Disclaimer: I only own Janie, Cathy, Nick, and Cathy's parents.
A/N Thank you for taking the time to read and review Chapter 1. I hope you also enjoy Chapter 2. All reviews are read and appreciated. I don't ask that you like it only that you are honest. To those of you whose reviews were erased I apologize. I had to remove them due to a sexually explicit suggestion that was left as a review.
Review Responses: Goddess of Silent Tears: Wasn't her boyfriend horrible? I have to admit that I had help making him believable.
Kilter: Yes she is stupid (although I was aiming for naïve) As for being a victim? Only time will tell.
Oblivious Misconception: I'm glad you like it
Penny: Thanks! Here's chapter 2
Two-BitGortez: I'll try.
Chapter 2 Alone
When the bus arrived in Tulsa, Janie followed the other passengers into the bus station and made her way to the small café. She sat in a corner booth and scanned a menu while mentally calculating her finances. After deciding that she had enough money to survive on if she was careful, Janie ordered a cheeseburger and a glass of milk. As she sat waiting for her order to arrive she found herself staring at the man at the next table. All she could see was his profile but he appeared to be very handsome and she began to imagine him as her knight in shining armor; sweeping her off of her feet and carrying her away to live happily ever after.
Her daydream was interrupted when the waitress arrived with her food. "Is there anything else?" she asked with a smile as she set the plate on the table.
"No," said Janie. As the waitress turned she said, "Wait."
The waitress turned back. "Yes?" she asked.
"Could you tell me where I could find a place to stay for awhile that won't cost to much?"
"You might try the YWCA. It ain't fancy but it's clean." She wrote the address and directions down on her order pad, tore off the paper, handed it to Janie, and walked away.
Janie tucked the piece of paper into her purse and began to eat. She was aware of little around her as she hungrily bit into her burger and drifted into another fantasy about her knight in shining armor riding up on a white horse and carrying her off to his castle in the clouds. She was so wrapped up in the fantasy that she didn't notice when the object of fantasy walked passed her as he left the café.
When she finished eating, Janie paid for her meal and walked out into the heat of the afternoon. Gripping her suitcase she headed for the YWCA and, she hoped, a place to stay. She found it with no trouble and was able to get a room for two weeks. She paid for the room and went up to get settled in.
The girl at the café was right, it wasn't fancy but it was clean. The room contained a bed, a small closet, a dresser that had seen better days and a small sink. She would share a community bathroom with the other women on the floor. It was a far cry from the luxuries she had at home but she vowed to make the most of it.
After unpacking, Janie sat on the bed and counted what was left of her money. After putting aside enough to pay for the room for another two weeks she had exactly $42.67. If she was careful that would last for awhile. After putting her money back in her purse, Janie stretched out on the bed and longed for the comforts of home: soft blankets, her own bed, a home cooked meal. She felt the tears forming as she wished for her mother to come in and hold her and her daddy to tell her that everything was going to be ok. She began to sob as she thought of Nick. She remembered how sweet he could be and how good she felt when he touched her and began to hope that he would find her and they would be married and have the perfect life that she had always dreamed of. She thought about calling him but then remembered the cruel and hateful things he had shouted at her and decided against it.
She finally fell into a restless sleep that was filled with her parents, Nick and even the good looking man from the café all calling her a slut and a tramp. She woke suddenly with tears streaming down her face and a new resolve. "I don't need any of them," she said out loud. "I'm going to make it on my own." She got out of bed, dressed in a knee length skirt and sweater and ran a brush through her shoulder length brown hair. Adding a light touch of mascara and lip-gloss she headed out the door to find a job.
She started at a small drugstore and worked her way up the street as she was rejected from business after business. Feeling discouraged, she found herself across the street from the bus station. She remembered the handsome man and the friendly waitress and decided that she needed a Coke. She crossed the street and sank into the same booth she sat at before.
"Did you get settled?"
She looked up and smiled at the waitress. "Yes, thank you," she said.
"What can I get you?"
"A Coke, please."
"Be right back," she said.
Janie leaned back, closed her eyes, and tried not to get discouraged. She heard the door open but didn't open her eyes.
"Hey, Sodapop!" the waitress exclaimed. "What brings you in here?"
"Just had to see you, Cathy."
"You ol' sweet talker, you. What can I get you?"
