Ours for the taking

Chapter 1

Ava

I would just like to say I haven't always hated my life, it's been a slow build up since I was aged out of foster care at the ripe age of 18. So about a little over a year ago I would say, I mean it's hard to keep track of time when you are constantly busy either A working or B trying to find a place to sleep in the homeless shelter. But anyway enough of my sad life.

I moved states after I was kicked out of my foster home in boston so I took bus after bus to Chicago to start a new life. I found a job in a old dive bar runned by a old man named joe he's got a resting bitch face but at least he pays me with cash so I can't complain, anywayyy i need to stop zoning out and actually do my job before I get fired for not serving customers.

It's a slow Tuesday night not the usual rowdy drinkers we get on the weekends, i'm making my rounds making sure nobody has an empty glass when I hear a clinking sound to my left.

"Hey sugar tits I need a drink." An old bald man with rotting teeth bellows right next to my ear like a little fly you just can't swat away.

"Well sir, I don't answer to sugar tits so until you can get my name right you aren't getting a drink." Man are so disgusting I swear, how hard is it to politely ask for a refill I mean common it isn't that hard.

" Well sweetheart I don't really give a fuck to learn your name, just get me my fucking drink." He spittles.

Okay gross keep your disgusting spit to yourself.

"Here" I slide him another beer, if it gets his grotesque face away from me faster i'll just give him the drink it's not worth all the heart ache at this point i'm bone tired and just ready to get off my feet , I've still got another hour till we close at 3 Am.

He finally walks away to his group of friends at the back of the bar. So I turn back and tend to the rest of the regulars we get here.

Finally it's closing time and I can start cleaning up and closing down the bar for the night, all the customers left so It's just Joe and myself tonight since Serena called in saying she needs to take care of her sick kid so it will take an extra 30 minutes to clean up and clock out. I hope there will be an empty room available at the homeless shelter tonight so I have a place to sleep but it wouldn't be the first night that i've had to sleep on a park bench.

Im finally locking the door to the bar when Joe calls out "See you tomorrow kid be safe getting home." Did I forget to mention Joe doesn't know I don't actually have a home, I mean I probably should have brought it up but it's hard getting a job when you have no where to live.

" See you tomorrow!" I call out as he's walking to his car.

I start my nightly walk to the homeless shelter it's about 3 blocks away so it's not that far from my work thankfully. I hate having to walk at this time of the night it always gives me the creeps not being able to see if someone is skulking around in the alleys just waiting to see if they can grab someone from behind and attack them, So I make my walk turn into a sprint to get to the shelter faster.

I turn the last corner of the block and finally see the lights of the shelter up ahead. I walk into the front doors to see Amy the occasional front desk worker. I think she kinda hates me if the sour expression on her face is anything to go by.

"Sorry no rooms available." She says smugly as she turns back to play on her phone.

"Are you sure, I don't have any other place to stay." I plead. I really don't want to sleep on a bench tonight, it's supposed to rain in the morning and I can't afford to get drenched.

"Yes i'm sure, now you need to get out we don't have any room for you to be taking up space." she says while swatting at me like a fly.

I try to hold back my tears while walking out the front door, I just can't catch a break no matter what i do It's never enough i've tried to be optimistic but nothing ever works.

I make my way to the local park that has seen better days, it looks like it's been abandoned for the last 10 years all of the swings and slides have rust coating them and dead leaves from the dying trees since summer has ended and the season is getting colder. I'm glad i've got my extra jacket, it's not much but it's better than nothing, I lay my backpack down for a make shift pillow and lay my head down on it while i lay my jacket down on my upper half hoping that I stay semi warm tonight.

Maybe tomorrow will be a better day, one can only hope.