Chapter 1: Charlotte
“Your sister is in detention. I’m sure you remember where that is since you spent so much time there.” The school secretary pointed down the hallway as she spoke.
“Yes ma’am, I do. Thank you.” My lips formed a half-smile and I turned the direction she was pointing.
I never expected to see the inside of Glendale High School again after I graduated. The years I spent there were filled with memories I didn’t care to revisit. They weren’t all terrible, but most of them were best left in the past. I started walking down the hallway and sighed as I saw the entrance to the room where wayward students spent an hour after school being rehabilitated for their misbehavior. I opened the door and stepped inside.
“Hello, I’m here to pick up…” My words trailed off when I saw who was sitting behind the desk. “Mr. King!”
“Charlotte?” He stood up and tilted his head. “Wow, it really is you. How long has it been, three years now?”
It’s him! Oh my goodness, it’s Mr. King!
“Come on, sis. Let’s go.” My sister walked by me with her book bag over her shoulder and hit the door hard as she pushed it open.
“Sorry, I guess the princess needs a nap.” I rolled my eyes and shook my head.
“If I would have known she was your sister, I probably wouldn’t have been very surprised to see her sitting in detention.” Mr. King chuckled. “I didn’t connect the names. You look nothing alike.”
“She takes after our father and I’m a carbon copy of my mother.” I laughed and shrugged. “You would never know we were related.”
“Except your behavior.” Mr. King winked at me. “Anyway, it’s good to see you again. I hope you’re doing well.”
“I am, Mr. King.” I nodded and my smile got a little wider. “College is tough, but I’m not getting in trouble anymore, so I guess that’s an improvement. How are things with you? Is Mrs. King still making those awesome cookies?”
“Oh.” He grimaced and shook his head. “I’m afraid there’s no Mrs. King anymore. We got divorced.”
“I’m so sorry.” I blinked a couple of times in surprise and I felt like I shoved my foot directly into my mouth. “What about Benjamin? He’s gotta be in school by now.”
“He’s starting first grade this year.” Mr. King nodded and smiled again. “I don’t get to see him as often as I would like, I’m afraid.”
I could never forget that smile…
“That has to be tough…” I sighed and looked over my shoulder. “I guess I better go before Veronica gets herself in anymore trouble.”
“It’s the first day of school. Hopefully it doesn’t become a trend.” He chuckled slightly and turned back towards the rest of the students. “If it does, I guess I’ll be seeing you again.”
“I’d like that—well, I mean, not her getting in trouble, obviously.” I felt my face turning red as I stammered over my words.
Mr. King was my favorite teacher and my high school crush. I wasn’t the only girl fawning over him when he first stepped into the classroom. He was barely out of college when he was hired and he was smoking hot. So many of us dreamed that we would catch his eye, but he was totally out of our league. Our torment was amplified when we saw the photograph of his beautiful wife holding his adorable baby. It never stopped my daydreams about Mr. King, but those unclean thoughts turned into memories after I graduated.
“Did you have fun flirting with Mr. King?” My sister smirked and pulled out a cigarette when I climbed into the driver’s seat.
“You are not smoking in my car.” I snatched the cigarette out of her hand before she could light it.
“You’re so lame.” She rolled her eyes and folded her arms across her chest. “You used to be cool.”
“I’m still cool.” I pushed the key into the ignition and started my car. “I’m just not high school cool.”
“College is supposed to be even better than high school.” She looked over at me. “It just turned you into a buzzkill.”
“I came to get you, didn’t I? I could have let you walk home.” I glared at her as I turned out of the parking lot and started driving towards the highway.
“Mom would have killed you.” She continued to pout as I drove.
“Maybe I should call her tonight and ask her. I’m sure she would love to know that you ended up in detention on your first day of school.” I turned my attention back to the road and shook my head in disappointment.
“It’s a family tradition.” Her pout turned to a grin. “I’m just trying to live up to my big sister’s reputation.”
I made a name for myself at Glendale High School, but it wasn’t one I was proud of. I thought I was the shit when I was still a student, but most of the things I did made me cringe when I looked back on them. I definitely didn’t set a good example for my little sister. She might not have looked like me, but she was obviously on the same twisted road I paved. If she was walking the road I created, no amount of lecturing would turn her around. Our mom tried that when I was getting in trouble all the time, and none of it stuck. I finally figured out that the world didn’t revolve around me once I got to college. It was a humbling experience, but I was much better off because of it.
“You’re not really going to tattle on me, are you?” Veronica opened the door once we pulled into our driveway.
“No.” I shook my head back and forth. “I’m sure you’ll get into plenty of trouble once she gets back from her trip.”
“I’m an angel.” She stepped out of the car and lit a cigarette.
“As if.” I rolled my eyes and started walking towards the house.