Love STROCKED at my worst

Chapter 1 Walking down the road half-naked, shivering under the biting cold of a harsh winter night, I felt my life flash before my eyes. With no place to sleep, no one to call, and no coat to shield me, I was exposed—physically and emotionally. Tears rolled down my cheeks. The frustration. The confusion. “God, I don’t want to die like this.” Then I saw it—an open garage up ahead. Without thinking, I ran toward it like my life depended on it. It felt warm, as if someone had just left. But it was quiet… and strangely safe. I collapsed in a corner, breath catching, tears flowing freely now. Everything hit me at once: My career, gone. My relationship, shattered. My shelter, lost. All because I trusted the wrong person… That son of a b***h. Still caught in a wave of memory, I suddenly froze. A footstep Echoed. Someone was coming in.A tall well built man stepped into the garage. "wow" Even in my misery, my heart skipped. He was fine—too fine. My type in every way. But before I could finish the fantasy in my head, reality hit. "Oh f*ck… I didn’t hide". I just stood there—frozen. She stood frozen, heart pounding, lips trembling. He stared at me—brows furrowed, confused. The silence between us felt like thunder in my chest. Then he asked, Why are you here? Who are you? …and why are you dressed like this? She stood frozen from the question seriously his voice was something else, my heart melted there. How can someone be this fine, and also have a good voice. Snapped out again from my fantasy, are you mute or? Uhm no yes no no yes no. A smirk curved his cheek but disappeared. I wanted to disappear. Tears welled in my eyes again. I managed to whisper, “I didn’t know where else to go…” He looked at me—like he wanted to believe me but didn’t know if he should. Then he sighed deeply and rubbed the back of his neck. “My mom works night shifts. She’s not back yet,” he said. “I just came to grab something, then I’m gone. You can stay... just lock the garage when you leave.” He tossed a jacket toward me without saying much else. “Cover up.” And with that, he turned and walked out the side door. I sat there, jacket pulled tight, stunned. He didn’t try to chase me away. He didn’t even ask for my name again. He just... let me stay. That night, I slept on the cold garage floor—confused, hurting, but strangely... safe. Chapter 2 Her stomach growled loudly, and she followed the heavenly scent wafting outside. Through bleary eyes, she spotted the source: a hot dog cart parked nearby. Her mouth watered, and she stumbled out of the garage, still clutching the borrowed jacket around herself. The vendor smiled warmly, completely unaware of her disheveled state. As she stood there, transfixed by the sizzling hot dogs, the guy from last night appeared, carrying a tray laden with food. Without acknowledging her, he nodded at the vendor and continued towards the garage. I watched, mesmerized, as he disappeared into the doorway. It struck her—his confidence, the easy way he moved. She snapped out of her trance when her growling stomach reminded her why she'd gone outside in the first place. In desperate need of a solution, she scanned the area. That's when she spotted the payphone station—her ticket to contacting her bank. But first, she needed sustenance. She hesitated, then approached the hot dog cart. Maybe, just maybe, she could convince the vendor to let her use their phone after purchasing something. As she waited in line, people flowed past her, oblivious to her turmoil. Meanwhile, the guy remained absent, leaving her to fend for herself once again—though, this time, not entirely without resources. ...and then, surprisingly, the guy returned, not alone, but carrying a tray full of steaming hot dogs, coffee, and pastries. Not just any amount – enough for two people. His eyes met hers, and for a brief moment, they locked gazes. "You looked like you needed it," he said, his voice low and casual, as if bringing breakfast to a stranger in his garage was the most normal thing in the world. Without another word, he extended the tray towards her, his expression unreadable. It was clear: these weren't for him, but for her. Chapter 3 After navigating the phone station's confusing menus, she finally got the directions to the nearest bank. With newfound determination, she walked towards the imposing building, her senses heightened. Inside, the air-conditioned lobby provided instant relief from the heat. A friendly receptionist greeted her, listening attentively as genny explained her situation. She was then redirected to a specialized department, where a kind-faced representative reviewed her case. She hesitated, aware that draining her account entirely wasn’t wise, but the representative offered valuable advice: take out a reasonable amount, enough to stabilize herself without raising suspicions. They agreed on $80, citing safety precautions. With the cash secure in her hand, genny left the bank, feeling a small sense of control return. Her next stop was lunch. She chose a cozy café, scanning the menu while her stomach growled impatiently. That's when the teenager approached, radiating a youthful energy reminiscent of—well, not exactly someone Lila knew, but certainly a familiar vibe. the teenager smiled, pen poised over her notepad. welcome to Sweet bite what can I get for you. a smoothie and some fries please. The teenager nodded efficiently, scribbling down the order before disappearing into the kitchen. A few minutes later, she returned with a vibrant smoothie cup and a steaming basket of crispy fries. As she placed them in front of genny, her gaze lingered, concern creeping onto her features. "Hey, um, are you okay? Not trying to pry or anything, but..." Genny confirmed, trying to sound convincing, "All good. Thanks." The girl nodded, still looking unconvinced, before hurrying off to attend another table. Genny savored her food slowly, her mind wandering. There was something about this stranger—kind, curious—that made her want to talk, to unburden herself. Maybe it was the kindness, rare these days. Or maybe it was simply the intuition screaming at her not to let this opportunity slip away. So she waited, patiently watching the clock tick by, until finally, the girl finished her shift. Ginny worked up the courage to approach her again. If...if you're free, could we, uh, talk for a minute?" ginny asked, feeling awkward but desperate. And that's when the conversation took a turn... While explaining her situation The girl nodded sympathetically, her eyes filled with empathy. "You know, I think I can help. Like, literally." She leaned in, lowering her voice. "I've got an extra room at my place. It's small, but it's clean, and... well, it's available. If you'd like to crash there, temporarily, that is." Z tried to process the sudden offer, her emotions swirling. She kept her expression neutral, but inside, relief was washing over her like a warm wave. It couldn't be true. Could it? "...How much?" Z managed to ask, still cautious. The girl waved her hand dismissively. "Nah, forget rent. At least, for now. But hey, there's one condition." Ginny tensed, preparing herself for the catch. "It's just... forty bucks a month for utilities. And, uh, you help with chores sometimes. Fair?" She quickly agreed, handing over the $40 she'd gotten from the bank earlier. This was either the luckiest coincidence or the most ridiculous mistake she'd ever made. Either way, something about this felt right—like her instincts had led her exactly where she needed to be.