Strings

Converse

STEF POV

"Listen if you aren't going to be here on time like everyone else then we need to give your bed away. Do you know how many people would kill for your bed? Do you?" Deborah the shelter owner reprimanded as I strolled in at 7 AM the next morning after passing out at Lena's. Sure I knew the rules that we had to be in at 8 PM to keep our bed and out by 8 AM in the next morning. But after Callie had left last night I just couldn't bare to be alone and I needed to see Lena more then anything. Of course this wasn't something I expected Deborah to understand and it wasn't as if she really gave a shit. But right now I had to try to scam my way back in the fastest and best way I knew how before I ended up back on the street again.

"Yeah, I know it won't happen again. I promise. I had to work late and I got stuck and.." I lied looking to my watching knowing I needed to head on the bus to get to the dinner as fast as possible as she rolled her eyes at me.

"We have rules here Stef and I don't know why you think you're above them. Look with your record I took a chance on you and I normally don't let women in that have been in Juvie and have a violent past. If you can't get yourself together and be here on time then I'm giving your bed away. Got it?"

"Yeah got it. It won't happen again."

"Good."

Letting out a sigh I quickly jumped in the bathroom changing my clothes and I was glad I left my guitar at Lena's for it could be a hassle lugging it around. I was also happy I took a warm shower last night and ate before I left her house for their was usually no hot water at this place and buying food out all the time was killing me. As I grabbed the last of my bus change in my pocket I could see I had just enough for getting there but would definitely have to walk the hour back to the shelter tonight. Shrugging my shoulders and grabbing my bag I headed to the payphone in the hall to check our my baby before heading out. Adding a quarter in I dialed the Stewards number letting it ring three times.

"Hello."

"Yeah, hi it's Stef I just wanted to say good morning to my baby."

I could hear the hesitation in her voice as she let out a deep sigh.

"Um sure hold on." I could only roll my eyes at how annoyed she sounded for it wasn't the first time and I was pretty sure it wouldn't be the last.

"Mama!?"

"Hey my babygirl! How you doing? Huh?"

"Good. I'm going to nursery school mama." she said sounding more excited then ever as I let out a wide smile myself.

"Oh yeah? Well you have a good time sweetheart. Mama just wanted to say hi and that I love you."

"I love you too."

"Mama?"

"Yeah baby?"

"When, when can I see you? Soon?"

"Yeah love. Real soon. I promise babygirl. But be good sweets. Ok?"

"Ok. Bye mama."

"Bye baby." As I heard the phone click off I hung it up and made my way to the bus. It was pretty warm out with it being June and the safety pin I was using to close my bra shut since the hooks broke off was sticking me in the back like no other. Taking a seat on the bench and realizing I still had about five minutes for the bus I lit a cigarette that I bummed off one of the women at the shelter in exchange for braiding her hair. As I soon braided my hair to get it off my sweating back I watched the cars drive up and down soon letting my mind drift off and daydream. I wasn't looking forward to the day much expect for the free lunch Al would sometimes let me have. Other then that there was pretty much never anything going on and I sucked at the job. I knew I was rude to the customers and I just didn't have much patience for them at all for I was there to collect a check and get the hell out. Sure Lena was right about taking the GED as I looked in my backpack seeing she had packed the study guide for me along with two of her new bras, some underwear and a twenty dollar bill. I could only smile at her generosity for I knew she meant well. Lena always meant well and despite her parents being completely against us she never gave up on me and it was one of the many reasons I loved her. Opening the study guide as I took a puff on my cigarette the dam thing was huge and it was making me feel as if this GED thing was just this unreachable goal and something I didn't always have the confidence to deal with. But if I ever wanted to be a cop I needed to take the test and face this demon no matter how painful it was. In all honesty school had never been hard even if most of the time I barely listened or zoned out for hours. But from the age of 13-15 I had gotten the best grades and even saw myself going to college. But it was really only becomes of one person that had changed my life even if I didn't hit it off so well with her in the beginning.