The scope of love

Chapter 17

I only spoke to my parents once. They could have made this easier on me. They could have send me to a school in some small town that isn’t run by the ridiculous program. The flat out refused and said that I was an embarrassment, the program would have given me a nice life and I would have been able to learn how to be happy. Now they will be the disgrace of the town, but if they didn’t help me then they won’t be looked down upon. It won’t look like they are supporting my actions. They have been ignoring all my calls since then. Not that I have been trying all that much to get a hold of them. All I wanted was to go by and get a few of my things. They also didn’t answer the door when I came by. I had to walk all the way to the house and sleep outside in a park. Since the school was a town over and I had a late start. Since they wouldn’t answer I waited on the porch. When it got late I walked to the local park and found yet again another bench to sleep on. I didn’t want to sleep on the porch the last thing I needed was for them to think that I was looking for their charity. The next day when I went by I found all my things in the dustbin in the front yard. Since I couldn’t get any lower than I already was I went through the trash bin taking what I needed. I was hungry and I only had so much pocket money left. I went to a take away shop and got some chips and fish. It would be filling. I ate in peace before making my way to the highway. I will walk until I can find a tiny town that I can settle in. I was not going to waste the last money I had on transport. I will save it for food later on. It was exactly what I did. I walked until my feet felt dead. I would sit on any grass I could find. I would usually rest for an hour then I would start working again. When ever I saw a gas station I used their bathroom to put on new clothes and wash up using a basin. I bought the cheapest food which usually was a sandwich and buy a bottle of water. After about a week of doing this I ran out of money so I went to the closets pawn shop I could find. In the town I was in at that time, I sold everything they would take. That included my phone, so jewellery I had that my parents had given me and even some of the clothes I had. I got a fair amount of money for everything so I set out again. It wasn’t as easy as I thought it would be to come across a town that wasn’t run by the program. I finally came across one, but they weren’t as welcoming as I though they would be. They all seemed so guarded and simply unpleasant. I almost got robbed that night. I had heard something while I slept and saw two guys throwing my things out of my bag, luckily for me I stashed all my money in my bra. As I got up to run they spot me. I ran as fast as I could and jumped into a bush scrapping up my arms since I wasn’t wearing my jacket. I waited in the bush for a couple of hours until I was sure that they had left. When I got back to my things everything was wet it seemed like they had come back and waited for me, but since I didn’t show they dumped cooldrink all over my things. Not wanting to stay there any longer than I needed I put all the wet clothes in the plastic bag were I usual put my wet washed clothes until I stop and are able to lay them in the sun to dry. I walked to the gas station. Where I went into the bathroom and washed my clothes. It was the first time that I cried at how messed up all of this was. Having to run because I didn’t want to marry someone the program chooses for me, being thrown away by my parents because they are more concerned by appearance and now almost getting robbed. It turned out that this is the first town that doesn’t follow the program. A lot of people who rejects the program and who can’t afford to pay the school fees end up here, but the town took a dark turn since it’s a bunch of people who doesn’t want to follow someone elses rules so they decided to not follow any rules. I wanted to get out as soon as I can which is what I did. It took me another week before I found another town. At least I got a couple of lifts from nice people of course I lied to them saying that I was going to go and visit my Taurus boyfriend since he is from a different school and how it was love at first sight. In that week I found myself wondering if I made a mistake. Yes I don’t always agree with the program, but it was better than this last two weeks of sleeping outside and eating the bare minimum, but I put it of as hunger and sleep deprivation. This was all for the best. I didn’t want that life. I also didn’t want this life, but it will get better. I will live in a place where people aren’t brainwashed by the programme. A place that follows the good old rules. I found that place after my two weeks adventure. It was a really small town. Almost picturesque. I loved it the moment I arrived. I sat down in a diner and decided to treat myself with a real plate of food. The smells coming out of the kitchen was so great that I almost salivated. I ordered a full breakfast. There was eggs, toast, bacon, beans and sausage. With it I took a big cup of coffee. I enjoyed every bite and flavorful sip.

“Are you new in town?” The waitress said as she came to refill my cup. I knew I had to stop her since I shouldn’t spend to much money, but she was to quick.

“Yes, I’ve been looking for a place like this for just over two weeks.” I said as I pulled the cup to me and took a sip. I’ve been drinking just water for two weeks.

“So you are moving here? Are you on your own or with a husband, maybe someone you met from the program?” I saw her guard go up, so they don’t allow people from the program to settle here. I guess it would be awkward if one family in town started asking your sign since they can only hand with certain types.

