Chapter 02

ANA’S POV

Pushing down the thoughts of my family to the back of my mind, I dialed Natalie's number.

She picked on the second ring as always.

"Heyyyyyyy Ana!" Natalie will always be your ball of sunshine. She's that ray of sunlight that brightens up the whole day. Speaking with her always revives me any time any day. Sometimes I don't think I deserve her.

"Hey Talia" I love calling her that and she was all too happy I have a nickname for her the first day I called her that.

"What's up, how are you doing? So sorry I didn't call back the other day, work got so hectic. You know how much of a dickhead my boss can be sometimes" Every time I talked with Natalie she always has a new nickname for her boss but I'll tell you, they are hardly nice names.

"I am doing fine, it's been nice," I said in almost a whisper.

"Uh Uh, that's so not happening, you'll tell me this instant what the fuck is wrong cause I'm not having that I am fine crab you want to sell me".

Honestly, you can always count on Natalie to spot the lies that I spun half almost at all times. I guess we've been friends for long enough to understand each other. That girl knows me so damn well.

"It's nothing, I don't want to bug you with my problems, you have so much going on for you, I can't add to that," I said while looking at the milky white of the wall. It was white when I packed in here two years ago.

Maybe it wasn't such a brilliant idea calling Natalie.

"Don't you dare zone out on me, I know you just did but don't try it again or I'm going to drive down there and smack your head. At least back to reality"

"And who says you're a bother? I have told you countless times that I'll always be there for you. I can't if you don't let me know these things" she admonished.

I figured I had to tell her anyway. It's not like I had many options, I wasn't considering running back to my family. The family option was out of the window, I am dead to them anyway.

"Okay! Fine!"

"Miss Munchkin is throwing me out of the house today. I don't have money on me, my paycheck is supposed to come in next week. I am barely surviving right now" I said while trying to keep my emotions together.

"Oh my goodness! That's so much to handle"

"I'm so sorry this is happening to you right now" she sympathized.

"I do not want to bother you. I know Ryan doesn't like me and it's so much to ask you if I could stay over at your place until I sort my shit out" I said

"Nonsense! I'll tell you what? Pack your things I'm coming to get you at around 5 pm. You're going to stay with me"

"No motherfucker is going to tell me how to treat my best friend. Ain't taking no lecture from nobody and that includes Ryan" she asserted.

"Ay Dios mio!, Thank you so much, Talia. Honestly, I owe you a lot" I said.

"Bullshit! If I can't come through for you in times like this then what sort of friend am I?"

"I will always be here for you no matter what, just know that you can always confide in me at all times.

"I have to get off now, I'll see you around 5 pm?"

"Yes, thank you again. See you at 5" I replied

"Bye, love"

"Bye, Talia"

I raised my brows looking around my room once again, this time observing the small crack in the wall that I never did before. You can't blame me, I have always been on my toes juggling jobs in the busy streets of New York since I was twenty. Three years down the line and I had nothing to show for it.

As frustrating as that thought was I tried to not yield to it. At least I was able to break away from my toxic family. Even though I don't live a luxurious life as it is, I still prefer it to the moments when my supposed family made my life so miserable.

Since Talia would soon be here as I observed the time on the clock right above where I was crunched down I figured it was best I started packing up my belongings. Two hours have got to be enough, I didn't own much anyway.

Moving into the tiny room that had my bed and wardrobe, I started moving my clothes into my suitcase. They comprised jeans and tops. My job for the past 3 years didn't require a dress which explains why I have just a few.

I went ahead to put my sneakers and other things in a separate bag. Looking at the dingy room, I marveled yet again at how everything fit inside the little bags on the floor.

It was time to pack up my kitchen wares. Those have to be the best and the most expensive things that I own. Since I was a kid, I loved baking and pastry.

It was one thing that kept my mind away from everything that has ever happened to me. I didn't have a normal childhood. My parents or should I say my adoptive family did more than enough to show me I wasn't a part of the family.

I was adopted when I was 3 years old. Based on what I was told, my parents died in a car crash and I was taken to the orphanage at the age of three after the incident. That was the only information about my biological parents that my adoptive parents were kind enough to let me in on. That was too much kindness from them when I think about it.

I had to leave when I turn 19. They didn't want me anymore anyway. Being out in the world, all alone. It was terrifying but here I was.

Taking my mind away from them, at least I was able to finish college even without their support. But again, that is why my student loan is still piled up after a few years I have been out of college because I haven't been able to land a good job.

I had to take up waitressing and cleaning to take care of my bills especially my student loan, which I must say is a lot of money.

All my stuff was boxed up except my books. They are precious to me, I love reading as much as I love to bake but I have to make money so you won't see me often lounging to read. But I still read when time permits me. I am hopeless romantic and it shows in my choice of literature. Hoping that one day I'll have someone to cherish and love.

Moving swiftly to where my book collection was, I picked one that was titled, 'Perfect Chemistry' by Simone Elkeles. The love story of Brittany Ellis and Alex Fuentes is so beautiful. Two people from two different worlds falling in love has to be the most endearing sight ever. Maybe one day I might experience such love, until then I need to pack up these books before Natalie gets here.

Putting all the books in a box, I checked the time on my phone and it was past 4 pm. I decided to wash up before she got here.

***

Natalie arrived an hour later and we moved my boxes into her car trunk. Everything went in, I didn't own much so there was no need to go twice.

Dropping the apartment key beneath the door, I took a glance at the place I called home in the last 3 years I got out of college. After a while I heard Natalie call out to me, it was my cue to leave.

Stepping into Natalie's car, I shut the door and turned to her, "Thank you so much, Natalie... What will I do without you?"

"Absolutely nothing Now shut the fuck up and turn up the radio, it's a beautiful day no matter what you say" That's Natalie for you, I smiled.

Turning up the radio, ' One call away' by Charlie Puth came up.

We jammed to it singing along while Natalie drove. These are the moment's I never want to end.