Ana's POV

I reach the refrigerator and pull out my favorite banana flavored yogurt I'd been thinking about since I woke up. "You're gonna get in my belly." I sing to the yogurt container and give it a small shake. I turn and grab the container with my homemade granola from the counter, a spoon and head to the kitchen table. Today is going to be a great day I remind myself. This morning I'm going to stay in my Strawberry Shortcake pajamas, dig into my breakfast and start reading Jane Eyre for the millionth time; I just love this story. Then this afternoon I'm going to the Brewery House to check out the setup of my friend Jose's art exhibit. I'm so excited for him. He's wanted his own show for his photography for so long. The actual show will go live in two weeks and I can't wait to cheer him on. If he's free I'll have him over for some leftover homemade lasagna. We have so much to catch up on; a year of only emails and texts just isn't enough. I love days like this. Working two jobs and volunteering at St. Mark's leaves little to no room for me time.

"Hey, Ana can you work late for me tonight?" Rachel yells as she sashays into my apartment, the door slamming behind her and her heels clicking on the hard wood floors. Today's ensemble, as she calls them, consists of a white cotton knee length sun dress with navy blue flower embroidery at the hem and around the scoop neck collar; t-strap Louboutin-ish platforms and her signature pop of color, two strands of yellow beads with a matching bracelet.

"Well, good morning to you too." I respond sarcastically without looking directly at her continuing to read my book as another spoonful of yogurt makes its way to my mouth. "You know I gave you my extra key as an emergency backup, not so you could barge into my apartment whenever you feel like it." I pretend to scold, keeping my head low so she doesn't see my smirk.

"Blah, blah, blah. Oh come on Ana, don't be like that. I need you." She whines opening the refrigerator door and leans to looks inside. "I know that's not the last banana yogurt you're stuffing in your face?"

"Since this is my apartment and I bought the yogurt I figured I'd eat my own food."

I finally look up at her and she's standing there in the middle of my kitchen, or should I say living room; this place is so small the living, dining and kitchen are all one room. Oh well, it's cheap, clean and in a great location so I can't complain. Having this teeny tiny place is worth it since it comes with a ridiculously large bathroom with a claw foot soaking tub meant for two. Not that I've had anyone to share it with. "Ana!" She says to bring me back to the present. There she is with her hands clasped in front of her chest and a pout on her lips. "Please?" she begs. I roll my eyes at her and shake my head. I know that my lack of response is driving her crazy. "Anastasia Steele, answer me!" Stomping her feet. This morning's tantrum may turn epic.

This has to be about James. She swears he is "the one". She falls in love so hard and so fast all the time and it's always with someone she thinks is Mr. Perfect and he turns out to be Mr. I'm a big 'ol douche. She's been in love four times in the year that we've known each other but she's a character so she attracts the same types.

A YEAR AGO - MAY

"Annie I'm so proud of you." My father smiles as he's holding one of my moving boxes.

"Dad put that down now!" I yell back from the top of the porch. "No lifting any boxes. I told you, you're here for support not manual labor."

"Oh Annie please, once a Marine always a Marine. I got this. Oorah!" He smiles up at me slowly making his way up the stairs to stop at the landing I front of me. As he puts the box down I can see the heaving of his chest. He's out of breath again. "Dad, that's enough, please stop." I touch my hand to his cheek and he leans in. Up on my toes, I kiss his other cheek. "Daddy, I don't want any more heart attacks. Stop trying to over doing things. You're just getting back on your feet". He looks at me with sad eyes, turns his head to kiss my palm, "I'm sorry. I know you worry. Ok, no more. I'll bring this upstairs and I'll just help unpack." I get a quick wink and he grabs the box and head up the stairs; and he calls me stubborn. The man had a major heart attack last year, nearly died, still has a stent in his artery and he acts like he's a 20 year old and can do anything.

The day I got the call about my father was the worst day of my life. I had never felt more scared and hopeless in my life. When I spoke to him that morning, he sounded fine. He admitted to having some major heartburn but taking in consideration that he had eaten his weight in wings and nachos watching the baseball game with his buddies the night before, no wonder he had indigestion. "Two more tums", he said "and I'll be as good as new. It's not about me today anyway. I called to wish good luck on your exams. Give me a call tonight to let me know how it went, okay?" I told him I would and we said our goodbyes. I was almost done with my Contemporary American Authors final when my world stopped. A woman form the WSU administration office came into the class and asked to speak with me. I knew it was something serious but in no way I expected to hear her say that my father was fighting for his life. To this day I don't clearly remember what happened after her words reached my ears. I only remember sitting at his bedside, holding his hand, praying and begging for him not to leave me. "Hola chica! You ok honey?" I turned and was met with sincere brown eyes of a young African American woman sipping a coffee. She and the singer Rihanna could be twins. I didn't realize that I had started crying thinking about my dad's heart attack. "I'm sorry. What did you say?" I just manage to get out and wipe the tears from my face.

