three step plan - fillie

4. what she just cant say no to

millie

for the longest time, i kidded a lot about going to vancouver. i had a few uncles stationed in quebec and winnipeg and every time they would facetime with my mom i would joke around telling them to prepare the house for my arrival. mom would laugh and dad would snicker - but it always had been my sense of motivation to strive harder.

sometimes when mom was in the mood she'd chime in, "yeah, after college!" which always made me cringe. honestly speaking, if i were to be asked college was never my dream. i want to work at a record store, probably selling vinyls or something. or a cashier at the bookstore, owning a small apartment by some avenue with a doorman and a rooftop. honestly, all i want is a simple life.

but i have been conditioned to the fact of bringing home a diploma. and how my parents are so devoted to my future makes me feel bad all the more for what im doing now.

i wait for a moment, sitting on the bus. not all passengers have taken their seats and everyone else is still currently filing in. i yank my phone out of my pocket, quickly informing sadie of my arrival and telling her to update me on how my parents are doing.

now all i need to do is find a place to stay in.

i've considered hotels, or motels, or probably renting a flat depending on how long i stay here.

i open safari and type out hotels to be found in vancouver.

;

"ma'am," the hotel employee spoke as he walked me to my hotel room. his name tag spelled out "joe".

"how old are you?" he inquired, his brow rising in question as he looked at the numbers imprinted on the wooden varnished doors. "ah, shit," he mumbled. "im sorry, we passes your room. 110," he exhaled.

i shrugged glumly as i followed him. his red and gold uniform that matched the hotel's ambiance seemed to blend with everything perfectly.

"so, um, about that age.." he bit his lip, curiously. "you seem pretty young to be travelling alone. and with your accent.. i presume you are from europe, or some place -?"

i nod. "british," i answer. "and im 17."

truly i was turning 17. my birthday was nearing. it would be my very first to not spend it with my family. but truthfully speaking i was still sixteen.

joe swallows, pointing his gloved hand, knocking on the mahagony wood and handing me my hotel card. "here you go," he says warmly. "room 110. enjoy your stay!"

he exited right after. the hotel room wasnt exactly big, but enough for me. i booked five nights for me, and that already gave me a huge amount of money to spend. i collapsed immediately on the bed and flew into deep slumber. the tiredness and the exhaustion finally sunk in my system as i slept.

;

its 8 am on the dot. i stretch up and notice that i havent even taken a shower yet. i dash to the bathroom, taking a long, warm bath. i step out and change into a different shirt and the same jeans, mentally noting that i need to go shopping today. when i find him, i have to look okay and great. not like a wrecked runaway.

i open my phone and 53 texts from sadie make my eyes go wide. majority of them are scrambled letters in all caps, making me smile a little. but the small smile on my lips completely fades as i read her previous texts.

from: sades 💛
kelly is heartbroken because of the letter

from: sades 💛
robert is contacting your relatives from quebec.

from: sades 💛
btw thanks for keeping me safe by not mentioning me helping you get money from your fund ily

i lock my phone and shove it down my pocket as i grab paper bills and head out the door.

its freezing. i mentally face-palm at not looking at the weather in vancouver like i always did.

i drop by this doughnut store i passed by and bought a glazed donut and some coffee. i sipped and bit on it hungrily, even going back to order another one. as soon as i am satisfied i go to the mall i searched on google maps.

i take a big amount of clothes and three pairs of shoes. i buy food and water from the supermarket and other needed essentials. by the time i get out of the mall, it's 4 pm. i spent eight hours in a mall.

good graces to my college fund!

i exit the mall carrying tons of shopping bags and brown paper bags i can barely walk properly. a few polite people ask gently if i need help but i refuse. the mall is only a few blocks away from the hotel i stay in.

a brown paper bag of things i bought from the supermarket corrodes down my knees. my cold fingers freeze even more as they start to sweat.

suddenly a pink-cheeked, curly chaired boy with dazzling brown eyes appears in front of me, his eyes a bit puffy and obviously coming from a crying session.

his voice comes out hoarse and ragged, but still kind, "do you need help?"

and just this time i cant say no.

-

im sorry if there are errors and typos ; im so sleepy and tired