Alisha

It was a very long trip to California but some how I made it, I said out loud to myself as I looked around the streets and at all the tall city buildings. I motioned for a taxi as I fumbled with the piece of paper that had all my hotel information written on it.

I had made reservations at Huntington Beach hotel it wasn’t a five star hotel but it was very nice and upstanding none the less. I finally got a hold of a taxi cab, I guess being young most people won’t take me seriously.

“Where too?” the cab driver asked as soon as I got in.

“16301 Beach Blvd. the Huntington Beach Hotel, please” I instructed. He nodded his head but he didn’t move, he looked at me and motioned his head to see some payment up front I suppose. I opened my purse and pulled out a fifty dollar bill.

“Will this cover the fair?” I inquired. He once again nodded his head but this time he turned around and started to drive. Phew, I thought. For a second there I thought he was going to ask me how old I was. I put on some make up and had my hair up in a bun; I figured it might help relieve less curious eyes if I tried to look more mature.

It seemed like hours before we actually got to the Huntington Beach, I paid my fair and thanked the cab driver for helping me with my luggage and driving me. I looked up at this low rise building. It was fabulous. It was something you would see on CSI: Miami or something.

The outside was surrounded by palm trees and the building itself was a salmon pink; there were balconies on every level and huge windows that overlooked the beach. I was only going to stay here for a few nights until I could figure something else out. I knew by now my dad would be pacing the floor with fury, and after many hours passed and I still didn’t return that fury would turn into panic. I did feel bad for my Marisa; I know she must miss me terribly. And its not like I enjoy torturing my parents, but the more space between us the better, I thought to myself.

I proceeded to enter the building and go up to my room, I was so exhausted from all this traveling. I believe it was an 18 hour trip in total. I walked up to the reception desk.

“Hi I have a reservation.” I said in the most mature voice I could conjure up. The lady was very polite, she smiled at me and started typing away at her keyboard.

“And the name the reservation is under?” She asked. I had to think for a minute, I had used so many fake names on this trip already it was so hard to keep my facts straight.

“Hilary Ryour” I lied. She smiled at me again and continued typing away at her keyboard. I looked at the long marble counter and all around the main lobby. Everything was so exquisite.

“Alright Miss Ryour, room number 304” she stated as she handed me the key to my suite, I smiled and took the key thanking her as I walked away towards the elevator. This was so adventurous, part of me was still terrified that my father would track me down and have the authorities drag me back and then I would have to face his wrath when he found out what state I am in; but on the other hand I was so excited for new scenery, for my escape, it was all so daring and mischievous.

The bell hop guy helped me to my room; once I got in there it literally took my breath away. The room was a Victorian style theme, decorative pillows, all the reds and blacks mixed together. It was like something out of a story book.

“Thank you” I said as I handed the bell hop a twenty. I was still new at this so I wasn’t sure how much to tip and what was considered an unreasonably low amount. I walked out to my balcony and looked at the view. A warm breeze came in and the air smelt like fresh coconuts, call me nuts but that’s what I smelled. Everything was so hot and bright; the sand on the beach was white and the palm tree tops were dark green, there were hundreds of people all over the beach and the hotel; some were in bikinis and some where in shorts. I looked down at my humble attire. I was wearing a pair of blue jeans and a t-shirt that said “they got the trip and all I got was a t-shirt”, I chuckled to myself. I remembered when Trista’s folks went to Bermuda and brought me this T-shirt. It’s funny, I’ve only been away from home almost 2 days and it feels like an eternity already.

I touched my stomach and looked down at my hand. “Well little one, looks like it’s just you and me now. We’re on our own. But don’t worry, mommy will take care of you, I won’t let you down.” I swore to myself. With that I turned around and went to the computer provided by the hotel.

