Nothing With You

By Rudi Helrazor

Carly is caught in a friendship triangle that proves to be more complicated than her 15-year-old mind can fathom.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Feb 26, 2017
• ISBN: 9781365782824

Book preview

Nothing With You

Nothing With You

Rudi Helrazor

Drewcifer Jones

Snarling Dog Ink

2017

COPYRIGHT

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.

Copyright © 2017 Rudi Helrazor

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review or scholarly journal.

First Printing: March 2017

ISBN: 978-1-365-78282-4

Snarling Dog Ink

Clarkston, MI  48348

www.rudihelrazor.webs.com

To my beautiful daughters who were literally my will to survive. I love you Zeta and Moon.

Thank you, Drewcifer Jones for everything. You have been beyond amazing and helpful through every step of this writing process and editing. So creatively inspiring and freeing.

INTRODUCTION

That one, right there. She saw the cool breath of a tall boy rising from the shadows with a whisper from behind the dumpster. She staggered to her feet and scraped her knee as she tried to get away as quiet as possible. 

Carly awoke petrified. It was that dream again, where the crooked kids from down the street pin her down. She shook the horrifying thought and tried to rearrange herself on the blankets hoping she may just fall back asleep. That was the third night in a row that she had trouble sleeping. You’d think I’d get used to this by now, she thought. After a month of living on the street, Carly had to get used to a lot of things. When her mother decided she should be out on her own, she was given $20.

Use it wisely. Her drunken mother could barely get the words out. Carly thought, if I just hide in my room she’ll forget that I’m here. A few months had gone by, when one night, an overly passionate mother and a one night stand had mistaken Carly’s room for her own. Carly, 14 years old, was quickly thrown out.

Morning finally broke. Carly promptly made her way to the front of the building, which was a run down old convenience store. The door was always left open during store hours. Not sure if it was to release the stench of stale beer and bread or to keep the heat from cooking the inside. Maybe it was a mix of both. Wrought iron bars secured the windows and the floor stuck to your shoes as you walked. As she entered, the clerk had called her by name.

Sleep well, Carly?  She headed to the fountain drink machine. He always let her have as much Dr. Pepper as she wanted. She was never greedy, though. She grabbed a donut and started for the front counter. You know Carly; you could always pick up work here cleaning up here and there. It won’t pay a lot but you can make sure you have food.

Well, I am starting to run out of money. I’ll keep it in mind. She paid for her donut and stepped out, taking a big deep breath. The crisp morning air filled her lungs and she watched as the fog left her mouth as she exhaled.  Maybe he’s right. I do need to do something. She finished her donut and began to walk, balancing on the edge of the sidewalk. Her day consisted of sitting in the state park for hours watching the birds and the people with their dogs walk by. She would collect some spare change from generous passers-by, knowing when to embark on her journey for the soup kitchen. She’d, at least, get dinner there. While there, she would check the posts for any rooms or spaces available in the shelters or halfway houses. There weren’t any today.  She sat in front of her cabbage dinner, picking and thinking about what the store clerk had offered her earlier.

Carly returned to the store and agreed to the job. The store clerk was confident that there would be no harm in letting Carly set up a sleeping quarters in the back store room. It didn’t smell too fresh but it beat fearing for her life.

CHAPTER 1

Life was looking a little brighter for Carly. Three months had past and the leaves were beginning to change. Her birthday was coming soon. October 2nd, she would be 15. She was still attending the soup kitchen and even helped out on some days.

One evening, as she was serving an old man and his young daughter, she thought, at least, they have each other. She reached for a dinner roll as a hand touched hers. Reaching for the same was a bony raven haired boy no older than her.

Oh, Excuse me! He politely pulled his hand away. Maggie just sent me over to help you.

Well, I’m Carly. She extended her hand as he returned the gesture.

I’m Ian. I'm here with my mother. She returned to serving the macaroni and cheese from the large tin. He began handing out the dinner rolls gently putting them beside the macaroni and cheese on each plate.

I’ve never seen you here. Must be your first time. she replied.

Yea, your parents forcing you to be here too? he asked with a smirk.

You could say that. Her kindness quickly deteriorated as she became severely annoyed by his   apathy for others. She did her best to keep her distance the rest of the night, answering only with one word here and there when needed. As the hands on the clock rounded about eight, Carly got her things and trotted towards the door.

Hey, Carly! shouted a voice. Will you be here again next week?

You can count on it. she grimaced walking out the door.  Carly adjusted her attitude as she stood with her hand resting on the handle of the open door to the store. She rounded it bracing herself for the smell as she did every night.

Good night Sol! she called quietly when she noticed there were no customers around.

Is everything alright? he came out from behind the counter. Without missing a step, she continued to her room.

I just gotta sleep it off. All will be well tomorrow.

Sleep well she heard as she latched her door tight behind her. She threw herself on the old, thin, torn couch cushions that made up her bed. Her brown hair had fallen perfectly all around her. Completely exhausted, she slept instantly.  When Carly woke up, she cleaned out the bathroom as part of her duties. Time couldn’t pass quick enough. Cleaning gave her too much time to sit with herself pondering. When the bathroom was done, she continued with sweeping the main floor. Straightening random products that were out of place on the shelves, Carly noticed a boy in the corner that looked familiar. She ducked and weaved around the aisles trying to get a better look at him. Finally, she became bored and decided on hiding in her room until he was gone so there was no chance of him recognizing her.

Carly?! That small voice rang before Carly could even reach the door. She stopped and turned surprised to see the boy from the soup kitchen, Ian. She faked confusion pointing at him feebly.

Um, Ian, right?

Yeah. He smiled eagerly. Carly searched frantically for pockets to shove her hands into while awaiting the painful conversation she could feel approaching. She looked for other customers in the store, but early morning promised no foot traffic.

So… Ian started, as his eyes caught the floor and her broom, Do you work here? She snickered.

Nah, I go around sweeping random stores in my spare time. His eyes closed tightly for a brief moment.

Sorry… I… I’m just trying to make conversation.

You don’t have to. She shuffled her foot to spin around and Ian touched her arm.

Wait…I’m glad I ran into you. Carly looked at him. I enjoyed doing time with you yesterday. He moved a piece of hair from in front of his eyes nervously.

Doing time? Anger grew very calmly. You have a lot to learn. She took off for her room with the door labeled ‘Supplies’. Carly had hoped she escaped without Ian seeing inside the room.

Twenty minutes had crept by. He has to be gone by now. No one would sit around waiting for a door to open. Carly slid out quietly while scanning the store carefully for her unwanted admirer. She was just about to duck back when she caught sight of him looking at her from the counter.  No, I’m not gonna run from him. Why should I waste my life, what I have of life, hiding from some pompous, ill-mannered, haughty freak? She went straight for the main door trying not to peek at him. Carly claimed a spot on the volatile bench in front of the store. Irritated, she swung her feet up and hugged her knees. With hiding not being an option, Carly was preparing her heart for unintentional wounding. The bench whined as he sat down slowly. Bringing one knee then the other slowly to his chest, he rested his arms