Chapter 22
"One ticket to Los Angelas." I said faintly at the bus terminal. The ticket was about $50, since that was a long journey. Terrific. $50 of my money already gone. The mean looking lady held out a small paper ticket and I took a seat, prepared to wait until the 1:15am bus, which was about thirty minutes away.
I wondered if my parents were home. Had they seen the note? Had they called Liam? I doubted it. They probably assumed I was asleep and didn't bother going in the kitchen. My phone vibrated and I froze. I looked at it cautiously. It was a text from Liam. Good night babe, love you more than words can say. x
My heart broke a little when I didn't reply. He'd know immediately something was wrong then. I always replied to his texts. I pushed that out of my mind.
The bus terminal was busy, even though it was nearly one in the morning. I didn't mind. The people didn't know it, but they shielded me from sight, so if anyone I knew walked in here I wouldn't have to face awkward questions.
Finally 1:15 arrived, and I was the first on the bus. I took a seat in the very back and curled up in a little ball. I had an over six hour journey to Los Angelas, where I would find money and leave California... probably forever.
It was nearly eight by the time I actually got off the bus. I was starving and tired and my legs were stiff. I wanted more than anything to be in Liam's arms asleep with a glass of hot chocolate next to me, not caring about anything, only being with him.
I had gotten exactly fifteen texts since five this morning, all from Liam. He was asking where I was. What was wrong. I don't think he knew yet that I was gone, only that I was unreachable. Each time my phone had vibrated it took all of my will power not to call Liam crying and telling him I was lost, mentally and physically.
Los Angelas was busy even this early in the morning. And here I was, planning to get on a flight to somewhere I didn't know yet, with only $200. It probably cost $200 just for half of these people to look at you, let alone get out of the state.
I wandered around helplessly and hungirly. I really needed that $200, but what good would money do if I was starving? I went into the first McDonalds I saw. The McDonalds were more elegant than any of them I'd ever seen, and far bigger and busier.
No one smiled. There was no such thing as "friendly service" here. I felt out of place in my slightly old skin tight jeans, plain red long sleeve shirt, and my brown boots. Even at a McDonalds, a stay at home mother who was married to some big time man would wear stilettos and dresses just to take their kids to get something to eat. It was kind of idiotic.
I ordered a Big Mac, as it was about noon, and ate in silence. Suddenly my phone started vibrating like crazy. More texts from Liam. Christina, where the HELL are you?! I drive over your house to find your mom and dad crying and I get a letter saying you're gone? Where are you? I'm coming to get you right now.
I bit my lip. Should I reply? Should I tell him to come bring me home? No. I couldn't. I had made such a big deal about leaving that I couldn't just turn back now. It just didn't work that way.
I had to get out of California. Fast. They would start looking, and Los Angelas may be the first place they'd look. I got up and threw my trash away, and hurried back into the streets. It was getting warmer, even for an October day, and I took off my long sleeve shirt, leaving only a red tanktop in its place.
A thought struck me. I looked down at my cleavage, almost cautiously. Yes. That would work. I really hated the idea but it would work. All I had to do was get some money and a dress...
I made a decision I would probably regret later. But what other option did I have? I walked up to a man who was probably around twenty. He had no wedding ring. I 'accidently' ran into him. He looked down and his eyes widened. "Hi." I said, trying to look pretty.
The man straightened his tie. "Hey." he said. "I really hate to ask, but, I'm out of work, and I really need about $50. Do you think you could help me out?" I asked, trying to still look nice. The man raised an eyebrow. "I'll do anything." I said hurridly before he could say anything else.
The guy stood up a little straighter. "Anything?" I paused, carefully weighing my options. "Anything." I repeated. The man scribbled something on a slip of paper along with a fifty dollar bill. The paper had an address, and the guys name: Andrew. "My house. Seven." he said quickly, then walked away. I said privately I wouldn't be going to his house at seven. "Thanks so much. I'll see you then." I said, turning and walking away.
The nearest clothing store in my price range was twenty minutes from that spot. I tried on about fifteen different dresses that were all different colors. The only ones I had actually liked was a white sequined one and a purple shiney one.
A dress finally caught my eye towards the end. It was pale pink, with sparkles outlining the sweet-heart neck line. It was tight to where you could see my whole figure, and it stopped only two inches from my bottom. And it was only forty dollars. Perfect. I paid and left the store.
Next task: Get some food and wait until about nine. Since it was Los Angelas, there was plenty to do to pass the time.
At 8:45 that night I stepped out of the bus terminal bathroom. After stashing my bag in the cieling above one of the stalls, I left in some shoes I had 'borrowed'. They were about six inches tall and black, and incredibly difficult to walk in.
I had spent my day wandering around LA looking for cheap or free night clubs. They would get me pretty far in one night, I was hoping.
The club was practically roaring with music when I stepped in about five after nine. I paid a $5 entrance fee and made my way into the middle of the already crowded floor. Almost no one was dancing. From the look on their faces I could tell some of them were underaged like me. What horrible security.
I caught a few guys maybe in their early twenties staring at me. I flashed a quick smile and turned the other way, half hoping they'd follow so I could get this over with quick. My insides were turning at what I realized I was about to do. I almost left the club but stood my ground. I'd done this before, basically. I had to get out, and this was the quickest way to get money.
Almost too soon a guy approached me, his hands immediately going to my hips. I closed my eyes and sighed. This was it. The guy turned me around. He wasn't bad looking, but to my taste, he was nothing compared to the charming good looks of Liam. The thought pained me.
"You're very pretty." he said, I guess trying to be seductive. It wasn't really working but I smiled anyway. "Thanks." His hands were still on my hips. He removed them and took my hand. "Let me buy you a drink." he offered, leading me to the bar. I froze. I hated beer and wine. What would I say to him? As far as I knew, all adults loved to drink.
"Can I just have a water, please?" I asked hurridly as we approached the bar. The guy raised his eyebrow. "No beer? Wine?" he asked. I shook my head. He shrugged, then ordered a tall Bud Light and a bottle of water. "Thanks... What should I call you?" I asked. I was horrible at this.
"My name's Ryan. Your's?" The guy asked as he drank his beer in huge gulps. I swallowed. "Christina." I replied, opening the water and taking a long sip. I was sweating and I noticed my hands were shaking a little. I tried my hardest to make it unnoticeable.
Ryan had the look of a school boy gone wrong. He had what looked like nice, pampered blonde hair that was styled in a messy way. His clothes looked expensive but also, it didn't look like he took much care in them. So, he obviously had money. Perfect.
"Let's dance." Ryan suggested, pulling my hand through the now insanely packed dance floor. More people were arriving and most were now dancing. I set my water down on the nearest table and let Ryan put his hands around my waist.
He was a terrible dancer, and I didn't know what I was doing. It wasn't exactly an ideal pairing. His hands started going lower down my back side. Under normal circumstances I would have killed him but I gulped and allowed him to. This was all I could do.
Ryan smirked. "You seem like you'd be good in bed." he whispered. I could barely hear him over all the noise. This was it. "Oh, you think so?" I said, smiling secretively. Ryan, I could tell, was one of those guys who would do anything to hook up with girls. He didn't seem like he'd care if he never saw me again.
He pushed a strand of black hair out of my eyes, which reminded me painfully of Liam. "Want me to show you a good time?" he asked. His blue eyes glew with excitement. "Under one condition." I said, my throat going dry. Ryan raised his eyebrows. "Afterwards, I need a plane ticket from LAX to... Georgia." I blurted out. Ryan smiled and nodded, leading me out of the club.
I was officially a prositute.