Love's Price // Hemmings

Chapter One

*TWO WEEKS LATER*

I walk aimlessly though the park scanning the area in search of a place to sleep. My brown hair is flying in my face and I gently push it back behind my ears. I glance to my left and stop to stare at a family of four happily playing at the playground, laughing and giggling. I feel a sharp pain in my chest and I turn away continuing to walk.

After an hour of searching I finally find the perfect spot to sleep without being noticed. It's a little area about two feet wide and a few feet long surrounded by bushes and a tree. I take a mental note of the surrounds and the location before leaving the park.

My hand moves to the pocket of my tattered jeans to find some cash. I pull out all the money and find that I had only thirty dollars left. I better find a job soon or I'm going to be able to buy food anymore.

I arrive at McDonald's and order the burger off of the dollar menu. I scarf it down in under thirty seconds receiving odd glances from the surrounding people, but it didn't faze me. I had been homeless for a week and a half and I was mostly used to it by now. I don't regret leaving Josh but it is hard to live off of 100 dollars. I spent my whole life saving up my money and now it was almost gone. I didn't have a phone, a tooth brush or even a change of clothes. I didn't have enough time to grab those things when I was escaping Josh.

*FLASHBACK*

I sat on the couch waiting for Josh to come home after hanging out with some friends. I glanced at the clock on the wall. 1:04 am, Josh should have been home an hour ago.

I angrily get up and use the house phone to call Josh's cell. He doesn't answer so I lazily walk back to the couch and decide to occupy myself by watching T.V.

A few minutes later Josh comes crashing though the door almost falling over. His eyes are bloodshot and he reeks of alcohol.

"Hhhhhhheeeeyyyy Charrrrr!" Josh yells running over to me. He sits next to me and starts laughing and hiccuping while looking at me.

"Josh where have you been? You said you would be home earlier."

"Relaxxxxx Char I waaaasssss just out gettingggggg a few drinks with mmmmyyyyy friends."

"Ok well I'm going to go to bed now."

"NO!" Josh grabs my wrist holding me back from exiting the room.

"Please Josh it's late and I just want to get to bed."

"NO!" He forcibly yanks my body so I'm sitting on his lap. He starts to kiss my up neck roughing.

"Josh please, not now." My word seem to make him only want to kiss me more. Next thing I knew he was kissing me on the lips while trying to take my shirt off. I try to push him away but he just holds me tighter.

"Josh stop please." Again he ignores my words and keeps kissing me. I realize know that I have only one choice to escape him so I knee him in the balls.

He groans in pain, his hands covering his area. I use this opportunity to run into my room and grab the wad of cash hidden in my sock and run out the door before Josh has fully recovered. I couldn't live with Josh anymore if this is the way he was going to treat me.

*END OF FLASHBACK*

I leave McDonald's trying to take my mind off of the bad memories that I would rather forget. I soon regret leaving McDonald's considering the 100 degree weather in Los Angeles. The fact that I was sweating just made me feel more gross. I hadn't showered in five days and my hair was starting to become very greasy and knotty. I have never felt so alone and hopeless. I would do anything to get out of this situation.