Unjaded

Pilot

She was alone, she couldn't tell you why.

A big city, Chicago Illinois. A new start for a girl. Her hopes and dreams followed her across the country, plastered on her black Dodge as she drove for hours on end, searching for a feeling that put her at ease. Chicago.

Her eyes softened at the welcome sign, and her hands gripped the steering wheel.

She glanced at gas station signs and road signs on her right as she flew by them, the greens and yellows flickering in the night sky.

Shiney raindrops slowly appeared on the windshield in front of her. She admired them, the water and light. She loved how elegant they were together.

Her fingers reached her stereo system, and she turned the volume down to hear the rain hitting her car. She had always found comfort in the rain, even when she was little.

She didn't try to keep anything in her mind for too long. She tried to ignore all of her things piled in the back seat and trunk, but the thought of a new home dwelled in the back of her mind.

Soon, she began to see signs with "Chicago, 70 miles ahead." "50 miles"..."30"..."10"

Her small fingers tapped on the steering wheel along with her music. She turned her steering wheel to the right, and her car drifted into the highway exit to Chicago.

She widened her eyes in awe. The bright city lights shined as it rained. A small spark was lit inside of her, a spark of hope; A new beginning.

She made her way onto a main road. She looked at all of the people walking by.

The bars, clubs, and stores were alive. She had never seen anything quite like it.

She spotted a local restaurant on the end of the street she was on. Her stomach growled.

Her car turned into a parallel parking spot. She turned her car off and pulled her jacket on, pulled her pink visor down, and reached in her purse for some lip gloss.

She pulled out a strawberry-flavored pink lip gloss. Her father had gotten it for her some time ago. She was far away from her parents, and her family. She wondered if they missed her.

Her lips popped as she closed her tube of lip gloss. She threw it back into her purse and slammed her car door shut. The sound of her shoes squelching on the wet ground displeased her.

She let out a sigh when she finally stepped into the warm building with fresh new faces. A waitress came over to greet her.

"Hi ma'am, how many for you?"

Delilah looked up.

"One."

She sighed.

"Follow me, please."

She hated interacting with people. She hated the thought of getting to know someone. She seemed shy, but no part of her feared what others thought of her.

"Have you been here before?" The waiter spoke, looking at her.

"No."

"Where are you from, miss?"

"Cali."

"You're not much of a talker. Are you?"

She glared at him.

His questions sent a fit of rage down her spine. Who is this guy? Why does he think he can judge her out loud?

"You ask too many questions."

"Three is too many? I can't ask the cute girl questions, now?"

She slammed her elbow down on the table in front of her and dug her thumb and pointer finger into her eyelids.

"Iced tea and chicken strips with ranch. Please. I'm not interested."

"Oh... okay."

The waiter left, and she sighed. She hoped that not everyone here was like that.

Wail she waited at the table, she reached into her purse and pulled out her phone. She searched up; "Apartments in Chicago Illinois," and tapped on the first one to show up.

"The Del Prado in Chicago." $1,620 for rent... holyshit.

Her fingers raced across her phone, typing the number to call the landlord. She wanted to move in as soon as possible. Living in her car for weeks at a time, moving across the US. She didn't mind driving, although she hated sleeping in her car, the scenery was nice at times.

"Hello? Del Prado Chicago apartments, landlord speaking. The name's Dan, how can I help you?"

She giggled. Dan, the landlord man.

"I'm interested in one of your 1-bed apartments. My name is Delilah Smith. I'm just getting here, I'm from-"

He cut her off.

"Two weeks. Move in the 15th of April. The rent is $2,000. Apartment 209."

"Oh, okay.." So he's ripping her off? You know what? At least the dick was upfront and didn't sugarcoat it.

"Are there pets allowed?" She had hope.

"No. Im allergic. "

"Too bad" she whispered under her breath

"Didn't hear you, what was that?"

"Sounds good! Thank you! See you in two weeks Dan the landlord man!" Click.

She smiled to herself and rolled her eyes.

As the moments passed, her smile faded and her fingers tapped on the table, Her mind raced with worry. How was she supposed to live in her car for two more weeks??

She placed both hands on the table in front of her and sighed.

A loud bang. Her head shot up, and her eyes darted in the direction of the sound. She looked in awe as she saw a band in front of her.

She enjoyed the sound of the band, but that didn't distract her from her thoughts. Her mind continued to wonder, how will she be happy. Alone in a huge city like this, would she find someone? Maybe. Just maybe she'd find someone who'd be in the same situation she was in. Moving across the country isn't easy for a small girl in a big scary world.