The Elemental Princess

Chapter Two

Zariah’s POV

“Would you like your milk bagged?” I asked with my best customer service tone. This day could end already, I thought. I put her milk in a bag as she had nodded. Luckily, I had only five more minutes until I was done my shift. I liked my job as cashier, I was just having a day where everything that could go wrong kind of did go wrong. My van got stuck in some mud and I had to get it unstuck, and in that process, I got mud all over myself. I had to go to my best-friend Xander’s house to grab a shower. He had already headed off for his classes for the day, so I had the house to myself. He has offered for me to stay with him, but I would have to give up my dogs, and that I just won’t do.

After my shower, I accidentally knocked my coffee all over the counter. I cleaned it up and went to let my dogs out to use the bathroom. One of my pits, Bella, knocked into me, almost knocking me on my behind. My other pit, Venus, knocked her food all over the floor of the van because she was too excited to eat. They are both lucky they’re the cutest potatoes ever. Just things like this have been happening all day. Dropping things, tripping, hurting myself, spilling things, etc. I just wanted to be done so I could climb into bed and pretend the world doesn’t exist as usual. At least I can park my van at Xander’s again now that his parents have gone back home.

Jess came over with her till while I was finishing checking out the lady. “Hey Jess,” I said. She smiled and said, “Hi.” I gave the lady her change and closed my till drawer. “Have a nice day mam.” I said politely. She smiled back and said,” Thank you, you too.” I greeted the next customer, a gentleman this time. “Hi sir, if you give us just a moment we’ll switch out and get you taken care of.” I instantly signed out and let my till pop out of the drawer, so I grabbed it and headed to the money room. I told Jess to “Have a good day.” Before I walked away.

I must’ve counted down my till in lighting speed. I just wanted out of there. I pushed my hair off my shoulders to my back as I went to the break room to clock out. I thankfully had the next four days off. I needed them. I’m so exhausted from these long workdays. I worked a week straight due to covering for a couple of other people when they called in. I made sure that when they scheduled the next schedule that I got at least three days off so I could recuperate. I guess they decided to give me an extra day, and I’m grateful for it.

I jumped in my van and sped off to the park. The pups deserved the time to run around and play after being cooped up so many days. They had food and water and I kept fans on to keep them cool. It was pricey in batteries, but it helped. They also had a nice comfy bed to sleep on a.k.a. my bed. My van is my home, but at least I know no one can take it away from me. After my adoptive parents died in a car accident shortly after my eighteenth birthday, I’ve been fending for myself ever since.

Flashback

My adoptive family took everything of value they could while I was in the hospital healing from my injuries in the accident. A deer had jumped out in front of the car and my dad swerved to avoid it but hit a patch of black ice in the process. We slid off the road down an embankment. As the car rolled and slid, crushing my parents in the front. Somehow, my seat belt got cut and I went flying out the back window. I smacked myself at my back into a tree before falling and laying unconscious in the snow halfway down the hill of the embankment.

I had bruised two ribs on my left side, broken my left ankle and leg, as well as a broken left arm. My back and left side are what had smacked into the tree first. I’m lucky I didn’t hit my head really as I was already falling into the snow before my head could completely smack into the tree, and my arm had been protecting my head, which is why I broke my arm and bruised my ribs. I was in the hospital for a little over a month.

At that time, is when they cleared out the house, sold practically everything, put my things in storage, and sold the house that fast. They sold it to a family member. That’s why it sold so fast. That’s what happens when the rest of your adoptive family hates you.

My mother’s side of the family lived further away. They were nice to me even if they didn’t totally agree with her adopting me. I got a small settlement after the insurance company paid the medical bills, and it was enough to buy my used van and for me to convert it enough to live in it.

There’s a bigger settlement coming soon. I turn twenty-two in a little over a couple of months. The part of the insurance settlement for my parents’ death is enough for me to get a small home, and if I saved the rest right, I’d have some to live on for a while. My adoptive family just didn’t want to make it easy for me and believed they deserved the settlement, not me.

I’m just waiting for all the last legal jargon to be tied up. After these few years of court battles, my father’s side of the family took me to court to try and get the settlement claiming I wasn’t family, so I didn’t deserve to be given the insurance settlement.

I could’ve fought them by them selling everything, but it could get tied up in court for years more, and its just not worth the fight. The judge ruled in my favor just last week. He also ordered them to pay all my legal fees for attorneys, and such. They also have to pay interest on the settlement to me for keeping it away from me for years with this court case battle nonsense. I think it was the judge’s way of getting me some money back from what they stole by selling everything.

Flashback Over

I let Venus and Bella run to their hearts' content. I would throw them a ball, or stick if they brought one, or I’d chase them around. I was sitting on the grass just enjoying the sun with my hands bracing me on the ground behind me. After working all day and running just now, I needed to catch a breath.

There wasn’t going to be too many more nice days like this. Soon winter will hit and its going to be damned cold. Venus had curled on my right side and Bella on my left side. I had found them on the side of the road curled up like the ying and yang sign almost literally. Venus is a pure black pit and Bella is a pure white pit. They were just babies only four weeks old from what the vet told me. I had to use a portion of what was left of my settlement to get them taken care of with vaccines and such, but it’s been worth it. They are the most loyal, sweet, and well-behaved dogs you’d ever want to meet. Plus, in the winter they keep me warm mostly.

Just then, my text alert sounded off. I pulled my phone out of my jeans pocket to see what was up. It was a text from Xander. Girl, get your fine self over to my place now we’re going out tonight to pick up on guys and I won’t take no for an answer it read. I didn’t want to go, but he would hound me until the cows came home. I texted back that I’d be there in a half hour so I could give the dogs a bit more time to run about. He sent me a thumbs-up emoji.

Well, so much for relaxing in the park for a while longer. I’ll try and bring them tomorrow too. I got up and started to play with them again after tucking my phone back in my pocket. Hopefully, tonight will improve compared to the day I’ve had. I guess it’ll be fun to dance and watch Xander hit on every hot guy in his path.

I walked in and said, “Sup girl?” He just grinned and rushed to give me a hug. It’s been a week where his parents were staying for a visit. Nice people, but his mom is allergic to dogs, and it meant I couldn’t be around her because of the dog fur on my clothes and such. It worked anyway, as I worked all week straight.

“When are you going to move in?” He demanded with his right hand on his hip. “Never.” I said. “Why the hell not?” He asked with as much upset he could muster to try and make me feel guilty. “You know why Xan; I don’t want to have the dogs get their fur all over your place. I don’t want your mom having a reaction next time they visit,” I replied.

“Well, I talked with her, and they are okay staying in a hotel. They want you to be more comfortable than you are living in your van. You know they love you like you’re their own daughter they never had.” He said. “Also, she’s going to be starting a new medication soon that will hopefully help with her dog allergies.” He added.

“Uh, I’ll think about it okay?” He snatched me into a big hug at that response. It would be nice to be in an actual house and I may be able to pay off this mortgage, saving me some money and we can own the house together. I’ll talk with him more about that later.

“So, where are we going tonight?” I asked. “There’s this new club that opened up on main street called Starlight, and I want to check it out.” He responded. “So, we’re going to get you looking sizzling hot, so no man stands a chance between the two of us.” He said in a sassy tone with a chuckle at the end. I chuckled too.