Part 17

Life must go on Novemerber 26th, 2007 – Monday – 16:30 pm

After school...

I set the grocery bag aside to find my key for the front door in my bag. I bought some food, pencils and a writing pad for school from the 20 dollars Michael gave me. I think it will be enough for a while.

I have decided that my life must go on and I can´t look back all the time. Yeah, my mom is gone, I don´t have money and it´s cold – but I can´t change these things. But maybe I can survive long enough to turn 18.

"Hey Maria, can I help you?" Sean stands up in front of me.

Oh no, I don´t want to see one of them today.

"Hey! No thanks, I just found my key." I open the door and slip into the flat. Sean follows me with the grocery bag, which I had set on the ground.

"Where's Aunt Amy?" he wants to know.

"She ran off!"

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"She moved in with her bimbo George, and left me."

"Is that the reason why you haven't been showin' up lately?"

"Yeah, I have a job now to earn some money."

"Cool. I´m on my way to the skate park, you want to join me?"

NO! Leave me alone!

"Um, I don't know, I´m so tired."

"You should come with me. At least for an hour, okay? I know it´s bullshit, but Billy still thinks that you're cheating on him with someone else."

I feel sick to my stomach but try to act cool. "Yeah, like you said total bullshit."

"So you're coming with me then?" Sean smiles.

"Fine," I give in.

***

At the skate park...

"Oh look, Ms. DeLuca graces us with her presence." Billy comes up to me on his skateboard and glares angrily.

"Never mind. She's had some problems lately." Sean tries to calm him down.

Billy grimaces. "Poor girl," he says sarcastically.

"Hey Billy," Ryan shouts from the background, "you practiced the move I showed you yesterday?"

"Yeah, I did it." He skates away from me and I take a seat next to Ava.

"Hey!" she greets me.

"Hey!"

"Where've you been the last few days?"

"I'm in trouble at home and I have a job now to earn some money."

She nods. "Can I ask you something?"

I look at her, puzzled. She never really talks to me. "Sure."

"What kind of people are they?"

"They?"

"The Bandits, I mean."

I shrug. "They're not that different from us, I think. Just some young people with problems."

The boys interrupt us and sit down next to us. Billy's hand wanders over my thigh, but I try to ignore it. There's a hickey on his neck – it´s definitely not from me – but I don´t care. I just wish Michael had kissed me last night, too.

"So guys, what do you think? Should we go to the basketball court? Maybe the Bandits are around. I never get sick of beating up on them." Billy grins.

"Me, too!" Ryan says and high fives Billy.

"I can´t wait to punish Rath again."

I want to slap him in the face and scream at him, but all I can do is to stay calm.

"Okay, let´s go then," Brody states and stands up.

"I'm not coming with you," I say quietly.

"What? I can´t hear you." Billy pulls me to a standing position.

"I said, I'm not coming with you! My shift at work starts in an hour and I have to go home and change my clothes."

"Pity!" Brody says.

But Billy won´t let me go with that. He drags me along with him for a few meters.

"Where are you really going now?"

"To work. That´s the truth. Wanna come with me?"

Please say no, or else I'm stuck.

"No, I don´t care. Just to let you know: If you're jerking me around, I will find out and then you´ll see." He shoves me aside and walks back to the others.

"Bye Maria," Sean shouts after me.

***

I pull the cell phone out of my pocket and dial Michael´s number.

"Yeah." He answers after a short time.

"Michael? Where are you?"

"At home, why?"

"Good!" I sigh with relief.

"Is something wrong?" he wants to know, puzzled.

"Uhm, no, no. Everything is fine. Billy and the others are on their way to the basketball court and I just wanted to know if you're there. But you´re not."

"No, Kyle and Lonnie are at the fitness center, Max, Liz and Alex went to the mall, I think. And I´m bored shitless."

I smile slightly. It's so good to hear his voice again. "What are you doin`? It's kind of loud in the background."

"I'm just getting rid of the others and walking home now to do some homework."

"You think you could cancel your last two classes tomorrow?"

"Yeah, it´s only gym class, but why?"

"It might be that I have a job for you."

"Are you serious?" I ask, excited.

"So you´re interested?"

"Are you kidding me? Of course I am."

He chuckles. "Good. I´ll will wait for you at the subway station where we met before at 1:00 pm."

"Okay. Thank you!"

I hang up the phone with a big smile on my lips.

New rising hope – keen disappoinment Novemerber 27th, 2007 – Tuesday – 12:55 pm

I step out of the subway and can already see Michael at the end of the passage.

"Hey," I can't prevent the big smile as I reach him.

"Hey," he smiles back, "you look good."

I look down at myself. What does he mean? I'm not wearing anything special.

"Not so pale and exhausted like the last time," He explains. "Okay, come on." He takes my hand in his.

"Where are we going?"

"It's a restaurant not far from here. Kate Wilson, my boss's wife, is the owner."

***

"Hi Michael, how are you doin´?" The tall woman greets him warmly.

"It's getting better. I'll be back at work soon."

"That's good. My husband really needs you in the shop; he comes home overworked every day."

Then she turns to me. "And you have to be Maria." Kate shakes my hand and smiles. "Michael told me you need a job, but that your parents won't give you permission?"

Michael and I exchange a quick glance. "Yes, that´s right, Mrs. Wilson."

"Oh dear, call me Kate, please."

"Okay, Kate."

"So, we're looking for a dishwasher at the moment. We can´t make a real job offer as long as you´re underaged. But you could come here after school for a few hours and clean the kitchen. I´ll pay you 20 dollars a day from petty cash. I know it´s not much, but you can also eat for free here."

"Sounds fantastic!" I beam at her with joy, and then look at Michael, who nods.

"And when you turn 18, you could be employed as a waitress here, with a better pay rate of course."

"I... I don´t know what to say," I stumble over the words.

"Well, just say that you'll accept our deal."

"Of course I will! I just can´t believe it... When... when should I start?"

"Right now – if you want to."

"Sure!"

Kate laughs. "I really like you, Maria. Okay, I´m going back inside now. Follow me, once you've said goodbye to Michael." She turns and leaves us alone.

"Wow... I... thank you so much, Michael." With little hesistation, I throw myself into his arms and hug him tightly.

He runs his fingers through my hair. "You wanna sleep at my place tonight?" he whispers in my ear. It gives me a chill when his breath brushes against my neck.

I lean back slightly. "And what about Max?"

"He's out of town until Thursday, his boss sent him to ... uh... I don´t remember, but it´s far away. I´ll make sure that the others won´t show up either."

"You won't cook for me, will you?" I ask with a smirk.

He laughs. "No, but I can buy a pizza… or you could cook for us."

"Sound great. So, I´ll see you this evening then?"

"Yeah." He loosens his grip around my waist and I take a step back.

"Maria, are you coming?" Kate calls from the kitchen.

"Yeah!"

Michael winks at me and turns to leave.