The probability of having your birthday in the exact same hour, as Queen Elizabeth, is highly unlikely. But Carina was one of those rare people. She was luckily born within the hour, close to the Queen’s exact birthday. That made her lucky. Her nickname was Charm, for everywhere, she brought luck. But once, it brought the opposite. It was luck that the unluckiest person was around her when Danny was killed.
After four months, Charm was still traumatized. She had seen with her very own eyes the murder of her boyfriend. Traumatized as she was, she still found the strength to face school and her peers. Charm drifted along in the crowd of students to the gate where her brother, Evan, was waiting for her. He could have gone ahead with his “cool” friends and his hot girlfriend. He could be eating chips and drinking smoothies in McDonalds. But he wasn’t. He was waiting patiently for his sister. The year between them felt like days. Close as they were, Charm wouldn’t let him help with her pain, even though Evan was practically going through the same thing, seeing as Danny was his best mate.
“Hey, Charm. Feeling better? No. Stupid question to ask. Come on. I’ll drop you home. Poor thing,” Evan said sympathetically to his moping sister. Once in his car, he started it with a twist of the key. He was about to pull out when a small sniffle came from Charm, who sat beside him in the passenger seat. Evan looked over to see tears running down her cheeks, the first in many months since she lost Danny.
“Hey, hey,” Evan said softly, reaching over and hugging his sister. Charm burst into tears and leaned into her brother.
“I want him back,” Charm said quietly. Inside, Evan was jumping with happiness. Charm had said her first full sentence since that night.
“So do I, Carrie. Everyone does. Me, you, his parents, Mum. Probably Dad, if he heard about it,” Evan told her.
“But I want him back badly. Really badly,” Charm cried. Evan shushed her and kissed her forehead gently. He leaned back over and swerved the car out onto the street.
Finally, the red car pulled up outside the house.
“I’ve got to go, Charm. I told the mates I’d see them at McDonalds. Tell mum I’ll be home six-ish, ‘kay?” Evan asked her. Charm nodded and climbed out the car. She heard the car pull away and then stumbled through the door into her mum’s arms.
Nobody understands. Not one. Danny was my boyfriend. My only boyfriend. I practically died that night. In fact, I should have. Danny was an angel. I hope with my heart he is now. Up in the sky that is. I want to talk about him so much, but when I try, nothing comes out. I freeze. I can’t even talk to the therapist. So, I won’t talk. I’ll write. That’s what I’m doing. First, the basics.
Hi, I’m Carina, AKA Charm, Sophia Greenwald. I’m 17 years old and 11 months. I have a great brother, Evan, and I go to Eastwood High. Fortunately my 18 year old brother is nice enough to pick me up from my school, as he goes to another, or there would be no way for me to get home in the state that I am.
I’d being going out with Danny for four months until it happened.
My parents are divorced, with my father in Australia, and my mother, brother and I living in Auckland. Just so you know, I hate my father. The reason the divorce was occurring was because Dad was having multiple affairs. In fact, three at a time in one stage. One of them is actually pregnant. When Dad found out, he ran. Like a dog, with his tail between his legs. He pretended he had a conference and fled to America. There, he found a business that sent him to work for the Majestic Ink Corporation in Australia.
A few months later, Mum sniffed something wasn’t right and rang his old company. He had been fired almost two years ago. That was almost two years of affairs. Apparently the money he earned was all from gambling. Anyway, Mum traced his cell phone number and got his address. She sent him a letter telling him to ring her. He replied to the letter with a phone number and a fistful of 50-dollar Australian notes. Angrily, Mum rang the number and burst into flames when she heard a lady at the other line explaining to Mum that she was pregnant by Dad and she had had no idea he was married. So mum sent him back divorce papers and with my “luck” got full custody.
