Anastasia's POV

"When are you going to tell me what happened that night? You seemed in such a hurry the other morning." My little sister Jenny asked from the seat next to me. I tried staying concentrated on the road, and ignoring all of her questions. It was hard to handle a 18 year old along with all the problems I had in that moment.

The nauseous feeling in my stomach seemed to grow every time I thought about that night. The only thing I remembered was waking up in a bedroom upstairs from the club. I could hear the shower running, so I put on my clothes and left before 7 am hit. I got back at Lyla's before Jenny was awake, but I was aware that we couldn't stay at her place forever.

Besides, Jenny had to get to her new school, and I was her private driver. The car was all I had left. The college that accepted her with a full scholarship guaranteed her a dorm room and a life like every other college student. And I could handle myself. I just had to find myself a job in order to keep my visa and stay in America.

And find a place to stay.

And most of all, try and forget about that stupid night.

The guilt was already eating me alive, and I didn't want her mentioning it because I hated lying to her. "I already told you, sunshine, I went for a drink and got back late. You were already sound asleep." I glanced at her, offering a small smile. She knew I was hiding something, but I wasn't ready to tell her yet.

I kept some details from her... A few. Like the fact that if I didn't find a job in three weeks, I would be deported back in London. And the fact that I was already rejected from 3 job interviews in the past week. And the other fact that we lost our apartment because I lost my job as a bartender, and could no longer pay rent. Well that one she knew, but I tried keeping her off track as much as possible.

The story for her was that I was staying with a friend in Richwood until I find a permanent job. I wanted her to be concentrated on her studying, not my surviving. I didn't want her worrying that I might get sent back to London to live with our crazy uncle. It wasn't happening. I swore to myself that I wasn't leaving my baby sister alone, hundreds of miles away and on another continent.

Her voice once again snapped me out of my thoughts. "So this friend... What was her name again?"

Dang it. I kept forgetting the imaginary friend. "Chris,- Christina." I muttered.

"Right... So, you're staying with her until you find a new job?" I looked at her, seeing her eyebrows furrowed as her eyes scanning me, waiting for an answer. I couldn't tell her that I was staying in our car till I found a job and an apartment. The girl just finished high school, and no matter how smart she was, she freaked out about the littlest things.

"Yep." I said clearly. "Now can you relax a little. We'll be fine." I turned on the radio a bit louder, just so my thoughts would get a little more blocked.

The town that was near Jenny's new school was actually the town where we were born. I was ten, and Jenny was only five when we to move to England with our parents, because of... Well, multiple reasons. Now, after years of our tragic lives, we were back. I wasn't sure how the town was going to welcome the Nelsons, but it was worth to try. Try and find out what exactly happened thirteen years ago. Of course, that was my least problem at the moment.

But the last part of my luck was soon 'wasted', banishing in the autumn air on the old high way, right in front of the large old sign saying 'Welcome to Richwood." The old crap of a Mercedes breathed out for the last time before it slowed down and shook.

I could barely stop on the side of the road, the same second when dark gray smoke came out of the front of the car, blocking my view. Crap.

This last catastrophe was just too much. I wrapped my fingers tighter around the wheel, placing my forehead over it, finally giving up on the bad luck that was simply following me everywhere I went. "What the hell happened?" I heard Jenny exclaim, looking behind the seat. What did she mean, 'what happened'? Did she not see the smoke coming out from the front?

Without saying a word, I got out of the car and walked towards the front of it. Who was I kidding? I was no mechanic. I heard the door bang after a few seconds as Jenny walked out. Her goldish locks shone on the sun, her green eyes large and confused, giving me that questionable look.

"Well, either we ran out of gas," Not. I tapped the front of the car. "or our Mercedes just passed away."

Her lips parted as she looked at it one last time. "We're cursed." She whined, leaning on the side of the car.

I heard a chuckle escape my throat. I was losing it. Or the sun hit my head too suddenly. Clearing my throat, I put that serious expression back on my face before I crossed my arms over my chest. "We're not cursed Jenny, it's just an old car."

I was still finishing when a black jeep drove by our car, turning right towards the exit. It slowed down, and stopped. I found black jeeps unpleasant for some reason. They reminded me of those bad-news-guys from those cliche movies. The door opened and someone walked out. I had the urge to tell Jenny to get in the car, but the sun blinded me, and I just tried figuring out who it was.

"Can I help you?" I heard a deep voice, but I sill couldn't quite see the face. It just seemed like a dark figure from how the sun illuminated this man.

Jenny had her arms crossed, still trying to figure out why we were 'cursed', and didn't even bother looking up. So I answered. "Sorry, uh,- our car broke. Is there a gas station or a mechanic near here?" Though, I wasn't sure if either of that could help.

He put his hands on his hips and walked a bit closer, glancing at the car. His tall figure blocked the sun, and his face cleared out more. The first thing that came to my eye was his overgrown dark, messy hair, sticking on top of his head, almost like he ran his hands through it multiple times. It shone on the sunlight. I wondered if it was soft?

I tried clearing my head, as I concentrated on this man's sharp features. High cheekbones, sharp jaw covered with a slight dark beard. He could easily pass for a model to be honest. If he fixed up a bit.

It didn't really suit him. He was wearing a black tux, probably worth more than me. It fit him, but his figure looked way too muscular for him to pass by anything other than a athlete.

