The parent project - Chenry

Chapter One | The Project

| H E N R Y |

"Ahem!"

I shifted into the direction of the cough. Charlotte fucking Bolton. The beta bitch. Hair so black it was midnight, wild and curly. Untamed. Much like her, I despised her rebel attitude and "tough as nails." exterior now. I'd put so many cracks into her walls, I can tell when they're coming down. It was easy, she was easy. Like reading a book. From the way her arms are crossed I can tell she's annoyed. Doesn't wanna be in this class, in this room, in this universe... with me. She's picking chipped red nailpolish from her fingernails now. Brown eyes glazed, sleepy and pink. She looks even more stoned and miserable today than she did in the halls yesterday. I let my eyes adjust to her ugly plaid vest with metal alterations. black Doc Martin boots, and the exposed backstraps of her bra.

Sharp black winged eyeliner hid her gaze from me. A silver diamond piercing was nestled in the left corner of her nose. She smacked her glossy lips away on a piece of gum. This wasn't the real Charlotte, this was an imposter. The replacement. Even sitting behind her one desk away, her smell was different. Back when I first met her she could barely open her mouth to speak to me, she never looked me in the eyes for more than a few seconds, and her smell was sweet. Pure. Innocent. The girl was a mouse. And now look at her, I watched as Charlotte threw her head back to yawn with boredom. The sound was loud enough for Ms. Shapen to toss a glare her way. A total freak.

"You have all been chosen by the Board of Education specifically to participate in this program as some of SwellView High's top performing students of my class this year."

She was gathering assignment papers across her desk as she spoke. Out of the corner of my eye, my girlfriend was staring. Bianca's lenghty brown hair fell across her face, her head was bent in my direction. I pretended to listen, leaning foward on my desk.

"This is your chance to be a part of something much bigger than just your education here at SwellView, but to prove to yourselves you're worthy of the privilege to compete."

She paused dramtically, raising a thin black eyebrow. She glanced from one face to the next. Letting her eyes linger between the aisles and cross the rows of desks. I'm not sure anyone breathed, this was the most quiet they've all been in their entire lives.

"There's also a 250,000$ cash prize for the family that makes it to the end of the program, happy, healthy, and having learned something sincerely. Plus a passing grade and a one way ticket to the college of your choices right after graduation."

Holy shit. I shot up in my seat as the silence was was replaced by a collective gasp.

"SHUT.UP!"

The girl to my left squealed as she grabbed her friend by the wrist and clapped her hand over her mouth after she said the words. Both of Ms. Shapens eyebrows went up before the class erupted in a ripple of excitement, spreading like wildfire. Ms. Shapen stood at the center of the room with a dozen manila folders tucked tightly into her chest, as if she was protecting them. She waited for the room to get quiet again before continuing.

"Bro!"

Mikey stood up to slap me on the back, we slapped palms in unison. My heart was pounding, I slid back into my seat and let my thoughts blaze up in fantasies of what I could do with that much fucking money. Forget finishing highschool. I could open my own strip club and call it "Bitches Aplenty."

"This program only comes around once in a lifetime and not all of you will be invited to take part. This will determine who makes it out of highschool with a diploma..."

She gave one of her one of her more severe glances at the corner of the class where some of the others were whispering and giggling amongst each other.