Project Love
(A/N: Thank you for reading and enjoy. Review, it gives me motivation.)
When the bus starts to leave, me Carlos and my mom all get on. I kind of want to sit in the back where the rest of the teens are but I don't because I really don't know any of them, and I don't feel like talking to anyone. When my cell phone rings, I answer it, expecting it to be Brianna but it isn't because I can't really deal with her right about now. "Hello?" I ask.
And just my luck it's Antonio. Antonio is my dad's best friend, or was before he got sent to jail. "Santana, its Antonio." I really can't stand him. I never could. " I went to see your dad the other day." he says in a bright voice, "He gave me your number. I couldn't believe it when he told me you guys were back in the shelter. Why didn't you call me?" I want to say 'it's because every time my dad gets out the picture you try to get with my mom', but I know he's going to lie and deny it. He couldn't tell the truth if there was a gun to his head.
"We're fine Antonio" I say rolling my eyes. As much I want out of this situation I don't want to deal with him.
"Well, you guys should have called me before you ended up like this. You know Santiago and I go way back." Oh how I know.
"Yeah Antonio." I say rolling my eyes.
"I could have helped you guys with money while your dad is away." The word 'money' is the only one I hear.
"Yeah Antonio I know, but-" I get cut off and clench my jaw.
"Now, your dad told your mom to contact me but I haven't heard anything..." I say nothing. "Your father and I talked for a long time Santanita, He wants me to get you guys out of there." I cringe when he says my name like that, I hate it when anyone calls me that but him the most. "So I was thinking" Here it comes. He wants something, that's the only reason he ever calls. "You know it doesn't make sense for Santiago's equipment to be sitting in storage collecting dust when I could be making money for you."
"I know he didn't say you could use his shit." I say sarcastically knowing it's the truth.
"Well not in certain words but-" He says trying to cover up his lie.
"Look Antonio I gotta go. Bye." I flip my cell phone closed and sigh.
I look around for a few seconds before my phone rings again. I really hoped I wouldn't have to cuss Antonio out on a bus full of people but when I looked at my phone it was Brianna this time.
"Hey," I say into the phone. I speak very straight because I'm not really in the mood to talk.
"Hey baby" She says and I pinch my eyes shut at the pet name. I never really like it. "I just wanted to make sure we were okay? My awards ceremony is tomorrow, are you still coming?" Her tone is so light and hopeful. How can I say no?
"Yeah I'll be there. But can we talk later, I gotta go." I say cause it's true, I'm running out of minutes.
" Yeah, I love you Santana, don't you forget that." She says, I almost say it back but I can't bring myself to. Somehow it just doesn't feel right.
I close my phone and shove it back in my pocket. I get up from my seat and move to the back of the bus where all the younger people are. I don't want to hear my mom talking in my ear anymore, it's too annoying. I look around for somewhere to sit and when I finally find an opening, I trip over someone's leg. I'm about to curse whoever it is out, but when I turn around my eyes meet with familiar blue eyes and I can't do it.
"Sorry, my fault." I mumble and shake my head. My voice comes out nervous and shaky. I sound like an embarrassed teenager. What was happening to me? She smiles at me and if I'm being honest I can't help but to smile back. I nod my head at her once and resume walking back to where I was going to sit. She turns back to the older girl and leans her head on her shoulder. Both of them are giggling and I can't help but blush. They must think I'm special or something.
When the bus finally comes to a stop, one of the social workers read off the names of the people getting off here. I'm kind of hoping that the blonde doesn't get off. As the people make their way out with their stuff I look out the window. In front of the liquor store, two drunk Mexicans are screaming at each other and all their friends are trying to keep them from fighting each other. It's funny. I even chuckle a bit. People are walking past not doing anything and not paying them any attention. Like it's just another day in the Bronx.
...
I should have known that they were going to send us to the Penumbra Motel. Some of the guys I was talking to last week told me about this place. They talked about how Penumbra has rats the size of dogs and that roaches work the front desk.
And when we arrive, the place looks messed from the outside. The inside is even worse. It smells rotten, probably because there's no fresh air in here.
All the women go to the front desk to sign their families in and no one is saying a word. Everyone has stopped talking and making jokes.
A few minutes later I see the older blonde go over and tell the younger blonde something and then they make their way to their room.
"Santana, can you believe this?" My mom asks when we get to our room, "Why do they have us here? I have a 8 year old child!" I don't say anything. She just goes on "They're gonna have children sleeping on these beds for three nights?" I'm done listening to her. She's not grateful for anything. She always acts like people gotta do shit for her. Carlos starts crying and my mom keeps yelling, so I walk over to his bag and get him a change of clothes. Then I push him to the bathroom and kill all the roaches I see before I put him in the shower.