"Well, honey you're just standing here crying. I know it's not a palace but there's no need to cry." She looks at me a flashing the biggest smile. "Are you the new girl moving on the second floor? I live across the hall from you." Putting her hand out to shake my hand I look her up and down and instantly fall in love with her outfit. She's wearing a dark green and white tribal design inspired dress under a perfectly faded jean jacket, khaki colored wedge sandals, oversized sunglasses and the cutest wristlet in bright yellow. Her hair is cut in a bob that frames her face; there's just a touch of blonde highlights. Pushing her sunglasses up on her head she said, "Earth to new girl. Anyone home?" Waving her hand in front of my face.

"Yes. I'm sorry. Yes. I'm the new tenant. I'm Anastasia Steele from Montesano." I extend my hand back to shake hers.

Shaking my hand palm down, "Welcome Anastasia Steele from Montesano. My name is Rachel Elizabeth Parker of the Boston Parkers." She smiles and winks. "I've always wanted to introduce myself that way."

I smile. "Nice to meet you Ms. Parker of the Boston Parkers." I curtsy to her and we both break into a fit of giggles.

"You need some help? I'd be happy to lend a hand. Let me go change from my ensemble into something more comfortable and we can schlep up your stuff together." She walked past me into the hallway and I followed up the stairs to the second floor. Her unit was slightly down the hall from her. "I'll see you in a few minutes." She waves and disappears into her apartment. I enter my apartment and…"Dad, what did I say?" screaming at him. "Put the hammer down and climb off the counter!" Oh, this man is trying to kill me.

THREE HOURS LATER

I look around my apartment and can't believe I'm here. With Rachel helping, getting the remaining boxes and the few pieces of furniture moved in went really quickly. I got my Dad off on his way home and Rachel and I are stuffing our stomachs with pizza and ice cream. Sitting on the floor opening boxes, I learned that Rachel is originally from Boston and lost her parents in a car crash when she was 7 years old. Her aunt and uncle raised her and she's some type of genius. She completed high school at by age 16; completed her bachelor's degree in biology and chemistry by age 19 and planned on going to medical school. Then she met, as she said, "the mother of all assholes" thought she was in love and moved to Portland following him. She's planning on going to medical school to become a pediatrician but for now she just wants to live and enjoy herself.

Our lives weren't that different; both having our share of ups and downs at a young age. I told her about my parent's divorce, how I spent my teenage years with my Dad and now my mother and I have a strained relationship. . I was accepted in WSU but had to quit after my junior year when my Dad had his heart attack. He had to take so much time off from work to recuperate; the bills were piling up and I knew I had to help him; short term disability insurance only covers a limited amount. I moved back to Montesano, got a job at the local hardware store and spent a year helping him get back on his feet.

"To us Ana!" Rachel holds up her paper cup filled with wine she brought over. "When life gives you lemons, ask for salt and tequila."

"Isn't the correct statement, when life gives you lemons, make lemonade?" I laugh.

"No! We've had some bumps in the road of our lives but now that we've met each other, things are only going up. And besides, I hate lemonade. Now are you gonna leave me hangin with this toast?"

I get up on my knees and return her toast. "To us! I hope the world is ready!" Our cups hit each other and we each make the universal clink sound and burst into hysterically laughter.

PRESENT

"Ana, you know James is fine with a capital have you seen that ass?" she says with the biggest smile. She's sitting across from me at the table popping Cheerios into her mouth from the box she took off the top of the refrigerator. "He called this morning and he had a change in his schedule and he wants to see me."

"No, I'm not working for you. I'm going to help Jose with his art show setup and then have him over for dinner. Besides…"

She raises her eyebrows. "Over for dinner? Is that what the kids call screwing around these days?"

"Oh please." I roll my eyes and walk over to the sink putting down my spoon. "Jose and I are just friends. We grew up together and we were both at WSU. Our dads are friends. You know all this. And besides, James is a jerk. You should leave him alone. "

"Don't be like that. I know he's not perfect, we all have some issues. He's working on getting his life back together. Aren't you always preaching about giving second chances?" More of my cereal disappears in her mouth.

"Rachel, my answer is still…" My phone starts ringing and she gets a momentary stay of execution. "Hello? Hey buddy, what's up? I'm looking forward to this afternoon…I'm sorry to hear that….no I'm not mad we can get together later…ok text me when you can."

"It sounds like your dinner date is canceling on you, which means you can go into work for me. Right?" She has turned around in the chair, pleading with those big brown eyes. My hand goes out and snatches the cereal from her hand and lean in close to her ear. "If you want James tonight, than you give me opened ended time at St. Mark's." I step back and look at the horrible look on her face.

"Oh Ana no! I'll give you a donation every month but please, not St. Mark's."

