Chapter 11

I saw lights of a bar up ahead and decided to stop not wondering why this seemed natural. For some reason I wasn't afraid to go inside and paused just inside the door checking the place out. I made my way on into the room my interest peaked when I saw some guys playing pool and looked to be betting on it. Something told me this was a way I could make some money if I had some to bet. I made my way to the bar and took a seat.

"What can I get ya?" the bartender asked.

"Water please."

"One water." he said studying my face for a moment before turning to get it for me.

"Thanks." I said trying to smile when he sat it in front of me.

"Rough day?" he asked.

"Very." I sighed sadly. "It's like my whole life is fake and I can't seem to find the real me."

"Bummer. Sounds like you need something stronger."

"Water's ok, besides I don't have the money to pay for it."

"I'm sure if you sit there long enough someone's gonna buy you a drink."

"Do I look that pathetic?"

"No, you look very nice looking and you are alone so that makes you available." he said before moving away to serve another customer.

I looked at him a little surprised with his comment and sipped on my water. I wondered how long I could milk this water before having to make a decision of what I was going to do. I looked down at the wooden floor when something caught my eye. I slid off the stool and reached down to pick up two twenty dollar bills that were folded together and looked around to see if anyone claimed it. There was no one nearby or had been that might have dropped it. I fingered the money and looked again toward the pool tables before walking toward them.

"Can I play the winner?" I asked politely.

"Sure, won't take a minute to finish this one off sweetheart." a guy said as he struck the cue ball, sending it into another one and knocking it in a pocket. "And that's the game."

"All I've got is forty dollars." I said laying down the money and wincing when he called me that name. I gritted my teeth so as not to toss a retort toward him since I needed the money.

"How 'bout you sweeten the pot with a date if I win?" he asked eyeing me up and down. "I'll put down fifty dollars."

"Sure." I said picking up a cue stick and rolling it in my hands.

"You sure 'bout this little lady? I'd hate to take your money, but I won't mind the date."

"We'll see." I said. "Rack the balls if you don't mind."

The guy grabbed the triangle and proceeded to fish the balls out of the pockets, walking slowly around the table and put them in the triangle and positioning them before removing the triangle and stepping back. He bowed for me to shoot first and I picked up the cue ball and sat it on the table to take the first shot. The cue stick felt good in my hand like it belonged there. With a quick thrust, I struck the ball sending it into the others and watched as they rolled around the table and some fell into the pockets.

"Guess I'm stripes." I said as I studied the table preparing for the next shot. I walked around the table once before stopping at the cue ball and pointed to a pocket before hitting the ball sending the striped ball where I wanted. I walked around the table again and quickly made work of the remaining balls, sending the eight ball in last for a win. I wasn't sure how I knew how to play pool but it felt good to win.

"Thanks for the game." I said picking up the money thinking this was a start.

"Wait, how 'bout another one." the guy asked laying a hundred dollar bill.

"You sure? I've only got ninety dollars."

"Yes, we'll figure something out to make up the difference. You wrack them this time." he said finishing the beer he was drinking in several large gulps. He figured that win was purely luck and thought he could beat this hot chick.

"My pleasure sir."

"Name's Bruce."

"Molly." I said knowing for some reason I shouldn't give my real name. I set the balls up and stepped back letting him shoot first. I watched as he broke and chose solids. He picked his next shot and sunk the next two balls, but got cocky and missed his next shot. I stepped to the table and took my shot sinking the ball and worked my way around the table sinking ball after ball until I had won again.

"That's the game. Thanks." I said picking up my winnings and stuffing them into my pocket.

"Hey! One mo'e game." he insisted his words slurring after finishing two more beers while I shot.

"No, I'm not gonna take all your money, besides you're too drunk to play now."

"I insist." he barked at me striding to me and grabbing my arm hard.

I looked down at his hand and could feel my temper rising and something else that was buried in me. I looked back up into his drunken face and spoke in a steady, even voice.

"Let go of my arm if you want to keep using it." I told him leaving no room for doubt about my words.

He smiled madly and squeezed my arm harder thinking I was a defenseless woman who couldn't fight back. I used the cue stick to slam into his stomach, doubling him over and brought my knee up to smash into his face sending him slumping to the floor stunned and groaning. I dropped the stick onto the table and turned to leave, watching as the guys standing around backed out of my way, making a path for me. I nodded to them and walked with my head high toward the door.

