Chapter 1

I pulled my coat tightly around me as I walked out of my apartment building and into the morning cold. I was definitely not adjusting well to London weather but I just had to suck it up and get to work. The hour long walk to my minimum wage waitressing job wasn’t exactly ideal, but then again my whole life just hasn’t turned out ideal.

I had a future once. A good one too but sometimes life just has this way of screwing you over. I had potential, I really did, but I threw all of that away without a second thought. I was paying for it now but this is the life I chose to have and I accepted that.

I’ve been in London for about four months now and I still felt completely out of place here. The complexion of my skin was usually the first thing people noticed about me. People assumed I was some kind of model sporting some fake tan and salon-made highlights but in reality it’s just from many, many years out in the sun at the place I once called home. I didn’t want to think about that now though.

I kept my arms wrapped around myself tightly as I felt the cold wind cut through me like a knife. I walked faster, wishing desperately I could just get to work faster. Being able to take a cab would be so fantastic but I needed to save every bit of money I made. I was already struggling to survive on what I’ve got along with keeping my shitty apartment so I’d at least have a roof over my head.

After what felt like an eternity of freezing half to death I finally made it to the little restaurant I worked at. It wasn’t the best thing in the world but at least I had a job which is more than what a lot of people have nowadays.

“Hey Elena!” Haylie yelled from the other side of the room.

Haylie was a girl about my age who was also a waitress. She’s been working here a bit longer than be and for some reason she was always so cheerful. I think she was trying her best to be a friend to me and, although I appreciated her kindness, I just knew she’d regret wanting to get to know me later on.

“Morning,” I said quickly as I rushed to the back to take off my jacket.

I tied my long hair back so that it was out of the way and quickly joined Haylie in setting up for the day. Most of the waitresses here only worked half days since they were mostly part time workers. I, however, worked every single shift I could possibly get so I knew I’d be here at least until nine o’clock tonight. Gotta love twelve hour days.

“I don’t know how you do it, Elena,” Haylie said as she helped me put out silverware.

“Do what?” I asked.

“It just seems like you’re here all the time. I can barely stand the six hours I do work and yet you do twelve almost every day like it’s nothing,” she said.

I just shrugged at her. I didn’t flaunt the fact that I was struggling simply because I didn’t want other people’s sympathy. I just passed it off as something to do for me which wasn’t exactly a lie. My twelve hour shifts plus the hour walk to and from work left me so exhausted I didn’t have time for anything else, which is how I liked it. It left less time for my mind to wander.

The day continued like it always does. People came and went throughout the day and I was settled into my routine. Before I knew it, it was an hour before closing time. The restaurant was pretty much empty except for one couple who had just walked in.

I walked over to their table and plastered my usual fake smile across my face as I asked for their orders. The guy was fairly good looking, though not enough to make me look twice. I glanced over at the woman sitting across from him and I immediately noticed how gorgeous she was. She had straight, shoulder length dark hair and the most amazing green eyes. Definitely gorgeous enough to make me look twice.

She must have noticed the falter in my expression as I looked at her because she had started to fidget uncomfortably as I took their orders. Well damn, Elena, cool it. I composed myself as I walked away and mentally kicked myself for checking her out so openly. I guess I can count myself out of a nice tip tonight.

                As their dinner wore on I busied myself with cleaning up the tables around theirs. This girl had piqued my interest and to be honest I was feeling a bit nosy. Wrong of me I know but I couldn’t help it.

                Through my slight eavesdropping I learned that this dinner was a blind date of sorts. It left me wondering why in the world she would go out with a guy like that though. To each their own I suppose.

                When they had both finished their food I noticed the woman get up and head to the bathroom. I started to head over to the table to collect their plates but something stopped me before heading over there right away. The guy she was with took something out of his jacket pocket and slyly put some kind of powder in her wineglass. I moved so that he couldn’t see me and watched as he glanced around, making sure no one saw what he was up to.

                Do I say something to him? Shit, I was in a moral debate with myself. My head was telling me to just turn the other cheek and mind my own business but I knew that if I didn’t do something that woman would be taken advantage of tonight.

