Taken

Chapter 1

"I'm sorry," Alex said as I looked over my schedule for next week. My mouth just formed a perfect "o". I couldn't believe what I was seeing.

"Just 3 hours of work this week?" I said mad. I worked for "Mandy's restaurant" for 2 years and now I was about to get laid off. I did everything they asked me to, I even took the busiest days. And now I wasn't good enough.

"We've hired new people, and people around here have been saying you haven't been performing your best." Alex said. Everyone else paid close attention to our conversation. Some even pitied me.

"You've worked with me, and you know I do more than the others. It's just not fair." I said. How could he have given me less hours now? Just months ago we were close and he even told me he had a crush on me, and now all of a sudden he cuts my hours? Was it because I always told him I only saw him as a friend?

"Every time I ask you if you can work Monday mornings and Saturday nights, you always have an excuse," he brings up.

"BULLSHIT!" I say before I could stop myself. I couldn't believe I had just told that to my new boss. I was definitely getting fired now. "You know I have always offered to work Saturday nights. And I never refuse. You just let the new workers tell you untrue things about me," I continued. Everyone around looked shocked at my comments.

"Look, we aren't firing you" he says trying to sugar coat the situation. Didn't he know I live on my own and have to pay rent and bills? I relied on this job.

"No you're not," I said. I took a deep breath (I can't believe I'm about to say this) "because I quit," I finished. I needed a job where they actually valued my work. With that said, I stormed out throwing away my "schedule" in the nearest trash can.

I furiously walked back to my house.

Once I saw my little house, all my problems started flowing back in. Everything there reminded me of my problems.

I saw my neighbors kids playing with the hose and all I could think of was "I really need to pay the water bill." Did I mention its overdue?

"Rosie, Carlos, frank! Go do your homework," their mom yelled from the door. Yup I just finished high school and wasn't going to college, too expensive.

I walked in my house, reached for the light switch which didn't turn on. Damn! Was today the last day to pay the electricity bill?

What had i done? Maybe I shouldn't have quit. I could have gotten another job. But 3 hours next week? That was only $11! It was nothing.

My stomach growled. I got up and opened the fridge and was glad to see that I actually had some food that would last me a week.

I whip up some eggs and toast, it wasn't breakfast time but I was sure not going to be picky when it came to hunger.

As soon as I was done eating, I grabbed the newspaper from my table and headed to my bed. The perks of living in a single, was that you didn't have to walk a long distance to make it to the other room, everything was literally 10 steps away.

I quickly go to the job section and start looking for suitable positions.

"Hmm maybe I could be a receptionist," I thought to myself. I circled it along with other possible jobs. Tomorrow I was going job hunting.

I laid back on the bed and closed my eyes for a while. I needed to relax.

"Bay?!" I heard little Rosie knocking at my door. I stand up to open it. Hopefully they needed me to babysit her. I needed money right now.

"Hi Rosie," I say.

"Hi, this is for you," she says as she hands me my mail.

"Thank you," I say as I ignore my gut feeling that screamed more bad news.

Once Rosie left, I closed the door and looked at my mail. It's now or never.

Bills. Bills. And. More. Bills.

One letter was from the owner of the single condominiums.

The letter read:

Dear Ms. Donovan,

I am sorry to say that due to the 3 months worth of rent that you have not paid, your contract has been terminated.

I have arranged with the police, my lawyer, and the bank a method for you to pay me back. I will be keeping all your items in your house except for your personal documents. The estimated amount in your house will be less than the 3 months rent plus this months rent but noticing how you are in need, with no parents/guardians, and not 21, I will not ask you to pay the difference. All I ask is for this month rent because of the poor economic standings that everyone, including my self, is in. Please understand that your security deposit will not be returned.

Sincerely,

Tim Walsh

I broke down. I was finally going to be thrown out of my house. I knew someday it would come, I owed over $3,000 of rent. I didn't know what was worse now, the fact that I owed over 3,000 or that my things in my house didn't even come close to 3,000 dollars.

My life had been a complete failure. No one wanted me anymore, not even my parents. From day one I was on my own and I've failed to take care of myself.

I wiped off my tears that were now pooling on the table. I grabbed my emergency money piggy bank and opened it. I counted about $500. I had about $200 in my debit card which would leave me with $100 for a room at a crappy hotel.

I dug in my purse and found $20, that should cover lunch for tomorrow.

My personal documents only consisted of my birth certificate, my social security card, and my passport. The rest they could all keep. It was useless anyways. I threw my documents in my purse and collapsed on the bed. I didn't want to do anything anymore even though it was still daylight. Tomorrow I was starting from 0 with only $120.