The Aftermath

Chapter 58

Riley's POV

After putting Addison on the bus for school the next day, I took the public bus to a bar about fifteen minutes away from the house.

It wasn't as dark and dirty as the one Damien took me took that one time, but it was still a bar.

"Hi, can I help you?" A girl asks, wearing a tight black tee shirt with the name of the bar written across the front of it in white lettering.

"Yeah, I heard you guys were hiring?" I inquire.

"How old are you?" She asks, not sounding at all concerned.

"Twenty three." I reply.

"Have you've worked before?" She questions.

"Yes." I reply.

"Fine, you're hired." She sighs. She goes behind the bar, grabs something, and tosses. It was a tee shirt, the same as hers.

"You start tomorrow. Your first shift is from nine thirty to midnight. See how it goes." She tells me.

"Whoa, nine thirty until midnight? I have a young daughter at home. Is there any other shift I could take?" I question.

"Do you want this job or not?" She sighs.

"Yes..."

"Then take it or leave it." She growls.

"Alright, I'll be here nine thirty." I respond.

~~~~~

"You're home early again today!" Addison exclaims happily when she hops off the bus and into my arms.

"Yeah, I am." I reply. I walk her into the house and help her take her coat off.

"How was school today?" I ask her.

"Good. Mackenzie was mean to me again today." She says sadly.

"Oh honey. What did she do now?" I question.

"She called my drawing ugly." She explains.

It wasn't the first time this Mackenzie girl had said something to Addison since the start of the year. I had called her teacher several times and told her what was going on, and she said that she would do something about. Still no change.

"Just try to nicely ask her to stop, okay? Don't fight back either. Fighting never helps." I tell her. She nods.

~~~~~

James's POV

I hadn't seen Riley since Monday, but I think that she needs some time on her own anyway.

I walked out my front door to check my mailbox, when I hear crying and yelling coming from Riley's. I look over and see a middle aged man yelling at her while she cries.

"I'm sorry! I'll have the rest of the rent money to you by Friday!" Riley cries.

"This would be the fourth time I pushed the due date for you Miss Marin! I'm not doing it! Either cough up the money now or get out!" The man yells in a scruffy voice.

"Hey! What's going on here?" I call out, walking over.

"James, just-"

"Miss Marin here doesn't have all her rent money. Again." The man snaps.

"Look, I just lost my job and-"

"I'll pay the difference." I state.

"What? No James!"

"Riley I told you I'd be here for you for anything."

"I know but this is dif-"

"No it not just let me-"

"No-"

"Would someone just pay me the God damn money?" The landlord yells.

"What's left that she owes?" I ask, taking my wallet out from my back pocket.

"Forty five dollars." He replies.

"Here." I say, handing him the cash.

"Thank you. And until next month Miss Marin. And hopefully with all your money." He grumbles, walking back to his car.

I expected Riley snap and yell and freak out at me. But she didn't.

"You didn't have to do that." She says quietly.

"I know. But I wanted to." I reply.