Charlie screwed her eyes shut against the offensive sunlight that filtered in through the blinds and woke her. Irritated she threw an arm over her eyes and tried to fall back asleep. After a moment she flipped onto her stomach and groaned into her pillow. She looked up blew some coppery hair out of her face with an annoyed huff. She peered at the glaring red letters of the digital alarm clock on the bedside table. "Grrr..." She hauled herself upright and tried in vain to flatten her bed-hair as she squinted against the morning brightness. She sighed then hesitantly focused her gaze on her hand, for a moment she hoped that maybe it had all just been a bad dream. Her heart sank when after a moment she saw the wisps of smoke curl away from her fingertips. "Sorry Charlie." She muttered.<br/><br/>She grabbed the worn stuffed bear from next to her on the bed and squeezed it tightly, determinedly ignoring the scratchy feeling from where she had accidentally charred some small spots of its fur. Slowly, the details from the events of the last few weeks since she had made her audition tape came trickling back to her. She stood up and pulled her tank top off over her head as she walked half-zombie to the shower. Peeking in the mirror she got a glimpse of her hair, sticking out in random directions. She stuck her tongue out at her reflection and started the water. Once steam started to cloud the air she finished undressing and stepped in, allowing the water to finish waking her up. She never seemed to be able to get the water hot enough anymore, which probably had something to do with the constant "fever" she was running. At least when she was soaked she was less likely to smoke out the bathroom.<br/><br/>Finished showering, she brushed her teeth then wrapped herself in a towel and went back out into the hotel room. She looked around at her meager assortment of possessions. Enough to fill a suitcase and a duffel bag. She wasn't really one for material things anyway. At least she still had her phone. She yawned and sat down to check her email while her hair dried. Spam, spam, spam... Not spam? She clicked the email. As her eyes scanned it her jaw slowly dropped. She was accepted into the program. She tried to temper her excitement, she'd actually been chosen, which meant she had a chance to learn to control whatever had happened to her. It also meant that she'd be showing the world exactly how much of a freak she was... There was a good chance there were anti-Charlie safety measures in place, so silver lining. <br/><br/>She re-read the email, It was from a Mr. A.J. Williams. Brief, but to the point. She layed back on the bed, staring at her phone. They really moved fast, they'd pick her up tomorrow morning to transport her to the house. She just needed to tell them where. She typed out her reply, letting them know where to pick her up before setting her phone aside. A smile broke out across her face as she kicked the air in excitement. She levered herself upright, things were going to be crazy tomorrow... As always, the addiction was there. But she'd been doing well. She was clean and she wasn't going to blow her chance to get help over drugs or drink. She wouldn't need them to feel like she was in control. Charlie could do it herself. For the first time in a long time she was set on a course. She was determined, which was new and scary but exciting too. A reality show for freaks. Before she'd received her acceptance it hadn't even seemed real. Charlie had herself half convinced that there was no way she'd even get in or that it was a hoax, the possibility of which still lingered in the back of her mind. Either way she'd find out tomorrow.