The One Who Was Taught To Survive

As the school day ended, I knew I needed to get my homework done. Since I knew that most likely the guys would want to hang out tonight; I needed to get it done now while they all had band practice at Brian’s.

“Do you want some company?” Dilynn asked me as we walked out of the school.

“Sure, if you’re free. Could use some help on my Algebra 2,” I nodded at her as Kayley hurried up to us.

“Guys, I can’t hang out til later, Mom found my stash of JD I keep under my bed so I need to go home,” Kayley sped out. “But as soon as she goes to work, I can sneak out and meet you guys wherever.”

I nodded, “Sounds like a plan, what do you think Dil?”

“Bitch, please, if you’re going to shorten my name shorten it to Dee,” She joked with me then met Kayley’s gaze. “Yeah, that’s fine Kay. Better go catch your brother. He just walked out with the punk brigade for band practice.”

“Ah fuck, alright, see you guys later!” Kayley ran out after the guys to get a ride home.

“So where would you like to go for the homework hour?” Dilynn asked me as she readjusted her backpack over her shoulders.

“I was thinking Johnny’s Bar. Bobby seems really cool about letting us hang there,” I smiled and Dilynn nodded.

“Do you have a car, or you need me to drive?” Dilynn asked as we made our way through the double doors.

“I have no car, I’ve been hoofing it everywhere except this morning. Matt made sure we had a ride,” I confessed to Dilynn as she nodded and made a notion for me to follow her.

“You and Matty-boy seem pretty close,” she observed as we neared a Navy Blue metallic Ford Mustang convertible.

I shrugged, “Yeah, I guess.” I opened the passenger side door as she unlocked the car. The car was literally spotless. Like, you have never seen a cleaner interior of a car.

She nodded again and started up the car, pressing the button to lower the soft top. I grinned unable to hide my excitement over riding for a convertible for the first time. “What’s that grin for?” she chuckled catching the look in my eye.

“I’ve never ridden in a convertible, it’s so beautiful out,” I gushed as she put the car in reverse to get out of the stall.

She nodded again, “Yeah it’s cool.” I could tell there was a bitter tone behind her words but decided I wouldn’t pry just yet.

She took a right out of the parking lot of the school onto Main street. She had the radio on a rock station and we both started singing along as Dammit by Blink 182 came on the radio. “Dude you seriously have a great voice, have you ever sang?” I asked her inquiring more about the band.

She raised an eyebrow as she looked at me when we stopped at the stoplight connecting Main street to Garfield. “You mean for the band?” I nodded, as the light turned green. “Uhh, well kind of, but not really. I’m too shy for that shit.” She took a right onto Garfield Street.

“Really?” I asked and she nodded driving a few blocks up to Beach Boulevard. “I wouldn’t have pegged you as the shy type.”

“Why not?” she asked taking a left at the stop light which would take us right pretty much right to Johnny’s.

I shrugged and admired the scenery as she drove, “I just see the confidence that you expose. I just didn’t really think you were a shy person. You seem very outgoing.” I struggled to explain myself and she gave me a playful smirk.

“You mean that you’ve heard the perverts talking about me and how outgoing I am with guys,” she giggled.

I shook my head, “No.” I laughed a little, “You have confidence in how you carry yourself. You choose to be nice when you could easily run the school.”

She laughed as we pulled into the parking lot, “Now I know you’re confusing me with someone else.” She deflected the compliment and cut the engine after putting the top back up.

I shook my head and got out of the car similar timing as Dilynn, “What the hell are you doing here?” Bobby asked as we walked in. She was pissed…oh fuck, I thought, remembering the last time I was here.

I blushed slightly, “Well that’s a cheerful voice Bobby.” Dilynn replied to the older lady.

“Funny Dee, but I was meaning her,” her eyes landed on me narrowing slightly and I felt like a naughty child.

I sidled up next to Dilynn and smiled shyly, “Hey Bobby.”

“You stole from me,” she stood by the bar crossing her arms over her chest with a disappointed scowl crossing her lips.

