Author's Note: I know its been awhile and I'm sorry. A lot has been going on and its still a little crazy around here, but I'm gonna try to get this story out. Let me explain a little bit about what's been going on. My first computer quit working while we were in the process of looking for a place to live. Well, a place that allowed my dog. So I started to use my mom's computer. Meanwhile, we found a new place and we are happy. I've been working full time, spending time with family & friends. Enjoying a new position at work. Yep. Then the computer I was using exploded(well, it quit working). Nothing I could do was going to save it. However, I lost everything. All my notes, my saved stories, some pictures. All gone. My heart was broken. And at the time I couldn't afford a new computer. So sadly, I put writing on the back burner and let it go. It crushed me, but nothing else I could do. I had no other options.
Since then... Covid! Ugh! Lol. The world went crazy. In May of 2020, I decided to temporary work from home. Which required a new computer. So I bought this laptop. But it was for work only. I ended up love working from home so much that I talk to my supervisors and I am now full time work from home and I love it! However working from home permanently meant a new computer. With help from my mom, I got a new desktop computer. Which meant that this laptop was not officially mine to do as I want. So I finally got it cleaned up and I've been writing(in a notebook) my next JE story.
As for my older stories.. I could probably salvage my Lester Story, but the other one.. I have read a half dozen times and I haven't a clue where I was going with that one. Maybe I was in a different frame of mine or something but I got nothing. I will be pulling both stories once I can get them saved on this computer. I really hope you guys don't hate me. And I hope you enjoy this story. I don't know when I'll be able to update since my little is still completely nutty as a fruitcake, but I will finish it. So.. here it is..
Please be nice. If you don't have anything nice to say, then walk away and stop reading.
I know this sounds awfully familiar but I promise it will be different. Now I haven't read any JE Fanfic lately, but I still continue to read the books. *shrugs* I like them. And I'm invested. Lol.
I do NOT own this characters, I am only borrowing them.
Chapter One
Walked Away
I walked away from my life yesterday.
It started with my mother about a week ago. I went to Sunday dinner and to my surprise -I wasn't really surprised- Joe was invited. Now normally I wouldn't give a shit but we had gotten into an argument the night before. He hated my job -blah blah blah- and I was sick of him not supporting his girlfriend. So I stormed out. I was still pissed at him. I didn't want to see him. So of course my mother invited him to dinner. That's okay. I just ignored him altogether. However, my mother had other ideas. Sliding comments in the conversation like, 'you two make such a cute couple' or 'I can't wait to your beautiful babies'. I shuddered at the word babies but when she mentioned me in a white wedding dress, I lost my temper. I yelled and screamed. She pondered why she couldn't have a daughter that didn't have exploding cars or random assholes after them. So I told her if she felt that way then she wouldn't have me as a daughter anymore. And I walked away from my mother.
The next day, I walked away from a skip known for running from us and finding clever ways of ditching us. Michael Townsend's bond was just about up and I knew this wasn't going to get any easier. But I'm use to it so I put on my big girl pants and my combat boots and went to do my job. I went by myself because Lula always seems to insult him and that only pisses him off more. To tell you the truth, it was beginning to get on my nerves as well. Alas, I had him cornered in his kitchen(I snuck in-bite me). His weapon was raw eggs. Not a big deal. I've had those thrown at me before. I dodged the first one but the second one hit me full in the face. It hurt like a bitch. I now have a cut below my left eye and a giant bruise. I don't know why but it pissed me off more than ever. So I punched him full on in the face and I walked away from Michael Townsend.
A few days later, I walked away from Joe Morelli. I went after my next skip (Michael was still out and I didn't give a shit), Casey Davidson. Things were going good until Casey tossed a match in my gas tank, my actual fucking gas tank. I had an older car so the gas flap didn't lock which made my car and my gas tank an easy target. Needless to say, my cute little pepto-pink Prius went boom. Lucky for me, I was far enough away that I didn't get hurt. Casey though wasn't as lucky. He didn't die or anything but he did get hurt. When the police and the ambulance showed up, Joe was with them. When he approached me, his face was soft and his eyes were too. Not for long though. He begin to yell and scream, his face got red and his eyes bulged out of his head along with a vein across his forehead. Yelling at me that Casey got hurt because of my stupidity. I needed to get my head examined and find a new job. So while he was still screaming, I walked away from Joe Morelli.
Later that afternoon, I walked away from the police station and everyone there. Even though Casey got hurt, I was still able to bring him in. So I went down to the police station and got my receipt. First thing that was said to me upon walking in the door was, 'You made me a rich man, Steph! Thanks!' That comment was from Eddie. And while it was said in good humor it still hurt me. Words do hurt like a bitch. I don't care what the fuck that saying said when I was a kid. Words hurt. They had a bet going about when and who would blow up my Prius. Most of the cops had their bet in for Michael but Eddie was the only one that picked Casey. Again he was joking and happy cuz he made over $200 bucks off of my life, but when the entire police station erupted in laughter I had enough. I walked away from the police station.
