Ava's Pov:
I stared down at the text from my roommate and immediately, the loud music and blinding lights in the club turned down. My head spinned in circles and it wasn't because of the alcohol, but I wished it was.
"The eviction letter came in today. I left like twenty voicemails….please call me"
I hadn't realized I was behind on rent, and here I was partying with temporary people who wouldn't offer me a penny even if I begged. I had fought so hard to be one of them but suddenly none of that mattered.
I was homeless.
I frantically dialed my roommate, Alicia's number while trying to push my way out of the crowd. She didn't answer and all I wanted to do was throw up right there on the bathroom floor.
Instead, I picked myself up and rushed outside to call a taxi.
I got to my small apartment and saw most of my things outside. I wanted to believe all the alcohol and cigarettes I had taken over the years had finally caused me to hallucinate but that wasn't it. With the last cash I had, I packed some of my belongings, took the bus to the nearest motel and checked in.
Only then did it hit me….
I was alone.
*ding*
I frantically picked my phone up thinking one of my friends had noticed I left the club and was checking on me, but it was just Alicia.
"Hey, I'm staying with a friend till whenever. Are you good?"
I wanted the ground to open up and swallow me. I was so caught up in my own world I forgot Alicia lost the apartment too. And she was never behind on rent, unlike me. I felt terrible.
"Oh yeah I'm fine, I crashed at my friend's place too. Glad you're okay."
No reply.
Minutes later, I picked up my phone again. I wanted to ask someone for help, but I truly had no one. I definitely wasn't going back to the village where my mother, Olivia lived. I couldn't go back to that life. Most importantly, I didn't know what to say to Alicia. I wanted to beg, cry and apologize all at the same time but I settled with a simple apology.
"I'm really sorry for everything Alicia…. I know you've been trying harder than me and I feel so stupid right now. Please don't hate me, I'll make it up to you."
I waited a few minutes for a reply but nothing.
I could feel my whole world crashing down. This meant I had to work as a waitress or a cleaner or just any odd job. If anyone I knew saw me, my life would be over.
Alicia was the only true friend I had and I always treated her like a low life and now she was going to leave me.
I couldn't handle the mental stress so I just laid back and went to bed.
The next morning I couldn't have been happier to see a notification. Alicia's text was at the top of all the instagram gossip and blog posts.
"It's fine, just let me know if you need anything."
I knew that wasn't coming from the heart but I had no choice but to accept it. I called her immediately and after a few rings she answered.
"Good morning, how are you?" she asked in this low, discouraging tone.
The last bit of excitement I had to speak to her vanished.
"Morning, I'm okay, you doing alright?"
"Yeah, is there a problem?"
"No, no. Just wanted to make sure you're good and we're good y'know"
"You can't expect everything to just be fine Ava. You made me lose the house I paid for. While you were out partying with people who don't care about you, I was sorting your bills and you expect everything to just be okay?"
I took a long sigh. She was right.
"I know Alicia, I'm really sorry."
"Yeah whatever."
I could sense she wanted to end the conversation as soon as possible.
"No, no wait." I yelled, holding back tears.
"What is it Ava?"
"Could you- "
I started to cry real tears. Tears I faked to get into places for years, tears I hadn't let out truthfully in years. I was really at rock bottom in just one night.
"Could you please get me a job Alicia?"
Asking that felt like a thorn passing through my throat. She probably already knew I didn't have a real job and was faking my social status but it was embarrassing to admit it.
She didn't answer for a moment but my gushing tears couldn't let me ask if she was still on the phone.
"Be ready at 6 later, I'll text you the address to the bar I work in."
"Oh- Oh my God, thank you Alicia. I promise i'll pay you back as soon as possible."
"Sure. Have a good day."
She hung up.
I just sat there and thought about everything.
How I refused to get married like my mother told me to and left the house. How I chased influence and fame for years but didn't have anything to show for it. How I was utterly alone in this world because I chose temporary people over the ones who truly cared about me.
I told Alicia I had a job and she believed, at least she pretended to. But she always brought up new job opportunities for me and I always ignored her. Olivia too just wanted the best for me but she didn't understand me.
I had never felt more stupid.
Hours later, I unpacked my bags and started anticipating working with Alicia later.
I had never worked a real job or cleaned a day in my life. All I could think of was how unbearable it was going to be but I had no choice.
" How bad could it be right? I just have to clean some tables and attend to a few customers. Easy right?" I tried to reassure myself.
I wasn't wrong about the easy part but I had no idea what was coming for me.
A notification came from Alicia.
"By the way… there's someone very special coming in tonight. Make sure you're ready."
Something about that made me uncomfortable. Special? What did she mean? I had no idea that my life was about to take a turn I would never forget.