After I stepped outside, I let out the breath I was holding and stepped into the shadows to be sure no one followed me. That felt so right, I'm not sure how I knew how to do that but that was me, not this person I was trying to be for others. There was more to me that I needed to know and I was not going to be satisfied until I found out what it was.

spn

The lights of a 24 hour diner caught my eye and my stomach growled letting me know I had missed dinner. With money in my pocket now, I headed for lights deciding I might as well get something to eat and find a motel room for the night. There were only a few customers in the diner as I stepped through the door, looking up when a bell jingled above my head.

"Good evening, take a seat anywhere's fine." an older woman behind the counter said to me as she turned back to pick up two plates that were waiting for her.

I headed to the counter and took a seat, letting my shoes fall off my feet and sighed as I wiggled my toes in relief. I looked at a chalk board and read the specials before picking up a menu from beside the napkin holder.

"Alright now sweetie, what can I get for you?" the waitress asked me.

"Hot tea, ice water, turkey sandwich on wheat with mustard and fries." I told her putting the menu back where it was.

"Would you like milk with the tea?" she asked sitting a cup in front of me and turning to pour hot water in a tea pot for me. She wrote my order on a slip of paper and stuck it on a spinning wheel for the cook.

"No, that's fine." I replied opening the tea bag and putting it in the cup before pouring water over it. I left room to add some cold water once the bag had steeped long enough for me.

"Stu will have your sandwich and fries out shortly."

"Thank you." I nodded sipping on my tea to see if it was strong enough. I let the hot liquid warm me up on the inside as I started sorting through things in my mind trying to make sense of what was going on and trying to figure out who the girl was I kept seeing and how she was connected to me. I was lost in thought until the waitress pulled me back by speaking to me.

"Ok sweetie one turkey sandwich and fries." the waitress said interrupting my thoughts as she sat a plate in front of me. "You ok dear?"

"Ummm...Yeah I'm fine." I replied looking down at the food. "Thank you."

"You enjoy and if you need anything else just let me know."

"I will." I said giving her a weak smile. I picked up the ketchup and squirted out a red blob on my plate and dipped a fry in it before taking a bite. I could feel my stomach grumble slightly now that it was being fed and I didn't realize how hungry I was. Putting my thoughts aside for the moment, I began to eat my food at a steady pace. After eating half the sandwich, I slowed down to let my food settle in my stomach and sipped my tea. When Cora, my waitress, came back by I spoke, "Cora, is there a motel nearby I could walk to?"

"Let me see...There's a small motel about two blocks down the street that's decent and clean." Cora replied as she stopped to talk. "I can give you the number if you want to call there?"

"I don't have a cell."

"That's no problem dear, you can use my. Let me get you that number." Cora said reaching under the counter for a cell and the phone book. "Here you go dear, give them a call."

"Thank you, you are very kind."

"Think nothing of it." she said moving away to serve another customer.

I looked at the number and used Cora's cell to call and book a room for the night. I thanked the person and went back to finishing my food so I could head over there. I needed to get a little sleep and let my mind rest for a few hours and I hoped some of what was going on would clear up for me.

"Can I get you anything else?" Cora asked coming back over.

"No, I'm good and thanks for the use of your cell. If I could get my bill please."

"Here you go dear. You be careful walking over to the motel." she replied laying a bill down in front of me.

I glanced at the amount and pulled some money from my pocket putting it with it. I left her a nice tip and got up to leave giving Cora a wave as I went out the door. With a destination now, I set a quick pace to cover the two blocks to the motel. A nice elderly man checked me in and gave me a room key for a single partway down the first row of rooms. I paid and thanked him before heading to the room. I was tired, confused, overwhelmed and just wanted to let myself shut down and get some rest. Tomorrow would be here quick enough and hopefully I could sort all this mess out.

A/N: So Lark knows some thing is wrong with this life. Can she figure it out on her own or can the guys help her. Thanks to all who have followed, favored and left reviews. Only two more chapters to go and this one will be done. I do like to know your thoughts. Please review. NC