Call Me Viccy

Chapter 2: The Ice Queen

*WARNING EXPLICIT LANGUAGE*

“Dad no!!! I can’t stand her! And right now I can’t stand you.”

“Charlotte Amelia Rivers! That is no way to talk to your father. You two had a choice, now you don’t get one. She is staying with us and that is final! Do you understand?!” 

Charlotte let out a big sigh. It sounded just like the one she did right before school let out. So I guess I’m not the reason for her being so annoyed, but her dad is. Well, you could say that. 

“Yes, dad I do but that doesn’t mean that I have to like her now right?”

“Charlotte! That is rude. You are being rude now apologize. I mean come on what do you have against her?!”

She looked straight at me. She wasn’t just looking. She was staring. Kind of reminded me of how I was staring at Finn. Her eyes were sparkling from reflecting the light of the room. They looked as bright as ever. And her pupils expanded. Not that I was complimenting her eyes or anything. She’s still the raging ice queen. She opened her mouth, but then closed it. Charlotte then proceeded to storm out. Wait...she was staring. She wasn’t just looking. I don’t understand, why was she staring at me? She can’t stand the sight of me. I need to get some answers out of her. I jumped out of my bed and began to follow her.

“Victoria! You should be resting in bed and I still need to question you!”

Oh, shoot I forgot that he needs to ask me questions. Whatever I’ll do it later. I lost Charlotte for a second but recognized the clacking of her blue heels from the hallway. I turned right. I saw her, she was about to head out of the hospital’s front doors and into the parking lot. I knew I shouldn’t have but I ran. I didn’t know why I did though. It’s not like she wanted me chasing after her. I didn’t want to either. But there was this feeling that I just couldn’t shake and I needed answers. When I finally caught up to her I put my hand on her shoulder and spun her around. She grabbed my hand and slammed it down.

“What do you think you’re doing?!”

“Me? What were you doing back there?!”

“What on earth are you talking about you dumb f***?!”

“I know why you were staring at me Charlotte.”

“Y-You do?”

“Yeah.”

“Well, I-”

“I can’t believe that you think that I would actually kill my own father. I mean who do you think you are to judge me?! After all of the s*** that you put me through you do not get to have an opinion on this. He was my father. I loved him! You’re probably gonna put me in jail just because you have some kind of hunch, well guess what you're wrong! And you get no say in that whatsoever. Just like your dad said. We had a choice. And now we don’t have one. And right now you had a choice to actually not be a b***h for once. But you chose to be one anyway. And now you don’t get a choice on this. Do you hear me? None!”

She stepped back for a moment to think. She then stepped forward. She raised her hand and she slapped me. Hard too. Not one of those fake ones that you give to your friends. But a really hard a** slap.

“What the hell Charlotte!!!”

“How dare you!!! How dare you assume that I would ever think something like that!!! I may be a b***h at times but I would never go so low. Even I know when not to cross a line. You know what?! I might as well think that and try to put you in jail. I have no idea why I never tried getting rid of you before. And hunch or not you’ll be in prison because I say so! My dad is one of the most powerful people in this disgusting town and I bet he’ll agree with me!”

Who does she think she is?! That B***H! I just can't stand her. UGH. I couldn’t take it anymore. I have tried really hard to keep feelings out of this so it doesn’t affect my future because who knows Charlotte could come after me one day and ruin my life (not like it'd be any different from now). But this time I have had enough. I rammed into her headfirst. I pushed her to the ground. She got up and started pulling my hair. Oh, how every catfight starts. I began to grab hers. She punched me in the chest. ACK right in the boob! I kicked her chest with my knee. Ouch! That’s gotta hurt. She grabbed my ear and bit it. After that, she punched me right in my eye socket (as if my eyesight weren’t bad enough). I grabbed her arm and swung her around. She fell to the ground. She got back up once more and as she was coming towards me I spun around and did a roundhouse kick. But I missed. I was out of practice. She pushed me and as she did her dad and Detective Jones came out of our room as they heard people yelling at us to stop. But she pushed me too hard and as I fell could feel my heart sink into my stomach. I plopped to the ground head first. There was so much force and my body was being strained enough I had passed out. Again. 