So story of my life, parents divorced, boyfriend dead and my little baby sister that Mum was carrying at the time of the divorce died. Mum was keeping it a secret, to surprise Dad. She got so upset, that she forgot about the baby and started to work to earn us money. One miscarriage later, Mum was a disastrous mess. Evan started working and met Danny. Invited him over to dinner one night, after Mum had recovered and was looking for work, and he and I hooked up. Well, not right away, but became friends. Mum was quite surprised when he started dropping me off home when Evan went out with his girlfriend. Anyway there’s a bit of background about me, to start this “journal” off. Ta for now.
Loraine watched her daughter climb down the stairs and enter the kitchen.
“Hey, sweetie. Have you written in your journal, Carina?” A nod affirmed it, “Has your brother gone to McDonalds again?” Another nod, “Ok. You get on with your homework and tell me if you need any help,”
Charm moved to the table as her mother spoke.
“Angelica wants to see you tomorrow,” Loraine said as she peeled a potato.
“Not again,” Charm mumbled. Stunned by the sentence produced, Loraine dropped the potato into the sink. She quickly picked it up and continued to peel it.
A few hours later Evan walked in the door and hung up his keys.
“Mum, I’m home,” he yelled. He heard a thump and gasp and walked into the lounge. Charm lay sprawled on the ground beside her chair, Loraine leaning over her.
“Oh, my gosh, Honey are you alright?” Loraine asked, concerned for her daughter.
“I’m fine. I fell off my chair. I was tired,” Charm mumbled, sitting up and rubbing her head.
“Thank goodness. Well, come on. You’ve had dinner. You go to bed and have a good night sleep,” Loraine suggested, pulling Charm up and patting her back. Charm moved away without argument. As soon as she was out the room, Evan turned to Loraine.
“She talked to me in the car today. She told me she wanted Danny back. Really badly,” Evan told her.
“And she said “Not again” when I told her Angelica wanted to see her again,” Loraine replied causing Evan to laugh.
“You would expect that though,” Loraine considered. She smiled and ushered Evan over to the table to eat.
Last time I left you, I was telling you about me. That’s over. Now Evan. He’s awesome. He’s not one of those dudes who are so embarrassed by their younger siblings that they ignore them at school. He actually cares about me. He was the one I rang when Danny died. He was the one to pick me up from that place. The ‘scene of the crime’ as the police calls it. The police don’t care about me either. What’s important to them is that this is a way to get money. It’s a job. That’s all. ANYWAY. Evan‘s always been there for me. Ever since I was in preschool, especially with the divorce going on, all the way to where I am now. At the end of my tether I’ve given much thought of committing suicide. But that wouldn’t be nice for mum, seeing as she just got over the divorce.
Evan has got brown hair and green eyes. His personality mathces his smile. Gentle and forgiving. Except for Dad that is. Last time he saw Dad, at Christmas, he frown and scowled all the time. Dad had the nerve to bring his pregnant girlfriend along. Her stomach was huge. Mum hardly spoke a word. Same in my and Evan’s posotion too.
Evan was nice enough to introduce me to Danny after the divorce. We became good friends. We had similair interests, like running and reading. But nothing else, I’m afraid. He was also very kind, just like Evan. Everyday, out of politeness, he would drive me home, all 16 kilometres, when Evan had to go in the different direction for band practise. Everyday, at the same time, Danny would be at the gate, waiting for me. As I was in an all girls school, and he at an all boys school, he had to get over to my school to take me home. Sometimes I shared with him how my day went. Danny would listen, his blue eyes sparkling at funny parts at how Mr Andrews would stutter when his confidence ran off. He would look at me occasoinally when he was driving on a straight part of the road. He would make ure I got into the house safely and then drive off.
You wouldn’t believe it, but while I’m writing this, I’m actually smiling at these memories. I used to cry my heart out. But, that’s over. All gone. Done and dusted, as some would say.
Back to Danny, after a while, he started walking with me home, as his car went in for repairs. He would walk 7 kilomaters to my school and then walk with me 16 kilometres to my ouse then walk for half an hour to his. So he ended up walking me to the door.
