The One Who Was Taught To Survive

The next morning I woke up around nine and decided to shower since I didn’t know when I’d get the chance to do so again. I stood under the hot water for what felt like 3 hours, but in reality was probably only 30 minutes. I decided I’d walk around the pier and along the coast today, needed to find a new ‘home’ but knew that most places wouldn’t rent to me until I was 18.

I searched through my bag, ignoring the scars and bruises along my body and grabbed a Misfits t-shirt and a pair of bootleg jeans. I pulled on a pair of socks, grabbing the money out of that pair and laced up my converse high-tops and threw everything in my bag. I went through the hotel room finding the complimentary items and stuffed them inside as well. I thought about grabbing a pillow but decided I’d be able to use my duffel bag for that if I needed to.

After I was sure I had everything, I went to check out of the room. I turned in my key and walked out of the lobby, ignoring the weird looks from tourists. After all, it was pretty weird for a teenager to be getting a hotel room, especially when she was checking out 10 hours after checking in on a Saturday.

As I walked down the street, the warm California sun felt so good on my face. I decided I’d go down to the beach first, I made sure the duffel bag was zipped up tight so that no sand would get in it. There was a vendor on the beach selling hotdogs and I grabbed one, doctoring it up with ketchup and mustard.

I sat my bag down and sat on top of it, I didn’t really have anything of value, so there wasn’t anything too fragile in there. I ate my hotdog and decided I needed to get some sun glasses if I was going to spend the day on the beach, and probably a good swim suit. Although I knew the water was probably freezing, I figured some sun wouldn’t kill me, it’d probably help people from thinking I was a vampire.

I sighed standing up and decided to commit to finding somewhere to live, I couldn’t stay on the beach because that was dangerous, but I didn’t figure I’d find anyone that had an apartment that I could get very cheap. I looked around the beach and was surprised that it was pretty much empty, there were a few people out to surf, but nothing major was happening. Then again it was still early, I sighed and decided I needed to do some laundry. I shook my head, that could be what I do tonight, then I’ll just sleep under a table or something it’ll be fine.

“First things first, need to find a mall to get some essentials like sunglasses and what not. Not to mention, it’s something to do for the afternoon,” I shrugged my shoulders talking to myself and then took a walk through town. After about 2 hours I had almost given up, but came across one of those guys from last night. I blushed as I saw him standing outside Johnny’s bar smoking a cigarette. God how much of a tourist could I be.

The kid stood about 2 inches taller than me and had snake bite piercings, green eyes, and dark hair that somewhat framed his face. He was wearing black jeans, two studded belts, red checkered vans, and a Pantera shirt. He caught me checking him out, “Like what you see, babe?” He asked then took another drag off his cigarette.

I rolled my eyes, “No need to call me babe, you don’t know me.”

He held his hands up in defense, leaning against the wall with one foot up against it, “You were the one staring doll. I was just making conversation.”

I blushed slightly, “Sorry…uhh, I was just wondering. Do you know where a mall near by is?” he shrugged, about 40 minutes from here, if you’re walking.” He nodded towards the duffel bag, “Why are you carrying that around?”

I shrugged, “Why are you smoking that?” I nodded at his Camel cigarette deflecting the question.

“Nice deflect, but seriously, I’ll take you to the mall, but you gotta lose the duffel bag. This is California and even though this town has a good reputation, I wouldn’t want someone to come along and steal it.”

I eyed him carefully, “Everything I own is in this bag.”

He nodded, “Well, like I said, I’ll take you but you’ll have to stash that somewhere. You can leave it in my trunk while we’re in there.” He shrugged offering.

“Nah, I’m cool, thanks though,” I sighed and decided to try the dollar general store that was across the street.

He shrugged again, “I like your shirt. Misfits kick ass.”

I nodded, “yeah they do, I like yours too. Pantera is amazing.”

He gave me a small smile, obviously playing with one of his snakebite piercings in his lip, “You want company?” He nodded towards the dollar store.

I shook my head, “I’ll be fine, thank-you though. I’ll uh…” I paused slightly trying to figure out what would be appropriate to say.

“I’ll see you around,” he smiled again at me before putting his cigarette out and disappearing into the bar.

I shook my head, “God does he do anything else besides drink or hang out at Johnny’s?” I asked myself then hurried across the street receiving honks from oncoming traffic. I shrugged off the honks, used to it from New York.

Later on that evening I approached a laundry mat that looked somewhat upscale, granted most of the apartments around here had washers/dryers in the apartment from what I’d looked up at a local library back in NY.

I pushed the door open and saw there was an attendant and it was one of those guys again! Jesus they’re literally everywhere. This guy had spiked up hair, blue eyes, and was wearing a kimono. He eyed me carefully through his glasses, “Drop off or onsite?”

I raised an eyebrow at him, “Huh?”

“Are you dropping off your laundry, or are you doing it on site?” He asked again. He seemed bored but hyper at the same time, and I spied an energy drink next to him.

“Oh, uhh, on site,” I replied fishing out a 10, “May I have a roll of quarters please?”

He nodded exchanging the ten for a roll of quarters, “Here you go. If you need anything, let me know. My name’s Jimmy.”

