Chapter 3
I've gotten into a routine now. I work every night from 8pm to 2:30am except Mondays and Tuesdays. I walk home to my crappy apartment and in bed by 3:15. I see Sarah almost every afternoon. Her company has become something that I crave. I hate being alone after working around drunks that remind me of George.
Sarah helped me clean up my place so I could live in a slightly less uncivilized manner. She even went with me to a thrift store and got a few things to make it a little more like home. She still wants me to come to home with her on the weekends, but I'm too afraid that her parents will see that I'm a big fat liar! I hate it because I really like Sarah and I think I can trust her with anything.
One day as we were cleaning my sticky floors, she said "Els, you know this dirty floor makes me like of us. Ok that sounds weird but just listen. It reminds me of Scarlett of course and her love for Melanie." I'm really starting to like her stories of Miss Scarlett O'Hara. Whenever she would quote Scarlett she would do it with the funniest southern accent and a 'Fiddle-dee-dee'.
"Well!" She stopped cleaning the floor and got really excited. "So Scarlett gets her son Wade, a sick Melanie and Melanie's newborn baby back to Tara after the burning of Atlanta. Tara is in terrible shape after the war and everyone including Scarlett works their hands to the bones trying to build a life again. Then one day a damn Yankee soldier finds his way to Tara." Sarah stops the story and shakes her head like she's trying to get an image out of it. "This man was the worse kind of man. He had nasty intentions, if you know what I mean." I shake my head no. Sarah looks me in the eyes leans in a whispers, "Rape". This word hits me a little hard knowing that if I hadn't locked my bedroom doors and stayed awake as long as George was awake, I might have been raped.
Sarah sits up a little straighter, I know this is where Scarlett comes in. "Do you know what Scarlett did? She shot him dead! That's right she protected herself and her family." With a sigh she continues, "But it was Melanie, always the lady and so sick and frail, that did the amazing thing that day. She helped Scarlett get rid of the body and scrubbed the floor of all the blood no questions asked. She just did it to protect Scarlett." She looks at me with a sweet smile, "I believe Scarlett really gained respect for Melanie that day. It wasnt until much later and too late did she realize how much she truly loved Melanie as a sister. Melanie never told a soul of Scarlett's actions from that day. Melanie always had Scarlett's heart and would never break it. She knew Scarlett better than Scarlett knew herself. Els, I'm your Melanie!"
Thats when I realized she knows something. I know she does but she's not pushing me to tell her anything. I feel like I have to tell her and that everything will be okay.
I arrive at the bar ten of eight. Late September in Michigan is beautiful and walking to work is a joy but once I walk in, yuck! I really hate this place. The smell of booze makes me sick to my stomach, but the money is needed. I walk pass the usual sloppy drunks at the bar to go to the back room to put my things away.
As I get to the end of the bar I notice a set of blue eyes staring at me. They belong to a man that couldn't be more than 26 or 27. I've been here for about six weeks, this is the first he's been in here. Not your usual customer at a dive like this. He is the most beautiful person I have ever seen.
Beside his piercing blue eyes, he is tall. Must be 6'1 or 6'2, slim but muscular. I divert my eyes and put my head down as he gives me a shy smile, while running his long fingers into his copper colored hair. WOW! That is one sexy look. He must have been looking at one of the other waitresses since there is no way a guy that gorgeous would give me the time of day.
I go into the back and through my jacket in my locker. I try to compose myself before i have to head back out there. I have never felt like this about a boy before. But than again he's not a boy. He's a man and I'm a native 16 year old runaway. I put on my apron and head out to the bar. I glance back to the beauty at the end of the bar and see a group of girls around him. "See" I think to myself, "It was someone else he was smiling at."
It's a busy night in the bar and I haven't had time to sit, let alone look at my copper-headed god. I'm sure another waitress is taking good care of him, giving her full attention to him and no other customers. That would explain why I seem to be running around here. "Ella, can you please take these drinks to party in the party in the corner?" Doug the bartender asks as he is already handing me the half dozen shots.
I do as I'm told and head to the corner table. I tend to keep my head down when it comes to serving customers. I fear that one of them will turn out to be like George, so quiet and barely noticable is fine by me. I don't get the tips like the other girls but they are much prettier than me. I put the drinks on the table, "Let me know if you need again else."
"I need something." I look up to see a pair of sky blue eyes staring straight through me. I had no words. I couldn't speak, just nodded my head as I got lost in those eyes. "Your name?"
My name? Why would he want my name? "Me?" I looked around to make sure he wasn't talking to someone else. He gently grabbed my chin to turn my face back to him.
"Yes, you. I haven't been able to get your stunning eyes out of my mind all night. I have to put a name with the most beautiful grey eyes I have ever had the honor to get lost in."
Getting lost myself in his eyes and mega-watt smile, I think I forgot my own name. "E..Ella." Wanting to break the contact I try to move my head but his hand grips my chin just a little tighter.
"Hello Ella. I'm Matthew Christiansen." He drops my chin and smiles again. "And I want to get to know what else is behind those eyes, if you will allow me."
Thanks to all the followers. I love seeing people reading my words. I wanted to get as much uploaded as I can in the beginning because I simply can't wait to get to the Christian stuff. Plus the quick updates make those cliffhangers a little less nail biting. Well you now know how Ella met Christian's father. He's a real charmer. Stay Tuned! Thanks for reading -Mandi