The first ‘date’ was when Danny asked me to go with him to his year thirteen formal. I was so happy, I begged Mum to buy me a dress instead of making it. After a while, she gave in and we bought a floor length gown, emerald green to match my eyes. By that time, Danny’s car was fixed.
He was talking to Evan as I came down the stairs with my fancy black shawl around my shoulders. Evan saw me and stopped in mid sentence. Danny turned and I flushed so badly! I felt so embarrassed, but now I find it so funny! Anyway, he drove me to the hall and introdced me to his friends and mates and for the first time in my entire life, I danced with a guy. I mean, actually holding hands with the whole formal dancing not boogying to old 80’s music tat the english teacher had dug out. But Danny’s hands were so gently around my waist but firm at the same time, you know what I mean? well, that same night outside my house, I got my first kiss. It’s one of those things you want to remember, but it wasn’t that great when Mum inturrpted saying, ‘Come in out of the cold, Carina! Don’t just stand there! Oh, sorry, my mistake,’ before shutting the door when she saw what we were doing. The moment was gone, so Danny just said bye and see you tomorrow. My first formal dance, kiss and boyfriend in one day. That has got to be a record.
The next morning, Saturday, Loraine let Charm sleep in, for once. When she eventually got up, Charm secluded herself to the bathroom for an hour before coming out pink and soft.
“Ready for breakfast, dear?” Loraine asked her.
“It’s almost 12. I’d call it brunch,” Charm said before disappearing into her room to dress and comb her hair.
The table was messy with papers and letters, but Loraine still managed to clear some space for Charm to eat at. She ate quietly, reading the paper infront of her. A bold headline indicated important news, but Charm ignored it.
“I’m going to the mall after you’ve finished. Do you want to come?” Evan asked, twirling his keys around his finger.
“Sure. Give me ten minutes,” Charm said, standing up. She didn’t bother putting her plate in the kitchen, seeing as Loraine would eventually clear it away to work at the table.
After a quick change of clothes, Charm climbed into the passenger seat. The y drove in silence to the mall, where Charm bought a few tops and a pair of jeans.
“Charm. Danny is gone. You can’t keep looking around for himafter school, expecting he’ll drive up,” Evan told her over a drink.
“I know. It’s just, I half expect him to be there, waiting for me, because he usually is,” Charm explained, looking down into her lap.
“But he’s dead. The police told us. we got the post mortem results. He’s gone, Charm. Forever,” Evan told her. Her head snapped up to look at him. Her eyes were glistening.
“Sorry, I…Charm?” Evan asked, seeing her vision was behind him.
“I saw him. It was Danny, right behind you! He just walked out that shop!!” Charm whispered. Evan looked around, but turned back to Charm.
“Charm. I told you. Danny is dead. He can’t be here,” Evan said firmly.
“I know. You’re right,” Charm sighed.
As soon as they got in, Charm went to her room, her face expressionless.
I saw him. Evan doesn’t believe me, but I swear I saw him. But Evan is right. I saw him, in the pictures. He was dead. As soon as he was shot, I ran. I ran away, down the road and into a café. I rang Evan from there and pretended nothing happened. That night it was all over the news. I thought it wasn’t real when it happened, but it was. The news reports proved it. I went to the police the next day and they asked me question after question. All I remembered was turning to see Danny falling to the ground on the road, and a man run away. The only real image I can remember is Danny lying sprawled on the concrete, red, glistening blood soaked into his shirt. It was only for a second that I looked, before running away, like a coward.
But I saw him, I know it. I’d recognize that hair anywhere, the hair I touched when hugging him tightly. Maybe I was imagining it. I wanted him back so much, that I imagined it. Yeah, that’s what it was. You’re imagining things again, Charm.