“I’m on my own you don’t need to worry. I ran away from the program. I never wanted anything to do with it, but my parents forced it and now they have disowned me. I’ve been hiking for two weeks looking for a decent town that isn’t ruled by the program.” I told her momentarily lifting my lips from the cup.

“Breakfast is on the house for all newcomers.” She informed me with a smile, I saw pity in her eyes though.

“Can I get a piece of strawberry cream pie, I’ll pay for it.” Since I don’t have to worry about paying my breakfast I can afford a piece of pie. I sat there waiting eagerly for my pie. It wasn’t long before she brought the pie for me. She placed it in front of me.

“I’m sorry that I’m asking this, but I’m a bit of a Nosey Nancy. I ask everyone who dropped the program for there reasons. Our town never incorporated the program and to us it’s just something people talk about. We can’t say if it’s bad or good. I guess I sometimes wonder if we did incorporate it that I wouldn’t still be single. Most of the men here are taken.” I guess I can understand that she is curious about it all. I mean they promise true love.

“The program is bad. It takes away most of your choice. They don’t care about your feelings as long as they have a good pass rate. I was against it from the beginning. I never wanted it and I saw it as wrong. I did something about it, I went looking for love outside of my grouping and I found it. Then we started to investigate the program and the stories we got were horrific. We were found out though. They gave us two options we can stay at the same school and moved on through speed dating in the right grouping or we go to their headquarters where we are basically locked up and forced to work for them. We decided to stay at the school. At least them we were near each other. I went through the motions, but I didn’t try hard to find someone else. So they took me to his wedding and made me watch him get married to someone else. If I wasn’t broken enough by that I found out my bodyguard that I trusted was part of my grouping and they assigned him to me so that I would fall for him. I packed all my things and left after that.” I told her the short version of the story, not wanting to think to much about it. I’m guessing she has heard a lot of stories that I can add to my data.

“We have a opening in the kitchen, a dish washer position if you are looking for a job. I just had to make sure that you were here to stay.”

“I’ll take it. I have no where else to go.” It’s a sad truth. I lost Declan and my parents don’t want me. It’s here or no where I guess.

It’s been two weeks and I am settling in here, I’m pretty sick of washing dishes, but Sarah, my Nosey Nancy, ensure me that I will get to move up to waitress in time. She had a spare bedroom and offered it to me when she found me sleeping on a bench one night. She kept saying the people in this town takes care of one another. I’ve been saving a lot of money since I don’t have to pay for anything while I’m staying with her. The diner let’s us take home any food that was prepared and not served since they don’t want to go to waste and they like preparing new food for their clients. It’s mostly side dishes like french fries, salads and veggies. I never say no since it’s free and the chef is a genius. It’s been a month since the wedding and I can finally think about it without getting to sad.

It was a busy day in the kitchen when I heard his voice. I peaked out the door and sure enough there stood Emmett holding up a photo of me. Sarah took the photo and looked at it.

“Have you seen that girl? I’m looking for her. She ran away and her parents are very worried about her.” All lies, my parents don’t care and he is here for his bosses from the program and not for me.

“Yeah I recognize her. She stopped in here about two weeks ago. She ordered the strawberry and cream pie and coffee. She seemed sad. She did ask for direction to the nearest airport. I couldn’t help her. I just told her to head to the nearest largest city and they would probably have one. I hope you find her. Her poor parents.” I couldn’t help, but smile as Sarah lied for me. They sat down to eat since they though they had a long journey ahead of them. Sarah took their order before coming to the kitchen to tell me.

“His name is Emmett. He is the bodyguard they wanted me to fall in love with. They must be looking for me, because I know to much.” I told her as I started washing the dishes again.

“Well damn I would have fallen in love with him everyday and twice on Sunday. He is fine. I’m going to go and flirt and then watch him disappear out of my life.” Sarah is definitely a character. I watched her walk out of the kitchen swaying her hips like she was in some pageant. All I could do was shake my head.

Book entry

That night Sarah helped me colour my hair. We made it dark brown. She kept talking about Emmett and how she couldn’t believe that he was a bad guy. I told her his story, because he wasn’t a bad guy. He was me, but he got trapped and can’t escape from them. I was his escape I guess. If I married him, he could have moved on. They would probably still have kept an eye on us. Two rebels getting married doesn’t seem that good. For the following couple months I became part of the town. I was Bree the new waitress at the diner.