“I paid for it,” I countered meekly. “Kinda, was it not enough? I have more.” I quickly dug into my backpack for my sock of 30 dollars.

She held up her hand to stop me, “River. If you’re gonna come into my bar, we’re gonna have rules. Whether you’re friends with my honorary God daughter Dee and Brian or not.”

Dilynn moved to the side of the bar and took a seat on one of the stools, “Yeah imaginary God daughter.” She muttered.

“You’re not imaginary sweetheart, just because I’m not currently on your ass about something, doesn’t mean you’re imaginary,” Bobby replied to Dilynn. “You know the rules, no sitting at the bar.”

I chewed on my lip nervously, “Now you,” Bobby turned back to me after Dilynn reluctantly moved. “You want to be allowed in here, there will be no more stealing. Do you understand?” I nodded immediately. “This bar could get shut down if they found out where you got that alcohol from. While I know that wouldn’t affect you much, it’d tarnish my reputation and that will NOT happen. Second, no sitting at the bar while we’re open. You want to come in early on the weekends and help me get ready to open, that’s fine. When you turn 18 we can talk about you getting a job if you come in and are already trained. Dee is doing that right now until she turns 18.”

She eyed my backpack, “Third, when you need to do your homework, you come here from now on. Brian told me where you’re staying, you will come here after school, get your homework done. I’ll sign any forms you need someone to sign, I’ll put my last name on there and tell them you’re in my care.” I nodded sharply finding it best not to argue.

“Finally, I’m not your mother, but I do demand respect little lady, do you understand?”

“Yes, Ma’am,” I answered her respectfully fidgeting a little more. Bobby had managed to yell at me without actually yelling at me. Which is something I’d never experienced before. It was damn frightening.

“Good, now go work on your homework with Dee, I’ll make you guys a snack and bring it out,” her mood changed 180 degrees and holy fuck was I glad that was over. I was going to kill Brian for telling her I was living with Jimmy. I scurried over to the corner booth that Dilynn had decided to sit at and I dug through my bag for my Algebra book.

“She’s pretty scary, eh?” Dilynn grinned at me.

“Very,” I shook my head at the understatement of the year. “Does she have any kids of her own?”

“Nah, she and her husband got divorced a long time ago. She never had kids but she claimed me when my parents kinda went AWOL,” she opened up her book.

I raised an eyebrow, “What do you mean?”

She blushed slightly, “My parents aren’t around much. My mom grew up with Bobby and they have been best friends for years.”

I nodded, “I know what that’s like.”

This time it was her turn to look astonished and raise an eyebrow, “What do you mean?”

“I know what it’s like to have parents that are AWOL and negligent. You’re lucky to have someone like Bobby watching over you,” I smiled slightly towards Dee, her blue eyes thoughtful.

We sat there working on homework helping each other with things the other understood, so needless to say we were quite the team to pair up and get work done. Bobby had brought us cokes and pizza rolls as our snack checking in on us to make sure everything was alright. When we neared the two hour mark Dilynn eyed me curiously and asked, “What’d she mean when she mentioned your living accommodations?”

It caught me off guard and caused me to blush, “Oh, you heard that part.”

She nodded giving me an expectant look, “So…”

“I’m currently staying with Jimmy at the laundry-mat, but we can’t go to the apartment until after the laundry mat closes,” I explained quietly, somewhat ashamed that it wasn’t somewhere more extravagant. I loved living with Jimmy though, he was the first person to accept me in this town.

She nodded slightly, “That explains why you’re always with the perverts. So why is Matt always so close to you?”

She sipped some of her coke eyeing me for any indication, “He was the first person who listened to my story. I…” at that moment the bar door burst open and in walked the guys amped up.

Matt’s eyes met mine as Brian called for drinks all around to Bobby then followed Matt’s gaze and found Dilynn. “So…moving up in the world sitting with the prettiest girl in school, eh River?” he asked as he scooted in the booth next to Dilynn.

