I've been living in a dream about you

Charlie had seen many people come and go from her life as a child. Her mother being the first to strike her memories. The woman had packed up and left after telling Nathan, her father, that she wasn’t happy - that life had more to offer her. All Charlie had her from her hiding spot at their bedroom door was that she and her father weren’t enough, that somehow they’d failed the woman. She’d been 6 at the time. She often thought of her mother as that, nothing more than a woman she’d once known. Diana Walker was dead to her for all intent and purpose. It was from then on that Charlie would go out of her way to make sure she was useful to people, in some way or another. It was only later that they would find out she’d been pregnant when she left, with a little boy, a half brother, one that Charlie would never meet. 

This is where her life would begin to take all the wrong turns. Twelve and already on the wrong track, she was sure the universe had been against her in some way. She still wasn’t entirely convinced that it wasn’t. Though she’d always been smart without trying that had lent her nothing in making the wrong choices in friends. One in particular she’d latched on to like the girl was a life line. She was adventurous, daring, brave and completely okay with breaking all the rules that she could. Just because they could, and she’d convinced Charlie that she could to. That she could make of the world what they wanted. She’d adored this girl. Loved her even. 

Too bad that would take her world away. She’d see a prison cell before her sixteenth birthday. It was supposed to be a simple dare - a quick thing - nothing more nothing less. They hadn’t planned on anyone being inside.  Redford was a rural town - one that had long ago fallen once it’s only machine factory had closed it’s doors, leaving it’s residents without work and moving away. The ones that had stayed were left with little options and their children with little to do other than get into trouble. One night, the two girls had broken into Charlie’s father’s whiskey while her was working at the station on a night patrol. A game of truth or dare had taken a turn for the worse when arson got involved. Charlie was reluctant, but assurances were made. “No one lived there, it was a shack. Nothing bad could happen.” More shots were taken. 

Charlie had chickened out. She knew setting a building on fire was a line she didn’t want to cross. There were things that could go wrong and even in her drunken state she couldn’t let herself. Her friend though - she’d dragged Charlie along to at least see the old house, with it’s broken shutters and dilapidated structure. No one could possibly live there. Not in many years. 

She remembers her hand being held as the doorway went up in flames, casting a soft glow over them both - until it was a blaze. They’d both stood there watching as the flames grew higher and before she could say they could leave, surely someone had seen the flames by then, It was too late. 

The flash of police blues flashed across the seen and a beam of light hit them. Her father of all people stared from behind the flashlight. Eyes full of disbelief and worry. He knew what they had done before they did. Mr Tucker, the local homeless man had set up camp in the old building. She would never forget the look in Nathan’s eyes that night.  Before she’d been able to think about it she reached into her friends bag and taken the lighter and fluid that went with it. She wasn’t 18, but her friend would be soon - she’d get in less trouble. Maybe not even that much. 

Oh how wrong she’d been once murder was mentioned her world spun out.  It was in prison that she’d found her love of books. It was in prison that she’d decided that caring too much about someone could lead you into oblivion. It was in prison that she decided she wanted a new life. a new start.  Since being released just after her 20th birthday she’d spent time in 6 cities, the last being San Francisco. There had been a small book store for sale with an apartment on the upper floor. It was the perfect hide away for her. 

She’d been there 5 months without incident. December 19th a single article brought all her dirty secrets to light. She didn’t understand - no one knew. She’d told no one. Her father had suspected but the young charlie had stood fast. She’d set that fire. She had killed that man - it was her idea for everything. 

How on earth had they found out? As far as she knew no one here knew her past. It was a big place though - Her family could be here. The woman and the boy. Or even her friend, the one she would have done anything for. 

☽  Wanted Connections  ☾

The Friend: Name UTP Face Claim: UTP feel free to message for suggestions Age: Thirty Sexuality: UTP - Though Charlie felt there was something there as a teenager.  Bio: Mostly UPT - They were the bad seed charlie latched onto because they made her feel alive and loved. Like she was needed for something. Maybe they offered each other that. 

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The Brother: Name UTP - they are half so don’t have to share the same last name Face Claim: UTP but should carry some resemblance.  Age: Twenty-Two Sexuality: UTP Bio: Completely UTP Charlie knows nothing about them, but has always attempted to find him. She’d spoken to their mother once after she was released from prison, but she’d told her she wanted nothing to do with her before charlie had even had a chance to ask about him.