He looked at the car for a few seconds, his eyebrows furrowed, before he shook his head slightly. "No. Though, the town's only a few miles away. You can walk. You should say goodbye to this old crap." That voice again. It sounded familiar. Deep and slightly raspy.

My brain slowly registered his words. Something suddenly turned in my stomach. "I'm sorry, Sir, I didn't exactly ask for your opinion." I really didn't need a rude Pantene model to share advice. "Thank you for your concern, but I suggest you mind your own business now." I barked back again, receiving a look from Jenny. What? Rude people deserved rude attitude.

I looked back at him, earning a murderous glare, furrowed eyebrows, and a sharp, clenched jaw. Grumpy cat would be a compliment for this guy. "Look, Miss, this is private property. And you're blocking the entrance. The security won't ask you as nicely as me. Move your car."

I frowned slightly, looking behind him. How didn't I notice that before. There was a large glass building behind and a large parking lot out front of it.. I understood why he was all suited up now. He probably worked there. Looking back at the guy, I offered a fake smile.

"I would love that, but my car has other plans, obviously." I wasn't even sure why I was still talking to this guy. Was he blind? The car was older than both of us together, and I could obviously not convince it to move, now that it had died in the middle of the road.

I heard him sigh before he looked at Jenny and then back at me. If that little devil opened her mouth, we would end up fighting this guy. I was glad she was depressed enough to stay quiet. "I'll call the towing service." He said, completely indifferently, once again speaking with that cold, edgy tone of his. "Keep away from the entrance till they arrive."

And with that, he turned around, got in his fancy car and drove towards the parking lot. I had the urge to throw something at him. Towing service... I couldn't let the towing service take my car. It was the only thing I had left.

And there wasn't really anything I could do about it, since he was pretty certain in calling them. I sighed, looking back at Jenny. "Well, he's hot."

My eyes slightly widen and the frustration this guy caused instantly banished. He was way too old for her to talk like that. He was probably my age, or even older than 23. "Jenny," I said with a meaningful tone. The wind slightly blew her hair across her face as she uncrossed her arms and put it away.

"What? He is." She grinned. "Not Prince Charming exactly, but cute."

I offered a small smile, placing my hand over her shoulder and slightly turned her towards the street. "Come on." If that man threatened to call the security, than he was pretty serious. I glanced over my shoulder towards the building once more.

There was a large sign on top of it, saying 'Bonner Electronic Arts'. It kind of sounded familiar.

It really didn't matter where we were though... What mattered is that we were supposed to get to Jenny's new school by tomorrow morning, and without the car, we were stuck on this road. However, I still needed at least a few minutes to come up with a new plan.

I was the older one. I was supposed to keep it together. One of us at least. My baby sister already had a lot on her mind. I wanted that guy in a black jeep to be her only problem right now, but it wasn't unfortunately. I promised myself that I was going to make it right for us. We didn't deserve living the fate our father wrote for us. And I intended to keep my promise.

~

I could practically see Richwood from where we were sitting. There were already a few buildings on the sides of the road, cars constantly stopping and passing by. I remember Richwood as a small town, so the fancy buildings were on the road, between New York and the little town. There was a small shopping mall near us. We bought ourselves sandwiches, but decided to keep an eye on the car, so we ate them on one of the benches in the small park near the mall.

The sun was way too strong for September... Too bright. The best plan I had came up with was to tell the service that it had been a mistake, and shoo them away from the car when they arrive. It was the only thing I had left. I couldn't let them just take it. I prayed the that the fancy Pantene model forgot to call them, since it had been more than half an hour and there was still no track of them. It was for the best.

Things crossed my mind. Terribly unpleasant things. I had to tell Jenny that if I didn't find a job, I would be deported back to England. She was right. We didn't have luck. Or 'cursed' in her words.

What I had left with me was a few things that were left from our mum, a few dresses (mostly), and a small backpack with other clothes that could fill a 'whole' drawer. Two thousand dollars was all I had in my bank account, considering the fact that I had to pay most off the money I saved, and give up most of the valuable things along the apartment. It all went to hell.

While Jenny played a boring song on her phone, I stared in front of me. I needed a miracle. My vision started slightly blurring from the bright sun, but my eyes were constantly concentrated on the "Bonner Electronic Arts" sign. The letters were white and large.

I kept thinking.. I was being irresponsible. Maybe staying in England was the best thing anyway... Marrying that guy my uncle wanted to practically sell me to... It was selfish of me to drag my baby sister on another continent with me. It had been a few years now. Living in a big city as New York hadn't been exactly the best choice I made.

For Jenny it was. She finished high school there, and now she had the chance to be good at something she loved. Art. Besides, nothing else was linking us to New York once we lost our apartment. Now, after I sent her in one of the greatest schools out there, it would be much easier. I could handle myself. Find a job... Any job really. I had the money to stay in a hotel for a while. However, the imaginary friend Christina was a better story for Jenny.

Yes, hotel. That was my best choice at the moment. For at least a few nights. I looked at Jenny. She stuffed her mouth with french fries while staring blankly at her phone. There was no service here, what was she looking at? Service. Yes, I needed service if I wanted to call a cab.

I looked at the glassy building across the road. They had phones in there... The problem was, I didn't want to bump into Mr. Private Property again. I guess all I could do was hope that I won't.