                I watched as the woman came back from the bathroom and as she sat down, the guy she was with stood up to pay the bill at the front. Just as he walked away I rushed over to the table and grabbed the lady’s wineglass just as she was about to pick it up.

                “Here, let me get you a new one. That’s been there for a while,” I said, trying to sound natural.

                She gave me an odd look and I was afraid that she might argue. For the love of god, please don’t…

                “It’s all right, I probably shouldn’t have any more anyways,” she said with a smile.

                “Oh. Okay well have a nice night,” I said with relief.

                I rushed back into the kitchen to get rid of the wine before that guy saw anything. I poured the wine down the sink and sighed with relief. Just the sight of it going down the drain made me sick. I wasn’t a complete stranger to date rape drugs. I went to college after all but I’ve never felt the need to protect someone like that.

                After composing myself, I walked back out into the dining area to see them already gone. I started to clear the table but I couldn’t help feeling worried for her. Hopefully I had done some good…

“Elena, you can go ahead and head out. I’ll clean up,” my boss, Travis, said.

Normally I would argue but I wasn’t focused on work anyways. I said goodnight to Travis and grabbed my coat, wrapping it around me in preparation for the freezing walk ahead of me.

As I took the first steps toward home I was stopped by the sound of someone crying. I stopped for a moment and listened. The sound was coming from the small alleyway next to the restaurant and I could hear a man’s voice as well.

I walked quietly over to the edge of the alleyway so that I could just barely see what was going on. The streetlights illuminated the area only slightly but I could already tell is was the same man and woman that were just in the restaurant. I watched with horror as I saw the man pin her up against the wall roughly.

“You listen here. I don’t know how you’re fighting back but you’re going to do as I say, you hear me?” he said menacingly.

She didn’t answer him but I could hear her whimpering as he pressed her further against the wall. She sounded beyond scared and at that point something snapped. I rushed into the alleyway and grabbed the man roughly, pressing him up against the wall by his throat. I was only a slim hundred and twenty pounds but I had my height on my side. I’ve always been a lot stronger than most people expect anyway so I had no problem with this guy.

“Look here, you bastard,” I said menacingly low. “I saw what you did to her drink in there. You lay another hand on her and I’ll fuck you up. You got it?”

He didn’t answer me at first. He was still struggling to get out of my hold but it was useless. Self-defense was one of the first things I was taught when I was younger.

“I asked you a question,” I said as I increased the pressure ever so slightly.

“Okay, just let me go. Please!” he pleaded pathetically.

I scoffed slightly. This guy was a coward just like the rest of his type. I released my hold and he immediately took off running. I assumed to his car or something. I almost forgot about the woman that was with him until I heard a commotion behind me. I turned around to see her sat on the ground with her knees pulled up to her chest.

“Hey, are you okay?” I asked, walking toward her cautiously.

I kneeled down next to her and noticed she was shaking slightly. I wasn’t sure if it was from the cold or from what had just happened but I think it was safe to say it was probably a little bit of both.

“Yeah, I think so,” she said shakily. “Thank you for doing that. I know you didn’t have to.”

“Well, I wasn’t about to let him put his hands on you after I watched him try to drug you,” I said as I helped her to her feet. She was taller than I expected. Probably an inch or two taller than me without the heels.

She didn’t say anything after my comment and when I looked up she was staring at me oddly.

                “What?” I said, feeling slightly uncomfortable.

                “Er, well you basically just saved me and I don’t even know your name,” she said.

                “Oh, uh, I’m Elena,” I said.

                I waited for her response but didn’t get one right away. I raised my eyebrow at her and now it was her turn to look confused.

                “What?” she asked.

                “Isn’t this the part where you tell me your name?” I said.

                She looked shocked for a second and I was afraid that she actually had told me and I so rudely ignored it. Well done, Elena.

                “Wait, you don’t know my name?” she asked incredulously.

                “Uh, no? Did you already tell me?”

                A smile broke out across her face then. It was an amazing smile but it still creeped me out a little. What was so great about me not knowing her name?

