Forbidden Love [bwwm interracial]

Chapter 8- Motel

My knees went weak as soon as I stepped into the apartment. I walked over to the unburnt part of my mattress and felt the tears in my eyes well up. I fell onto the mattress and dropped my head in my hands.

"The power went out briefly last night, and when it came back on, there was a surge," My neighbor explained, "And the fire department said that surge of electricity overheated the curling iron you left on. Then because the curling iron was rested on a towel, it caught the towel on fire, which then heated up the can of hairspray, which blew up and caused all this."

"I can't believe this," I said as I felt a tear slip out my eye, "I'm going to have to pay for all this. Marta, I don't even have money to buy food, much less pay to redo an apartment."

"I know darling, I know." She rested her small hand on my shoulder and gave it a light squeeze.

"She's going to have to pay for that bathroom!" My landlord yelled from the hallway, "She fucked up the bathroom and everything around it!"

"Lower your voice before she hears you!" The accented voice growled out.

I stood up off the half black mattress and started walking towards the bathroom where the damage was done. From the ceiling to the floor was covered in nothing  but black from the smoke. The outlet that I stupidly left the curling iron plugged in was hanging off the wall. The curling iron was sitting in the sink. And I was standing there, looking at everything that I caused, trying to piece together what I'd done.

I didn't have the money to fix this. I didn't have the money to find somewhere else to live. Oh god, where the hell am I supposed to go? I could probably stay with Millie until I can find another apartment, but what if she said no? What if she blames me for almost burning down my apartment as much as my landlord did? As much as I blamed myself?

"Liv, are you alright?"

I sniffled and wiped my wet cheeks, "Yeah, I'm fine."

"Is there somewhere I can drive you? It's not safe for you to stay here," Jonathan said.

I exhaled deeply, "Don't you have a meeting to go to or something?"

"I canceled it."

I turned around to look at him, "You didn't have to do that."

He gave me a small smile, "I know but I wanted to. Now, is there anywhere I can drive you?"

"I can just take the bus." I walked past him and to the linen closet outside the bathroom.

Thankfully the fire didn't spread out here because then I would literally have no clothes whatsoever. I grabbed my small suitcase and began stuffing clothes in it. I felt another tear slip out my eye but I just kept harshly shoving the clothes in the bag. I angrily zipped it up when I was done and began walking towards the door. I ducked under the yellow caution tape and pulled the suitcase behind me.

"I'll be expecting my first check for the damages before next weekend." My landlord crossed his arms as I walked through the main door.

The humid air hit my face with every step I took but I continued on walking towards the bus stop. I shot glares to every male that I passed by that had a sly comment about my outfit. I bet I definitely looked like a prostitute now...

I heard the loud roar of the engine before I saw it pull up beside me. The windows rolled down and the car slowed to the pace I was walking at.

"C'mon Liv, get in the car," Jonathan called.

"I'm fine with walking," I replied defeatedly.

"You're wearing five inch heels," He pointed out, "It doesn't look like you can even take another step in those things."