CHAPTER 5

According to the doctor, her ankle sprain could take up to six weeks to heal but if she wasn't careful and did not protect the ligaments, it could even take up to 4 months. Her Aunt hated the idea and banned her from leaving her room, despite the school principal's insistence that she go to school. But no one would dare argue with her aunt and hope to survive.

The ankle brace irritated her, and the added torture of having to remain in her room day in and day out was killing her. The only thought that kept her sane was the knowledge that the healing would take place sooner than all the rest which would mean she could leave the confines of her prison sooner.

Thank goodness for Milli. Like clockwork, she came over every afternoon after school to bring her homework, and Mrs Mitchel had always packed in a tasty treat for her. Her Aunt Lydia was quite stingy when it came to such things and if it weren't for her Uncle Richard's insistence, Charli was sure Aunt Lydia would have let her starve to death. Then there were her cousins, regularly giggling behind her closed door and deliberately badmouthing her. The fact that they didn't even have the nerve to say those things to her face infuriated her. How could people be so cruel and spineless at the same time? Never mind that they were her own flesh and blood. It repulsed her just thinking about it.

For hours, Charli sat in her room, wondering if there was a light at the end of her dark and dismal tunnel. But no matter how hard she tried to spot one, there wasn't even a flicker of hope in sight.

"Do you want to see what my mother packed in for you today?" Milli asked one afternoon, smiling brightly as she held the parcel behind her back.

Charli forced a smile.

Milli threw the parcel on Charli's bed and waited anxiously to see how she'd react to the delicious goodies her mom packed in for her.

"Thanks and tell your mom thanks. Really, I don't know what I'd do without you guys."

"Don't mention it!" Milli replied heartily. "Just get better. I miss our lunch breaks together at school."

"I can't imagine why? I've not been much of a friend to you. I've been stuck in this morbid mood since we met," Charli stated honestly.

"Don't worry about it, I know things must be hard for you. I understand perfectly," Milli reassured her.

"You're such a good friend." Charli meant it.

She decided not to tell Milli about her encounter with Chris. She had to figure out why he kept showing up when she was in danger and why he would disappear shortly thereafter. It was starting to really gnaw at her. Where could she get answers?

The weeks passed by savagely slowly, but the day finally came when she was allowed to leave the confines of her room of gloom. Exhilaration filled her. Never in all her life had she been so excited to go to school. She constantly reminded herself that her excitement was not because she wanted to see Chris. It was solely because she was tired of being cooped up in her cold, stuffy bedroom.

Her excitement was short-lived, however.

"So, you've finally decided to grace us with your presence. Don't tell me bunking school became too boring for you?" Nadia mocked after they climbed off the bus and stood in the schoolyard. Esmeralda was a coward and hid behind her sister.

"Why don't you just leave Charli alone? What did she ever do to you?" Milli blurted boldly.

There was a sudden silence in the schoolyard as all eyes suddenly fell on them.

"Just leave it, Milli, they're not worth it," Charli urged, not caring two hoots what they said about her.

"No Charli, this has to stop. Everyone's treating you so badly and it's all because of these two – these two –"

"Two what?"

"Selfish, self-centred, and clueless brats with absolutely nothing for brains but beans," Milli blurted and put her hands on her hips to show them that she refused to be intimidated by them.

A few muffled laughs could be heard behind them.

"How dare you? Who do you think you are?" Nadia exclaimed, furious. "You're nothing but a miner's daughter," she added cruelly.

"I'll have you know, my father is a highly-qualified Geologist," Milli defended.

"Then why are you and your family so poor? I have no time for people like you. Move out of my way, I wasn't talking to you anyway," Nadia spat.

"We don't need to flaunt our possessions to the world as your mother does, we..."

"Milli stop!" Charli got up. "We don't need to stoop to their level. Come." She yanked Milli's sleeve and started to move away from the growing crowd.

"Coward. Running away just like your mother did," Nadia taunted.

Charli ignored her. She refused to allow ignorant words to get her down and continued to walk away.

Milli yanked her arm free from Charli's grip and ran back to Nadia. In a low voice, she warned, "and you tell Chris to leave Charli alone. I don't know what game you guys are playing, but I'm warning you, stay away from Charli."

"What are you talking about?" Nadia seemed totally baffled.

"I'm warning you - keep Chris away from Charli," Milli growled and then ran to join up with Charli, who was already halfway across the schoolyard by then.