Heartless Betrayal

Chapter 9 - New Life

*A/N*

Hey, so here's chapter nine! woo! yeah I know it's been ages but I've had exams and shit so yeah:D there's my horrible excuse, blame school.

anyway, enjoy this chapter.

Chapter Nine

ARI’S P.O.V

“Excuse me, miss?”

I slowly sat up, instantly bringing a hand to my eyes to shield the blinding sunlight filtering through the window. I must’ve fallen asleep in the taxi, I blinked a few times, trying to figure out if he'd said something.

“Huh?” I murmured, tentatively rubbing my eyes.

“I’m afraid this is as far as I can take you, ma’am.” The driver said, leaning over the back of the seat to face me.

“Oh of course, thank you.” I said, digging through my bag for my money. I handed it to the driver and stepped out on to the footpath. I didn’t recognise any of my surroundings.

Perfect.

“Um, excuse me?” I asked the driver, leaning through the passenger seat window. “Where exactly is this?”

“Birmingham.”

I smiled and thanked him again, before turning and walking down the street looking for a café, deciding I needed something to drink. Before long I found myself standing in front of “Victoria’s café.” It was a unique little café, lined with old fashioned windows and stylish furniture. I walked in and sat down at a table in one corner, and immediately a slim waitress with long, dark hair and blood-red lips walked up, producing a small notepad from her apron.

“Hi there.” She smiled, “Can I get you something?”

“Um, yeah. Can I get a hot chocolate?” I smiled back, watching as she quickly scribbled down my order.

“Won’t be a moment.” She grinned, spinning around and walking towards the front bench. I leaned back in my seat, finally taking it all in. I was finally free of Toby. He couldn’t possibly find me, I was finally safe.

I grabbed my bag and pulled out my wallet; luckily I had saved up some money for Uni and still had that, so I would be able to survive until I got a job. I had the trust fund my Grandfather had set up for when I turned 18, so I would be able to afford rent in an apartment. I carefully counted out my cash; £650. And once I changed the $3000 on my eftpos into pounds I would hopefully be able to find somewhere cheap to live until I sorted out the money in the trust fund. I sighed and shoved everything back into my bag. I was lucky the only things Toby had taken were my phone and iPod…otherwise I don’t know where I’d be.

“Here you go love.” I looked up to find the waitress had returned, holding a tray which held the most amazing looking hot chocolate I had ever seen. A beautiful frosted glass embossed with delicate flowers was filled with a warm brown liquid, topped off with whipped cream sprinkled with cocoa and chocolate flakes. A closer look into the cream revealed three pink marshmallows floating, half submerged in the chocolaty drink. The glass was set on a saucer where a small gold spoon dipped in chocolate lay. It was heaven in hot chocolate form.

“Thank you!” I smiled, dipping the spoon into the cream and delicately placing it in my mouth, sighing as the sweetness hit my tongue. I was definitely coming back here.

Once I’d finished my hot chocolate, I made my way over to the counter and leant against it to pull my money out of my bag. I handed the waitress the money and thanked her again. My eyes travelled around the room as she printed out my receipt, suddenly stopping on a “HELP WANTED” sign sitting on the counter.