Life is cruel, but tough situations are what mold us into the people we are and who we need to be. That is what I believe anyways. Without my parents' false accusations of abuse causing death, I would not be free. Without my parents' betrayal saying I was a mistake and how my mom tried terminating her pregnancy with me, I wouldn't be happy.

In short, I am a self-made woman who has surpassed expectations of my family who I no longer have contact with. I have my education, I have my mechanics course, I have a savings account, I have some of my own tools and I am free to do what I want where I want as a now 21-year-old.

The only thing I don't have is a reliable vehicle as I sit on the side of the road with the hood and trunk open while it pours rain, and I am soaked from head to toe. No part of my body is dry right now, I am frustrated and angry, I am gods knows how far from any form of civilization and to be honest, I am lost.

As I stand in the pouring rain trying to change the flat tire that seems to have been wrenched on her severely bad, and of course I don't have a portable impact to remove it. I have some tools in my vehicle but nothing major as I have been waiting to find my forever home before I spent tons of money on tools and could set up in a shop.

I try standing on the tire iron and end up bashing my shins as this truck slows down and pulls over. I scream in frustration and start cussing up a storm as a shorter, stocky man comes trucking up to me.

"Having some troubles their sweetheart?" he asks kindly as his wife stands beside him with an umbrella. I sigh feeling the frustration turning into anger.

"Just fan-fucking-tastic thanks for asking." I respond as I am bent over rubbing my shin where it smashed me. The man chuckles at me as I am sure I look like a mighty mess.

"Just the tire causing issues or are you trying to drown the front of the car too?" he asks with a grin on his face, this got me to laugh a little. At least he isn't being an ass.

"Nah the stupid thing is overheating, there are issues that I have been ignoring that finally blew up in my face. Of course, things happen in three's so the car overheats, I pull over and blow the tire and as I am struggling in the rain, I realize I have zero clue where I am, so I couldn't even call for a tow if my life depended on it." I stand to my full height and take in the man before me.

He had a buzz cut, long chestnut brown facial hair that reminds me of an old school biker, he has lots of tattoos, a Harley jacket and riding boots on. His wife was really pretty with her dark black long hair and emerald, green eyes, but even she was tattooed with leathers on. Guess they must be bikers.

"Name's Arianna." I extend my hand to be polite, the man grasps my hand firmly and we shake.

"Shorty, this is my wife, Shannon." I smile and shake her hand as well. "Well, were about forty-five minutes from the city, but about twenty minutes from my house. I run a shop and can fix it in the garage if you want." He offers, I nod my head.

"That would be amazing, although I have my mechanics if you got the tools, I could fix it myself." I smile, not really wanting to pay a full mechanics bill. He nods and motions for me to get in his vehicle. I stop and stare a moment before speaking up, again.

"I am absolutely soaked, is it okay to get in?" I ask, feeling bad already.

"Don't worry about it." Shorty says as both him and Shannon get in, so I get in the backseat as well.

"I can pay the cleaning bill for the backseat if you want. I mean I have been out here for a good hour and half in this stupid rain, so I am super soggy." I admit with a sheepish smile, he waves off my concern as Shannon answers me.

"It's fine sweetheart, it's only water it won't melt the car." She giggles, I smile feeling a bit better. Shorty pulls out his phone and calls someone first.

"Hey Jaymie, come to mile marker 206 with the tow truck, pick up the silver Subaru off the side of the road with the flat deck and deliver it to my house." He paused listening to the person on the other end talk before speaking again, "Thanks man, owe you one." With that he hangs up the phone and we drive away. As we drive, I start to get a bit of a chill. It isn't bad at first, but the further we drive the colder I get. As we pull into a beautiful yard out on the edge of a subdivision, I start chattering because of my wet clothes.

We get out and Shannon holds the umbrella for me and suddenly her eyes widen when she looks at me.

"Shit let's get you in the house and into some dry warm clothes before we even worry about your car sweetheart." She turns to Shorty, "Her lips are starting to turn blue; I am taking her inside." Shorty turns to me worried when he hears this, so they both take me inside the house.