“Thank-you Jimmy,” I gave him a small smile then went over to the vending machine and got out a box of soap. After all I only had 3 days worth of clothes to wash, that wouldn’t take more than one load I was sure of it. “By the way, we close in 3 hours, so hope you don’t have too much to do.”

I nodded, “Thanks, I’ll keep that in mind.” I walked over to the washer and opened up my duffel bag, I’d found a sack in a convenient store and took it. It helped keep the dirty clothes separated. I emptied the bag into the washer and put the soap in, before inserting $2.00 into the coin slot. Jesus laundry’s expensive, I thought to myself. I’d never take a home owned washer and dryer unit for granted again. I set the heat of the water then zipped my duffel bag back up and went to sit in the chairs next to the window.

I could see Jimmy watching me before I put in my headphones. I leaned my head back against the glass and closed my eyes. I woke up about an hour later to Jimmy gently nudging me, “Uhh…hey…”

I jumped alert at the unfamiliar touch, “What?” I snapped at him.

“You may want to switch your clothes over, we’re about to close up in like an hour. I’ll let you stay until they’re dry, but you need to hurry.” Jimmy said shortly and turned around walking back to the desk.

I grumbled and went over to the washer then switched the clothes to the dryer, the Laundry mat was quiet, Jimmy and I were the only ones that were left in it. I inserted the coins into the dryer coin slot then took my seat back by the window; my duffel bag still under my chair. “Fuck yeah baby, clothesline!” Jimmy cheered watching the television.

I rolled my eyes, “Boys.” Was all I muttered and shook my head. I never understood the point of wrestling besides that there was dramatic storylines that went on year round.

Jimmy was hyped up, drinking a soda now and I yawned, maybe a soda would be a good idea. I went over to the vending machine and paid the dollar fifty for the bottle of Dr. Pepper and sat back down, sipping it. I knew it wasn’t good for me, but at that moment I didn’t care. I closed my eyes and leaned my head back again. “OOOO come on Cena, lay him out!” Jimmy’s voice pierced my ears.

I groaned inwardly and sighed, it was going to be a long hour. “Hey Jimmy?” I asked trying to distract him.

“Hmm?” He said slowly and reluctantly looking back at me.

“Would you possibly be able to tell me of a hotel that will let me rent a room for a week without it costing a fortune?” I asked him.

He thought about it for a minute, “Don’t you have somewhere to go? Like a relative or something?”

I shrugged, “Just…do you know of a hotel or not?”

He shook his head, “You’re really good at deflecting questions.” I sat there becoming engrossed in my cuticles not acknowledging his comment. “What’s your name kid?” he asked clicking the TV over to MTV. The sounds of “Hanging By a Moment” by Lifehouse started as the music video played.

“I’m not a kid,” I replied shortly with him and he raised his hands in a truce. “My name’s River,” I sighed deciding he seemed nice enough.

“Nice to meet you, so River, what brings you to Huntington Beach?” Jimmy asked tilting his head.

I shrugged, “Why do you work in a laundry mat?”

He shrugged initiating a stare down, “Why do you deflect so much?”

I raised an eyebrow at him, “Why are you asking such personal questions?”

“Why don’t you enjoy getting to know people?”

“Why do you insist on getting to know strangers?”

“Why don’t you try opening up to someone?”

I groaned inwardly, “Jimmy.”

“That’s my name, don’t wear it out,” he replied grinning widely at me.

I couldn’t help but laugh at him and shook my head, “I don’t trust easily, especially guys.”

He nodded, “Fair enough, we’re a special kind of devil spawn.”

I couldn’t help but laugh again shaking my head at this guy, maybe a friend wouldn’t be so bad. I chewed my bottom lip a bit. “Alright.”

He raised an eyebrow, “Alright what?”

“I came out to Huntington Beach to get away from my abusive family, figured they won’t find me all the way out here,” I confessed to him, but I felt awkwardly at ease doing so.

“Where are you from originally?” He asked curiously.

“New Jersey, I was born in Newark, but moved to New York City when I was twelve.” I cursed myself silently, but something inside me made me feel as though I could trust him. I just hoped I wouldn’t regret it.

“Jesus that’s one hell of a trip, like 3000 miles yeah?” He asked looking at me concerned.

I nodded, “Yeah about that.”

He eyed me carefully, “Where are you staying tonight?”

I shrugged, “Honestly was going to sleep under one of the tables in here, wasn’t expecting an attendant to be on staff.”

He nodded, “I tell you what, there’s an apartment upstairs that’s currently vacant, well, except for me. What would you say to shacking up with me until you figure out what you’re going to do?”

I thought about it for a moment, and again I felt like I could trust him, that I was safe with him, “Alright.” He smiled at me, “Just let me grab my clothes out of the dryer and throw them back in my bag.”

He nodded as I went and grabbed my clothes, he locked up the mat and balanced the change drawer before locking it in the safe. I folded my clothes, sticking them back in the bag, just as I was zipping it up, he was turning off the lights. “Let’s go,” Jimmy said excitedly.

I smiled and nodded, “Alright. After you.”

Notes