Stella
Allypicksmeupat the end of Micah’s long driveway.
“Holy shit. This is where you live now?” Ally whistles, straining her neck to see further up the driveway.
I close the door and settle into the seat. “I don’t live here,” I say, but I don’t sound convincing.
Ally shakes her head, and we begin driving away from Micah’s house. At first, we ride in silence. Only the sound of the radio playing lightly in the distance. After a while, Ally finally breaks the silence. “So, what exactly are you doing, Stella?” she questions me.
“What do you mean?” I ask.
Gripping the steering wheel tighter, Ally looks annoyed. “Stella, don’t play dumb with me. You all of a sudden disappeared. You haven’t been at your trailer. You haven’t been calling and texting me. You meet this rich guy and it’s like you have fallen off the face of the earth,” she deadpans.
I grit my teeth. “It’s not like that at all. Micah loves me and he wants to protect me. He’s offering me a way out of the hell I’ve been living in,” I admit.
Ally doesn’t say anything else and when we reach his trailer, I feel a lump forming in my stomach. Being back here is unsettling. I hop out of the car and run the money up to the door. Lucas opens before I can even knock on the old door.
“Well, looks like you came through,” he says, eyeing me carefully.
“I have it all,” I say, venom dripping from my words.
I absolutely hate Lucas. He is nothing more than a waste of space and I can’t wait until I never have to see him again.
He takes the envelope I hand him and counts every single dollar. Of course, he would think I was trying to skimp on paying him. He doesn’t trust anybody.
“What about my added interest?” he asks.
Huffing, I fold my arms across my chest. Being so close to Lucas makes me feel dirty and exposed. “I’m not paying you anymore, Lucas. I don’t owe you anything anymore. I’m never coming back here again,” I tell him, holding my head up high.
Lucas chuckles, spittle flying out of his mouth. ”That’s what you think. Girl, you came from trash and will always be trash. You belong here and that pretty rich boy will get tired of your pussy soon enough,” he states.
I want to vomit at his words. He is such a vile creature, and he is just another reason why I should allow Micah to help me out. I don’t want this life. I have to rise out of here and be brave.
“Whatever, Lucas. You have your money, goodbye,” I state, spinning on my heel to leave.
I rush off his porch and race toward Ally’s waiting car. When I open the passenger door, Lucas calls out my name. “I will collect what is owed to me,” he roars out.
I slam the car door and shout for Ally to drive. Tears sting my eyes, but I refuse to cry. I’ve shed enough tears over this place and the people in it. It’s time for me to start a new journey with Micah.
***
Over the next few weeks, life has completely changed for me.
Micah talked with his parents, and they agreed to let me move into the penthouse. However, I refused to do it unless I could contribute finally in some way. Racing couldn't be my only source of income anymore, so I got a job waiting tables at a restaurant in the hotel. Micah even gave me one of his cars; a pearl white BMW to drive to school. Even Ally has come to terms with my new life and loves hanging out with me at the penthouse after school. Thankfully, I haven’t heard from my mom again, but I know that I need to go back to the trailer one last time and get a few personal items that I want to keep. Lucas is already looking for a new tenant to rent it out, so I need to get over there soon or my stuff will be thrown away.
It’s Friday after school and I get a text from Ally.
Ally: Lucas is throwing all of the shit from your trailer out on the street. You better get over here and take what you still want.
Rolling my eyes, I release a heavy breath. I had wanted to wait until Micah could go with me, but I can’t wait now. I’m sure the neighbors have already started picking through what Lucas has taken out of the trailer. I run toward the BMW in the student parking lot and race to the other side of Savannah. A place I had avoided like the plague—until now.
I should probably call Micah, but I’m too focused on driving like I’m in the Indy 500 to pause and call anyone. Besides, I won’t be long.
When I roll up to the trailer, I already see people picking through my items. A few people scatter, but the rest ignore me.
“Hey, what the hell are you doing?” I shout at them.
Two girls who work at the strip club down the street run away, carrying handfuls of my clothes. Anger consumes me as I look at broken picture frames and dishes lining the street. Lucas literally just threw everything out. I move toward the trailer and once I’m inside, I gasp from shock.