Love Denied Vol.1 Of The Love Trials Trilogy

Chapter 12 "Rags..."

(Tori's POV)

A small brat who simply wouldn't leave me alone was holding me up!

"Come on kid! I can't possibly take care of a small thing like you! Now go home!" I said for the hundredth time that day!

"Please, I can't go back!" The little brat was pleading for the hundredth time!

"Ugh!" I exclaimed in disgust as I sat down on my living room couch.

I lived in a small house with two floors and a basement. There were four bedrooms in total, two bathrooms, a living room, and a kitchen with a dining room. It wasn't fancy but at least it was homey. And only one of the bedrooms was in use, that one was mine. I lived on my own here, and most of the junk I had collected over the years is in the basement.

The kid in front of me was probably around eight, and was filthy like a street dog. She wore rags, and her hair was filthy. It disgusted me to think of what type of parent would abandon their child without a second thought.

Then again, I had been abandoned the same way.

Homeless, and on the streets, until the Saul family had needed my help. Then I had climbed to the top, and had taken on the role given to me. And so far, the only two people who knew the manner in which I had climbed to the top were Dawn and Cole.

I sighed, both of them being here was bound to bring trouble.

Looking at the clock on my wall, I saw that it was already 12:27 pm.

"Shit!" I cursed, the two of them would be here soon, and I had this kid in rags inside my house!

"Ma'am, please, a friend of my ma's dropped me off here, and I don't know where to go!" The kid cried out as she kneeled before me, her eyes pleading.

"Ugh. Tell me who your mother is, and I'll call her to tell her she dropped you off at the wrong place, okay?" I asked hopefully.

I had woken up to find the kid on my doorsteps sobbing. Taking pity on the kid, I had let her inside, and given her some food. And then the questions had started, and she won't answer a single one!

She sighed and her small shoulders drooped in defeat.

I should feel glad but I didn't.

I felt guilty.

Rubbing my chest, I leaned back into the sofa, and waited for her to tell me something.

"My name is Anita Saul Ona," She started, "me ma's name is Edith Maribel Ona, and me daddy's name is Samuel Saul."

I felt myself chill down to my bones.

"That witch is your mother?!" I snarled out in disgust.

The child cringed.

I breathed slowly, trying to maintain my calm.

"Don't worry about me sending you back to that women." I said after a while.

The child looked sad and pitiful as she stared at me with green-brown eyes. The eyes should've been a give away that she had Saul blood, but I had been ignorant. And to think that she wasn't any Saul, but my own full blood sister!

The last time I saw Anita was when she had been two.

"You'll stay here until I can find a better arrangement for you, is that understood?" I asked firmly.

Anita nodded.

"Do you know who I am?" I finally asked with shaky breath.

She shook her head.

"I am your eldest sister, and probably the only full blood sister you have as far as I know." I stated watching for a reaction.

Her eyes widened in surprise, then delight filled her face.

"Oh no!" I said waving my hands in front of me, "Don't get any idea's, I'm not sister material, and most certainly have no wish to be otherwise."

"Why haven't I ever heard about you before?" Anita finally asked the question I had expected.

"Your mother and I aren't on speaking terms kid." Was all I could say, I mean, what else could I say?

I had been just like her when I had been thrown out on my ass!

Looking at Anita, I mentally calculated her clothing size, and decided that some of my old clothes would do.

"Kid. Go to the bathroom and take a bath, the bathroom is at the end of that one hallway that leads away from the dining room." I said getting up, "I'll bring you some clean clothes so don't put on those rags on again... Actually, as soon as you're changed, throw those rags in the trash."

"Yes, um..." Anita started.

"Call me Tori, kid." I said with a long-suffering sigh.

"Yes, Tori!" Anita exclaimed, a wide grin breaking through her dirty face.

"Yeah, whatever! Just take a shower." I grumbled as I started for the door that led into the basement.

Then I paused when I saw hesitation on her face.

"What is it now?!" I growled out and she flinched.

"Ah... I don't know how to take a bath." Anita mumbled out.

"Ugh! How old are you kid?" I asked.

"Um... Twelve." She said with what I thought was shame.

I was shocked, but then again, if I had been eight and she had been two the last time I had seen her... And now I was seventeen... She really was twelve!

"How long have you been on the streets kid?" I asked gruffly.

"A couple of four to three years." Anita said.

I sighed.

"Go and wait for me, I'll have the water started and then I'll teach you how to scrub yourself clean from all those germs." I said, and added without a second thought, "Then if you've learned how to scrub yourself clean, I'll let you take a bubble bath."

I surprised myself there, but felt a warmth spread through my chest when Anita smiled at me with such joy and went skipping to the bathroom.

Shaking my head, I started to go to the basement for some clothes. And absently, I wondered to myself...

What have I gotten myself into this time?

It seemed that I had a lot to solve this semester. I just hoped everything turned out for the best. Then my mind went to the damn letter that I was hiding in my desk...

Shit! Maybe I could use some of the luck people were getting now a day's? Or maybe not...

I sighed.