Laura

Laura 14.0

"I just can't stand him anymore, I'm tired of being the only person not knowing what is going on. I mean, hell I'm the one that makes sure he gets to his meetings on time." I vent 

"Well, take it from me. I'd rather you be at LA getting paid to just sit there and write down dates and putting together meetings than you be here with me doing something you don't want to do." Jo says 

I look at my surroundings and maybe jo is right. I should be thankful that I'm not out there doing sex work for money.

"your right" I mumbled.

"I know I am Laura. I'm fixing to be 30 years old and I still haven't even moved anywhere besides this motel," she says

And I can hear her frustration through the phone. 

"you're only 17 years old, you still have a whole life ahead of you. I wasn't given that chance baby. But the world is giving you this chance to go out and live the life you want despite the choices that you had to make before." she says

my leg starts to shake from me not trying to cry.

"I love you jo," I say

"I love you too Laura," she says and I can feel her smiling through the phone.

"How did the meeting go?" she asked

I get up and start to change out of my dress

"It was okay, it was too fancy for me. I watch a youtube video that shows what silverware to use for different plates and I could not for the life of me figure out what to use." I laugh

"You better be lying" Jo laughs

"no, I'm being serious," I say "and the meeting, I don't know what they were discussing, something about contracts and buildings." I shrugged

"you better be listening, because the owner here at the motel is talking about moving and that someone big is going to buy this and make it into something else." jo says

"yeah, but we are in Los Angles. I doubt it's serious Jo. I mean come on. I doubt he sells it. this is the only place he knows around there." I point out.

"I don't know about that. He's been talking about going home. I'm assuming his country. In Afghanistan." she says

"I wouldn't stress about it too much. I mean I'm making good money, we can go and find a house and I can pay rent." I offer

"Laura, I think it's time for you to leave the nest," she says 

I go quiet for a second. I don't want to leave jo behind, I want to take her with me. It's like leaving my big sister all alone in this cruel world.

"I'm going to stick around you for as long as I can or until you threaten me to leave is when I'll go, you're all I have jo." I whimper

I hear sniffles on the other end.

"I know kid, it hurts. It hurts me too," she says

and we both share sniffles back and forth.

"Can I at least bring you something back?" I ask

she chuckles "yeah, yes you can." she says

I nod my head and smile.

"Okay well, I got to go. We have another meeting in the morning." I say

"you behave." she says and I start laughing

"sure mom," I say " I love you, Jo," I say 

"Love you too," she says and we hang up.

I think before we leave, I'll go shopping for jo and get her some clothes and maybe something to remember me by.

"Is everything alright?" I look up and see it's brett standing there with his tie hanging loosely.

I wipe my eyes and nod my head.

" I heard you crying, I just wanted to check in on you," he says 

"I'm fine, thanks" I rudely say and walk over to the bed to get in

I notice that he is still standing there.

"you can go now." I roll my eyes

"look, I'm sorry for yelling at you earlier. I just don't want you to go and tell everyone else what is happening at the meetings," he says and sits on the bed

"as if I have any friends that I'm going to tell," I say

"I don't care if you tell your friend Jocelynn. I'm afraid of her telling the business to her friends Wyatt and Crimden," he says and I look at him at the mention of those two last names.

"How did you know-" I say and my eyes got big.

"how do I know?" he asks "I know everything" he finishes

"that day when Crimden walked out after you, I knew why he was there and it wasn't for you, obviously," he states.

"why is there then?" I ask looking at him 

"both of them use to work for me, I let them go because they were taking money instead of using them for something that was good." he says "they used the money to turn against me, they almost killed Andrea if I didn't give them what they wanted," he says

"What did they want?" I ask curiously.

"the contracts to the Morse Family," he states

I point my fingers towards the wall, meaning the meeting,

he nods his head.

" I don't understand" I search around the room

"I know, that's why I only need you to write notes. you are more than welcome to listen and take notes on what you think. But for now, don't spare any details to your friend until I know that we are clear." he says 

I nod my head 

"meetings at 11 tomorrow. In case you didn't check the emails," he says 

crap! I forgot all about it

"I'm so sorry, I got caught up with talking on the phone." I sympathetically say

"it's alright, as long as you are not talking to guys." he grins and walks out

I roll my eyes and turn towards the window and fall asleep to the lights of the city.