“VICTORIA!!! Oh my god!!! What the hell did you do?!”, Charlotte's dad screamed.

I could hear everything around me still. It’s like my brain was still conscious but everything else wasn’t. I heard Detective Jones, Mr. Rivers, and Charlotte screaming at each other. They finally stopped when I heard a doctor come towards me. They lifted me up and put me on a gurney. 

“She needs a head C.T she could have a brain bleed.”

“A what?”, Mr. Rivers yelled.

“A brain bleed. If this is the case she will need surgery.”

SURGERY!!! Charlotte’s done it now!

“Charlotte you’ve done it now!!!”

My thoughts exactly.

“Charlotte, please just go and wait in the damn car until I get you. I don’t have enough energy to deal with this right now. I need a smoke.”

Charlotte’s dad walked straight out with Charlotte but they soon dispersed in opposite directions. The doctor rolled my gurney into the C.T room so that they could scan my brain. I heard them talking inside the picture room next to the scanning area. They must have left some kind of microphone on because I could hear them clearly and it wasn’t muffled. 

“Lucky kid. After a fall like that she should have a brain bleed. The best-case scenario is that she’s suffering from a concussion. I wonder what those two girls were fighting about.”

“Yeah, that was some fight. It was probably just about some boy. You know how teenage girls are. Oh look at that, she’s regaining consciousness.”

My eyes slowly opened. I lifted my head up. My vision was blurry as usual. I was seeing double. Everything was multiplying for a few moments but went back to normal. I looked at the two doctors in the room. One was a tall blonde she had her hair in a messy bun. The other one was a shorter doctor with curly red hair. As I was waking up I could hear them both still talking. I recognized the blonde’s voice. She must’ve been the one who saved me. She walked out of the picture room and into the scanning room. She pressed a red button and I could feel myself moving out of the machine that was scanning me.

“Hi there, I’m Dr. Morgan and my colleague in the other room is Dr. Taylor. We have your scan results and would like to meet with your family to tell them how you did.”

Well, I already know and thank god they aren’t my real family.

“There uh not my family just my dad’s work friend and his daughter.”

“Oh well then, let’s tell your dad’s work friend and his daughter. Also is your boyfriend still here? I was hoping that maybe he could help us contact your parents.”

So many feelings in just that one sentence. My goodness. I wish that sentence were true. What the hell am I supposed to say? How do I respond to that?

“Um, Finn is not my boyfriend. He’s the lead detective on my father’s murder case. And if you want to reach my mom good luck because well she’s dead. I’m supposed to be staying with Mr. Rivers, my dad’s work colleague, for now. So I guess that makes him my legal guardian.”

Dr. Morgan and Dr. Taylor both looked at each other then at me then back at each other again. Their jaws were dropped to the floor. It’s not like I was surprised by their reaction. In fact, their reaction was completely normal given the circumstances.

“I’m so sorry for your loss my condo-”

“Condolences, yes I get it. You’re my doctor but we don’t have to we all chit-chatty, ok? I just want you to tell Mr. Rivers that I’m fine and have no brain bleed because I just want to go home, please.”

“Yes I underst- wait how did you know that you have no brain bleed?”

“Uh, I may have overheard you and Dr. Taylor through your microphone.”

“So you’ve been awake this whole time?”

“You’re the doctor you tell me.”

She looked at me with a stern looked on her face. 

“Ok, ok. No, I wasn’t technically awake. I couldn’t exactly move my body or feel anything. I could hear though. That’s how I know that I’m ok.”

“Alright, let’s just take you back to your room to tell Mr. Rivers and Detective Finn that you’re gonna be ok.”

She went into the hallway and pulled out a wheelchair and started to roll it towards me. Her colleague Dr. Taylor came out of the picture room and into the scanning room. She helped me onto the wheelchair and took me back to my room. Looks like someone opened the blinds to the room. Through the window, I could see Finn. I was surprised that he was still there. Oh, wait. He still needs to ask me questions. So I guess he wasn’t really waiting for me. Mr. Rivers wasn’t in yet. I’m assuming that he’s still out for that smoke. Looks like Charlotte finally listened to her dad for once and stayed behind in their car. As I was being put back onto the stiff bed, Mr. Rivers walked in. He reeked of cigar smoke. I tried to hold in my cough so it didn’t seem like I was trying to make a big deal out of it. 