When I walk back into the room, my mom is talking to one of her friends on my phone. "Give my phone back!" I yell out and try to grab it from her, but she pushes me away. I clench my fist, I'm so annoyed.
"Get out of my face" She flags her hand for me to go.
"You're using all my damn minutes," I sit down on one of the beds. Why does she always take my stuff without asking?
Carlos finally comes out the bathroom and gets into the bed. He closes his eyes and I can tell all he wants to do is to sleep.
My mom finishes my minutes and throws my phone back at me. "What's your lazy ass doing?"
"What's that supposed to mean?" I ask. I didn't want to start anything but sometimes she makes it so impossible not too.
She folds her arms, "It means, what are you doing for this family? Why aren't you doing something for me and him. We wouldn't have to live like this you know."
For a minute I try and hold my anger back because Carlos sleeping. But before I know it I'm off the bed yelling. "What am I supposed to do?"
"You never do anything, look at you. You don't go to school because you're ignorant and lazy. And when you get your ass to school all you do is fight." My mom says shaking her head, like she's disappointed in me.
"What do you do? Don't talk about lazy. What are you doing?" I ask, livid.
She doesn't listen though, she just keeps going. "You don't even work. You're almost sixteen Santana, what kind of woman you gonna be? Some lazy broke ass bitch?"
I get in her face, "Like you? You want me to do what? You want me to sell weed on the streets? That's what you want isn't it?"
She doesn't back down though and thrusts her finger into my chest. "Would we be here if you were out there selling?"
Carlos starts crying again and my mom moves away from me. She walks around the room like she's some kind of animal in a cage. "Santana, you gotta do something, this shit is serious now." She's not screaming anymore, she just looks scared. "You spend your time walking around the streets screwing that Brianna girl, but that doesn't make you anything. You gotta start taking care of your family."
"Well why do I have to do what you or your man should be? You want me to take care of you because he keeps getting locked up? That's not my problem, it's yours"
I grab my cell phone and my jacket, and I'm gone. I get in the hall and just want to punch or throw something. I can't calm myself down. I wanna go somewhere, anywhere but I don't have a place to go.
...
I walk around the motel for about five minutes and when I get to the lobby I see the blonde with the beautiful blue eyes. I walk over to her and smile slightly. After staring for a little longer I sit down on the couch beside her. She gives me a soft smile and I already feel comfortable around her.
"Why you out here so late?" I ask softly, playing with my hands and looking down at the ground.
"I could ask you the same thing." She murmurs and looks at me with a raised eyebrow. I look right back at her and nod.
"Fair enough. My mom and I got into a fight. I just needed some air so I walked out." I don't want to give away too much because let's be real I barely know this girl. And I don't want her knowing all my business. But I know I could tell her and she would sit here and listen to every word. Something Brianna would never be able to do.
"My sister and I got into an argument too so I know how you feel" She says quietly.
I smile slowly, "Well, I'm glad we both have something other than this place in common." I say while I relax into the couch.
We talk for a long time. About nothing and everything. All I can say as of now is that she's cool. She gets me and that's more than I can say for anyone else I know, especially Brianna.
"I never did get your name beautiful?" I say, I didn't know my voice could get that husky.
I see her blush and she looks down, playing with her hands. I've only known her a couple of hours but I know it's her nervous habit. Every time I flirt with her she does it.
"My name is Brittany" she says looking back at me. My heart nearly plunges out of my chest.
I stand up and grab her hand, pulling her up with me. The contact between my hand and hers sends a shock through me. But I have to keep my cool because I don't want her thinking that I'm some type of weirdo who squeals at nothing.
"It's getting late, you should go back to your room Brittany. I'll walk you? I murmur affectionately, almost purring her name. Her face is completely red, and if she was trying to hide it before it's clearly noticeable now. She leads the way, my hand still holding hers as we walk to her room. When we get there I lean against the wall and she leans against the door. "Thank you for walking me. It was really sweet." I nod not saying anything. She slowly leans in to kiss my cheek but I turn my head so her lips land on mine. I grin, putting my hand on her hip and pulling her a little closer. We kiss for a long time, and I forget about everything. Her lips on mine make me feel some type of way I've never felt. When she pulls away I bite my lip. But before she can say anything I walk away.
I know I can't go back to my room because I'm not wanting to face my mother. So I settle for the couch instead. After a few minutes, my eyes fall heavy and all I can see are those blue eyes.