood, and was well lit with lights that were installed at the top of building. The parking lot was all filled up, only a few spots were left.

"Guess I am going to spend the night at Sylvia's after all huh?" She laughed, pulling into a parking spot, gripping the gear stick.

"I felt like it was a sign we should stop for the night."

Jude put his hand on top of Charlie's and looked at her.

Charlotte got nervous.

"Here's the plan. We're probably five towns over. So news of my disappearance probably hasn't hit here yet. But just in case, you're going to go in first, ask for a room. I'll give you the money. I'm gonna walk in after you, and hang out near the nearest bathroom so they can't get a good luck at me. Gotta keep it on the down low."

"Well how about this. We go in together. You take a seat. And I'll get us a room. You walking to the back and hanging around is suspicious as fuck. Keep your head down," Charlotte suggested.

Jude thought for a moment but then realized the girl was right.

"Yeah. Okay, yeah let's go in."

Jude let go of her hand and opened the door to the car, stepping out, pulling the backpack out as well.

"Jude?" Charlotte whispered, also getting out of the car and slamming the door, making her way so she could walk along side the boy.

"You sure we doing the right thing? Is this our best option? I just have a weird feeling, I mean, so many things can go wrong here-"

"Shhhhh. No over thinking. We're here now, and we'll take it step at a time. Just follow my lead," he replied quietly.

Jude Lawrence slung the bag over his shoulder and grabbed the hand of Charlotte reassuringly. Charlie looked over at him and swallowed hard before starting to walk to the front door of the motel.

The two made their ways inside, and they noticed there were only a few people lingering in the lobby. This eased their nerves.

"Go find somewhere to sit. Did you slip some money in the bag?" She whispered.

"Yep. 100$ should be more than enough to cover it."

They walked into the motel. It smelled like old ladies. The lights were dim and old furniture decorated the lobby. The carpet was an obnoxious pattern and the wallpaper would have had to have been there since the 60s. There was a large front desk with two older women busily working.

Jude took a seat on the couch that was near the front door while Charlotte made her way to the desk, her boots smacking against the floor. None of the ladies even looked up from their work.

"Excuse me?" She said sweetly.

The girl stood on her tiptoes and folded her hands neatly on the desk, smiling and waiting politely for a response.

The ladies ignored her.

"Excuse me?" She said louder.

"Sorry honey, if you're lost call the police," one gray-haired lady barked and looked at her briefly.

"Look lady, I ain't lost. I just need a room for one night."

The same lady kept staring at something on her desk, and she gave a sarcastic laugh.

"Did you not see the "no vacancy" sign? We don't got any rooms. It's two days before Thanksgivin. Everyone's travelin now."

Charlotte huffed and slammed her keys down on the desk, getting their attention.

"You got a key hanging right there to a room. So why can't I have it? I got money!" She begged and glanced over at Jude whose head was still low.

"Please ma'am, I've been driving all day to get to my grandmother's house and I had to stop for the night. Please Miss? I'll take anything ya got." Charlotte pleaded making her voice sound so soft and sweet. Her eyes full of hope.

The lady looked at her for a while before sighing. She leaned closer to the girl.

"I got one room. One bed. No hot water. The TV is broken and the toilet may or may not flush. There's only one lamp, The over head light is broken. But It's all I got," she offered, and Charlotte smiled.

"I'll take it."

The old hag took a few steps back to look at the girl who was pleading for a room. She raised her eyebrow, but then sighed and shrugged.

"Alright I guess. It's all yours."

"Great! How much do I owe ya?" Charlotte got excited, thinking that for once something was following her plans.

"Well, a one bed room for one night is normally 50$, however, since nothing works and all you'll really be using is a bed and a lamp and possibly the sink, I'll give it to you for 15$. How's that?" She smiled sympathetically

"Sounds good to me!"

The lady shrugged once more, still confused, but went to the wall and grabbed the key.

