New Beginnings

So Many Firsts

Hey, everyone here is the next chapter. I wanted to dedicate this chapter to my co-writer NaLu911. I read her story No Strings Attached and it's sequel All Strings Attached at a time when I was struggling mentally and there is a lot of music in those stories, that I now enjoy and have added to my play list. One band in particular I would love to thank her for introducing me to is Citizen Soldier.  Thank you to her, and thank you all for you support.  Happy Reading   (:

MIDORIYA'S POV

When I stopped by the gas station this morning to grab a drink and say thank you to Uraraka again, I wasn't expecting her to put me to work. However, she said she'd pay me, and since I had no other way to make money, I couldn't say no. I have forty dollars left to my name, and I needed to either move on or find something around here.

Neither of which I could do without a phone.

Her stocker called out today, and she couldn't stock everything from the truck while running the front end. I'm probably going against OSHA violations and labor laws, but I don't think either of us cared. I carefully loaded the jack before moving it across the back room and stocking the soda behind the coolers.

This honestly didn't seem like it would be a lousy job. If I had headphones, I could do this for hours upon hours. Unfortunately, I don't. Which is why the last six hours have dragged on and on. Luckily, I was almost done. Since she took the snacks and stuff that had to be stocked up front, I only had to stock the coolers from behind and organize the rest of the back stock.

I don't know how much she will give me, but hopefully, it will be enough to get me some minutes on a cell phone. I can't afford a new smartphone with unlimited everything right now. I know I can get an older phone or even a flip phone for a decently low price at a Walmart or something. I've seen them there for fifty bucks. Sometimes less. So, hopefully, she would give me enough to finish paying for the phone and maybe even get some minutes through a prepaid plan.

Before I knew it, I was done stocking the soda. When I made my way to the front of the store, Uraraka was leaning on the counter, talking to her girlfriend.

"Hey! She told me she put you to work for the day," Tsu said with a smile.

"He's done wonderful. I would hire him in a heartbeat if we needed more staff." I wish she needed staff.

"How did the hotel treat you?" Tsu asked with a nervous smile. It's like she knew I didn't go to the hotel. I've seen that look too many times in my life. The only thing I've learned from that look was that it usually got me in more trouble if I lied. I don't know them and shouldn't feel guilty for lying to them. However, they've both helped me out more in the last twenty-four hours than anybody had in the previous two or three years.

"I didn't make it there. I was too tired when I got back to my car and drove to the rest stop to fill up. I pulled into an overnight spot and crashed." That is not entirely true, but it is also not a lie.

"That makes sense," she sighed in relief. "I told you I had a good friend I met here. He works there, and I told him to keep an eye on you, but you didn't stop. I thought you skipped town and were here when I walked in. I was scared you never made it off the road."

"No, I'm all good," I replied with a sad smile. She doesn't even know me. She doesn't know where I'm from or the burdens I carry. Yet, she was worried about me. Is this how everyone here is? I've driven around the town. It's exactly ten miles long. It isn't a large town at all. There aren't any large corporation stores or fancy places to eat. It's a small town that looks like it holds mostly small businesses and love.