I had now begun my job search. All I had was a crinkled old napkin with jotted down addresses of places for rent around this area. I still had yet to make appointments to view those places and then hopefully find a job close by. I knew it wouldn’t be so hard to find a job, I’m sure there was an abundant amount of waitress jobs, but honestly that was last resort, I’ve heard too many horror stories about single moms working at the nearby diner. That was not going to be me.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It was hot again today. I felt like my sneakers were melting to the pavement as I walked down the street. I was on my way to meet Mrs. Delaware for a viewing, I was so nervous, I really didn’t want it to be one of those run down places with the chalk drawing of some dead guy on your living room floor. Maybe I just have too wild of an imagination, but this was all new to me after all. My appointment was at 2PM sharp, when I spoke with the lady on the phone she sounded like she had just swallowed a rat, her voice was high pitched and squeaky. I was very intimidated by her, she seemed really mean, but I didn’t care I needed to put a roof over mine and my little one’s head. I know I was only a couple months pregnant but I still needed to get in shape before I give birth. I only wish I didn’t find out that I was pregnant after I was already a month into it.

I sighed hard as I approached the apartment complex. It was exactly what I dreaded: graphite all over the walls, there was a basketball court to the right of the building but the hoop didn’t have any net in it anymore and it was slightly bent and coming apart. The courtyard to play in was full of broken beer bottles and needles I suspected. I dropped my head with disappointment. I was so hoping this place was going to be much nicer then this.

“Hey! You over there, are you Hilary Ryour?” An annoyed old lady snapped. I gulped hard, and this must be Mrs. Delaware. I smiled at her trying my best to make a good first impression.

“Yes ma’am.” I stepped up and held out my hand. She snorted her nose and looked at my hand and let out the loudest cackle I’ve ever heard. I even envisioned her being a witch in her past life, if she wasn’t she’d make a good witch for Halloween, I thought.

“Well don’t stand there with you mouth wide open! Let’s get this over with…” she once again snapped. I didn’t take Mrs. Delaware for the chatty friendly type so I decided to cut the small talk completely, it didn’t appear that she was even able to hold a polite tone. I was praying that there was something so horribly wrong with this place that I couldn’t over-look or fix.

“Here it is, suite 12” Mrs. Delaware announced as she took out her keys and unlocked the door. I held my breath as she opened the door, please God, please. What was it with me lately? I seemed to be praying almost ever minute.

The stench of the apartment made me want to hurl immediately after the fumes entered my nostrils. I closed my eyes tight and took a step forward, still holding my breath and piercing my lips tightly closed. Part of me was expecting there to be blood and guts all over the place, but the other part of me knew that was far fetched and unrealistic.

All I could say about this place was that it was gross and unsanitary, but it would have to do; it had old yellow nicotine stained wallpaper, the rug had grape juice stains among other things on it and it smelled like cat piss. The kitchen sink had rust all around it and around the drain; I also could have sworn I seen a cockroach crawling on the floor. The bedroom had a big hole in the wall and it had a sticky sour smell, the ceiling fan was practically hanging by the wires and there was a big white circle in the middle of the floor. I walked to the bathroom and there was an old chipped, rusted bathroom sink similar to the kitchen; the dim, flickering, florescent light made a loud buzzing noise and cast a shadow over me, I turn around to look the grimy, gross, brown walls with lime green squares in this cheap bathroom. I couldn't take the smell of this place, I was trying to over-look so many things, I only had one other place to view before I would have to search again. I decided to splash some cold water on my face and I looked into the grease smeared mirror and saw my pale ghostlike reflection, “Wow this pregnancy is really taking a lot of out me” I thought to myself. If I did decide to take this place, I’d have to clean it up a lot before the baby comes, even thinking of how much work that would involved drained me; I walk out of the room and off the cracked linoleum floor, to go examine the kitchen more, hoping I would see something that would make all the rest of the flaws not matter. I realized I was hoping for a miracle, but at this point that’s all I had to go off of, miracles. I opened the refrigerator and looked in, the light was burnt out, curious I tapped it and it started to flicker. The motor in the fridge was burnt out and Mrs. Delaware would have to go and buy a new one, but I wasn’t going to hold my breath on any major renovations occurring here.

“Rent is $500 a month and due on the first of every month by NOON sharp, any late payments will result in your immediate eviction!” she explained in her usual snarly tone. Once again I smiled politely at her.

“Thank you but I think I’m going to keep looking around” I said and I began to walk out when suddenly she grabbed a hold of my wrist.

“You don’t understand little girl, there is no backing out now, you’re here for good” she threatened. My heart began to race so fast it felt as if I had just ran 10 blocks. Was she really serious? I wondered. She wasn’t seriously going to keep me a prisoner in this dilapidated old shack, was she?