Rushing into the house I don't have much time to take a look around, I am shoved in a bathroom and ordered by Shannon to strip down and give her my wet clothes, shower but only room temperature water or it will burn my skin. I could hear her hollering at Shorty to get her some sweatpants and sweater to wear once I am done my shower.

I strip and hand her the clothes out the door, she takes them and disappears before I start the shower and hop in. Even at room temperature it burned my skin, but I didn't care, I am so cold right now. I slowly increase the temperature of the water until I am warm and no longer shivering. I shut off the water as the door opens and Shannon peeks her head in.

"I left the clothes and a clean towel on the sink for you. Your clothes are in the dryer, and would you prefer coffee or tea after your shower?" she asks.

"Thank you, Shannon, I will take a cup of coffee please." The door closing is my answer as she leaves again so I step out and dry off with the towel, then dress in the clothes she left. The pants fit perfectly and the hoodie she gave me is a support 81 sweater that is a little big on me but super comfy and warm.

I find a brush and run it through my long hair, leaving it down before stepping out and making my way to the kitchen. Both Shorty and Shannon are sitting down with a cup of coffee themselves while they wait for me to come out. As soon as they see me, they are both up and over to me.

"How do you feel now?" Shannon asks as her hands cup my face and feel my forehead.

"Is she warmer?" Shorty asks Shannon worriedly; I break out into a grin and laugh a little at them. They both smile at me warmly before Shannon lets go and Shorty steps back a bit.

"Sorry when we saw your blue lips, we were both a little worried." Shannon admits as Shorty pulls another cup out of the cupboard and pours me a fresh cup of coffee.

"Have a seat my sweetheart, what do you take in your coffee?" he asks, so I do as I am told and sit down beside Shannon.

"Just black please. Thank you both of you, I was getting really cold. I admit I am still a bit chilled but at least I am warmed up now." I smile, without a word Shorty set down my coffee and went out of the kitchen and came back right away with a fuzzy Harley Davidson blanket and wrapped it around my shoulders.

"There, warm up. Drink some coffee and your car should be here shortly. Don't worry about it. I will fix it up for you and get you back on the road as soon as I can." He smiled at me, and I smiled back.

"Don't rush, honestly, I am tired of driving. It's been two days with a few hour naps when I get tired." I admit. Shorty stopped short and turned around to really take a look at me, not sure what he was looking for, but he came back over and sat down again.

"Are you running from something my sweetheart?" he asks seriously, I was shocked, and my face must have shown it because Shorty continued.

"If you are, I can help, but only if you want." He offered, I smiled trying to ease the sudden tension at the table.

"I promise I am not running from any trouble. I," I paused trying to think of how to word my life without getting the sympathy that usually goes with it. "I escaped a rough situation as a teen and have been on my own since 17 and haven't really lived anywhere long enough to have a home. Well besides when I was in school for my heavy-duty mechanics. I have been traveling and enjoying my life and my freedom. But I am tired of traveling now, that's how I got lost and ended up here. Not sure if I'm staying but guess only time will tell." I smile sadly at them, that seemed to appease shorty because he wasn't serious anymore and the tension was all but gone.

"Your more than welcome to stay here my sweetheart, as long as you need." He smiles as we hear a horn honk. Shorty gets up gives me a kiss on the forehead and walks out the door without a second thought. My eyes widened at the show of affection right in front of his wife as my jaw dropped. Shannon was trying not to laugh but failed. I turn to her confused out of my mind.

"Oh sweetheart, he has been calling you HIS sweetheart, that means he doesn't want you to go. He likes you. I agree your more than welcome to stay as long as you need, you see I can't have kids. I was attacked as a kid and the damage was so severe that they had to piece my insides back together and my uterus was destroyed. He has a thing for adopting strays and helping them in their lives, but he has never taken to anyone as fast as you." She explains as I drink my coffee, well that would make sense as to why he is so affectionate to me and was so worried when I was cold, even though he had just met me.

"Oh." Is all I really could say, I didn't know what else to say. I couldn't promise I would stay because I didn't know even where I was let alone if there is something for me here. I mean I am so happy I met Shannon and Shorty, and I am super grateful for what they have done for me and are still doing for me, but I just don't know.