“How is she? Is she gonna be ok? Does she need surgery? She’s not gonna die, is she? Oh god, she’s gonna die and it’s all my fault. I knew I should’ve stopped you when you went after Charlotte. I’m a terrible father and guardian. Victoria I’m so sorry for all the trouble that Charlotte has caused I will be sure to make it up to you. So is anybody gonna stop me and shut me up or do I have to keep on going?”

“Haha alright, Mr. Rivers. Not to worry, Victoria is gonna be just fine. It just looks like she suffered a minor concussion. She’ll need to be on bed rest for about a week and will need to be blocked from doing physical activities such as sports. When all of you get home make sure that she does not fall asleep within the next two hours. Even though her concussion is minor it’s dangerous to put your body to sleep after something like a blow to the head. So just keep her awake for two hours, ice her head, and take these prescription pain meds.

“Ok thank you so much, doctor. We will be sure to follow your orders.”

Before leaving the doctors kept me at the hospital for about 20 minutes to make sure that the pain medication was working properly. Mr. Rivers had left the room to go and sign my discharge papers. It was just me and Finn in the room alone. 

“Hey, so let’s just save the questioning for another day. You’ve been through a lot so let’s just wait.”

“Ok, that’s fine with me.”

Finn proceeded to take his hand and put it inside his pocket. When he took his hand out he had pulled a card with it.

“Here’s my number in case you get into any trouble, Victoria.”

“Oh thank you.”

He started to walk out the doorway, but before he reached outside he turned around and walked towards me. He took his hand and stroked mine. He was so gentle and his hand felt warm. I noticed his face moving closer to mine. I didn’t want to move, so I just let him come to me. I closed my eyes and felt his smooth thin lips kiss my cheek. He took his hand and caressed the other. I thought I would feel butterflies in my stomach like in the movies, but I didn’t feel anything. Nothing. After thinking about how hot he is now I don’t feel anything. Maybe it’s just because of my trauma from today or the feeling just haven’t kicked in yet. I didn’t really think of Finn as more than a hot friend who just happens to be a guy. Maybe I just need time. Who knows…

“So I’ll see you later ok?”

“O-Ok.”

“And don’t forget to use that card!”, he said as he began to walk out the door. 

“Got it!”

Mr. Rivers came in with the discharge papers a few moments after Finn had left. Guess it’s now time to live the life of Charlotte Rivers.

“Are you ready, Victoria?”

“Yeah.”

He helped me into the wheelchair that was beside my bed and started rolling me to the hospital exit by the front.

“Doctor said that I should bring this wheelchair home just in case you have another accident or feel too dizzy to move.”

“Good to know.”

Before we were both outside of the hospital doors he stopped rolling me. Seriously?! I thought we all wanted to get out of here. Now I have to deal with another delay. What is gonna do give me a speech on the Magic of Friendship? I am not gonna treat Charlottle kindly after all she put me through, even if this guy says so. I don’t care if he’s the most powerful guy in this town or not, I am not listening to him.

“Victoria, sorry for stopping but we need to talk.”

“Um ok.”

Gee, I wonder what this could be about.

“Look I had no idea that you and Charlotte were enemies. If I had known I would have never suggested you living with us. Hell, I would’ve done it anyway. You need a place to stay and I’m not just gonna sit here doing nothing while you get handed off into foster care where so one will want you because your a teenager, no offense.”

None taken.

“Anyway, I know that Charlotte can be a handful. I know all about the eye rolls and talking about people behind their backs. I know Charlotte. She’s my daughter. I’m not surprised by the rude behavior, that is expected of her. I know that I should have disciplined more often but her mother’s not around anymore and I’ve always chosen my reputation and job over my children, which I now deeply regret. I know that you think I’m a bad father for not connecting with my kids, but trust me I’m trying to change. What I don’t trust right now is you. Your dad was a really good guy and I thought that you were like him too. But not I’ve seen the real you. The way you that act around Charlotte, it’s childish. I thought highly of you. And like me, I’m hoping that you’ll change. That’s why I’ve decided to still let you stay with us. A few moments ago I thought to myself: I can’t do this. I already have three kids. How the hell can I handle another one? What if they both somehow wind up in the hospital again because they were fighting over something as little as the remote? Then I said to myself that this is Victoria. This is Henry Foster’s daughter, his only daughter. I know that he would do the same for me if I were in his position. And I know that Victoria can change for the better. Please, Victoria, don’t make me regret my decision.”

