First Love | James Hetfield

Luck Of The Draw

San Francisco, CA
1983

"I didn't have to carry you for nine months."

Her mothers words rang in her ears as she stepped out of the bus. She scanned her eyes around the small bus terminal, watching all the reunited families hugging. She didn't have anyone waiting for her.

"If you walk out that door, I'm not letting you back in!"

Her mind was once again being swallowed by her horrible thoughts and memories of last night's events. She didn't want to remember her fathers hand raising behind his shoulder just before he slapped her. She didn't want to remember her mothers cries and pleads for her to stay before they turned into cruel words.

"I've only supported you for... what? Your entire life?!"

She swallowed thickly and took her first step on the smooth cement. There was no going back. She left her old life on a dresser in her childhood bedroom,  and this is where she would start her new one. In San Francisco, California.

She left the building and immediately spotted a bright yellow car. "Huh." She muttered to herself. Maybe luck was in her favor tonight. She waved down the cab and stepped in, greeting the driver and asking him to take her to the most affordable hotel.

They arrived only a few minutes after and she grabbed her overstuffed backpack from beside her and slid out after leaving a small tip. Her friendly smile faltered when she looked at the hotel in front of her. Luck was definitely not in her favor.

It was a small roadside motel with a flickering M on the sign, making it read "OTEL"

"Oh." She breathed. She thought this was the type of hotel where a murder would get committed. Where young hookers lure in rich married men. Where druggies shoot up.

And there it was again. All of a sudden she was thirteen years old standing beside her fathers 1975 Ford Granada while he did a deal just a few feet away. He told her he was going to run errands and she had to tag along since her mother was working nights. The next morning she found her mother wiping her eyes with a tissue while she sat on the couch with two officers. She didn't know how jail worked, but she knew that's what happened. It wasn't long after that her father was released, though.

She snapped herself back into reality at the sound of a sweet voice.

"Ma'am?" She met the soft eyes of an elderly lady. "Are you alright?"

She looked around for a minute and realized she was standing in the small lobby area in the parking lot. "Oh, yeah. I'm good." She waved her off. "Can I get.. uh..." she swallowed. She'd never actually gotten a hotel room on her own. "Get a single bed?" She asked, unsure if she was using the right term.

"Oh, yes. Of course." The wrinkly woman responded, bending down to grab a key from under the counter.

She paid in wrinkled bills then gave the lady her name. "Call the lobby number if you need anything, honey." She smiled warmly.

"Thanks." She mumbled with a friendly smile before returning to the dimly lit parking lot. She took a deep breath and listened to the sound of her sneakers crunching on the wet cement.

As she was walking down the slim balcony she saw in the corner of her eye, the silhouette of a curved body on all fours on the bed. She grimaced and looked away immediately.

She found her room and twisted the key in the stubborn keyhole and entered the room. She grew a little nervous as she saw the peeling wallpaper and the yellow tint on the ceiling from what she assumed and hoped to be cigarettes. She sighed heavily and dropped her bag on the carpeted floor.

She grabbed a local newspaper off the bedside table and read it after she laid down. She looked for any sign of job openings or available apartments. "Nothing." She whispered, tossing the newspaper and taking off her sneakers.

She couldn't get rid of the uneasy feeling in her stomach. She came with barely any money, no friends or family, a very small amount of clothing, and no plans.

Hi there, you read the first chapter. Thank you!

This book is inspired by Spagheettoo's Sweet things, so be sure to read that book and show the author the love they deserve- especially if you're into enemies to lovers and James Hetfield :) thank you Spagheettoo for your inspiring writing

I will say that the way the main oc and James meet is a little similar to Spagheettoo's story, but from there on out its purely from my own brain. If you don't like it, don't read it!