Chapter 37 I I LIKE TO THINK THAT I AM STRONG
Through everything, every hard moment in my life I found an escape through schoolwork.
Whenever I wasn't working or being pushed around by Roger and his gang I was studying, the only thing I was truly good at.
I had the highest gpa in my high school, which I never really thought meant much due to us being in the poorest part of town, where no student really cared anyways and only had time for drugs and alcohol.
Although once Roger found out about my achievements and I was made to do all of his schoolwork, including Nathan’s, and Sarah’s.
" Good job Dawn, my parents truly think I can go to Harvard with this shit." Nathan laughs hysterically, pushing me hard on the back as he shoves the paper I had written in front of my face.
" How about we play a little game after school today? Huh?" Roger says as they follow me down the empty school hallways.
"N..No I'm okay." I quietly say, my lip quivering when he pushes me against a locker. I look down so my hair Is covering my face, too terrified to utter another word.
"Stuttering bitch." He spits, grabbing my hair and yanking my head up.
"Roger, we should go now." Nathan says nervously when the sound of a teachers keys echo down the hallway.
"Don't think I'm done with you." He scowls before slamming my head back on the locker and walking away with Nathan.
My head aches at the force as I hold in tears, walking towards my first class of the day.
As soon as the bell rings for my last class I get up, my legs pushing me towards the exit. Maybe if I was fast enough, they wouldn't get me today.
I pushed the heavy door open, revealing the bright sun in my face and the heat on my skin. My eyes frantically search for the bus, a relived feeling in the pit of my stomach when I watch as it pulls up.
I ran, faster than ever and hide in the back seat, hoping they hadn't seen me get on.
My eyes peeked over the window, watching as Roger angrily looks around for me with his gang, pushing around the other students in his way. I could feel my heart in the pit of my stomach, if they find me I was dead.
The door of the bus closes, and relief washes over me. I was safe, for now.
Last night I had decided finding a job in the poor part of town wasn't the best idea.
With Roger and Nathan living in the same area, it'd only make things worse.
So I take the bus all the way to the end of the route, to where anyone would dream of living.
The bustling city life, the clean streets and extravagant homes that lined every street and the citizens dressed top to bottom in clothes worth more than my rent in Rupert City.
I get off the bus, instantly breathing in the clean air.
The stares I got were uncountable as I walked down the street, feeling everyone's eyes on me as if I was an alien, as If I wasn't even human.
They were all raised in money, never going a day without worrying if they could eat for the next week.
I envied that, but knew it was a future someone like me could never hope for.
A soft breeze blows through my hair as I open a door to a nice looking cafe, the bell above me ringing as it notified the workers of a customer.
There was a girl working in there, who seemed to be around 24, dressed in a pink apron that had the name of the store written in cursive on it.
Caffè d'Amore
"I'm sorry miss but I don't think this place is right for you." She slowly says as I stand before the cashier.
"I..I apologize I was just looking for a job if you had any openings." I say, trying to ignore the burning stare of an older looking man seated at one of the tables.
" You don't fit our employee description, I'm going to have to ask you to leave." A man says, walking up in front of the girl and taking over.
He was probably the manager.
I just nodded my head, my eyes glancing over to the creepy old man who had still been staring at me before quickly walking out.
I let out a breath, slowly walking down the streets.
I'm not sure why I even had a chance of getting a job around here, I was pathetic.
As I was walking towards the bus stop I felt a rough hand grab my arm, turning me around. My eyes widen as I come face to face with the old man from the cafe.
He had wrinkles lining nearly every part of his face, and a short frame as his shaky hands hold out a small, golden business card.
"You looking for a job kid?" He asks, his voice dry.
I swallow the lump in my throat, slowly taking the golden card as I look down at it.
"Y…yes." I say, rubbing my arm when he lets go.
My eyes move over the small writing that held only a phone number and the words Conner Estate printed in the center.
"I can get you a job as a maid there, good pay and housing for free." He says, moving his hand to my own and closing my fingers tightly over the card.
I watched him, confusion filling my head at his kind gesture. Why would he just give me a job like this? I wasn't sure if this was trustworthy or not.
At the same time I felt bad for calling the man creepy, he was only trying to help after all.
"You give this card to no one. Getting a job in the Conner Estate is nearly impossible, and this card is your only way in." He instructs.
It seemed more like a one way ticket to hell then anything else. This guy seemed suspicious, but as odd as it sounded I couldn't not take my chances.
Good pay and housing? I could live there and pay off all the debt money while not being in fear every night knowing Roger knew where I lived.
"But, why me? I'm nothing special." My words faintly come out as I look at the old man, who only looks back at me with kindness grazing his soft eyes.
"I can tell you have a pure heart, you deserve this job more then anyone else in this city." He smiles, before turning around and walking down the sidewalk.
My focus moved back on the card in my hand, my eyebrows pulled together as I think about the opportunity.
Before any thoughts could enter my head anymore I turned around, looking for the old man so I could thank him. I hadn't even gotten his name.
My eyes search around the busy streets, looking for the old man who had just become my savior but he was nowhere to be seen.
How far could he have gone?
My search for the man quickly ends when I saw Roger and his gang getting off a bus, looking around the streets.
My body filled with goosebumps, fear striking my body as I snapped my head away from them, fast walking towards a dumpster on the corner.
I hid behind the bins, nearly throwing up at the awful smell of the trash surrounding me.
My hands move onto my mouth, stopping any sort of sound that could escape from me as I hear their voices near me.
"I'm going to kill that bitch when I find her."
Roger spits, venom dripping every last word that came from his mouth.
My card suddenly drops from my hand, landing right next to Nathan’s foot and my entire body freezes as I look up, his eyes locking with my own.
" Found her." He says, a terrifying smirk on his face.