Never Let Go

Three

I swallow down the last of my burger. It feels good and solid in my belly. People are always talking about how good food tastes when your high but it's nothing compared to how food tastes after you've starved for a few days. I sit back in my seat and sigh.

"I take it that the food was good." Mr. Alsina says.

I turn to look at him with wide eyes. The moment I smelled the food I completely forgot he was here. I just scarfed down two burgers in front of my hot ex- English teacher, like I was some kind of hungry hungry hippo.

I clear my throat and whip my mouth making sure there aren't any crumbs. This has got to be the the most embarrassing moments of my life.

"Thank you." I say in a soft voice. Suddenly I'm self conscious of everything part of my body. I try to move around but everything I do feels weird and awkward.

Mr. Alsina watches me. His eyes never leaving my face.

"So are you ready to tell me how you ended up alone on the streets?" Mr. Alsina asked.

I bite my lip. I really really don't want to talk about that.

"Can we just skip that part. There's a shelter up the street on mac. You can just drop me off there." I say looking down at my hands. My fingers play with the sleeves of his jacket. It's a warm jacket and it smells like him. I'm kind of going to hate giving it back.

"Nice try Shea but I know that shelter is over crowed and at this time of night they won't be excepting anyone new. " Mr. Alsina says.

I look back at him, my brows furrowing. "How do you know all of this."

"I just do."

I raise an eyebrow. That's an avoidance if ever I've heard one. He talks about me keeping secrets, just what exactly is he hiding?

"This isn't about me. I want to know about you." Mr. Alsina says.

"And I want to know about you."

"Shea..."

"Mr. Alsina."

I can just as stubborn. My story is down right pathetic and I didn't need anymore guest at my pity party. It was strictly a party for one.

Mr. Alsina holds my gaze for a moment longer before finally looking away with a sigh.

"Fine. We can try this again tomorrow." Mr. Alsina says switching gears, preparing to pull off.

"What?"

Mr. Alsina doesn't respond. He backs up and pulls out of the parking lot. We start heading down the main road.

"Where are we going?" I ask, looking around the streets.

"Everything's closed right now and I have a feeling if I drop you off at a hotel you won't be there in the morning so I'm taking you to my house." Mr. Alsina says turning down another street.

"What?" I ask again.

"My house. You know the place where I live. Four wall and a roof."

"You know that's not what I meant."

He can't actually want to take me to his house. I mean out of all my teachers he was the one I liked the most but that didn't mean we were close. Plus I haven't seen him in over a year. For all he knows I could be a thief preparing to rob him blind. Or a serial killer waiting to catch him when his guard is down.

"I have a guest room you can stay in. You can shower and sleep. Once your feeling better we can have this conversation again but in the mean time I'd like to know you're safe." Mr. Alsina said.

I cross my arms over my chest. "Why do you care."

"You're an eighteen year old girl who almost sold herself on the street. Why wouldn't I care?"

"Bullshit, Ronny is only a year older than me. I didn't see you swooping in to save her."

Mr. Alsina glances at me and frowns. "Whose Ronny?"

"The other girl I was with. The one you left just standing there."

"That's because I didn't know her. I know you."

"Do you?"

Mr. Alsina only knows the girl I was at school. He doesn't know a thing about my home life. At school I was organized and in control but at home it was always a constant downward spiral.

" I know you're a nice smart girl who, judging by your current situation, has had her run in misfortune. I know that despite your tough girl act your probably scared ass hell worrying about were you're going to get your next meal and I know you weren't ready for what you were just about to do." Mr. Alsina said.

My arms unfold. Everything he said was the truth. I didn't want to depend on his generosity but I also didn't know what I was suppose to do next. I tried everything. I was all out of ideals. There was no where left for me to go.

"I know what it's like to have life give you a crap hand. I just want to help you Shea. I just want to help."

I look down at my hands. It would be so easy to just give in and let him help me. All my life it's been me helping and supporting everyone else. That's what got me in this situation. I put my mothers needs and desires before my own. For once it would be nice to have someone support me.

"One night. I'll stay at your place for one night. It'll be long enough for me to get my bearings and find a nice shelter to go to." I says.

Mr. Alsina smiles clearly think that he's won't this argument.

"But no story." I say before he can go getting any ideas.

Mr. Alsina smirks. " We'll see about that."

I narrow my eyes. It almost sounds like a challenge. Why is he so interested to learn about my life when it's clear he has so secret of his own?

Alright then Mr. Alsina, we'll see who cracks first. My money's on me find out your secret before you find out mine.