I’ve always been lucky. On my birthday, I always got what I wishd for, even though I never told my parents. Mum always got vanilla ice cream, my favourite. The movie I always wanted to go to, was the one Dad bought ticket s for. One time when walking home from school I almost got run over. But I managed to jump out the way just in time. It was luck that helped me through the years, getting me E’s (Excellence) when I needed or wanted them. Everything was luck. It was also luck, that I met Stuart. His grades were down, he lacked confidence, he’d broken his leg five times, and other bones almost as mch too. He ha the curse too, only the other way around. He had bad luck. He was, apparently, at the café across the road from where Danny was killed, the same time, the same day. He caused the Danny to die. I blame him. He’s at the same school as Danny was. He’s at the same school as my brother. And worst of all, He’s my cousin.
Charm slowly got in the waiting car, putting her school bag at her feet.
“Mum said that you have an appointment with Angelica today, so she’ll pick you up from school,” Evan said as he drove throught the lights.
“Fine,” Charm replied.
“Look, Charm. He’s gone. You can’t dwell on the fact that he came back from heaven,” Evan sighed.
“That’s not what I’m thinking about. I’m fine without Angelica, that’s all,”
“You know you aren’t, Charm. You used to cry at the sound of Danny’s name. She’s gotten rid of that hasn’t she? See, Danny, Danny, Danny, Danny, Danny…”
“I get it!! Now shut up! I want to think!” Charm said angrily. Evan shut his mouth and for the rest of the trip drove quietly.
At three-thirty, Charm slammed the door as she got into her mother’s car.
“hey, hey. whats wrong? Whatever it is, I’m sure you don’t need to take it out on the car,” Loraine said.
“Marly called Danny a liar and a two timer, that’s why he got himself killed,” Charm cried into her hands.
“Carina, you know she’s trying to wind you up,” Loraine said helpfully.
“She’s always wanted to go out with Danny ever since she saw him! Of course she’s going to say somtething that’s going to hurt me!” Charm continued as the car stopped at a red light.
“Well, tell the teacher,” Loraine suggested.
“I don’t want to run to a teacher everytime something doesn’t go my way, Mum!” Charm said angrily, wiping the tears away.
At Angelica’s office, Loraine let Charm go in alone.
“Have you been keeping up your diary, Carrie?” Angelica asked cheerfully.
“Yes. I’ve written about what happened and about the divorce and how I met Danny,” Charm sighed.
“Ok,” Angelica said as she wrote down notes.
“Angelica. Is it possible…for someone to be able to see the dead?”
“No. Why?” Angelica answered, looking up.
“Well, I thought I saw Danny at the mall on Saturday. Evan said I was imaginiing it because Danny is dead. But I saw him. The same brown hair, broad shoulders…”
“Did you see his face?”
“No. He was turned away from me,” Charm said sadly.
“There are many people at the mall. It might not have been Danny. Maybe someone who looked like him,” Angelica suggested.
Yeah. I thought it was just my imagination because I wanted him back so much. Or it was just my mind playing tricks on me,” Charm said, giving up the idea that she’d seen Danny.
For the next half hour, they talked as friends and laughed occasionally, even though some it pained to do so.
I went to Angelica’s yesterday. She told me that at the mall it could have been someone else. That’s absolutley right. Danny is dead. I accept that he’s gone, that was ages ago. But dead? Nope. No can do. Angelica wanted me to write in adiary to record my thoughts, everything happy and sad that happened to me. So I write when I feel like it. This is my fourth entry. I don’t feel like going for a run today or writing a long entry. Got a call from Dad today though. Out of the blue, a random call, saying he had only just heard. He asked if he could do something.
“Why don’t you make up your mind if you’re going to be in my life or not!! If you tink you can just ring whenever you feel like it to say hi, you’re wrong! You should have called four months ago! It’s been on national TV, for heavens sake. So you choose, Dad. Ring at least once a week, or get out of my life!” I yelled into the phone before slamming it down. I mean, aren’t both parents meant to be there for you, to support us in our time of need, not to be flim flamming around with aother woman who’s had your baby. I bet he chose his new baby daughter. The precious little Amy. Boo Hoo! I don’t care who he chooses, after all he’s done to us! He left Mum to get a job, he doesn’t send enough money for our school fees and he expects to still be part of our family. Well, I got news for you, mate. I would have rubbed you off the family tree as soon as you’d left! But I guess you’re luky I’m not head of family.
