My Dormmate Assasin

The class bell rings, breaking my focus on my schoolwork. Students rush out of the classroom, and others wake up so they can head home. I casually put my belongings away, and I head out to my old beaten-down Toyota Camry. As I was walking out my childhood best friend Ray was waiting for me next to my car, I could hear him yelling my name, "Hey Charlotte!!" he waved for me to hurry up. "Hey Ray, don't tell me you need a ride home again?" I say to him as I can't help but laugh on the inside. A short sigh leaves his mouth as he begins to say, "Yeah, Estella is mad at me again, and I don't even know why!! So, she left without me again." I chuckle at the thought. He can be so oblivious sometimes when it comes to women. "Yeah, I can drop you off. You don't think she's mad at you because you wanted to hang out with your friend on her birthday?" "She said it was fine if I hung out with them! So, she can't be mad, right?" He said sounding defensive. "Well, maybe she just didn't want to say no to you and make herself seem like a controlling girlfriend. She was probably hoping that you would choose her over your boy's night out on her birthday... If I were her, I would be so mad at you too." I break out a chuckle as I tease him about his situation. He looked concerned as he entered my car. "What should I do, Charlotte? How can I make her not mad at me?!?! I didn't know that was what she was hoping! I can't read minds." "I can't believe you are pouting about this. just go over to her house with some flowers and chocolates and have a date night with her. Make her feel special and a priority. Tell her that you're sorry and that you regret your decision. I'm sure she will forgive you. You guys have been together for 3 years already." He smiles and feels relieved at my response. "Thank you!! I don't know where I would be without you. That is exactly what I will do!! Can we go get some flowers and chocolates at the store and then could you drop me off at her house??" I'm glad I can help him in these situations. We went and got the supplies he needed to make amends and when I dropped him off at his girlfriend's house. We waved each other goodbye as he entered the front door of her house. I enter my front door; I look around and my house is completely trashed. I know exactly what is happening. My stepdad, Alan, is in one of his 'moods' again, but to why, I have no idea. Suddenly my heart is filled with fear and paranoia as I step further into my house and I hear my stepfather speak loudly from afar. "Who's there?!?!" I hesitate to answer, but I know if I don't, it will only cause more problems. So, I quietly answered, "It's me, Charlotte. I just got back from school." The house was filled with a silence that was so loud I thought my ears were going to burst. The silence breaks when I hear my stepdad's steps become louder as he walks towards me. He meets me in the living room and yells, "Charlotte!! How f*****g dare you disrespect me again! You know what I found in your room!?!" I have no idea what he found in my room, but all I can smell is the stench of alcohol illuminating from him. All I can respond with is, "What did you find?" "Don't play stupid, b***h!! you know what I found! I found a 10lb dumbbell in your room! you know the rules about you lifting weights!!" ...oh shit... I forgot I had that in my room. Fear fills my eyes, and I can see his mouth foaming up from anger. I see him leave quickly and come back stumbling a bit but with a dumbbell in his hand this time. I instinctively take a step back, scared of what he will do next. He grabs my wrist with his free hand and drags me across the living room making me fall. "Oh Charlotte, you know you're not allowed to lift weights. You know if you start lifting weights no man will ever love you! I thought you would want someone to love you since your father didn't even want you. f**k, I don't even want you. I f*****g hate you! I wish I could kill you, but you're not worth the prison time." He then spat on me and kicked me in my stomach making me groan in pain. "I'm sorry... please just stop..." I cry out in pain, but he doesn't stop kicking me. All of a sudden, he kicks me so hard he stumbles a bit and falls himself. "Get the f**k out of my house. I wish you died instead of your mother. you are worthless and a disappointment to your mother. I never want to see you again. By the time I wake up tomorrow, I want you and all of your s**t gone. Anything you leave behind I'll throw it away." He slowly gets up and walks into his bedroom. I just lay on the carpet, soaking in my tears and crying silently in pain. Knowing if I make any sounds I will be punished again. My hands can't stop shaking as my nausea builds up. To calm myself down I go to my room and grab my childhood blanket that my mother made for me and hold it to my face. I was never able to toss it away. I swear it still smells like her. I named my blanket Pinky after my favorite when i was only 7. After a while, I started to feel better. I'm still not quite sure why, but ever since I was born at this moment, 17 years, I couldn't sleep without my blanket. It's sad and embarrassing, so I make sure no one knows that I do it. Not even Ray. However, it's the only thing that can help me calm down and