Broken Silence

Trigger Warning

Charlie’s Journey starts with a dark past, and the main story is one of a healing nature, but there are events that happen that could be seen as triggering, such as violence, language, and intense grief.

Also, emotions if you’re not a fan of those.

Three years Prior

Friday Evening

Charlie

“Hurry up, Charlie!” my best friend Elizabeth hisses up at me. She’s waiting for me in the grass under my window, which is our usual spot. I slowly slide it open and throw down my small backpack. As soon as it makes contact with her head, she curses up at me and I chuckle quietly. I make quick work of using the tree that grows close to the side of the house to climb to the ground. If my parents were smart, they’d cut the limbs farther away, but who would suspect a kid like me to escape at night? It’s the major upside to being perceived as the good kid.

“Let’s do this!” I whisper as we hurry down the block to her car. She always parks at the end of the street so I won’t get caught; we’ve gotten this whole routine down to a science.

My parents are fairly laid-back, but they wouldn’t be happy if they knew that I sneak out every weekend.

“This is going to be a huge party. Evan’s parents are out of town, and the entire school is going to be there. Well anyone who cares enough about their reputation will be. They got someone’s older brother to get the beer and the neighbors are all too old to give a shit.” She quickly checks her makeup as she stops at the stop sign, giving me a bright red smile before driving away.

“You look perfect, Lizzy. Quit messing with it,” I say with an eye roll. Lizzy’s been my best friend for years and is a natural beauty. She has perfect straight brown hair and bright blue eyes and knows how to enhance it with expertly done makeup. She’s athletic but girly. Essentially she’s every high school boy's wet dream. Then there’s me… her plain best friend that doesn’t know how to properly do her makeup, has social anxiety, and whose only real skill is singing. I’m fairly certain that Lizzy is the only reason I don’t get teased, so I’ll take it. And at least she isn’t like those movie besties who would have abandoned me the moment she started to get a hint of popularity.

Plus, I’m part of the drama club which isn’t exactly the most popular club in school. But musicals are my passion and I have no desire to change anything about me. Singing is one of those things that just instantly calms me and I hope to be brave enough to try out for Broadway one day. Even if I have to work hard to get there, I’ll see it done.

“Earth to Charlie,” Lizzy sings out, laughing when I blink rapidly to clear my thoughts and give her a sheepish smile. “I was saying we’re almost here.”

Thanks to the ridiculous number of cars here, we end up having to park two blocks away from the party in the only spot we could find. I’m thankful for my converse while Lizzy taps away in her stilettos. The sound of music and the murmur of the crowd greets us as we walk closer, and I groan internally. I’m not exactly a recluse, but I also have no desire to be pressed up against a bunch of drunk people in a tiny, sweaty space.

Lizzy always wants to attend the big parties and make a name for herself at our high school, and somehow I always get roped in to going with her. She’s a junior, but I’m just a sophomore, so I guess it’s lucky we were invited at all. My job is essentially to make sure she makes it home safe and doesn’t do anything too stupid. Starbrooke is hardly dangerous, but a drunk girl should never be alone to drive or party. She’s my best friend, she won’t become another statistic.

“Lizzy!” a chorus rings out as soon as we step into the room, strangers coming up and taking her away before I can even process. Not wanting to look like the lost puppy friend, I head for the cooler and grab a bottle of water before rushing off to find a quieter corner.

Two hours into the party and I’m more than ready to go home. I don’t feel like drinking and at this point in the night, I’m practically the only sober one here. When a random drunk girl drops her entire cup of beer in my lap, then just laughs like a hyena, I decide I’m done.

Angrily wiping away the nasty smelling liquid, I bite my tongue and walk off to find Lizzy and convince her I need to get back. Each new room I step into is a gamble between finding drunk guys or walking awkwardly into a room where someone was fucking. Eventually I find her flirting with one of the jocks in the kitchen, with a beer in her hand and her

ass on the counter. The guy between her legs is spewing some bullshit romantic words he probably learned in a romcom.

“Hey Lizzy, you ready to go?” I ask gently, not trying to be rude but also wanting to be heard.

“She’s busy, loser,” the guy says without missing a beat, shooting me a quick glare before nipping at her ear, his hand moving up her skirt to rest on her thigh.

“Wasn’t asking you, asshole,” I shoot back. “You good, Lizzy?”

“Not yet, but here are my keys, you can drive my car home. I’m going to stay the night with Stephany since she lives next door, and I’m safe.” She’s barely slurring and coherent or I wouldn’t be considering leaving, but I’m also not hanging around for hours while she flirts.

“Okay, I’ll check in with her,” I offer and she leans over to playfully roll her eyes.

“Fine, Mom,” she teases, before capturing his lips in a sloppy kiss. Ew.

Weaving my way through the tightly packed halls, I do yet another search for the friend in question. I’d rather just go, but finding her a friend to make sure someone is looking out for her is a must. Once I find Stephany and know Lizzy’s in good hands, I slip out and walk back to the car.

Driving home this late is a risk, I’m underage and unlicensed, and I’m hoping I don’t run into any cops. I’m way too young to be driving around at nearly midnight, especially in a town this small.

Thank the lord, I think as I pull into the same spot Lizzy waited in earlier today. I’d be in a world of trouble for driving illegally, and the stench of beer covering my clothes wouldn’t help the situation. Nor would it help if my parents walked in and found me like this.

Mumbling to myself, I make the trek back to the house. Just as I reach the big oak tree, I see the light flicker on. Shit. That means Dad couldn’t sleep again or has more work to do. Hopefully he didn’t check on me while I was gone or I would be grounded for the school year. Our walls aren’t exactly soundproof either, so I have to be super quiet sneaking back in or face the wrath of my sleep deprived, midwestern mom. At least I’m practiced at this, I’ve done it enough to perfect my technique. Having a best friend like Lizzy means sneaking out to do things, especially since I wouldn’t be able to go otherwise.

My mom thinks that high school girls shouldn’t stay out past nine, even on weekends, so if I don’t sneak out I’d never be able to do anything with Lizzy. Hell, even school dances don’t end until closer to eleven. Her parents are always gone, so she pretty much does whatever she wants.

Taking a deep breath to brace myself, I start to quietly climb the tree, slipping in my bedroom window. The window creaks, so I opt to leave it cracked until later and just close the curtains. Snatching up the pajamas I set out earlier, I kick off my shoes and change out of my beer encrusted ensemble.

As I’m walking as silently as possible to my bed, a loud bang echoes up from downstairs. Freezing, I look over and notice my door’s cracked. That isn’t a good sign, that means they know I wasn’t home. Mulling over a decent cover story, I decide to just head down and face the music now. I’m way too freaking anxious to leave it for later.

When I reach the door, hand hovering over the knob and anxious dread filling my stomach, I hear an ear-piercing scream. My heart starts pounding in my chest and bile rises in my panic.

Why is Mom screaming?