Charlotte "Charlie" Spelling was glad to be out of the house and attending university. She was living far, FAR away from her uptight, overly-moral and extremely controlling parents and their silly outmoded judgements. Charlie would have called herself a "good girl" and had lived that way for most of her life. She likely would have remained that type of girl and gone on to marry a dull, boring man her parents both approved of. That was the path on which Charlie had been traveling. Fortunately for Charlie and the world at large, she encountered her new best friend Cheryl in the 11th Grade.
On the surface, the girls would have appeared to be total opposites. They should have hated each other on sight and yet, that is the opposite of what happened. When Cheryl Monroe sat in front of Charlotte that first day, a friendship was solidified in less than ten minutes. Cheryl introduced herself to Charlotte and was chattering away when the teacher gave Cheryl her undivided attention by telling her to be quiet and sit up straight. "School hasn't even started yet," Cheryl said, fixing her gaze firmly on Miss Hastings. "Who pissed in
your
cornflakes, huh teach?" There was a loud and very audible gasp from the room and then, hysterical laughter, Charlotte included.
Charlotte had always been taught respect for her teachers, but she couldn't help it β she despised Kelly Hastings. She thought the teacher was nasty and vindictive, despite her attractive good looks. When Cheryl was sent to the principal's office, Charlotte could not help but feel sorry for the pretty new student. Cheryl was back in just a few short minutes and she wore a smug smirk as she walked in front of Miss Hastings without saying a word. "Hiyas again, Charlie," she grinned as she took her seat once again.
Charlotte had always liked being called "Charlie" but her parents didn't like it when people gave their children nicknames. She smiled at Cheryl and got a wink in response. She had to know how Cheryl escaped the wrath of Old Man Dunford and promised to ask her during their new spare period.
"You wanna know why the head man didn't tear me a new one, huh?" Cheryl laughed as she enjoyed a cup of coffee. Most of the other kids drank soda and the coffee in the cafeteria was mostly for the teachers. Charlie already thought there was something kinda neat about Cheryl, despite her flippant attitude and brazen way of dressing. "That's easy kiddo, my family paid for most of the new gymnasium," she informed Charlie. "My family is very influential and I was taught not to take crap from anyone β teachers included! I know I'm sometimes a bitch and I get away with murder, but that's the kind of thing you can do when you're filthy, stinking rich!" The girl roared with laughter.
Charlie sighed and decided she was going to be good friends with the outspoken blonde girl. Despite her outlandish garb, which probably violated a number of the school's dress codes, she was very pretty. "My family has a lot of money, too," Charlie informed Cheryl. "But I'd get a severe tongue lashing if I ever did what you did. Before I turned 13, probably a paddling, too!"
"What possible good does that do?" Cheryl responded, offering to buy a cup of coffee for her new friend. She thought the petite redhead was adorable and even cuter when she learned that Charlie had never even
tried
coffee. "Respect is something you earn, that's what I believe. I have never been afraid of adults and challenging authority. That's how things change. I judge everyone on his or her merits and I think Hastings had it coming!"
"She's pretty, but she thinks that she is untouchable," Charlie answered as she drank her first-ever cup of coffee. It was so good; she was going to have more of this stuff. "She was engaged to two different teachers, but she called it off. No one knows why or if they do, they aren't saying."
Over the next year, the girls became fast and strong friends. Charlie got into a bit of trouble when she started developing ideas of her own. For example, because she had a fair bit of her own money, she decided that she would buy her own clothes and accessories. When she came home in her first short skirt and high heels, an outfit Cheryl had suggested, her family hit the roof. A huge fight ensued and for the first time ever β she was having a lot of firsts β Charlie told her mother to
fuck off!
That action got her sent to her room, which normally would have been the course of action implemented. Not this time. As Charlie was now 18 and taking full control of her own life, she called a taxi and went over to Cheryl's house. She loved Cheryl's fun, free-wheeling family, especially Cheryl's older brother, Alan. The family listened to her and Cheryl's older sister Jill laughed as Charlotte told her about the fight. "I've got lots of skirts shorter than that one," Jill grinned. "Everyone here agrees that I have the body for short skirts and mom says if you have it, flaunt it! Right mommy?"
"Yes, indeed," Alana Monroe smiled. A former Miss Texas, Alana Majors she had caught the eye of the judges and ended up dating two of them and marrying a 3rd. At 46, she could still have competed in pageants. "You're welcome here any time, Charlie hon. You've been a good friend to my daughter and her marks have improved β you seem to be her Jiminy Cricket, she hasn't been as reckless lately," Alana commented.
"You bet, it's been 3 whole weeks since we've had a phone call from the school," Alan teased his kid sister. She punched her brother in the arm and he hit her with a pillow. The two siblings fought all of the time, but it was apparent to anyone paying attention that they adored each other. Charlie could see why. Alan was a strapping 6'4" athlete with a broad chest, beautiful blue eyes and a smile that could have been used in a commercial for a dentist. The entire Monroe clan was gorgeous and blonde.
Cheryl and her bestie spent the entire night talking and went to school Monday morning with Charlotte dressed in an outfit even more scandalous than the one she had purchased on her shopping trip with Cheryl. The school placed a call to Charlie's family and her scowling mother met her at the door at the end of the day. She didn't approve of her daughter's new attitude, look or persona. "I expect an apology for the other day, Charlotte," Carolyn Spelling said as she glared at her rebellious daughter.
"Don't hold your breath waiting mother, you might pass out," the elfin redhead glared right back. "I'm sorry for my choice of words, that's all. You need to realize that I'm an adult and I will be making my own decisions from now on."
"Not with you living here and spending
our
money, you won't," Carolyn said, folding her arms across her chest and emphasizing her point.
"I'm sorry that you feel that way, mom," Charlie stood her ground β in 5-inch stiletto heels. "I don't need to live under your roof or need your money. In case you've forgotten, Grandmama left me nearly half a million dollars for when I turned 18 β which I did weeks ago. You and daddy have no say over what I choose to do with those funds. So you can either accept I'm a young woman with my own ideas and thoughts, or I'll go upstairs and pack and move out. I can bunk with Cheryl's family for a few more days until I find my own place. What's it to be?"
"That β
Monroe
girl!" Carolyn was as close to using profanity as her daughter had ever seen her. "She's to blame for all of this nonsense!"
"In part, yes she is," the determined Charlie continued. "But it isn't nonsense mother β I'm a sensible young woman and Cheryl and her family say, very attractive. Cheryl is teaching me to appreciate those things and find my own way. Don't you want that?"
"I β I ..."
"Never mind, mother. My grades haven't suffered and I have new interests and friends. You won't like this, either," Charlie almost smirked. "I've decided to attend university in California and share an apartment with Cheryl."