Pay Off

Stand up for yourself

I ran out of the building just as Travis’ driver was opening the door. Travis looked at me then gestured inside the car, “get inside some time today Amelia”

I looked at Travis and then the car, weighing up my safest option. Deciding there was no alternative I rolled my eyes, then climbed into the car. I was quickly followed by Mr Talbot sitting next to me as his driver closed the door.

We sat in silence until the driver was seated, Travis shouted through, “Just circle the block please Kevin. This shouldn’t take long”

“No problem Sir, knock if you need anything” Kevin replied as he pressed a button that enabled a partition to come up, probably giving us privacy. But I didn’t want privacy, I didn’t feel safe alone with this man.

“I’m going to keep this brief Amelia. I know that despite my demands you have become friends with my son. But in this instance it’s actually going to work in your favour” he inspected his nails as he spoke to me, like I wasn’t worthy of being looked at. “I have it on good authority that my son hasn’t taken a single business class and that is not acceptable for the next CEO of Talbot industries. You will convince him to change his courses and stop dallying around. I need you to prove your worth to me”

“I’m sorry, but no.” I looked straight at him as I spoke.

“What did you say?” He practically growled as he looked at me for the first time in this car.

“I said no, Mr Talbot.” I squared my jaw to let him know how serious I was.

“You know what I can do to you right?” He was not taking this well.

“I’m fully aware you are paying for my education. But your fully aware of why. And yes you can take it all away, buuut you won’t and do you know why?”

“Enlighten me Miss Wyatt?”

“You see, the authorities won’t do anything to Jenson now on my word. We both know that so technically I don’t have anything on you anymore. But I have friends in this school now. And I can tell them what I seen. And then there will be rumours. I know how much your reputation means to you Mr Talbot, I’m pretty sure I could put a pretty big mark on it.” I smiled my best fake smile “So no, I will not be talking to your son on your behalf. If you have something to say to him, you should probably try saying it yourself.”

Travis was practically bursting at the seams. I had never seen anyone so mad, but suddenly he took a deep breath and all signs of anger evaporated. That actually terrified me more. Maybe he knew I only had three friends and couldn’t actually do much about his reputation seeing as two of those friends were technically part of his family. I thought to push my luck, “so shall we just get Kevin to take us back now?”

Mr Talbot leaned forward and knocked on the divider. Kevin immediately pressed the button and the divider lowered. “Kevin, stop here please. Miss Wyatt would like to get out and make her own way home.” He looked at me like I was bothered.

Sure I had no clue where I was, I hadn’t ventured to this area from campus. But I’d been finding my own way for a long time now and I was pretty good at it. So I huffed and smirked at him.

As Kevin pulled up to the curb, I quickly jumped out. I leant down to look at Travis, I was feeling brave “Y’all have a good day now” and I promptly slammed the door shut.

Right the car is facing left, so common sense would say I should start walking right, right?

I pulled my phone out of my pocket and dialled Smokey Bean. It was only two rings until Stacey answered, “Smokey Bean, Stacey speaking. How May I help you?”

“Stace it’s me I need help!” I spoke calmly but excitedly as I had a plan. “I’m lost and do not ask me to use a map because I can’t and I can’t discuss that right now. I’m opposite a shop called ‘dress to impress’ and beside that is a burger shop. Please tell me you can get me home? I would love you forever?”

Staceys laugh came down the line, “I can get you home. That cutie you came in with last night is here, looking lost staring into his hot chocolate. I can get him to come rescue you like a proper little princess”

“Please don’t” I groaned. After how I left Cole, I don’t think he wanted to be my knight in shining armour again.

“Okayyyy. Your definitely telling me all about that on your next shift. But in the meantime your going to want to walk down towards that Starbucks you smell, take a left on third and walk about 15 minutes. You will know where you are then. Probably. Let me know you get back safe, yeah?”

“Sure. Thank you so much Stacey. I owe you yet again you little life saver!”

I hung up and started walked in the direction Stacey told me too. 20 minutes later I was home.

I opened my door hesitantly not knowing how Cole would react. However, he wasn’t home so I went straight to bed. I never heard him come home.

On Sunday I had the opening shift again and then went straight to visit my parents. I had dinner with them and told them how I was actually loving college life. And for the first time in my life, I wasn’t actually completely lying to them about my socual life. Not getting home until late, again Cole wasn’t home. So my first time seeing him would have to be my Monday morning psych class.