It wasn't over yet though. Soon after I walked away from the Bonds Office and Connie and Lula next. Walking in my receipt for Casey, Lula and Connie were already laughing. They were my friends so I knew it wasn't out of malicious intent, but again words fucking hurt. And their laughter wasn't much better. I had barely made it through the door when Vinnie came out of his office doing who knows what, yelling about Michael and not grabbing him while I had the chance. I was pissed off and had blood trailing down my cheek. Still have the bruise and the cut, so at this time, I still didn't give a shit about Michael Townsend. To make matters worse, Lula and Connie started teasing about the egg(hello! that egg incident caused a bruise and a cut-not really funny) but I guess they had to get their digs in somehow, right? I collected my receipt and then I walked away from Connie, Lula, and the Bonds Office.
I know what you're thinking. I turned to Ranger and the Merry Men because after all, they would act like the other yahoos and I would never be able to walk away from them. Now normally that would be entirely correct. After all, when my car exploded one of of his men was there within minutes with an extra vehicle for me. I was grateful for this vehicle because it was helping me tie up lose ends and find a new job. However, after leaving the Bonds Office I went to RangeMan. I found Ranger in his office and he waved me in with a smirk and a babe. I gave him a smile as he got up from behind his desk. Shaking his head, a small grin on his too handsome face and an actual twinkle in his eye, he was I was a walking disaster. I shut down. I know he didn't mean it in the way it sounded but after the last few days I had I just couldn't take it anymore. I gave him a sad smile, told him I had to go. And then I walked away from Ranger and everything RangeMan.
By the time I reached the parking garage, I had Mary Lou on the phone. I told her what street I was on and what direction I was headed. Mary Lou didn't even hesitate or take that long to get to me. She took me home and let me know that she was there for me in whatever capacity I needed. I gave her a much needed hug and thanked her and then I said good bye. I was tired. Physically, emotionally, mentally, and everything in between. I was so damn tired. And my face hurt like a bitch. I took a quick shower and then packed a bag and any essentials that I thought I might need. My kitchen cabinets and refrigerator were pretty much empty as I haven't a moment to shop lately. So I grabbed my bag, Rex & his things, and then I walked away from my home.
I checked into a hotel room that night. I was in that tiny room for about a week. I used the hotel room phone(I left mine in my apartment) to contact the insurance company. When they told me my check was ready, I begged Lou to take me. Of course, she didn't hesitate. I got my insurance check and I bought myself a 1995 Ford Econoline 150 Van with a bubble top. It was white on the outside and strip club red on the inside. It was in pristine condition. Only one owner before me and he used it to drive back and forth to his lodge meetings -why you need a van for that- but I didn't care. I was in love with my new van. I kept it at Mary Lou's while I was gathering everything I needed.
My next step was my bank. By this time, I had borrowed Mooner's car but I still didn't want to be followed, so I shoved my curly hair in a ponytail and then shoved it under a hat. I then donned on a pair of big and dark sunglasses. I got lucky at the DMV and didn't have to wait long for my new driver's license. Fingers crossed, my luck remained. I went to my bank next and withdrew everything but five bucks. I don't know why I left in there but I did. I then walked away from my bank.
In that last week in that hotel room, I had done a lot of thinking. I liked my job, loved my family, and adored my friends. I could honestly say that before all this, I was happy. Sure, I hated having stalkers all the time. And I've gotten into a lot of messes over the years. My friends laughed at me or made bets concerning my cars, my health, my disasters, and my life. But I was sure they loved me. And I know my mother is always on my case, but she's just worried about me. Right? Morelli had that horrible Italian temper and was always yelling, but that's just Morelli and I know he loves me too. I couldn't and didn't want to even think about Ranger right now. I couldn't bare it. His words struck the deepest. It was still too raw.
So while I knew none of them meant to be hurtful but there was only so much I could take before I finally broke. This was it. I was broke. I needed out. So late one Friday night when I knew everyone was busy, Mary Lou came got me in her van and took me to her house. Together we transferred everything to my new van. It was plenty big and I was excited about my upcoming road trip. I filled that van with my clothes, bedding, toiletries, food, and of course, Rex. I tried to give Mary Lou and a little money, I didn't have a lot but she was helping me here and I wanted to repay her. She refused it. I cried and hugged her. I told her I would contact her as soon as I got far enough away. I already bought a burner phone(I was traveling alone, I needed one) but I had yet to activate it.
So in the dead of night, I walked away from life as I knew it.
Author's Afterthought: Please let me know what you think. I already have chapter 2(on paper) so once I get it in my computer and fine tune it.. I'll have it out. Thanks Y'all!