sleep. After I lay there for a bit, trying to calm down and wait for the pain to subside a bit, I eventually get up and start packing. It took me almost to sunrise to pack everything of mine. I made sure I had a picture of my mom with me. I made sure my car was packed and ready to go all before 7 am. I made sure I was out of there before he woke up again. I also made sure I took some cash out of his wallet, and food for myself. I'm not quite sure where to go yet, but I will figure it out. I think to myself on my way to school, "I just have 3 months left of school then I can go to college and be free. I'm still waiting for Arizona State University to see if I qualify for a scholarship. Maybe Ray will let me crash at his place for a while, well at least until school ends. I'll just ask him when I see him at school today." I get through half of the school day, and I see Ray and Estella at our lunch table. I wave to them and walk over to the table. "Hey Charlotte, are you feeling okay? You look exhausted and worn out." Estella says with concern in her voice. "To be honest... I'm not doing so well today... I kind of got kicked out of the house last night. I had to pack up everything I own by this morning...it took me all night to get everything packed and in my car by the time school had to start." I look down hoping that I didn't sadden them. I hate it when people pity me and my life. But Ray and Estella never really did that, they understood me and always listened to me. So, I felt like I could talk to them a little bit more than anyone else, but I still couldn't tell them everything. "WHAT?? Oh. My. God. Charlotte. I'm so sorry to hear that! Wait, do you even have a place to go?" Estella asked with much concern and a hint of anger in her voice. "I Can't Believe he would do this!!" Ray said with a lot of anger in his voice. "I'm not quite sure, to be honest. I was going to ask you Ray if I could use your spare room until graduation. I know it's a lot to ask for. So, I won't be mad if you can't." "My Aunt Katherine is using the spare bedroom right now, she's visiting for a month... I'm sorry or I wouldn't mind if you did!" Ray says as he looks down with sadness in his voice. "Hey Charlotte, you can stay with me. I don't have a spare bedroom but my bed is plenty nig enough for both of us to sleep in it." Estella says with a warm smile. I look up with surprise. My Eyes light up and my voice becomes a bit chipper, "Really?!? You would let me stay with you?!?" I can't help but sound eager and happy. "Of course, you can, It's the least I can do for you. When I first met you, I thought you were competition for Ray, but it was quite the opposite. I wasn't very kind to you at first, and still, you always helped me and Rays' relationship without hesitation. Hopefully, this could be a chance for us to become closer as well." Estella says with the warmest smile. "I would love that! thank you so much, Estella!! You are a lifesaver!!" The bell rings informing us that class will start in 5 minutes. So, Estella, and Ray all make our separate ways as we head off to class. The rest of the day goes by fast, and by the time the last bell rings Estella and Ray are waiting by my car. "Hey, girl! I just wanted to let you know that I'll be at my house in about an hour or so, I'm getting ice cream with Ray. So, you are welcome to go over to my house and kind of unpack some of your clothes and stuff." "Thank you! I will do that. Have fun on your ice cream date." I get in my car, and I head over to Estella's house. I just bring my suitcase in, and I place it in Estella's room. About 2 hours go by and Estella gets back from her date. "Hey Charlotte! How are you feeling?" She says with concern and worry. I chuckle a bit trying to forget last night, "I'm feeling a lot better, thanks to you." I smile at her. She smiles back and hands me a bag full of takeout food, "Here, I got you some food if you're hungry. And I know it's getting late so how about we get in our pajamas and watch a movie? Maybe do some face masks or something!?" She sounds excited and eager to finally be able to have a girl's sleep over. And to be honest, I'm excited too. "Yeah! I would love that! And thank you so much for the food, You're the best!! Ray is so lucky to have you!" I chuckle and smile at her as we head upstairs to her bedroom. She smiles and blushes a bit. "You think so? I feel lucky to have such a sweet guy like him!" We get to her room, and I start pulling out pajamas out of my suitcase, as she is choosing her pajamas as well. "He is sweet, but I think you guys are perfect for each other. I never seen two people so perfect for each other, even if Ray can be stupid sometimes." I laugh at the last remark I make. "Yeah, I guess so. I'm just glad that I finally have an opportunity to be your friend and get to know you more. Ray values your friendship. So, I'm happy that I still have a chance to be your friend even though I was mean to you in the beginning." Estella says with a little sadness in her voice. I can tell she is being genuine, so I'm super happy that me and I finally have a chance to talk to each other. "Hey, don't worry about it. It's all in the past! So, let's put our pajamas on and put on a movie!!" I can see her smile in relief as I said that.