                “Oh, well, no I didn’t. I’m Jessica,” she said, holding her hand out.

                I took her hand briefly while Jessica’s smile never faltered. I swear she acted like meeting me was like the best thing to ever happen.

                “Listen, I don’t want to seem weird or anything,” she started.

                Too late for that.

                “But would you mind walking me home? I don’t live far it’s just, I’m afraid he might he might be out there still,” she said fearfully. “I mean, I could pay you for your trouble. I’m sure you have somewhere better to be.”

                No, not really.

                “It’s fine, I’ll walk you. And you don’t have to pay me,” I reassured her. Lord knows I need it but it was wouldn’t feel right taking her money.

                She smiled and took my hand in hers as we started walking toward her home, in the opposite direction of mine, I might add.

                “So where are you from, Elena? You’re obviously not from here,” she said as she squeezed my hand slightly.

                “How do you know?” I asked, stressing my accent with every word.

                “Oh, I don’t know. Just a guess,” she said, a slight smirk playing on her lips. I had to admit, I laughed slightly. It was the first real laugh I’ve had in a long time.

                “Well I’m from Georgia. I’ve only lived her a few months,” I said.

                “Really? Why did you move so far away?” she asked curiously.

                I shrugged slightly. When I glanced at her again I saw she was still staring at me, waiting for an explanation.

                “Just wanted a change I guess,” I said. That was partly true anyway.

                We made casual conversation the rest of the way. Mostly Jessica just asked me questions about myself which I mostly dodged without it being so obvious. I tried to turn the subject on her every time but she just didn’t seem too keen on going on and on about herself, which was a nice quality to have.

                We stopped in front of a rather large house after a twenty minute walk. I guess it would be about midnight before I got home. I walked Jessica up to her front door and she turned around to face me. Under the light of her porch I could finally see her face clearly.

                “Listen, I know you don’t want money or anything but I have to thank you for this somehow. Not many people would have done this for me,” she said.

                She’s right. Especially not me. I don’t know what it was. I just felt a bit protective over her for some reason.

                “No, it’s fine, really,” I said as I turned around to walk away. I wanted to just get away before I did something I knew I’d regret. I promised myself I wouldn’t get close to anyone ever again. I couldn’t risk making any friends here.

                Jessica had other ideas, however. She grabbed my wrist and spun me around quickly before I could walk away.

                “Please just let me cook you dinner or something this weekend. You can come here and stay for a bit and that will be all. Please?” she said, her eyelashes fluttering slightly.

                Obviously this girl was used to getting what she wanted. I suppose I could just tell her I’d come and then not show. It’s not like I’d ever see her again. The thought, however, filled me with guilt.

                “All right, fine,” I sighed.

                “Good,” she said, obviously pleased with herself. “Do you have a phone?”

                “Yeah,” I reached into my jacket pocket and pulled out the phone I managed to keep for myself.

                She took my phone and handed hers over to me to put my number into. When we traded back I noticed Jessica was staring at me again. I could tell this was going to be a habit.

                “Is that your work phone or something?” she asked.

                Truth is, the only number I had saved in my contacts was my work. She didn’t need to know that though.

                “Oh, yeah,” I lied.

                “Oh, okay. Well see you Saturday then? Say five o’clock?” she asked hopefully.

                Good thing I had this Saturday off anyway. Travis always forced me to have at least one day off a week.

                “Yeah, all right. See you then,” I said.

                We said our goodbyes and I finally got to set off toward home. It would probably take forever in this cold but all in all I was glad I met Jessica tonight. She made me forget about how shitty my life is for once and it was nice, yet scary at the same time.

                What have you gotten yourself into, Elena?

A/N  Hello again. Long time no see right? Anyways, please please please let me know what you think of this so far. I've never developed my own character before and it's a bit intimidating for me. I want you to be able to tell what kind of person Elena is from the first few chapters so please tell me if I'm doing a good job or not. 

Like I said before, this fanfic won't update as quickly as the other two because long and detailed is my goal here. 

Thanks for reading! Suggestions are always welcome.