Aces & Spades

Run

Isabella

A stream of light makes its way from the minuscule window above my head, onto my face. Slowly, I open my eyes the sudden pain of the beating I got yesterday hits me hard, causing me to clench my stomach.

I hear the sound of the door being unlocked, as a gruff voice speaks out. "Get the fuck up and don't think that I have forgotten about what happened yesterday!"

"Shit." I mutter under my breath. Grabbing onto my favourite blue jeans, I pull them on along with an oversized grey jumper. I tie my long, brown wavy locks into a bun and run upstairs to the kitchen. The oak wooden floors creak through every step I take, giving away my presence.

I see her standing by the garden doors, puffing a freshly lit cigarette as she turns her snake like eyes towards me.

"Look who finally decided to get up." she says as she stumbles over to me slowly, it's obvious that she's drunk again.

She stops when she's a few inches away from me, and suddenly, grabs a fistful of my hair. A small squeal escapes my lips causing her to grab onto it harder.

"Why are you just standing here staring at me? Start cleaning." She shouts into my ear, dropping her cigarette on the floor with a taunting laugh. I sigh as I reach under the sink and grab the almost empty disinfectant as well as some cloths. I start to wipe down the kitchen counter, when I hear soft snores coming out of the living room.

I peep my head through the door for a moment, and spot her fast asleep on the sofa, with bottles of alcohol littering the floor.

Now's my chance.

I tiptoe down the basement steps, towards the cupboard door and grab my already packed duffel bag. Slinging it across my shoulder, I grab my phone from the small nightstand and race back up the steps towards the front door. I push down on the handle quietly making sure to check behind me for anyone, before I make my way out onto the overgrown grass.

I run.

I run as fast as I can away from the house. Away from her and my old life, and into my new one. The heat of the June sun beats down onto my back as I start to map out where the bus station is.

I've already decided about where I should go to. New York. The city that never sleeps, the place where dreams are always fulfilled.

The walk went by quickly, as I end up turning into the large garage like road that was filled with multi colored buses. I spot the small ticket booth opposite the line of metal chairs, with a small old man standing inside it.

"Good morning Sir, can I get a ticket to New York please."

He nods his bald head as he hands me a slip of paper, displaying the price on a small screen.

I swallow hard as I reach into my bag to take out some bills. I place it onto the stone counter, thanking him as he gives me back my change.

'Bus 156'. I find the cobalt blue bus, heading towards the monitor flashing 'New York' boldly in yellow. Am I really doing this? Am I really running away? I step onto the bus, handing the driver my ticket as I walk through to the middle, placing my bag down next to me onto the teal colored seat. Resting my head on the window, I close my eyes and release the breath I didn't know that I had kept in.

"The bus will now depart. Destination, New York."

The rumble of the engine turning on fills the air, as well as the sound of families and couples chatting away. I can finally feel my heartbeat being restored back to its normal pace, as the bus starts to pull out of its parking space. I place my headphones into my ears and blast my favorite songs as I watch the trees and people blur past me.

I still hadn't decided what I was going to do when I was there, but I knew that I needed a job straight away. I couldn't survive on the money left.

I call up the first few cafe's and bars that come up on Google, putting on my sweetest voice, I ask them all the same question. "Do you have any jobs available?"

Nada.

None of them were looking for a waitress, cashier or janitor.

Just as I was about to turn my phone off and metaphorically chuck it off a cliff, I decide on trying my luck one last time.

'Ace Lounge.' I whisper to myself. I tap onto their website and build up the courage to call the number on my screen.

"Hello this is Aces' Lounge how may I help you?" A chirpy woman says.

"Hello, my name is Isabella and I was wondering if you had any jobs available?"

"For the stripper job?"

A STRIPPER? In an attempt to drown out my internal screaming I take a deep breath as I carry on.

"No, No as one of the waitresses."

"By being a waitress at Aces' Lounge, I need you to agree that if there is a shortage of strippers, you would have to take their place. Do you consent to that?"

I contemplate ending the phone but I stop myself. I need the money one way or another.

"I-I do." I murmur out quietly.

"Great. Please just make your way to our residence and I will help you settle in. My name is Rebecca so ask for me when you get here."

I end the phone, placing it back into my pocket. A stripper Bella? Really? Oh God this might've been the worst decision I've made. But I can still look into other options right?

I carry on calling a few other places after that, all of them declining to offer me a job. After a few hours, we reach a halt as we pull into the New York bus station. I let everyone file out of the bus until it's only me left. I take a deep breath as I grab my bag, saying a little prayer, I head outside. The early afternoon sun shines onto my head as I take off my jumper and shove it into my bag. I readjust my gold spade-shaped locket from the position that it was at the back of my neck, to the front, as I take out my phone, searching up directions to Ace Lounge.

Ciao my loves I hope you enjoyed the first official chapter I promise that the next chapters are gonna be more interesting I just wanted you guys to get a feel for Isabella.