I am Found

As I lock the door behind the last customer my heart sinks. This will be the last time I step foot in this diner as a high schooler, the last time I will get free food, the last time I will feel like I have a purpose. I push the tears away and turn to find my boss, James, holding a fair well cake and my coworkers standing behind him smiling. The cake is simple with chocolate frosting with white lettering that reads “graduation” across the top. I stand there dumbfounded fighting back tears. “Since your graduating early and leaving us so soon, we thought we could give you a small graduation party!” James spoke with a strong British accent but his voice was soft as if he hurt my feelings. I smiled great big “Aww, thank you guy so much! I don’t know what to say!” We all huddled around the bar and enjoyed the cake and talked about the day until 10:30. James glanced at the clock, “ Alright kiddos, it’s 30 minutes until curfew better get going before you get into trouble!!” With that simple sentence the party ended and all the school kids left, all but me. The curfew no longer applies to me since I’m 18 and no longer a student. I helped James clean up the party mess and parted ways with him. He offered me a ride. That’s when it hit me, where will I go? I had lived on campus since sophomore year when my parents were killed in a car crash. I didn’t want to tell James I had no where to go so I politely declined saying I was going to a friends house. That answer pleased him enough for him to let me leave. As I walk down the street toward the school it starts to rain. I grumble to myself “fu*king great, now what!” The further I walk the harder it rains. As I pass the entrance to the school it comes a down pour. I run to the closest tree that has a street light near it. I am drenched. My long brown hair hangs by my face like a wet mop, my shoes slosh with each step, and my pants are now super glued to my legs, great! I start thinking of places to hide out until tomorrow when I can get my stuff and it clicks! I can crash out in the football stadium, it’s always unlocked because the school 24/hr gym is there! Plus there’s showers and towels!!! It’s only about a mile walk, I can handle that. Im about 1/4 of the way there when I hear a car approaching. That’s odd it’s probably close to midnight by now and it’s a school night. As the car gets closer I can hear it slowing down and my heart begins to race. Thoughts of why, who, where to hide flood my mind and I not dare look! This car is literally 20 foot behind me creeping up just following me!! Do I run? Do I look? Ugh!!! Why tonight of all nights? I got enough to worry about! Just as I am about to make up my mind and run, the car pulls up beside me and the back window rolls down. I panic and sneak a peak. The car a beautiful. It’s a blacked out town car of some kind. It looks really expensive, but then again it’s dark and raining. Lost in my thoughts I don’t realize I have stopped walking completely and gawking at this stopped car like a completely fool. “Ma’am!” A husky velvet voice pulls me from my thoughts. I look away from the car and make eye contact with a pair of ocean blue eyes. TBC