We sit in the car for a while before getting out. Paige looks over at me then takes the keys out of the car and opens the door. Bea and I follow her lead and step out of the car. She walks in the bar as Bea and I follow behind her.
All three of us are directed to a table in the back. I guess they don't want scum like us in the windows advertising what kind of business they get. The waitress asks for our drink order and Paige orders for us. She ordered two margaritas and a fruit smoothly for Bea. Paige shows her ID and the waitress leaves
The silence at our table goes on for about another three minutes until I finally get the nerve to say something. "What are you doing in town?" I ask.
"I'm out at Banting still. I've got my own apartment and all but I just came back for spring break. My church group was going there to help and I just thought I tag alone. Do some good." She said there as if I was living in some crack house.
"It's call a shelter, Paige." I responded. Paige shot me a glance. Luckily our drinks came before she could utter another word. The waitress asked for our order. Paige said we haven't quite decided yet.
For the first time sense we've gotten there she turned to look at Bea, "what would you like huh?" Paige asked nicely as Bea shrugged. "Well you want like a burger or chicken? Order whatever you want." Paige stated.
"Thank you." Bea said slowly, "Can I get some fried chicken?"
"Sure you can! No problem sweet." Bea looked at me with the biggest smile on her face we normally always get pasta for dinner.
We quickly ordered.
"So," Paige started, "What were you doing there?" She asked very slowly.
"Well," I said as I started to tell my story
When I was nineteen I was still living at home. One year after school ended. I was at home one night watching TV when mom and Chad came into the room. They were fine at first. Just talking. When my mom got close to me I could smell alcohol on her breath. What a surprise, right? It really did seem like almost any other night. Me and mom were sitting on the couch while Chad went into the bathroom to "freshen up." We lost track of the time but by the time he got out a whole thirty minute TV show had came on and off. He came out all weird.
"What happened to you?" I asked.
"Ya tell me." he laughed out. He wasn't drunk. This was way more then that. He was stumbling all over the place. Laughing up a storm at nothing.
"Whats wrong with you?" My mom asked concerned.
"Your daughter over there's got some pretty cool stuff in that bathroom." Chad said as my mom looked at me with disgust.
"What did you have?" My mom asked. She sounded mad.
"I don't know. Just a little weed from a while back." I responded. Honestly, it was from a year ago. I hadn't used it, forgetting about it totally.
"A little what? So he's high?" She asked just a second before Chad threw her into the fire place.
"Whats in this stuff?" He asked while I was trying to get my passed out mother out of the fire place.
I stared at him for a while. I was still shocked that he could do something like that. "What the hell did you do?" I screamed at him, as I reached for the phone.
"What do you think your doing little missy?" he asked me as he stole the phone from me. He threw the phone on the couch then threw me into the counter. He held me up and carried me by my shirt into mom's room. Once there he tossed me onto the bed. He took off his belt then threw off my genes and tore off my panties. If you don't know what happened next your about as smart as this piece of bread sitting at the table.
When he was done I got up and ran for my life. He kept calling out to me, "good go. Me and your mom always wanted to get rid of you. Should of done this years ago." I don't know what that guy sold me all those years ago but it sure wasn't weed.
I didn't know where to run. Everyone was gone. I ran and ran and ran until I got to that shelter. I've lived there ever sense.
About six weeks later I got a job at the CVS store and I've been working there to save up enough for an apartment for me and Bea but I haven't gotten enough yet.
When I was finished telling my story Paige got up from here chair and ran over to me. She hugged me like there was no tomorrow. I would give anything to let that moment last forever. But, like most things in my life, I didn't get my wish.
Paige quickly tore away and sat and stared at me. I look around Bea is almost finished with her chicken, Paige had eaten about all of hers pulse all the bread. She always ate when she got nervous. "We better get going" I said. Out of all the excitement this dinner caused, I hadn't even realized how much time has gone by. My watch reads 6:32. We left at 5:15. "The rooms fill up fast. We got to go if we want a bed tonight." I said with a slight smile.
I started to get up. Bea did too but Paige pulled Bea back by the arm. "Alex wait." she said looking up at me then Bea. I look up at her. "I'm not letting you go back there." I look back down and continue to walk. I don't need her to know how wrong I was the first time. "Alex just let me talk" she said as she puts the money on the table and starts to run after me. Bea's hand still in hers.
As I get out of the restaurant I am so lost. I had to go somewhere were Paige could never find me. Good Luck with that one, Alex. I could run and run and run but she could still find me. I was a pretty slow runner. She would definitely catch up to me. She had a car.
Sure enough I'm at the end of the block when Paige catches up with me. She is in her little Bug with Bea in the front seat. She slows down as I run. As I get to the end of the street she blocks me off with her car. I can't go anywhere. "Please," Paige says "Get in" She's got that sad little puppy face. Although it's not one you just pop out of nowhere. This is a genuine one. She is really sad. I couldn't argue with that. I have no other choice. I get in.
"Where are we going?" I ask as we take off.
"You're not going back" is all she said. We drive for about two hours in complete silence until we get to a fancy apartment complex. She stops and we go in. It's hers.