How can a man talk so fast for so long and still be able to catch his breath? Also, I had no idea that Charlotte had siblings. I thought she was an only child and her dad was just rich from only having one. I guess he rich-rich. Great I already have to deal with one blondie b***h. How am I suppose to deal with two more? This is just perfect.

“Yes sir. I won’t. I promise you. You won’t regret this. And thank you so much for letting me stay with you. I don’t know what I would do if I had been put into the foster care system as you said. I would never have a home because of my age and if I did get into one they probably wouldn’t even take care of me, as well as you are, and would just use me for the money that the government gives them.”

I lied. I'd rather go into foster care than have to live with the Rivers family. I simply just told him what he wanted to hear. 

“You are very welcome Victoria. Anything for Henry Foster’s daughter. I think that we’re good now so let’s go, shall we? We can pick your things up from your house tomorrow if you’d like.”, he said as he wheeled me into the parking lot.

I forgot I still have a home. And I could go back anytime. Well, it’s not like I have the money to keep up with the mortgage. But I don’t want to go back. I can’t go back home. At least no right now. Because if I do then I’ll never leave. How am I supposed to leave my childhood home that was a place that was once happy, but is now full of sadness, gloom, and the feeling of morose? What am I gonna do with my dad’s things? I could maybe put it in storage. I can’t sell his things. He wouldn’t want some stranger using his stuff as their own. I can’t think about this right now. I just can’t.

“Do you mind if we talk about this later? Like until I’m no longer on bed rest. I can’t do strenuous activities and that probably involves lifting heavy things such as my dad’s stuff.”

“Right of course.”

We were still going through the parking lot looking for his car. Hopefully, he didn’t lose it. I think I found it. There was someone sitting in the back seat on the right side. I recognize that b***hy golden blonde hair anywhere. If I’m gonna act less childish like Charlotte then I should probably start by not calling her a b***h. Would still calling her the Ice Queen count as being childish? Meh, who cares it’s not like I’m saying it out loud right now. I started focusing on Mr. Rivers’ car, which we were headed towards. His car was black which is probably why it was so hard to find it, especially at night. The car looked long almost limo-like. But it still had the normal 5 seating like most cars. Mr. Rivers knocked on the car window motioning to Charlotte to unlock the car. She rolled her eyes and scoffed. She leaned over and unclocked the left side of the car. Mr. Rivers opened the door and helped me inside.

“Uh, Charlotte why don’t you move to the front seat so that Victoria can lay down here in the back?”

She didn’t respond.

“Charlotte!”

She looked at him with a pissed facial expression like someone had just spit in her food.

“Mr. Rivers it's fine really. I actually prefer sitting. This way I can move my legs around more so that they won’t get cramped.”

“Are you sure Victoria?”

“Yes, sir I am.”

“Victoria?”

“Yes sir?”

“Stop calling me sir. You make me feel like I’m an old man or something. And no more Mr. Rivers either. Just call me Daniel.”, he said with a short chuckle.

“Yes, s- Daniel.”

He began to pull his car out of the parking lot. I wanted to fall asleep from the soft pattering of the rain that had just started, but I knew that I couldn’t. I looked at Charlotte. She was sound asleep. Wow, that was fast. Her face looked so relaxed. She looked peaceful as well. She woke up after we hit a speed bump and turned her heads towards me. 

“What are you staring at Goth Girl?”

“Nothing just thought I saw something by the window.”

I turned my head back towards my window view. Why was I staring at her? It’s not like I care if she sleeps as soundly as a baby. I hope she has nightmares. I began to ponder about how life will be like at the Rivers residence. Well, there’s only one way to find out.