"The usual." He started across the room. "Cathy, there is someone at my table."
"So? Sit somewhere else." She laughed at the expression on his face. "I don't think she bites, see if she'll let you sit there." She turned and left him standing there.
Janie heard him approach her table but refused to open her eyes.
"Excuse me, but you're sitting at my table."
She slowly opened her eyes and saw a boy about her age standing next to her table. Taking a deep breath to steady her nerves she said, "I'm not moving, but you can sit here if you want."
He flashed her a grin and slid in across from her. "Are you from around here?" he asked her.
"No," she replied. She didn't really want to talk about where she was from or why she was in Tulsa so she quickly changed the subject. "Is Sodapop your real name?"
"Yeah," he answered. "You know my name, what's yours?"
"Jane," she answered.
They were interrupted by Cathy bringing them their Cokes. "Is he bothering you?" she asked Janie.
"No, he's ok," she said softly.
Cathy ruffled Soda's silky red blonde hair and said, "You be nice, you hear me?"
He just grinned at her as she walked away.
"What are you up to today, Miss Jane?"
"Don't call me that, and I'm looking for a job," she answered.
Just then Cathy reappeared with Soda's burger. "Am I hearing things? Please tell me that you are over 16 and looking for a job," she pleaded.
"Yes, I'm 16 and looking for a job," answered Janie.
"Good, you start tomorrow. Wear comfortable shoes and be here at 10:30 in the morning." Just then the door opened and several people came in. "We'll go over the details tomorrow," she said as she hurried off to take care of the rest of the customers.
Janie smiled, hardly believing her luck. "You have a beautiful smile," said Soda.
Her smile faded. "I'm not interested," she said coldly.
"What?" he asked.
"Just because I let you sit here and we talked a little bit does not give you the right to hit on me," she snapped.
She heard a deep chuckle behind her and someone said, "Way to make friends and influence people, Little Buddy."
Soda blushed and then moved over as someone slid into the seat next to him.
Janie looked up and her breath caught in her throat. It was the handsome man from yesterday.
"I was beginning to wonder if there was a woman out there that could resist your charms," the man chuckled.
Soda elbowed him in the ribs. "Shut up, Darry," he said with a chuckle. Looking at Jane he said, "Miss Jane, allow me to introduce my brother, Darry." He turned and continued, "Darry, Miss Jane."
"I already told you not to call me that!" she snapped as tears formed in her eyes.
"I'm sorry, Janie," said Soda softly. "I didn't mean to make you cry."
She only cried harder.
Darry shifted uncomfortably as Soda tried to think of something to make her stop crying, Suddenly Cathy was at the table with her hands on her hips and eyes flashing. "What did you two say to her?!" she demanded.
"Nothing, Cathy. I swear," said Soda as he raised hi hands in a gesture of surrender.
"You two just get on out of here," she ordered. "Now!"
They didn't wait to be told again.
When they were gone Cathy sat down across from Janie and squeezed her hands. "It's ok, Hon, they're gone. They ain't gonna bother you now." She handed Janie a napkin to dry her eyes with and said, "They ain't bad guys, really they aren't. They just don't always know when to shut their traps."
Janie wiped her eyes and choked out, "It wasn't them, not really anyway."
"You want to talk about it?"
Janie looked up sharply. "Talk about what?" she asked.
"The baby would probably be a good place to start," said Cathy gently
"How did you know?"
"You are obviously from a middle to upper class family, you came to town alone, you are looking for a job and you are miserable. It wasn't hard to figure out," she said matter-of-factly.
The tears started flowing again as she said, "He said he loved me but when I got pregnant he just walked away like I didn't even matter. My parents kicked me out." She began to sob harder. "I am so scared and I don't know what to do!" she wailed.
Cathy moved over to Janie's side of the table and gathered the young girl in her arms. "First you are going to pull yourself together. You aren't doing that baby any good carrying on like this. Then you are going to move on with your life. If that boyfriend of yours and your parents could treat you like that then you don't need them anyway." She gave Janie a squeeze.
Janie wiped her eyes and pulled away from Cathy. She managed a shaky smile "Thank you," she said softly.
"You're welcome," replied Cathy. "Now get out of here and go do something fun. I'll see you in the morning." She gave her a little shove towards the door with a smile.