After school on Thursday, Charm changed into sweat pants and a grey hoodie.
“Going for a run, honey?” Loraine asked as Charm walked down the stairs.
“Yep. I’ll be gone an hour at the most,” Charm said, walking out the door and running fown the drive. Keeping a steady pace, she jogged down the road to the park. Already puffing, she raced herself and the wind around the dirt track there. Ahead, she saw a hooded figure, a man, running at the same speed. The run seemed familiar, the outline of the man too.
I went running and I saw Danny! No, seriously. He’s alive. I yelled out to him, oh who cares. Here’s what happened.
“Danny!” I yelled out. The man turned and froze. I gasped as I ground to a halt, a stitch in my side. I looked up, panting, to see the man walking fast towards me. He started to run, turning off the path and running throught the grass. I smiled faintly as I panted, I’m sure. I stood up and continued to run. As I got closer, the man’s hood fell back, revealing Danny’s face. And it was real. Danny was alive. I felt tears running down my face as I ran closer.
“Charm!” He said loudly, before taking one kre large step and holding me tight.
“Danny, please say it’s you, please!” I begged, crying itno his sweatshirt.
“I’m alive, I promise and it’s me. I’m so sorry, I couldn’t tell anyone. Charm, I’ve missed you so much,” Danny whispered in my ear.
“But you’re dead!” I said, looking up.
“No, I’m not. It’s me. I’m real, I’m solid and I’m here,”
“But, the bullet, the man, the blood,even the police!” I gasped, sitting down heavily.
“It was all a play. My brother, Matt, was after me. He’d already tried to kill me…”
“The wound! One day you turned up with a big gash on your arm!” I gasped.
“Yes. That was Matt. I have no idea why he wanted to kill me. I went to the police and they couldn’t find him. The only thing they could do would be pretend to kill me and then seclude me while the police searched for Matt. They found him only a week ago. He’s arrested and in jail,”
“What was the blood?”
“Paint bullets. Hurt for a month,” Danny said, grinning.
“How could you do that though? Couldn’t you tell me? I thought you were dead! I went to your funeral, I’m going through post-traumatic stabilizing classes because I was so upset! Evan thought I was seeing things the other day whe I said I saw you at the mall! Do you know how much pain you’ve caused me by your act?” I yelled.
“Carina. Would you rather it be an act,or real? Matt was going to kill me. He went loony and tried to kill me. It would have endangered me further if you or Evan knew about it. I didn’t even tell my parents. You’re the first to see me after my ‘death’,” Danny said in a serious voice..
“I didn’t stop crying for two months! I only started speaking in acual full sentences last week! I saw you ‘die’, right in front of me, Danny,” I said, now hysterical.
“I know and I’m sorry. If there was one person I was allowed to tell it would have been you.The police told me I could go back to normal when they let me out of hiding last week,” Danny said.
“Danny, you broke my heart. It hurts,” I cried.
“I told you I’m sorry,” Danny said gently, reaching out to me. Ithrew my eelf at him and held him tightly.
“You’re an idiot,” I muttered
“But your idiot,” Danny laughed.
“You have to come round and tell Evan that I’m not going crazy,” I said, leaning back.
“Yeah, I can imagine Evan ‘s face when I walk in. Pretend I’m a ghost though, ‘kay?”
“Totally!” I said, laughing.
He should be here soon. I’ve changed and I even acted like I was still mopey. That’s the bell!
Loraine went to the door and opened it, before gaspoing.
“What, Mum?” Evan said, coming into the hallway. He yelled and leapt back at the sight of Danny.
“What? What’s ging on?” Charm asked, coming down the stairs.
“It’s D…D…Danny’s ghost!” Evan stuttered, pointing at Danny.