We sat together for a while longer before Shorty comes in with another man. He was tall, I mean tall, he was fairly stocky with muscular arms, slicked back black hair, a 5 o'clock shadow adorned his jaw, he had some tattoos and was dirty from working.

"Arianna meet Jaymie; he works for the local tow company in the city. He's a good friend of mine and the one who dropped your whip off. Jaymie this is Arianna she's staying here for a bit." Jaymie smiled as he sat down across from me, Shorty poured him a cup of coffee and sat down beside him.

"Hey nice to meet you." He extended his hand so I unwrapped a bit so I could shake his hand.

"You to." He winks at me as we shake hands causing me to raise my eyebrow in question, if that was him flirting, he would have to try harder.

"Quit." Shorty said, lightly punching him in the arm. Jaymie grins and rubs at the spot Shorty hit.

"What? I'm not doing anything." Jaymie laughs, Shorty rolls his eyes not believing a word he said, and Shannon and I just laughed.

"Shorty my love, you have known her a total of what, four hours now and already your beating possible suitors away. Sheesh, let the girl make her own decisions." Shannon tries not to grin at him, but she just can't help it. He sighs and gives her a look that says not now, she takes his hand, and he kisses the back of it. It was such a cute moment.

"I don't mind." I admit, I really haven't had anyone look out for me before, it has always been me against the world, so I have to say it felt nice. This made Shorty stick his lounge out at Shannon like a little kid which made me, and Jaymie burst out laughing at them. Shannon shakes her head and copies him; they are the cutest couple ever.

"Well welcome to Roslyn, I think you will like it here." Jaymie says with a goofy grin on his face, he is cute, but he looks really young and that is saying something since I am only 21.

"If you don't mind me asking Jaymie how old are you?" I question, I am just curious because he is super cute.

"Why are you interested?" he leans closer to me and raises his eyebrow in question, Shorty just looks between us almost curious as to my response. So, I lean closer to him and smirk.

"I'm curious because you look like a little boy." I smirked as I tried to be serious, but the shocked look on his face and the proud look on Shorty's face had me bursting out laughing.

"Well then, I have never." He huffed and started to pout, this made everyone else laugh with me. "You guys are so mean to me." Jaymie puffed out his cheeks pouting even harder.

"I'm just bugging you, but you do look younger than me and I am only 21, that's why I asked." I answered honestly when I calmed down a bit. Jaymie sighed before answering me.

"I don't like looking like such a child that's why I am growing the facial hair. But your right, I am only 19." He admits as he crosses his arm waiting for more teasing.

"Oh, quit pouting Jaymie, there is nothing wrong with being younger." Shannon rolls her eyes with a gentle smile on her face. "But boys, you need to get out of the house and go fix Arianna's car, we women are going to figure out what is for supper. Jaymie if you don't have any plans your more than welcome to join us for supper." Shannon stands up, all but dismissing the boys. Shorty and Jaymie take their cue and stand as well before placing their empty cups in the sink.

Shorty gives Shannon a kiss, gives me a side hug and kiss on the forehead before going towards the door. Jaymie gives Shannon a hug, thanking her for coffee before giving me a friendly hug as well.

"It was nice to meet you Ari, hope to see you again." I smile and hug him back.

"Yes, for sure, I will be sticking around for a few days for sure before I make up my mind if I am leaving. It was nice to meet you to." He takes his phone out of his pocket and opens the text messages and hands me his phone.

"Text your phone from mine so you have my number and I have yours and if you ever need anything don't hesitate to text or call me, okay?" I smile, taking his phone I text myself and save my number in his phone, I grin as I save it as Beautiful Girl as a joke.

"Thanks, I will." With that he waves goodbye and follows Shorty out the door. Shannon smiles at me and comes over to give me a hug as well.

"You will have to text Shorty and me too so we can reach you if we need to." She mentions as she pulls away. I smile and give her my phone so she can add her and Shorty to my phone, once she sent the texts and saved contacts in my phone, she clapped her hands.

"Right now, supper, what do you want?" she asks. I stare at her, not knowing what to ask for.

"I, uh, don't know to be honest." I admit, she grins and thinks for a moment. She checks the fridge, the freezer and goes to the pantry.

