Someone unlike you

First Encounters

CHAPTER 1

AN: Thank you all for reading, and for having the patience for this next chapter. I hope you enjoyed and we will try to update faster next time. THANK YOUU!!

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"Zoey, wake up, your going to be late for your shift. Do you want me to bring the bucket again! because I swea-"

"I'm up , I'm up!" I shouted, swinging my legs around.

This was my new life, and boy was it hard. All my life I was oblivious to the world around me, I thought everyone had it as easy as me. I found out that not everybody had a maid or a butler at their every step, when I told this to my new roomate she just laughed in my face and she had asked if I was kidding. To be honest, I wasn't really a social peoples person, if I had made a friend, it would be a big accomplishment. Most people didn't appreciate the people hovering behind my shoulder at all times. Even Rose herself thought that was a little creepy.

I hated my new life almost as much as my old one, I had two jobs and shared a really small appartment in New York City. I didnt want to use my parent's credit card in fear that they would track it back and find me and send people to bring me home.

You see, because I didnt show up to my wedding and went missing, people accused my parent of abuse or neglect. The rumours were different depending on the people. I had to make an anonymous phone call to the local newspaper, to say that I wasn't dead, my parents didn't do anything to me and that I was in cognito. Even though my parents didn't seem to care about me, I was still loyal to them. I guess I loved them.

I had to keep my mind off of everything. I wanted to be the untold secret, I preferred to let everyone else get on with their lives. The only person I had told my secret to was my roomate, Rose. She was really understanding and encouraging. She said that if anyone came near me, to call her. She worked part time in a karate center, that actually paid really well. From now on I was a sister to her, she said, and no one would be allowed hurt me. To be honest, she was more of a mother figure to me, but I'm not complaining.

I got up and went to the bathroom and took a shower before putting on my horrible work uniform, a horrible neon pink dress with neon yellow tights. We were'nt allowed to wear anything thats not luminescent. Once, I dared to ask them why we had to wear this amount of bright, neon things. The only answer I got was 'to be seen'. It was my mistake to ask the crankiest person who worked there.

I worked at a roller-disco/restaurant so I was obliged to wear roller skates, but I kept them in my work locker over there. So I didn't look like a complete idiot on the bus on my way there.

I walked to the kitchen and found Rose eating cereal. I edged around her and opened the fridge to take out an apple.

"Zoey, you literally don't ever eat anything, do you want some toast or something" Rose said with some concern in her voice, I know I told myself that I can't trust anyone, but Rose was making it really hard. At first, it felt weird because I'd been on my own for a long time now and then came Rose. Well, I'd always wanted a sister.

"No, it's fine. I'll get lunch later, and how come you're not at work? You're usually gone after you wake me up," I said. I hoped she hadn't gotten fired. She basically had her dream job because she loved karate so much.

"I know what your thinking and It's fine, they just moved my shift. I'll tell you more later, but right now you've got to catch the bus," she said, and she stood up to put her bowl in the sink.

I decided to eat the apple on the way to the bus stop. I waved goodbye to Rose and I opened the door and headed down eight flights of stairs. We had to live in one of the only buildings in New York that didn't have an elavator.

When I first moved here, I was completely lost. I didn't have any money. I met Rose outside the airport, and she came to my rescue.

We met when I came out of the plane, ruined wedding dress trailing and my head still whirling with memories, threats and the heavy realisation that I had run away. I decided I probably would have to stay out on the streets until I could get a job, the prospect frightened me but I had no choice.

That day, Rose was in a major rush to get home because she had gotten behind on paying her appartment bill and she had gotten a letter that she was getting evicted. She was running home with her hot coffee, when she accidentally ran into me. Coffee fell all over my dress and Rose, who thought I was going to my wedding at the time, had felt so bad. I explained my situation to her and she offered to bring me home and clean me up, If Rose still had her house. Thankfully, she did and that letter was just a warning.

When I was about to leave, Rose asked were I was staying and I told her I didn't have anywhere yet. She insisted that I stay in the spare bedroom, we decided to split the rent and I moved into my new home.

When I reached the bottom of the staircase, I walked to the bus stop which was only five minutes away. I put my earphones in and put out my hand. When the bus stopped beside me, I climbed on and sat upstairs.

For the past two years, my life felt a bit repetitive. Ever since coming here, I'd been doing the same thing everyday. Truth be told, I was getting pretty sick of all of it. I missed my old bedroom with my old clothes and that feeling that I could buy the world if I wanted to. I didn't want to worry about saving enough money for groceries or rent. It wasn't that Rose and I were poor, we just weren't rich either.

The bus jerked to a stop, and pulled me out of my daydream. I sighed and heaved myself to my feet, It was my stop.

I opened the back door to the employe entrance, having to push as hard as I could to move the rusty, old door. I hung my coat on a hook as I walked past to go to my locker. I pulled on my white roller skates with, yet again, more yellow neon designs on the side. I looked in the mirror, tacky dress, hair in a ponytail and white skates with neon wheels. I looked terrible, so I guessed I was ready for work.

I always questioned the point of a roller rink opening during the day, most of the customers came here at night, when the lights and the atmosphere were brighter and full of life. I did a lazy circuit of the ring, scooting between the few couples and groups that were around at this time of the day. They looked on jealously while I was doing figure-of-eights and skating with one leg out behind me, most likely wishing they could do the same to impress each other.

They weren't in any need of any help, so I casually skated over to the clear plastic barrier on the side of the rink. Bored, I leaned on the barrier and started to daydream, only half-paying attention to the people. I remembered the last time I'd covered a night shift for someone, the ambiance of the whole place changed and felt so much better. People in sparkling costumes twinkled as they skated around the rink, so much more of a crowd than the usual, boring day-people I was used to seeing. I loved the bright, rainbow-coloured lights reflected off of sequins and studs and the night-time rave music that was played instead of the casual daytime tune that dithered on and on.

In a way, it reminded me of my old life. Surprisingly, of my last birthday party. The party planner had transformed my house into a red and white wonderland. Soft red and white fairy lights hung from the ceiling and climbed up the walls. White shag rugs covered the floor and pillows that looked like candy canes decorated the snow-white sofas. I was princess gumdrop that night, dressed in red with a stripy ribbon plaited into my hair. I should have loved it, but I didn't.

I preferred it the next day when my fiancé and so-called best friend called me to meet them at the big, white gazebo in the park. I remember I stepped onto the sodden platform overlooking the lake, and laughed because they'd set up a little table with a cake.

Now, I was homesick for my naïvety, wishing that I could go back to the time where my ignorance really was bliss.