"You'll be in room 16, top floor. We have complementary coffee and a communal microwave, but that's about it. Pool is closed, but I'd doubt you'd go swimming anyway with it being thirty degrees outside. Return the key to the desk by 11:00 AM. That's when we expect you to leave at the very latest. If you're late, there's a 15$ fee. Your room is a no smoking room. But quiet frankly I don't care what you do in it. Questions?"

It had become very apparent that she had given this spiel way too many times and couldn't care less. Charlotte decided to aggravate.

"Any grub around here?" She asked slipping the lady her 20$ bill, and whisked away the key that the lady set on the desk.

"Yep. Mickey D's about a ten minute walk up the road," she hissed, becoming irritated for really no reason at all.

Charlie chucked and turned away, key in hand.

Charlotte Clair looked over at Jude who still had his face down and wasn't paying attention to anyone. Charlotte waved her hand, but nothing. She knew she couldn't say his name. Too much of a risk.

"Laurence! Come on, let's go," she called to him and he jerked his head up.

He nodded and practically jumped up off the old sofa and made his way towards Ms. Haus.

"You got the key?" He whispered to her.

"Yep. We're all good to go. And it only cost us 15 bucks," she smirked and walked quickly out of the lobby and outside.

"How'd you get it so cheap? You flash your tits to the old hag or something? Is she into that?"

He joked and Charlotte's rolled her eyes.

"Jesus Christ Jude! No I didn't flash her. There's no hot water, no TV, the toilet probably doesn't work and there's only one lamp and one bed. It's all she had left so she cut off a good chunk of it."

"Well I've stayed in worse."

The two kids had now reached the flight of stairs that was outside of the motel. This lead to the second level of rooms.

They walked down the hallway that was was outside, passing each room one by one until they reached the end.

"Looks like this is it," she smiled, looking at the faded painted number, '16'.

Charlie took the key that was in her little hand and shoved it into the lock and twisted the key. She heard the click and turned the knob.

The dusty, god awful smell hit them immediately.

"It smells like an old lady died in here, but she also shat herself," Jude commented as they both entered the room.

He was right. It didn't smell pleasant, and he knew he was gonna be roughin' it. But compared to where he had just been staying, this was nothing.

Jude flicked on the light switch which turned on a small lamp that was on a wooden table. The lady really wasn't kidding, this place really was a piece of work.

The room had a bright orange carpet that was stained and matted and probably housed bugs. The bed was a normal queen-sized bed with stained and old sheets dressing it. Above the bed was an ornate mirror, dirtied with dust and fingerprints. There were two small drawers on both sides of the bed and the small box tv sat on a stand. That was really all that was in there beside the door leaving to the bathroom.

"Well this is-"

"It's something. Just one night we'll make it work," Jude interrupted.

He shut the door behind him and sat on the edge of the bed, watching Charlie throw down the bag and slide her muddy boots off.

"I can't believe we did this," she laughed, shaking her head.

"Did what? Find a motel?"

She nodded.

"I lied to my mother, ran away to go see a guy she told me to stop looking for. I'm doing this to a lady whose already lost one child. I for some reason decided and agreed to get in the car with you as you ordered me to and told me to drive on a highway for two hours. I then pulled up to a motel and—and it's just all—all so crazy to me because I never thought I'd do anything like this!"

She rambled out of nerves.

"You're really livin life on the edge aren't ya? Staying at a motel?" He teased and laughed at her.

"Unlike you, I respect my parents wishes and I try to listen. Well my mother's at least. As for my father he can go swim in with a plugged in toaster for all I care. I feel like I at least owe her that. Honesty."

"Well, we're here now. You're with me and this is where we are tonight. Think of it as mini vacation. So stop your worrying and relax a lil, will ya? You're bugging me out," Jude tried to reason with her.

"You're right. Sorry," Charlotte replied sheepishly.

Silence.

"Why did you say that... about your dad? You've never spoken of him like that before. In fact I've never heard you talk about him really at all."

Jude was now sitting on the edge of the bed, looking at the child intently with a glimpse of pain in his eyes noticing how upset Charlotte truly was.