“Are you sure it’s not just your mind playing tricks on you?” Charm asked.
“No! It’s his ghoat!” Evan cried out, Loraine still speechless.
“Aer you sure it’s not your imagination either? Because he’s not a ghost,” Charm said, walking over and holding onto Danny’s hand.
“You look like you’ve got an invisible golfball in your mouth,” Danny laughed.
Evan shut his mouth and opend it again.
“But, how?” Loraine asked.
“Can I come in?” Danny asked. Loraine stepped aside to let Danny walk in, his hand holding onto Charm’s.
After half an hour of explaining, things were settled.
“Whew! For a minute there I thought I was halucinating!” Evan said.
“Lucky for you you didn’t faint like poor old Mum,” Danny said, with a laugh.Charm giggled and Evan grinned weakly.
“Imagine what school will be like!” Charm said happily.
“I’ll say! What are you going to do, Dan?” Evan asked.
“Scare the begeebers out of Mr Wilson,” Danny said, smiling.
“By the way, a girl at my school called you a liar and two timer, that’s why you ‘killed’ yourself, even though you were ‘murdered’,” Charm said.
“Two timer, huh?Well, we’ll have to wait till tomorrow, eh?” Danny said with a smile, a hint of mystery in it.
Danny picked me up after school and the face on Marly’s face was priceless. Danny walked right up to her and said,
“Hello. You must be the girl who called me a two timer. Apparently that’s why I killed myself. It was actually murder and I wasn’t killed. Now, are you going to apologise, or will I break you cheerleader arms?” Danny said cheerfully.
“A ghost!!!” Marly screamed.
“It must be your imagination, Marly. Because Danny is real and if you want to know if he’s here, he can hit you if ou want. That would be solid enough and punishable enough for making me miserable and calling Danny names,” I said, stepping beside Danny.
“Sorry!” MArly said,before running off. Danny and I laughed before giving a hi-five and walking to his car, his arm around my shoulder.
Now that Danny isn’t dead, I don’t have to write in this diary. I won’t see Angelica, even though I will miss her a little. I have Evan, Mum, and Danny. Especially Danny. I wonder if his brother knows he’s still alive? I swear as I was passing the prison the other day, I heard some one yell out ‘No!” in anger. Must have been Matt. With my luck, Danny came back to life,I saw him at the mall and at the park. I wonder how long my luck will last for. I can certainly tell you that Stuart is foregiven, but still has his curse.
Epilogue
Charm walked up the steps of the apartment building, holding a little girl to her hip. She slipped a key into the lock of room 56a and turned it. Puzzled as to why it was unlocked, she headed in to find Evan in the room.
“Evan! To what do I owe this pleasure?” Charm said with a smile, putting the three year old down on the round.
“Danny’s been killed by a bullet. Also, by coincidence, Matt is out of jail, “ Evan said.
“Not again! For real this time?” Charm asked.
“No. That’s the story. Matt knows it is. Danny’s run. To America. He called me and said that you’re to fly over. He’s found an apartment for you and Elsa. I’ve come to help you pack,” Evan said, standing up.
“We’re moving? I agreed that Danny could pretend to die, when I married him, but not move country,” Charm said angrily.
“Luckily, he didn’t,” Evan said.
“Hold on. First you said he’s dead, then he’s gone to America, then he hasn’t,”
“Matt knew that the fake story about Danny dead wasn’t real. So we made up another story about Danny goingto America to get him off the scent,” Evan explained.
“So, we’re not moving toAmerica?” Charm asked, confused.
“No. You’re going to a hideout, different fro the first one. Danny went there today, when he found out Matt was to be released tomorrow. He wants to kill Danny, so to get to Danny, he’ll go for you,”
“Which means I have to hide,”
“Not necessarily,”
“But I will, I’ll go and hide with him,”
“Why”
“Because I’m his lucky charm,” Carina said with as smile.
I had so much fun writing this. I hope it doesn't confuse you.
Mollytime/Jennifer
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