For the first time since she got off the bus, Janie began to believe that everything just might be ok.
A/N Thank you for taking the time to read and review Chapter 1. I hope you also enjoy Chapter 2. All reviews are read and appreciated. I don't ask that you like it only that you are honest. To those of you whose reviews were erased I apologize. I had to remove them due to a sexually explicit suggestion that was left as a review.
Review Responses: Goddess of Silent Tears: Wasn't her boyfriend horrible? I have to admit that I had help making him believable.
Kilter: Yes she is stupid (although I was aiming for naïve) As for being a victim? Only time will tell.
Oblivious Misconception: I'm glad you like it
Penny: Thanks! Here's chapter 2
Two-BitGortez: I'll try.
Chapter 2 Alone
When the bus arrived in Tulsa, Janie followed the other passengers into the bus station and made her way to the small café. She sat in a corner booth and scanned a menu while mentally calculating her finances. After deciding that she had enough money to survive on if she was careful, Janie ordered a cheeseburger and a glass of milk. As she sat waiting for her order to arrive she found herself staring at the man at the next table. All she could see was his profile but he appeared to be very handsome and she began to imagine him as her knight in shining armor; sweeping her off of her feet and carrying her away to live happily ever after.
Her daydream was interrupted when the waitress arrived with her food. "Is there anything else?" she asked with a smile as she set the plate on the table.
"No," said Janie. As the waitress turned she said, "Wait."
The waitress turned back. "Yes?" she asked.
"Could you tell me where I could find a place to stay for awhile that won't cost to much?"
"You might try the YWCA. It ain't fancy but it's clean." She wrote the address and directions down on her order pad, tore off the paper, handed it to Janie, and walked away.
Janie tucked the piece of paper into her purse and began to eat. She was aware of little around her as she hungrily bit into her burger and drifted into another fantasy about her knight in shining armor riding up on a white horse and carrying her off to his castle in the clouds. She was so wrapped up in the fantasy that she didn't notice when the object of fantasy walked passed her as he left the café.
When she finished eating, Janie paid for her meal and walked out into the heat of the afternoon. Gripping her suitcase she headed for the YWCA and, she hoped, a place to stay. She found it with no trouble and was able to get a room for two weeks. She paid for the room and went up to get settled in.
The girl at the café was right, it wasn't fancy but it was clean. The room contained a bed, a small closet, a dresser that had seen better days and a small sink. She would share a community bathroom with the other women on the floor. It was a far cry from the luxuries she had at home but she vowed to make the most of it.
After unpacking, Janie sat on the bed and counted what was left of her money. After putting aside enough to pay for the room for another two weeks she had exactly $42.67. If she was careful that would last for awhile. After putting her money back in her purse, Janie stretched out on the bed and longed for the comforts of home: soft blankets, her own bed, a home cooked meal. She felt the tears forming as she wished for her mother to come in and hold her and her daddy to tell her that everything was going to be ok. She began to sob as she thought of Nick. She remembered how sweet he could be and how good she felt when he touched her and began to hope that he would find her and they would be married and have the perfect life that she had always dreamed of. She thought about calling him but then remembered the cruel and hateful things he had shouted at her and decided against it.
She finally fell into a restless sleep that was filled with her parents, Nick and even the good looking man from the café all calling her a slut and a tramp. She woke suddenly with tears streaming down her face and a new resolve. "I don't need any of them," she said out loud. "I'm going to make it on my own." She got out of bed, dressed in a knee length skirt and sweater and ran a brush through her shoulder length brown hair. Adding a light touch of mascara and lip-gloss she headed out the door to find a job.
She started at a small drugstore and worked her way up the street as she was rejected from business after business. Feeling discouraged, she found herself across the street from the bus station. She remembered the handsome man and the friendly waitress and decided that she needed a Coke. She crossed the street and sank into the same booth she sat at before.
"Did you get settled?"
She looked up and smiled at the waitress. "Yes, thank you," she said.
"What can I get you?"
"A Coke, please."
"Be right back," she said.
Janie leaned back, closed her eyes, and tried not to get discouraged. She heard the door open but didn't open her eyes.
"Hey, Sodapop!" the waitress exclaimed. "What brings you in here?"
"Just had to see you, Cathy."
"You ol' sweet talker, you. What can I get you?"
"The usual." He started across the room. "Cathy, there is someone at my table."