"I saw him. Sticking his dick in other women. Not just one. Multiple. There were several there—there when I—I walked in. And none of those women were my poor mother.." she breathed heavily, staring off into space again, letting her head take her to dark dark places.

"My dear.... he truly is a bastard. Isn't he? To betray his family like that. To betray his wife! He ain't no man, he ain't no man Charlie. He's a fucking coward!!!"

Jude was now also visibly upset. His voice had rose the snore and more he thought about it. A subject that for him, hit too close to home.

"Jude honey calm down it's okay- it's really oka-"

"No! No but it's isn't okay! Any man who stoops that low and causes that much pain, I wouldn't let them see the light of day. My father did it to my mother, and of course he begged for her forgiveness. She was too sweet so she actually believed him and what do ya know that shit head is banging my teacher and then my older sister!"

Jude's face was now red, his body shaking and tears streaming down his face. Charlie had struck a nerve and an emotions she's never seen with Jude Arthur Laurence before.

"Hey hey hey! Jude! Jude!" Charlotte rushed over to him, gathering the frazzled boy in her arms, rubbing his back and holding him close to her chest. He clutched into her for dear life.

"I'm so- sorry. I- I'm - so- so sorry." He choked out in between sobs.

"Jude it's okay. It's all okay. I need you to listen to me. And I need you to breathe for me. Deep breaths come on." She coached him through his nervous break down.

"I'm horrible."

"What?" Charlotte whispered.

"I have a job to do and I can't even do it without crying like a fucking child! I'm so- so on edge. Because-"

"Because why?!" She started to panic herself.

"I lied Charlie. I lied to you. I can't come clean yet- but I- I lied."

Jude tried real hard, closing his eyes and taking deep breathes as he was instructed. And sooner or later the shaking became more and more minimal and so did his tears.

As curious as Charlie was and as concerned as she had gotten, she had just wanted this highly emotional day to end and figured he was just spewing out random information. She took it like a grain of salt.

"Why don't we work on getting some sleep. We've had a long day hmm?" She continued to cradle his head and felt him nod.

"No, Charlie I don't think you get it I-"

"Stop. Stop thinking. Stop talking. Just breathe. Can you do that? Please?"

"I'm exhausted."

She hushed him once more before pulling apart from him, letting the distressed boy sit up on his own.

"I'll sleep on the floor, you can have the bed." Jude offered.

Charlotte shook her head instantly.

"Fuck no you aren't sleeping on the floor you'll probably get lice and and some weird disease. The floors are disgusting. And you've had just as a long day as I've had and I don't know where you've been sleeping. We'll just share it."

She crashed down on the bed next to him and laid down.

"You sure? I'm filthy and smell horrible. I'm also a bit of a bed hog." Jude tried to joke.

He went from sitting, to laying down next to her, staring at the gray ceiling. He smiled.

"Well there's a shower. No hot water but you can rinse off. I think I have a shirt that could fit you." The girl offered, mostly joking back.

"No. No when we go back tomorrow I ain't gonna look clean. For your own good though I'll just wear my boxers and take you up on your t shirt offer."

"For the record, you don't smell that bad."

"You're too kind." He said in a posh voice.

"There's too many assholes in the world Jude."

"Yeah. And I'm one of them. You're too good. Hell you were just freaking out over staying in a motel."

Jude was up to much worse, of course, that had to be kept a secret.

"I just haven't lived as much as you."

Charlotte got up off the bed, leaving Jude lying there and grabbed the bag, scrambling around in it.

After a few moments, she threw the waded up black shirt at him hard.

She zipped up the rest of the back pack, swinging it over her shoulder.

"I'm gonna go change. I'll be back."

"Charlotte?"

"What?" She narrowed her eyes.

"I've done terrible things. It's why I was away. And I think I have to continue doing terrible things."

Author's Note

Hello! Thanks for reading so far! I am uploading three chapters at a time and am still in the process of finishing up this rather long book. Hang in there things are about to get interesting.

-kt

friendship
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Kt Z

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Books are better than people

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