"St. Mark's or no James; decisions, decisions, decision." I say putting the cereal back on the refrigerator. "Well?"

Rachel gets up and walks towards the door picking up the keys she left on the coffee table, pauses and says "I guess I'll be at St. Mark's this weekend. Sometimes, you ate just evil Miss. Steele." Just as fast as she came in she's out the door. I guess I'm working tonight.

LATER THAT NIGHT

Why did I agree to work for her tonight I ask myself the entire shift? Caliente Maison is the most exclusive restaurant in Portland. It's located in the Heathman Hotel and is always booked to capacity. I'm not sure if people come here, those that can afford it, because the restaurant is truly that fabulous or if it's the place to be seen. I try not to let the condescending and outright offensive behavior of customers get to me but tonight they are really pushing all my buttons. I'm a server not a doormat. Having money isn't a free pass for rudeness; snap your fingers at me to get my attention or question my intelligence because my job is to serve you water. This visit to employment purgatory will be over soon. Thanks to the money I've been able to save from tips I can start classes again in the fall and pursue my love of literature. I have one more hour of this and then straight to my warm and comfy bed.

"So what did Rachel have to promise to get you to work her shift tonight?" Maggie asks with a smirk as I'm getting ready to leave and she's counting up her cash tips.

"Ha! She has to come to St. Mark's whenever I say, no questions asked."

"Please take pictures of that! I can't wait to see her in a hairnet." I get my coat and head out the back entrance for the service elevator. "Stay safe Ana!" Maggie yells and I give her a wave. The call from my bed is getting louder by the second. Making my way onto the street, I look up to the night sky, it's clear and filled with stars. It's still a little chilly at the end of March so I'm glad I wore my heavier jacket and scarf. It's just past 11pm and there are a few people out of the street here and there. I'm a few blocks from the hotel and something doesn't feel right. I stop and look behind me but nothings there. I continue on a few more feet and there's the feeling again so I pick up speed. You're almost at your bus stop and then home. Just keep moving. Two more blocks. I repeat over and over. I hear a noise behind me and absolute panic runs through my system. My heart is beating a mile a minute. I turn to look behind me and that's when I see him leaning again the side of a car. I can't make out any of his features. He's too far away and it's too dark. The dark clothes he's wearing has him blending in with the shadows. His hand slowly moves towards his face and it's briefly illuminated from the fire of his cigarette. He takes a few steps in my direction and my brain kicks back into action. I'm alone, late at night and on a semi deserted street what do I do? Run! I take off towards by bus stop moving as fast as my feet carry me. My arms pumped up and down; my legs take long even strides. My mind is on autopilot to just move. I made it past the first block and there was light at the end of this tunnel. I could see the bus stop and since this was the first stop on my route, it was there; the number 7 bus would be my savior tonight.

I wanted to turn to see if he was still behind me but knew it would slow me down. I hand to keep going. Suddenly I was being pulled backwards and large hands slammed me into the building wall with such force I felt my shoulder come out of its socket. A shooting pain raced down my spine and I screamed. My arms were pinned to my sides. Oh shit! Oh Shit! Oh Shit! He caught me. How in the hell?

Everything was happening so fast it was becoming difficult to keep my thoughts straight to get me out of this. My father trained me to defend myself and it was time to use what I'd been taught. With my arms out of commission, I brought my knee directly up as hard as I could towards his groin. He doubled over in pain. "You fucking bitch!" was all he could get out. This is my opportunity to save myself. With my one good arm I push him away and start to run. "Oh no you don't!" he yells through clenched teeth pulling me by my ponytail. I fall landing on my dislocated shoulder; the pain in unbearable. He stands over me and I feel a kick to my side, then another. I'm in so much pain that I can't scream for help or plead for my life. I don't know what he wants, to kill me, rape me or both. Where is everyone? There were people on the streets just a few minutes ago. Does no one see what's happening on a public sidewalk? He must have the same thought. He lifts me by my hair and drags me into the space between two parked vans and sits on my legs. Somehow I find my voice. "Please! Please…don't do this! I'll give you all the money I have." Tears are streaming down my face and my pleas have no effect on him. He reaches down to cover my mouth. His hand is near my face and I take another chance at survival; sinking my teeth into his hand. The metallic taste of his blood fills my mouth. He yells out in pain. Good you asshole. I'm glad it hurts. With his other hand he draws back and punches the side of my head. Everything instantly blurs. I can hear the swishing of blood my ear. This is it. He's going to kill me. I think of Mom and Dad and how much I love them; all the things this world has to offer and I'll never partake; all the love and romance with that special someone. It's all over. I see him drawing up his fist again and I brace for another blow. "You bastard! Get the fuck off her!" someone yells at my attacker from behind him. I see him being pulled off me and thrown to the grown. Everything goes black.