Check out my full novels on Kindle. Follow Your Heart and Game Changer. I hope they are enjoyed as much as my fanfiction. :D
Disclaimer: The characters in my stories are completely made up characters and have temporally been given borrowed names for the sole purpose of satisfying the qualifications for posting on this fanfiction site. These stories are fiction and should be perceived as such. They in no way reflect the lives, beliefs or views of any persons living or dead and any similarities are coincidental. I am not affiliated with any company or professional wrestler in any way. No disrespect or copyright infringement intended. And if any of my favs happen upon my stories, I hope your not offended because this is not
New Story. This is going to be an AU fic.
Chapter 5
All I could think about as I drove home was the big garden tub at home. Jake didn't like to use it because he feared the cost of the water bill, but now that he had broken it off, I didn't give a shit if I had to pay a little more. I felt nasty. I felt like germs crawled all over my body, my feet throbbed and the small of my back ached. I just wanted to relax and feel like a woman for a little while. I never realized how much of I toned down my feminine side. I never took too long to get ready to go anywhere. Never pampered myself. I never once had a professional manicure, nor did I take the time to do it myself because Jake had always commented how much those things got on his nerves. I didn't want to be one of those girls. But I didn't think all those things were frivolous. Some were just – relaxing.
I guess I really didn't know what I liked myself. It was as if I was programmed to do only the things I knew my boyfriend would approve and geeze – I really tried too hard. Was it supposed to be so hard? Was love supposed to be so much work?
I pulled into the drive way. Jake's truck was there. Had he changed his mind? Had it just been a temporary thought? I couldn't be mad – I'd thought those things before myself, but then I would shake them away because Jake and I – being together – was normal.
I grabbed my bag from the front seat and headed up the tree lined path to the front door. I wanted to think that some romantic gesture was waiting for me but I didn't let myself. I knew that wouldn't happen. There would be nothing more than a few words said – if that. More than likely we wouldn't discuss what he'd said the night before at all.
I glanced up at I took the first step. I'd been looking at my feet since I left the car and I didn't notice the pile of garbage bags and boxes sitting on the porch. I guess he was still leaving. I stepped over them. I wasn't going to let it ruin my night. I was too tired. I'd just lock myself in the bedroom and …
I was stunned. The hamper from the wash room was sitting by the door and everything in it was mine. I grabbed the knob. Locked. I dug my key out of my purse. – It didn't work.
What the hell?
I pounded on the door. Jake opened it like he had been expecting it, opening the door barely a crack.
I just gazed at him with a bewildered expression.
"Turns out, the lease is in my name." He said with a smirk then closed the door in my face.
I admit I was a bit devastated. Unlike Jake, I had no family. Unlike Jake I had no parents to run home to. That was the only place I had known as home. I'd lived in a children's home in the city most of my life, I only came to live with my foster mom in my tenth grade year and the lady had died before I graduated. I didn't friends, none close enough to show up on their doorstep. The closest motel was forty minutes away.
In a daze I gathered my things and carried them to my car. I managed to stuff everything inside. It seemed he only packed my personal possessions. I guess he was going to keep everything else. Which was another thing that bothered me. I'd paid for most of the furniture myself. I'd decorated the entire home myself. Jake had helped pay the bills, but everything else he hadn't pulled out a dime for. And I didn't mind. I always thought I was doing it for us. Now, he was the one who wanted to end it and I was the one losing everything. It didn't seem right.
I drove around that small town until the sun set. I wasn't sure where to go. Or what to do, but I did know I had to work the next day and I was wearing my last clean uniform. So, I pulled into the small washerette beside the only grocery store. I washed, dried and folded my clothes as if on automatic pilot while I thought about the moments in my relationship that had been wonderful. All of them were from high school. I didn't remember too much in between. Maybe it was time to move on. I just wish I had seen it all coming and I really wished I had put my name on the lease. I remembered the day we signed it and put down the down payment. I was busy packing up my foster mother's belongings for her sister. The lady was in her eighties, only a few years younger than my foster mother had been. I was a month away from turning eighteen and the old lady had been kind enough to speak to my case worker and stay with me until I did. I remember how Jake had said he'd get it out of the way so I could rest after we were done locking up the home. I began to wonder if he had done because he didn't want my name on the lease. But Jake wasn't that kind of person – but I guess he was. Or he wouldn't have put me out on the street like he had.