"So? Sit somewhere else." She laughed at the expression on his face. "I don't think she bites, see if she'll let you sit there." She turned and left him standing there.
Janie heard him approach her table but refused to open her eyes.
"Excuse me, but you're sitting at my table."
She slowly opened her eyes and saw a boy about her age standing next to her table. Taking a deep breath to steady her nerves she said, "I'm not moving, but you can sit here if you want."
He flashed her a grin and slid in across from her. "Are you from around here?" he asked her.
"No," she replied. She didn't really want to talk about where she was from or why she was in Tulsa so she quickly changed the subject. "Is Sodapop your real name?"
"Yeah," he answered. "You know my name, what's yours?"
"Jane," she answered.
They were interrupted by Cathy bringing them their Cokes. "Is he bothering you?" she asked Janie.
"No, he's ok," she said softly.
Cathy ruffled Soda's silky red blonde hair and said, "You be nice, you hear me?"
He just grinned at her as she walked away.
"What are you up to today, Miss Jane?"
"Don't call me that, and I'm looking for a job," she answered.
Just then Cathy reappeared with Soda's burger. "Am I hearing things? Please tell me that you are over 16 and looking for a job," she pleaded.
"Yes, I'm 16 and looking for a job," answered Janie.
"Good, you start tomorrow. Wear comfortable shoes and be here at 10:30 in the morning." Just then the door opened and several people came in. "We'll go over the details tomorrow," she said as she hurried off to take care of the rest of the customers.
Janie smiled, hardly believing her luck. "You have a beautiful smile," said Soda.
Her smile faded. "I'm not interested," she said coldly.
"What?" he asked.
"Just because I let you sit here and we talked a little bit does not give you the right to hit on me," she snapped.
She heard a deep chuckle behind her and someone said, "Way to make friends and influence people, Little Buddy."
Soda blushed and then moved over as someone slid into the seat next to him.
Janie looked up and her breath caught in her throat. It was the handsome man from yesterday.
"I was beginning to wonder if there was a woman out there that could resist your charms," the man chuckled.
Soda elbowed him in the ribs. "Shut up, Darry," he said with a chuckle. Looking at Jane he said, "Miss Jane, allow me to introduce my brother, Darry." He turned and continued, "Darry, Miss Jane."
"I already told you not to call me that!" she snapped as tears formed in her eyes.
"I'm sorry, Janie," said Soda softly. "I didn't mean to make you cry."
She only cried harder.
Darry shifted uncomfortably as Soda tried to think of something to make her stop crying, Suddenly Cathy was at the table with her hands on her hips and eyes flashing. "What did you two say to her?!" she demanded.
"Nothing, Cathy. I swear," said Soda as he raised hi hands in a gesture of surrender.
"You two just get on out of here," she ordered. "Now!"
They didn't wait to be told again.
When they were gone Cathy sat down across from Janie and squeezed her hands. "It's ok, Hon, they're gone. They ain't gonna bother you now." She handed Janie a napkin to dry her eyes with and said, "They ain't bad guys, really they aren't. They just don't always know when to shut their traps."
Janie wiped her eyes and choked out, "It wasn't them, not really anyway."
"You want to talk about it?"
Janie looked up sharply. "Talk about what?" she asked.
"The baby would probably be a good place to start," said Cathy gently
"How did you know?"
"You are obviously from a middle to upper class family, you came to town alone, you are looking for a job and you are miserable. It wasn't hard to figure out," she said matter-of-factly.
The tears started flowing again as she said, "He said he loved me but when I got pregnant he just walked away like I didn't even matter. My parents kicked me out." She began to sob harder. "I am so scared and I don't know what to do!" she wailed.
Cathy moved over to Janie's side of the table and gathered the young girl in her arms. "First you are going to pull yourself together. You aren't doing that baby any good carrying on like this. Then you are going to move on with your life. If that boyfriend of yours and your parents could treat you like that then you don't need them anyway." She gave Janie a squeeze.
Janie wiped her eyes and pulled away from Cathy. She managed a shaky smile "Thank you," she said softly.
"You're welcome," replied Cathy. "Now get out of here and go do something fun. I'll see you in the morning." She gave her a little shove towards the door with a smile.
For the first time since she got off the bus, Janie began to believe that everything just might be ok.