Redemption

Chapter 16: Opportunity

Rudy
I walked into the McDonald's and noticed Cam sitting in a Booth waiting for me. Before I went and sat with her I walked to the counter and ordered me a large Fri and a drink. Once I got my food I sighed and made my way over to Cam.

When she saw me coming she stood up and helped me into my seat like I'm not able to myself. She sat across from and just stared like she was reading me. I rolled my eyes and focused my attention on my fries. "So what happened?" She asked breaking the silence. I dropped the Fri I was about to eat and looked at her. Trying to figure out what I was gonna say.

"Basically, my mom was saying mean stuff to me telling me Im gone walk in the rain and talking down to me so I choked her. She told me to get out. I packed most of my stuff. Walked to the nearest bus stop got on road till I got to a hotel cried went to sleep, went and bought a car and now I'm here." I summed it up the best way I can. She just sat there I guess trying to process what I was saying.

"All this happened but why ain't you call? You could've got hurt or something. I've been blowing you up man, I was scared as hell!" She raised her voice at me which was starting to piss me off. "Don't yell at me. Thats the reason I'm in this mess now. But it's not y'all business to take care of me or to worry about whether I'm good or not. I'm old enough to take care of my self. I've been doing this on my own for a while now and I don't need nobody." I tried to stay as calm as possible but this conversation was a waist of time. A train wreck.

"Thats your problem now! You so stuck up and stupid to even realize when somebody care about you. You got friends who damn near lost their minds worrying about but you hollin it ain't our business. You know what fuck it. This a waist of time. I can't believe I even liked you man." She got up and left after she said that. Her words stung my heart.I can't believe she said that to me. I shrugged it off and finished my fries.

People were staring at me and some was whispering about me. I just looked at the floor and then got up to leave. I got 30 minutes till it's time for me to clock in to work. I went to my car and grabbed my uniform returning to the bathroom of the McDonald's. I changed and washed my face. Ion know how ima do this but ima have to make a way.

After making sure I was good I left outta the McDonald's and headed to work. When I got there I clocked in and stood behind the register waiting for customers.

My first customers were some stud and her girlfriend. They were all cuddled up and stuff on the inside I was jealous but on the outside there was no emotion. "Owee Qui I want some nachos and an ice cream." The fem told her girlfriend. "Alright Chat I gotcha baby... Um can we have two things of nachos, a medium drink, and an ice cream?" The stud named Qui asked. "Your total will be $16.23." I said in the happiest voice I could bring out.

She handed me $20 and I gave her back the change and I went to get their food ready. Once it was done I brought it back and handed them everything. They thanked me and left to watch their movie. After them I had like 15 more customers until it was time for my break.

"You okay Rudy?" My coworker Kevin asked as he stood at the other register. I nodded at him and finished cleaning my station then left. I walked outside and saw people standing in line waiting to get tickets and others just talking and walking around. "Rudy!" I turned around and saw my other coworker Gina walking over to me.

"Wussup Gina?" I asked with a sigh. "You look down I was coming to see if you alright." I looked her up and down and nodded my head yea. She know I'm not a people person ion know why she tryna make conversation with me. "You sure?" She asked again. "Gina what would you do if you messed up bad but you don't know how to say sorry?" I asked her.

She sat there for a few seconds then she answered. "Either you show them you're sorry or you tell them cause it'll hurt if you messed and hurt someone that cared." She replied eating her sandwich. I stared at the ground and sighed hard. "Aye Gina?" "Wussup Rudy?" "How do I grow to trust people? I mean I've never had friends or a family that cared so I never really knew how to trust.".

"You don't just force yourself to trust. It comes naturally, it takes time and energy. And since you've never had a friend I'm willing to be here." I looked at her and gave her a half smile. "Okay." I gave her a tight hug and sighed. I almost cried too.

"So this weekend wanna go to the mall or something?" She asked me. I ain't wanna tell her ion have the money for that but I can't lie either. "I can't Gina I wish I can." I replied. I was hoping she ain't ask why cause ion want nobody in my business. But hopes dropped. "Why not?" She asked. "Because Gina. I don't have money I spent almost every dime I had on a car cause my mom put me out and I have no where to go. So going shopping isn't for me right now."

Her eyes got wide and huge grin spread across her face. I know she ain't amused at my down fall cause I'll slap the hell outta her. I raised my eyebrow up at her and her smile fell. "Well I've been trying to get outta my parents house for a while but they said I can only if I have a room mate. You don't have anywhere to go so why not get an apartment and live together?" She asked. That was a good idea but I'm kinda skeptical. This girl a lil too happy for me, ima have to think about this for a while.

"Give me some time to think about all that and I'll give my answer before work is over." I told her after thinking for about 5 minutes. "If you say yea we can go apartment hunting this Saturday if you free." She said. I nodded my head then got up to head back into work. Before I clocked back in I text Jamal.

Meet me at the park. please?

Yea I gotcha. You okay lil sis?

Yes... I'm at work right now I just need to talk to you..

Okay hit me up when you off.