I got back in my car and I just sat there. What was next? My stomach grumbled. I hadn't eaten much that day. So I decided my next step would be getting something to eat. So I went to Monica's. A hushed chatter filled the room as I entered, but I didn't pay it any attention. The place was always noisy with people conversing over their dinners. I sat in back booth and I didn't even bother to pick up a menu.
"What can I get you?" Cher, the usual middle aged waitress asked me before I was fully settled.
"Chicken combo." I ordered my favorite sub. It came with green peppers, onions and mushrooms topped with cheese. Comfort food was definitely the one thing Jake couldn't take from me.
"Tea?"
I nodded.
"Cher, do you know of any place that's for rent?" I asked when she brought my sub.
"Not to you." She snapped.
That's when I caught her disgusted glare. I gazed around the room. I was met by the same types of stares from the customers. Some just shook their heads, but they were all looking at me like I was the vessel of some deadly disease. I couldn't even look up as I nibbled on my food. Maybe it was all my imagination, either way it made me lose my appetite and I left three thirds of the sandwich untouched.
"You know, I just have to say it."
"Mama –" Cher reprimanded.
"No – I'm gonna say it – what you did to that poor man was really low girl. You should be ashamed of yourself."
I didn't know what she was talking about, but I just gave her my money and left. It was a small town. Jake was born there. News traveled fast and it was only natural for them to automatically think it was my fault. The truth would get around soon enough and everything would be back to normal. It didn't make their accusative stairs sting any less.
I gazed across the street. Doctor James had always said that the staff lounge was always open to anyone who needed it for any reason, so I drove my car across the street and used my key to enter the back door. It was quiet inside. Only the hum of the fluorescent lights. I guess the patience were all sleeping comfortably. That made me smile considering the tough night they'd had the night before. To me it meant that they were getting better.
I headed up the hall. Most of the rooms were empty. Strange.
I went up to the desk.
"Hey girl." Sara smiled when she saw me. "What are you doing here so late?"
"I just need a place to crash."
"Yeah, I heard about you and Jake? Are you okay?"
I shrugged. "There aren't as many here as there were earlier."
"Too many of them needed extensive treatment. This is really a bad bug. The doc said all their lungs are full of fluid."
That made me sad again. I hated that we couldn't help them in our little clinic.
"The doc said he didn't know why this clinic took in admissions when it wasn't equipped to really help anyone."
"I'm going to sleep in the lounge. If you need my help, you know you can wake me up."
"You're turning into a work a holic Daniella."
"There are worst things to be addicted to."
"You're right. Has the doctor left?"
"I think so. I haven't seen him in a while."
I headed to the lounge. I wouldn't have if the doctor was still there. I didn't want to disturb him or make him think I was constant drama. No one wanted that kind of coworker.
I headed to the shower first, using the small one in the lounge. There wasn't a garden tub in there but there was an endless supply of hot water. I stood under the faucet and let my tears fall for the first time. I really was hurt and I felt really all alone. It was like as long as I had my little place in the world, I could survive. But I didn't have that now. I didn't have anything. I stayed in the shower until I couldn't cry anymore, then I went back to the lounge and cuddled up in the bed under the comforter. I turned on the television with the remote I had taken from the sofa and stared at the flickering picture. I chose an adult cartoon show that usually made me laugh, but nothing was funny to me that night. Maybe it was because I was so exhausted. Maybe it was because I had lost my ability to find happiness in the world.