“Actually, we were just in the middle of having girl talk, if you don’t mind,” Dilynn hinted for him to leave.

“Nah, I don’t mind. You guys mind?” Brian asked as he slipped his arm around her shoulders.

“Brian, come on man. Don’t be a dick to the ladies,” Matt chastised his friend. “Hey chick,” he smiled at me and I felt my cheeks flush.

“Hey,” I smiled as Zacky came up carrying drinks for the guys.

He kissed my cheek, “Wanna play some pool?”

I shook my head, “I’m hanging with Dilynn right now, maybe later?”

Dilynn smirked at me and I felt my cheeks flush deeper from her gaze. “Alright, we’ll be over here.” Zacky grinned and nodded to both Matt and Brian to get them over to the pool table they frequented.

“You so have a crush on them,” Dilynn chuckled after the boys were out of ear shot.

I laughed, “I do not.”

She rolled her eyes playfully, “You do on Matt. That explains my thoughts on him, but what were you gonna tell me before Brian interrupted?”

“It’s nothing, but yeah Matt and Zack are sweethearts, I just don’t know if I have a crush on them per say but they are adorable,” I smiled as her phone vibrated. “Kayley text me, her mom called into work to keep her home. She’s not even allowed to have her phone. She had to sneak onto the computer to Facebook me.”

“Damn, that sucks,” I shook my head as I saw Dilynn’s gaze on Brian. “Now who’s got a crush,” I teased her gently pushing her arm.

She blushed crimson and had a small smile, “I can’t deny that I do have a crush on him. Just don’t want to be considered a piece of meat to him. So I play hard to get.”

I nodded, “I think he really likes you, I mean I’ve only known him for a couple of days but it could be more than just sex.”

She nodded and pursed her lips as her phone went off again, “Fuck I gotta get home. My step-dad just text me asking where I am.”

“Oh, well I hope I haven’t gotten you in trouble,” I packed up my bag and flashed her an apologetic smile.

“Nah, all I gotta do is tell them I was here studying and talking to Bobby, it’ll be alright. I’ll see you tomorrow?” She asked as she gathered her stuff and left the building waving to Bobby. I nodded after her and frowned slightly as she walked out the door. Something definitely wasn’t right in Dilynn’s life, I’d ran out of places just as fast as she had…sometimes without saying goodbye.

“Did you get all your homework done?” Bobby asked coming to the table to clear Dilynn’s dishes.

I nodded, “Yeah, but I need something signed for the office. Just to finalize my paperwork.”

Bobby held out her hand and I dug the piece of paper out of my bag, along with a pen. “Alright, here you go.” She signed the line and wrote a note that I was in her care while my parents were away. “I’m not trying to overstep, I’m sorry if I was too hard on you earlier.”

I shook my head, “It’s okay. I’m kind of used to roughing it. I forget sometimes that I can’t always be in charge of myself. That I’m still a kid.”

She nodded, “well, seriously. Come in on weekends around 1pm. I can’t officially hire you until you’re 18, but I can pay you under the table and teach you how to bar tend and what not before then if you keep it quiet.”

“That sounds great Bobby, thank-you,” I nodded in agreeance with her terms.

She gave me a curt nod, “They’re good guys. Rambunctious and ornery but they’re good guys. Especially Matt and Zacky.”

“Thanks Bobby,” I gave her a small smile.

“No problem sweets, are you hungry? Tired?” She asked right as I yawned.

“Yeah, Jimmy and I can’t go back to the laundry mat til after 11 though,” I stared at the clock on the wall, it was only 7.

“That’s still a ways away. How about you and Jimmy come stay with me tonight? We can go get your stuff in the morning before the laundry mat opens and you kids can just come stay with me,” she offered and searched my eyes for an answer.

I chewed on my lip nervously, “Uhh…we can see if he’d be alright with that. Are you sure you have the room? We wouldn’t want to impose.”

She nodded, “Uhh yeah, I got enough room.” She chuckled, “I have a 4 bedroom house over on Garfield street. I’d love to have you guys.”

Notes

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