Charlotte's Scars

Chapter 10 - Charlotte

Chapter Ten

Charlotte

                I called Karla before I left the party but she said she was going to find her own way home. Apparently she found the preppy guy fascinating and wasn't ready to leave yet. Normally I would stay with her to make sure she didn't do anything stupid, but I was afraid if I hung out there any longer then I would do something stupid - like cry.

                I had enough money to pay for a cab, but when I got home, I wished I'd stayed at the frat party. Watching Christian make-out with a sleazy sorority girl was actually more preferable to deal with my drunken parents.

                I could hear the music blaring from the sidewalk and there were four motorcycles parked at the curb. I knew they were my step-dad's friends' because not many people in Bridgewalk owned such expensive Harley Davidsons.

                I stood at the bottom of the porch stairs and stared at my front door wondering if maybe I should go to Karla's house. Mrs. and Mr. Steele wouldn't even question my being there without Karla, and they'd welcome me into their home with open arms. They knew my parents liked to party - they also knew the type of friends my step-dad kept, so they let me stay over anytime I showed up on their front steps. Although, no one knew how bad my parents could get, and I wasn't going to tell anyone - I honestly do love my mom and dad. Well, when they're sober, anyways.

                I looked at the front window that was boarded up with two by fours and tried to listen for any yelling or rowdy voices but all I could hear was the music. That was a good sign - they probably weren't too far into the tequila yet. I could probably go inside, scurry up to my bedroom and lock the door before anyone even noticed I was home.

                I was exhausted, confused, and as humiliating as it is, a little heartbroken. I knew I shouldn't let myself get too close to Christian because he was a player, and I hated myself for kissing him. If I couldn't refrain from giving into him then he was going to be my destruction - he was going to be my undoing.

                I pushed that thought to the back of my mind and ascended the porch stairs. Maybe seeing my parents in their drunken state would be the splash of reality I needed to remember why Christian was such a bad idea. My mom was only seventeen when she made the mistake of having unprotected sex with her generation's "Christian Steele". His name was Adam Stuart, and my mom was in love with him - unfortunately, he only loved one thing about her, and after he got bored of it, she never saw him again.

                Young, pregnant and disowned by her parents, she fell into a bad crowd and met my step-dad. I love my step-dad just as much as I love my mom - I mean, he's the only dad I've ever had, but they are bad for each other. When they drink, which is almost every night, its like mixing fire and oil. I love them when their sober, but lately they seemed to be drinking and shooting up more than usual. The tequila and whiskey was one thing, but the drugs - that was something else altogether. 

                I took a deep breath and walked into the house.

                The music was blaring out of the stereo in the living room, but I could hear laughter in the kitchen. I needed to walk past the kitchen to reach the stairs, but if I could get to my room then I wouldn't be bothered for the rest of the night. I started down the hallway, but before I took even two steps the bathroom door opened up and my mom stumbled out laughing.

                Her dark brown hair was a knotted, and it looked like she hadn't washed it in days. She was wearing a tank top that was two sizes too big and one strap was hanging down her arm. I could see fresh new needle marks on the inside of her elbow but she was too far gone to even notice me. She stumbled toward the kitchen, and just when I thought I was safe, a man wearing a white muscle shirt came out of the same bathroom. He had my mom's bright red lipstick smeared on his lips and neck.