"We have got to get you into some better clothes" she said as she was
cleaning the counter. "It'll be a while until I have the books done for
today though"
I got an idea.
"Mia, I used to do all the book back home for Ant…uh, my ex, I could help you out if you want"
"Sure, that would be great, it's just matching the receipts to the till"
She said pulling out the book and the register drawer. I began right away. I never liked taking hand outs, so I felt a little better knowing I was returning the favor even if by a little. We were quiet for some time while I balanced out the book. I dint realize that my shoulder was visible. My tee had slinked down passed my shoulder. I heard a gasp from Mia and looked up but her back was already turned to me. I looked at my shoulder and saw a nasty bruise peeking out from the collar. I quickly fixed my shirt a pulled my hair on my face, just in case she saw the scar too. Here we go again. I thought to myself, but she didn't say anything and went into the back. By the time she came back I had the books done.
"Your $16.53 over"
"Over? Are you sure"?
"Positive" I said as she turned the book to check for herself
"No shit, that's a first…you're pretty good at that, and fast too"
"When you do it every day for years, it becomes second nature"
"You ever go to school for this stuff"
"I started to back in NJ but…." My voice trailed off as I followed my memories back to NJ, the days at college, the fun I used to have, my mother, losing her, gaining Anthony.
"Hey, snap out of it" Mia said, forcing me back to reality
"Sorry, memories are still a little fresh, you know"
"C'mon, lets get outta here, you can tell me about NJ on the way"
I followed her out of the store.
"Nice car, yours"
"Yeah that's my baby… 3.9 L V8 engine, had my ex put some extra power in her so she runs at 350 instead of the standard 252 horses. She has a good power to weight ratio too… 1409 lbs per horse.
"Wow, you know a lot about cars?"
"I know a lot about this car, and enough to get by on others, my ex was more into cars then I was"
"Racing?"
"Stealing."
Mia's mouth roped, as I rolled my eyes
" He owns a chop shop out in NYC, seen a lot of nice cars go in and out of there, when she came in I begged and pleaded with him to let me have her. He finally folded, and gave her to me. Probably the only nice thing the bastard ever did for me" We both laughed, although I think I was laughing to keep the moo light.
" Not much room for shopping bags, we can drop your car off at the house, then take mine," She said pointing to an Aquamarine _________.
I followed her a few miles to the house. It was pretty big, but considering how many people were living there, it looked just right. I parked my car up in the driveway in front of the garage with Mia behind me. Just as we were getting out of the car a white Jetta pulled up screeching to a stop in front of the house.
"I know you ain't going without me" I heard a woman scream. I saw Letty getting out of the passenger side with Jesse driving. As soon as she got out of the car, Jesse waved and peeled down the street. The three of us piled into the car, with me in the back, and were on the road in 2 minutes. While driving, they asked me about NJ, how I liked it in LA so far. I told them about my sister and my niece, how I missed her so much it hurt. I told them about my parents, how I never met my dad, and how my mother wasn't around. I couldn't bring myself to tell them the truth. It was just too hard. Besides, I was beginning to enjoy myself, and I didn't want to ruin the mood. We got to what I guess was their shopping hot spot, and we all piled out of the car. As soon as I walked into the store Letty pulled my tee shirt tight around my body.
"You gotta flaunt that off girl" she said before she vanished into the store. I started slowly picking through the racks. Everything was half what it was supposed to be. I got scared. How was I going to get through this without them seeing anything? I was embarrassed and scared as to what they might think. Before I could think of a way to get out of it. Mia grabbed my arm and took me to the fitting room.
"Here, start with these" she said handing me 6 different pairs of daisy dukes, hot pants, and halter-tops
"I can't wear-"
"Yes you can, just try it…. And I'm waiting right here" she said as she pulled the curtain.
I shut my eyes and took a deep breath. I tried to find some thing out of the clothes Mia gave me that wasn't to revealing, but it was pointless. I decided on a pair of white hot pants and a red halter-top with half the back out. I turned around and looked in the mirror. I actually looked good. I could see passed the bruises and scars.
"Well??"