"You know what, I need to go grocery shopping tomorrow. So why don't we go out to eat? Jaymie's dad owns a place in town and the food is super good. I actually think Kevin is working there, Jaymie's older brother." She picks up her phone and texts someone. "I'll just ask Shorty if that works for him. Come we will sit in the living room where it's more comfortable while we wait." She leads the way, I follow and sit down in the reclining chair, but I tuck my legs underneath me and get comfortable.

"If you don't mind me asking, what happened that you had to be an adult by the age of 17? You don't have to share with me, I just want to get to know you." Shannon asks but makes sure I know she isn't pushing me. I smile sadly, I hate talking about it, but I am over it already to a point.

"Well, it's a long draining story that I may go into detail later but the just of it is my parents admitted to me just before my 17th birthday that I was a mistake and that my mom tried terminating her pregnancy with me multiple times, but I survived. Then when we got into a fight, she admitted she was pregnant again, but I was done so I packed up and left. I was two days into traveling when I get stopped by the cops and taken in. She put a report in that I abused her and caused her to have a miscarriage. Thankfully my laptop had the webcam going and recorded our last encounter, so I got off and she got charged but yeah, I don't have a family any more over that." I gave her the low down but no details, my eyes were misty as I focused on the floor in front of the chair.

I hate my parents, but I have learned to move past it. I don't wish any ill will on them, but the Karma bus struck them hard. I have zero contact with anyone in my family at all, everyone had taken her side during the court case, so when the truth came out and they tried to talk to me I walked away. I wasn't allowing someone who called me a liar be a part of my life. I look over to Shannon finally as she has been silent for so long to see her with her eyes pinched closed almost like she was in pain while she cried.

I got up and went to sit beside her on the couch and wrapped my arms around her in a hug. She opened up and hugged me back, sobbing on my shoulder. She held me tight for a good five minutes as we sat in silence while she sobbed, I rubbed her back and just held her as she held me.

"How could someone say or do that to their own child?" She sobbed out after a while, I didn't know myself, so I didn't know how to answer her. "Some people are so ungrateful for the blessings and miracles they are given. Selfish bastards, every last one of them. I have always dreamed of being a mom, but that was ripped away from me. The closest I can ever have to my own child is adoption." She sobbed again and broke down crying. Just then the door opened, and Shorty and Jaymie came back in to hear the crying.

"Baby what's wrong?" Shorty rushes over, concern for his wife. I let go and stand up so Shorty can comfort her.

"Sorry, it was my fault. She wanted to know more about my past and." Shannon cut me off before I could finish.

"No don't say sorry sweetheart. I asked and you told me, the situation has me upset not you sweetie. I promise." She chokes out then looks at Shorty, "Her parents didn't want her, that is what has me upset baby. I would give anything to have a kid and they just threw her away." She cries again.

"Hey, I will take Ari to dad's for supper and bring you two back some food if you want. You two can take some time if you need." Jaymie offers to Shorty; I feel bad now.

"We will just take a few minutes then meet you there that's where we wanted to go anyways, I will be okay guys I promise." Shannon smiles through her tears as she stands up and wraps me into a hug. "Please don't feel bad sweetie, I just get emotional when sad things happen." She holds me tight, and I hug her back, letting her be the first to let go.

"I understand, we will meet you there then, okay?" I make double sure she is okay before letting go fully. She nods and goes up the stairs, I assume to their bedroom. Shorty comes over and drapes an arm around my shoulders.

"I promise my sweetheart, you did nothing wrong she just gets emotional because she really wanted kids and we just couldn't. I promise. See you there." He kisses my forehead, gives me a squeeze, and follows Shannon upstairs.

As I watch them disappear Jaymie puts his arm around my shoulders startling me a bit.

"Hey, don't worry about them okay. They have each other and honestly, a relationship like theirs is something I dream of." He smiles, "Let's go get some food, I'll introduce you to dad and Kevin." He sounds proud to introduce me to them, so we take our leave. 

I don't know where this life is going to take me, but I think this is a good start to something I have been missing my whole life and that is people that actually care about me, and Shorty and Miss Shannon are exactly those people. Who knows, maybe Jaymie and I can get to know eachother. I smile to myself as we drive into town to eat, feeling a comfort unlike anything I have ever felt before. Happyness.

THE END!