Azlynn's POV
Once the driver stops at my apartment, I thank him for the ride and walk up the stairs to the third floor where my apartment is located. I pull out my keys and open the door. Once inside, I throw myself on the bed with a big sigh. Closing my eyes I willed myself to forget everything that had happened and drift off to sleep. Boy, what a day...
***Dream/Flashback***
I fell onto my bed, letting tears run down my face. Holding everything in, I refused to tell my mom what had happened four nights ago. How could I? She decided to have her boyfriend move in with us and always seemed to be with him. I couldn't share any of this with him since he is his uncle and would most likely take his side in these matters.
How could he do this to me? He used me like I was nothing to him, and on top of it all, he left me broken on the side of the road. He stripped me of everything I held dear. He stole my innocence without asking me for permission. How stupid could I be to put myself in that situation and not be able to stop it?
I cannot face him again. I have three classes with him at school, and his teasing has become too much. He's told everybody about us, and they all think that I am his girlfriend. Even his uncle teases me about it, saying that there must be something about us girls because two men from his family have fallen in love with us.
I immediately regretted coming down for dinner when my mom called me, as there he was, seated at my mother's table, ready to eat. What the hell was he doing here? "Oh, there you are, my dear! Look who's come to eat with us, isn't that nice Azlynn?" I hear my mother say, "It's time to sit down and enjoy the food before it gets cold." As I look at him with terror in my eyes, I scream out in response.
"No, I am fine," I responded quickly before running out of the house; I didn't want to be around him especially not where I felt safe. My mom and her boyfriend probably thought I was crazy and tried to explain it all to him. However, he knew what my issue was... after all, he created it.
I headed to the local park. Feeling safer as I was away from him I sat down on one of the swings to think. I stared up at the sky as if I were asking God what to do. I felt lost, so broken that I didn't know how to start fixing myself. I wanted to die, I wasn't sure what I was meant to do... How the hell was I able to get through all of this?
After I heard the crunch of sand as if someone was coming towards me, I jumped forward to face a few boys from his team, including Haley's boy James. They all watched me closely as I realized I was severely outnumbered.
"Get her!" I hear one of them raise his voice, and I try to take off running at top speed. I get maybe two steps before I feel two strong arms snatching me by the waist and dragging me backward. I let out a bone-chilling scream, but he quickly cut it off by covering my mouth with his hand. "Come on guys, let's take her to the clubhouse! Text Julian and let him know we have a surprise for him!" I heard him laugh, and I immediately regretted leaving my house. I could have run up to my room and locked the door, but now it's too late... now his friends have me.
That was the beginning of my end there; shortly after I ran as far as New York before giving up.
***End of Dream/Flashback***
On waking up the following morning I never felt more tired than I did today. I haven't been sleeping very well lately, and after last night I didn't think I would be able to sleep any time soon. This is all his fault. What was it about me that prompted him to investigate me? He made me realize Julian could find me if he really wanted to and that the right man could assist him. I felt so safe before, but now I don't.
Shrugging it away, for now, I got up and put on my normal running gear. I grabbed my water bottle and headed out to run. It was the only thing that helped me right now and made me feel free. I couldn't put my finger on it, but throughout my run, I had the feeling that I was being watched or followed. However, every time I looked behind me I found nothing suspicious, so I just continued running. I ridiculed myself for being overly cautious and on edge. Not everyone was out to get me. Yet at the same time, I needed to be on edge and cautious about everything to keep away from him.
After returning home, I took a shower to wash off the sweat and stink that came from the run. After I felt clean enough, I climbed out of the shower and dried myself with a towel. Dressed in a gray sweater and black leggings, I wanted to be comfortable so that I could relax since I had no plans for the day. My phone chimed when I received a message, so I grabbed it off the nightstand and read the message from Elle:
Hey, I'm heading to that new club near work tonight! Are you in?
I barely venture anywhere except to work and shop anymore, so I wasn't really feeling up to making it to a club. I'd never been to a club before and had no idea it would be fun. All it was was a fancy bar. So I replied:
No, I'm not really feeling up to it tonight. Thanks for the invitation though!
I sit down on my couch and grab a book I haven't read in a few weeks. I just haven't been able to find time to read lately. My life had become overwhelmingly busy since I was working for a living and attempting to remain hidden... it was exhausting. My phone chimed again telling me that she had responded:
Az, I actually have a friend that I would love to introduce you to... he will be at the club tonight at 9:00 pm. Please be there! :)
Rolling my eyes at the message, I put the phone down and began reading. Trying to lose myself in the story, I had to start over like 100 times since I bought the damn thing. However, it would be torture to try to read, because my phone started ringing at that moment. "Hello?" I asked cautiously because I did not recognize the number that was calling.
"Hello, is this Mrs. Azlynn Jennings?" I heard a deep unfamiliar voice speak over the line.
"Umm, yes in fact it is. May I ask who this is?" I asked him, but the way he kept talking so politely made me realize this couldn't be right, and I began to feel my nerves start to shake.
"Well, ma'am, my name is Nathan Wolfe and I represent Mr. Caldwell as well as The Warehouse. Mr. Caldwell filed an official complaint against you this morning, and I am calling to inform you that we must let you go. I apologize, but you are fired as of this morning. You need to turn in your uniform and name tag as soon as possible. You also need to maintain a distance of 100 feet from Mr. Caldwell at all times. He also filed a restraining order against you." He spoke matter-of-factly like he'd been accustomed to having the last word on everything. I couldn't believe what I had heard. "He attacked me and now I'm losing my job?" I snapped at him. I was so angry since this job was the only way I could afford my apartment. Shit, I was going to lose my apartment and end up on the streets. I wasn't okay with this. "So tell me, how is it legal for him to do this to me after he sexually harassed me by trying to kiss me? Doesn't this violate the labor laws at work?" I begged this man knowing that it was probably useless since he worked for Mr. Caldwell... that creep!
"I am sorry, Mrs. Jennings, but that is not the story he is telling. He says that you and your boyfriend attacked him without warning. My sincere apologies, but because of the seriousness of this allegation, we need to ask for your resignation and uniform as part of our effort to protect the restaurant. "This is how things are done here in New York. I am truly sorry," he says before hanging up the phone and cutting off communication. What the hell was I going to do? I was so pissed, pissed enough to want a drink and let my guard down.
I go into my messages app and pull up her conversation. I typed in a reply:
Hey, I've changed my mind. I'll be there at 9 p.m., right?
Looking at the clock, I saw that it was 12 in the afternoon. I had plenty of time to shop for a clubbing outfit before then as I had nothing to wear to one of those clubs. I hear the chime on my phone, notifying me I got a reply, and stare at the illuminated screen reading:
YESSSS, you won't regret this Az! YAY, I am so excited! Hey, I'm already getting ready for shopping. Would you like to join me?
I chuckle as I type my response:
You know what, I was just thinking about that. I don't have anything to enjoy clubbing in, so I was getting ready to shop by myself.
Setting my phone down, I look at my clothes, deciding that I should put on something else. I walk into my closet and pull out some light blue skinny jeans, a pink t-shirt, and a light blue jean jacket. I pulled back my hair into a high messy bun and slipped on pink vans as I finished my outfit, grabbing my purse as my phone chimed again.
Perfect! I will pick you up and we will go shopping together! I really need your advice!
Okay, I am ready to leave!
I sat down on the couch to wait. Ten minutes later my phone rang again.
I am outside in a taxi... come on, let's go!