"I.actually.good"
"Let me see! OH MY GOD SARAH!" she said as she pulled the curtain back. I tried to turn around, but it was too late she had already seen it. Her face went white and her hand was covering her mouth.
"Its not as bad as it looks Mia"
She didn't say anything, just put her hand on my shoulder and turned me around. I could feel her fingers tracing the bruises and scars down my back. She stopped at the largest one.
"Wha-How, Sarah what happened to you"
I reached around a felt my scar
"Oh that, a busted kidney, I had to get it removed, Mia, it was 2 years ago, it doesn't hurt." I said trying to sound convincing.
"Yeah but the rest of you… JESUS CHRIST!"
Before I could explain I heard Letty calling us fro in the store.
"Please Mia, don't say anything, just help me find some clothes to cover it up ok" I looked at her pleading. Thank God she only saw my back and not the rest of me, she would have fainted.
"Yeah…um.less…revealing, got it," She said, stumbling backwards out of the fitting room. I just sat down on the bench and hung my head in my hands. This was getting off on the right foot, I though tot myself. A Few minutes later, she came back with some Capri's and baby tees. "Here you go, this should, work"
"Mia, it ok realy, the bruises are almost healed, that's why they look so nasty"
"Yeah but Sarah, there's so many, I mean, is it just your back, or-"
"My back mostly" I said putting my hand on her shoulder. I was actually trying to reassure her, as she was the one covered in these marks. "Mia, its ok, I'm here in LA now, remember"
Suddenly her face went from shock to realization. I could barely hear her whispers.
"Oh god, that's why you ran isn't it"
"The major reason why" I tried to change the subject, holding up a pair of Capri's she picked out for me " These are cute, I like the prints on these".
I guess she got picked up on my sad attempt to change the subject and humored me.
"Yeah um-"
"Hey chicas, find anything for her yet" Letty said coming into the fitting room. Mia shut my curtain.
"Yeah she'd trying it on now" Thank You Mia. I came out in the Capri's a tee shirt.
"Still Conservative, but you just got here, so we'll let it go for now" Letty said laughing. I grabbed some flare jeans, a few more less reveling shirts and grabbed the hot pants and halter-top too. I would be able to wear those soon enough.
I got an idea.
"Mia, I used to do all the book back home for Ant…uh, my ex, I could help you out if you want"
"Sure, that would be great, it's just matching the receipts to the till"
She said pulling out the book and the register drawer. I began right away. I never liked taking hand outs, so I felt a little better knowing I was returning the favor even if by a little. We were quiet for some time while I balanced out the book. I dint realize that my shoulder was visible. My tee had slinked down passed my shoulder. I heard a gasp from Mia and looked up but her back was already turned to me. I looked at my shoulder and saw a nasty bruise peeking out from the collar. I quickly fixed my shirt a pulled my hair on my face, just in case she saw the scar too. Here we go again. I thought to myself, but she didn't say anything and went into the back. By the time she came back I had the books done.
"Your $16.53 over"
"Over? Are you sure"?
"Positive" I said as she turned the book to check for herself
"No shit, that's a first…you're pretty good at that, and fast too"
"When you do it every day for years, it becomes second nature"
"You ever go to school for this stuff"
"I started to back in NJ but…." My voice trailed off as I followed my memories back to NJ, the days at college, the fun I used to have, my mother, losing her, gaining Anthony.
"Hey, snap out of it" Mia said, forcing me back to reality
"Sorry, memories are still a little fresh, you know"
"C'mon, lets get outta here, you can tell me about NJ on the way"
I followed her out of the store.
"Nice car, yours"
"Yeah that's my baby… 3.9 L V8 engine, had my ex put some extra power in her so she runs at 350 instead of the standard 252 horses. She has a good power to weight ratio too… 1409 lbs per horse.
"Wow, you know a lot about cars?"
"I know a lot about this car, and enough to get by on others, my ex was more into cars then I was"
"Racing?"
"Stealing."
Mia's mouth roped, as I rolled my eyes
" He owns a chop shop out in NYC, seen a lot of nice cars go in and out of there, when she came in I begged and pleaded with him to let me have her. He finally folded, and gave her to me. Probably the only nice thing the bastard ever did for me" We both laughed, although I think I was laughing to keep the moo light.
