Summer Escape

Coast to Coast

Phoebe's POV
All I remember was running. I ran as fast as could and I didn't look back. I made it to the bus station downtown and bought a ticket to the farthest place I could go. California. I ran to the bus and waited impatiently for it to depart. I was startled by the sudden loud noise of a voice over the speakers. "Alright passangers we will now be departing Atlanta to Los Angeles, California. Get comfortable everyone, it's going to be a long ride." I sighed in relief as the engine cranked and I could finally relax a little. I stared out the window and watched as the Atlanta skyline faded before I closed my heavy eyes and drifted to sleep.

I woke up a few hours later and the night had faded to day light. Since the trip is over a period of time I guess they had workers on board because they were handing out 'breakfast'. I happily took the granola bar, fruit cup and water. I can't remember the last thing I had to eat, so I devoured the small breakfast, gaining strange and disapproving looks from people around me. After eating I checked the drivers GPS to see where we were, it read Little Rock, Arkansas. We've only been on the road for roughly 8 hours. I could feel a wave of exhaustion taking over again so I pulled my jacket over my body and cuddled back into my seat, my body beginning to doze off.

The rest of the trip followed the same pattern, eat, sleep, eat, sleep, occasionally read a magazine I found in the seat pocket, but mainly sleep. Theres not much more I could do or my mind would wander to the reason I was on this bus. Finally we arrived in the Los Angeles, I grabbed my one duffle bag from under the bus and left the station. The warm sunshine burned into my skin and I began walking around aimlessly, obviously having no where to go. I stopped in a nearby restaurant and took a seat, ordering some food with what little money I had. The waitress was kind but everyone else was staring at me, I must look like a freak. I hadn't showered in two days and I was carrying around a duffle bag and a hoodie. I sat in that booth for hours, people coming and going until the light had faded to dark and the clock struck 12.

"Sweetheart, I'm sorry, we're closing, I'm going to have to ask you to leave." The older waitress softly smiled. I simply nodded and strolled out. I looked back and forth at the dark road when a rumble of thunder sounded from above. I groaned and pulled my hoodie on top of my head. It started as a sprinkle and then it began to pour. I didn't think it rained this much in LA. I passed by numerous amounts of shops, all closed, the only thing open were bars with groups of girls walking in or couples stumbling out. As I passed by I was hit on by a couple of obviously drunk males, I shrugged them off the best that I could and just kept on walking. I made it to one bar at around 1 that it didn't look like anyone was at and there was an open bench under the awning, so I sat my stuff down and laid on the uncomfortable wood. I closed my eyes trying to forget the fear of laying on a public bench outside a bar. Just when my nerves had subsided, a bell sounded from the bar door opening. I quickly shot up and stared at the door. I relaxed when I saw a woman step out, she had a name tag on so I assumed she worked in the bar. She locked the door then jumped slightly when she turned to see me staring. Her look of fear turned to concern at the sight of me on the bench.

"Are you okay?" She asked.

"Yeah I'm fine." I said rubbing my eyes.

"Wait are you planning on sleeping here?" She questioned, pointing at the bench.

"Oh no I was just uh..." I tried to come up with some lie to make myself not seem so pathetic but nothing came to my mind, "yeah." I finally answered.

"I can't just let you sleep out here, it's raining. You'll catch a cold or you'll get raped." She shook her head trying to pull me up from the bench.

"No!" I yelled yanking my arm, "no, I'll be fine. Plus I don't trust strangers." I said before correcting my tone.

"I won't kill you." She chuckles as if my fear of strangers were the most irrational thing in the world. "C'mon I live in a gated community about five minutes from here. It's a nice neighborhood and I promise I'm a nice person. I mean I can be a bitch but I'm not a psychopath." She said making me laugh before I agreed. "And by the way, my name is Danielle." She added before leading me to her car and driving up onto a hill which took us straight to a gated community like she said. It was rather nice and I didn't see anything sketchy about the place. We finally parked and walked up a flight of stairs to her apartment. She opened the door to a modern style looking loft apartment, it looked pretty clean but also welcoming. I was interrupted from my thoughts by her pulling me to a room across from what seemed to be her room.

"So you can sleep in here, it's always clean because I rarely have overnight guests. And across the hall is the bathroom, you're welcome to take a shower. You look like you need one." She said examining me.

"Oh wow thanks." I responded sarcastically.

"Sorry, how long have you been without somewhere to stay?" She asked, handing me a towel from the closet.

"Uh just a couple days. I arrived in LA this morning." I said, turning towards the bed, really wanting to avoid this conversation.

"Why did you come here?" She asked, walking next to me.

"Uh I just needed to get away from some stuff." I rubbed the one stray tear I didn't know had fallen.

"Sorry I won't pry anymore," Danielle sensed my un-comfort to the situation, "um so I'm going to get ready for bed and I'll see you in morning." She changed the subject quickly and smiled before leaving me in the room. I looked around at the nicely made bed and the carefully chosen decoration. I liked it here, even though I knew I couldn't stay long. I yawned, realizing just how tired I really was, so I quickly hopped in the shower and changed into the one pair of pajamas I packed and tucked myself under the covers and drifted to sleep.