Chapter 2
Amanda texted her mom her flight number and asked if she could pick her up from the airport. Her mom asked her if she understood what "figure it out" meant. Amanda arrived in New York on Tuesday and immediately felt overwhelmed. The city moved fast, way faster than Georgia ever did. She had to figure out how to catch a cab and get to her mom's place. She had a backpack full of cash and she knew it wasn't safe to carry it around. It also wasn't safe to take it with her into her mom's apartment. Her mom would take it all. Amanda needed to find a bank quick. The cab dropped her off at the address and when Amanda looked at the place she began to wonder if this was the right decision. The place looked like a dump. She pulled out her phone to see what things were close to her because she needed a bank and job. While walking to the bank, luckily it wasn't too far she saw a coffee shop that looked pretty busy and it had a help wanted sign. She stepped in and talked to the manager. She told him she had experience and explained she needed early hours and afternoon hours. "So I'm looking for 5-8 and 3 to whatever you can give me."
"Why do you need the time in between? Not saying it's a problem, but if there's another job that's gonna be a problem, I need to know."
"No other job, but I just need that block open, thinking about taking some classes." Amanda didn't want to explain that she was 19 and still in high school, so she kinda lied a little. She knew that block was going to be her sitting in class after class, plus she thought that he wouldn't hire her if he knew. "Ok! You've got the job when can you start?"
"I can start tomorrow. Oh and weekends I can work any hours you want." She had a job and now she needed the bank. She looked down at her phone to see if her mom had called. Her mom knew she landed already and some time had passed. Amanda knew nothing had changed she didn't care where she was or what had happened. When Amanda got to the bank she opened a new account. The banker gave her all kinds of options, because let's face it Amanda had no clue what she was doing at 19. Amanda had over 5,000 dollars. The one thing she always did was work hard and manage her money. She actually had spent more of her savings over the last year than ever before. Even with 5,000 dollars Amanda knew an apartment in New York would eat her alive. She decided to keep the cash leftover and just hand over the even amount of 5,000. She decided to put 4,000 in a savings account and 1,000 in a checking account. She knew she better have some cash to give her mom or she would find her ass on the street.
She walked back to her mom's apartment and prepared for hell. The apartment was on the 3rd floor and Amanda took one look at the elevator and decided the stairs were safer. She held her breath and knocked on the door.
"Well, well, well looked who came to me for help. I didn't actually think you would show."
Amanda wanted to say a lot of things at that moment, but she knew better. So she settled with, "Thanks mom for letting me come here."
Amanda's mom looked at her up and down and when Amanda started to walk through the door, her mom stopped her saying "Do you have money for me?" Amanda had already separated her cash because she knew this was coming. She pulled out some cash and said "I've got about 200 here. How much do you need?" Her mom snatched the cash laughing "All of it!" Amanda started looking around at the apartment. It really wasn't a bad place, but it was small. It only had 1 bedroom and 1 bathroom and the rest of it was all open the kitchen and living space was a room with a couch. Amanda looked at her mom and asked "Where am I supposed to sleep?" Amanda's mom looked around and said "I have the bedroom, Kim has the couch, so I guess that leaves you with the floor. There's a corner for you and blankets are in the hall closet. Welcome home!"
Amanda wanted to cry, but she didn't. Amanda was tough and she never let anyone see weakness. Crying was an option. At least it was a roof over her head and she knew her mom well. With that 200 she would be good for a while her mom had the same patterns as her dad. She would disappear, get drunk, find some guy to screw his brains out, and then then would show back up. Amanda would only need to give her money here and there, hopefully. Her mom snapped at her saying " Make sure your ass gets to that school tomorrow. They open at 7:00 and school starts Monday. I went up and signed the paperwork. Get your schedule and finish because I want you gone. It was so embarrassing registering your 19 year old for school." Amanda just looked and didn't say a word. It was going to be hard biting her tongue. "Oh and make sure you stay out of Kim's way and don't bother her or her friends." Amanda finally lost it saying "why would I bother Kim? She's in 10th and I'm in 12th and an AP student. Kim wouldn't have the brains to even be in my gym class!" Amanda's mom got up and slapped Amanda hard in her face. "Don't you dare talk about your sister that way. Maybe this was a mistake. This is why I took her and only her. Maybe you should go." Amanda had no choice but to apologize "Look I'm sorry. It won't happen again. Where is Kim anyway? Maybe I can take her to dinner, because it looks like you're going out." She's out with her friends, you know having a life, hanging out. I'm gone. Tell Kim she can take the bed and that way you can have the couch until I come back. I don't want you in my bedroom. Understand?" Amanda looked down shaking her head, "Yes Ma'am"
When her mom left, Amanda went to the bathroom and looked at her face. That slap split her lip wide open and she only hoped that the mark on her cheek wouldn't bruise badly. She decided she needed to eat after not having anything all day. She settled for pizza and went to sleep on the couch. She awoke to water being dumped on her head. Jumping up she looked at her watch seeing it was 2 am and saw Kim standing over her with a cup of water. "What the fuck Kim! What is your fucking problem?" Kim just laughed and said "Mom said you called begging to come stay with us. Mom may have said yes, but get the hell off my bed. You can take the floor." Amanda walked to the kitchen, grabbed a towel and said "Mom's gone for a while. She said you take the bed and I take the couch. What is your problem?" Kim looked at her older sister and said "You! You are my problem. Why did you have to come here? Stay away from me." Amanda never understood why Kim hated her so much. Even though Kim hated her she always tried to protect her. Amanda fell back to sleep knowing she had to be up early for work.