" Not much room for shopping bags, we can drop your car off at the house, then take mine," She said pointing to an Aquamarine _________.
I followed her a few miles to the house. It was pretty big, but considering how many people were living there, it looked just right. I parked my car up in the driveway in front of the garage with Mia behind me. Just as we were getting out of the car a white Jetta pulled up screeching to a stop in front of the house.
"I know you ain't going without me" I heard a woman scream. I saw Letty getting out of the passenger side with Jesse driving. As soon as she got out of the car, Jesse waved and peeled down the street. The three of us piled into the car, with me in the back, and were on the road in 2 minutes. While driving, they asked me about NJ, how I liked it in LA so far. I told them about my sister and my niece, how I missed her so much it hurt. I told them about my parents, how I never met my dad, and how my mother wasn't around. I couldn't bring myself to tell them the truth. It was just too hard. Besides, I was beginning to enjoy myself, and I didn't want to ruin the mood. We got to what I guess was their shopping hot spot, and we all piled out of the car. As soon as I walked into the store Letty pulled my tee shirt tight around my body.
"You gotta flaunt that off girl" she said before she vanished into the store. I started slowly picking through the racks. Everything was half what it was supposed to be. I got scared. How was I going to get through this without them seeing anything? I was embarrassed and scared as to what they might think. Before I could think of a way to get out of it. Mia grabbed my arm and took me to the fitting room.
"Here, start with these" she said handing me 6 different pairs of daisy dukes, hot pants, and halter-tops
"I can't wear-"
"Yes you can, just try it…. And I'm waiting right here" she said as she pulled the curtain.
I shut my eyes and took a deep breath. I tried to find some thing out of the clothes Mia gave me that wasn't to revealing, but it was pointless. I decided on a pair of white hot pants and a red halter-top with half the back out. I turned around and looked in the mirror. I actually looked good. I could see passed the bruises and scars.
"Well??"
"I.actually.good"
"Let me see! OH MY GOD SARAH!" she said as she pulled the curtain back. I tried to turn around, but it was too late she had already seen it. Her face went white and her hand was covering her mouth.
"Its not as bad as it looks Mia"
She didn't say anything, just put her hand on my shoulder and turned me around. I could feel her fingers tracing the bruises and scars down my back. She stopped at the largest one.
"Wha-How, Sarah what happened to you"
I reached around a felt my scar
"Oh that, a busted kidney, I had to get it removed, Mia, it was 2 years ago, it doesn't hurt." I said trying to sound convincing.
"Yeah but the rest of you… JESUS CHRIST!"
Before I could explain I heard Letty calling us fro in the store.
"Please Mia, don't say anything, just help me find some clothes to cover it up ok" I looked at her pleading. Thank God she only saw my back and not the rest of me, she would have fainted.
"Yeah…um.less…revealing, got it," She said, stumbling backwards out of the fitting room. I just sat down on the bench and hung my head in my hands. This was getting off on the right foot, I though tot myself. A Few minutes later, she came back with some Capri's and baby tees. "Here you go, this should, work"
"Mia, it ok realy, the bruises are almost healed, that's why they look so nasty"
"Yeah but Sarah, there's so many, I mean, is it just your back, or-"
"My back mostly" I said putting my hand on her shoulder. I was actually trying to reassure her, as she was the one covered in these marks. "Mia, its ok, I'm here in LA now, remember"
Suddenly her face went from shock to realization. I could barely hear her whispers.
"Oh god, that's why you ran isn't it"
"The major reason why" I tried to change the subject, holding up a pair of Capri's she picked out for me " These are cute, I like the prints on these".
I guess she got picked up on my sad attempt to change the subject and humored me.
"Yeah um-"
"Hey chicas, find anything for her yet" Letty said coming into the fitting room. Mia shut my curtain.
"Yeah she'd trying it on now" Thank You Mia. I came out in the Capri's a tee shirt.
"Still Conservative, but you just got here, so we'll let it go for now" Letty said laughing. I grabbed some flare jeans, a few more less reveling shirts and grabbed the hot pants and halter-top too. I would be able to wear those soon enough.