A New Beginning

So comment and all that good shit and maybe I'll post part 2 of this later on today.

Nicki was awoken by the summer sun beaming down through the truck's windshield. She looked down and seen a sleeping Carlie on her chest. She was reminded of yesterday's events but wasn't trying to think too much of it since she had a job interview today.

The interview was for a receptionist position at some computer company. She prayed she'd get it.

It was 7:30 and the interview was at 9:00 so Nic got into the driver's seat and drove to the nearest gas station to get ready. Her tank was running low and they had to at least wash up. Nicki only had about $300 to her name so she had to spend wisely in case things didn't pan out well.

They washed up and brushed their teeth in the gas station's bathroom then changed their clothes before putting some gas in the car.

"How long do we have to do this?" Carlie asked.

"Just until things get right for mommy. I'm going to try my best to make this better sweetie, I promise" there was silence. "Now I'm going to see if I can get Mrs. Jones to watch you while I go to this interview."

Mrs. Jones is a older lady Nicki met at work, she's watched Carlie a few times before.

Nicki unplugged her charger and unhooked the phone on their way out the bathroom and back to the truck. She went through her contacts til she reached Mrs. Jones' number. She pressed the green button and waited. No answer.

"Fuck" Nic whispered. She pumped the gas while trying to call 3 more times. No luck. She had the interview in 30 minutes.

"I'm just going to have to bring you with me, Cee." Nic said as she started up the car.

They pulled up to the place and parked. "Okay Cee, I shouldn't be long. Don't open the door, don't talk to nobody, don't get out..." Nicki ran down the rules.

"Okay mommy, I won't" Carlie replied.

Nic ran into the building. "Hi, I have an interview for the receptionist position." Nicki said to a white lady with shoulder length blonde hair.

"Okay ma'am, name please?"

"Onika Maraj."

"Ah yes, I see you right here. Follow me into this room." Nicki followed.

"Hi, my name is Joan" she extended her hand. Nicki accepted the gesture. "So I'm just going to ask you a few questions and we'll see how that goes." She flashed a smile. Inside Nicki was on edge, she needed this so bad.

Joan asked a few questions and Nicki gave good answers.

"So Onika, I think you're good for the job. How does 5 days a week from 10-4 sound?" Joan asked.

"That's great. When can I start?" Nicki was happy even though there was a lingering problem of day care for Carlie on her mind.

"You can start tomorrow actually." They both stood up and shook each other hands. "Thank you so much!" Nicki said. " You welcome dear."

Nicki walked back to the car. "How did it go mommy?" Carlie asked. "I got it baby!" Nic said as she hugged the 7 year old.

They headed to get some lunch since they didn't have breakfast. It wouldn't be for another couple weeks that Nicki would get a check so she still had to spend wisely.

Next Day


They did the new routine of going to the gas station and handling their business.

"So I finally got in touch with Mrs. Jones and she said she can keep you until I get out of work." Nicki told Carlie. "Okay." she replied.

Nicki dropped Carlie off and headed to her first day of her new job.

Joan walked Nicki through what her job required.

"Mr. Samuels won't be back until your shift is over so maybe you can meet him another time." Joan stated before walking away.

Nicki sat and did her job for the next 8 hours. Now it was time to go pick up Carlie.

"Hungry Cee?" Nicki asked. "Yes ma'am" she replied. They went and got dinner then drove around for a few hours before going back up to Nic's job. She figured they could park in the back parking lot.

A man saw 2 figures sitting in the parked car which was unusual to him. He walked over and knocked on the window. Nicki was now scared shitless.

The man chuckled before saying "It's okay, I mean no harm. Just wanted to ask a question." Nicki rolled down the window slightly. "What is it?"

"Why are you just sitting out here? Wouldn't want you and your precious little girl getting hurt." The man said while pointing to Carlie.

"What's it to you?" Nic asked with an attitude.

"Oh I work here and I was just curious because I've never seen you before."

"Well I'm the new receptionist."

"Oh you're the new one. Didn't your shift end hours ago?"

"Well I came back up here to get my schedule" she lied.

"Well be careful, things can get hectic in these streets."

"We're fine sir, thank you." She replied slightly annoyed.

He knew she was lying. "Okay, I know you guys have been sitting out here for a while and I don't want to be all in your business but-"

"Obviously you are trying to, can you just leave us alone."

"Maybe we got off to a bad start, can I take you guys to get ice cream or something. No funny business, just trying to be nice."

"YES!" Carlie jumped up and down in the back seat.

"No thank you, I don't even know you." Carlie frowned at Nicki's reply.

"Well my name is Safaree Samuels, I'm a cancer, I'm a nice guy, I have 2 sisters-"

Nicki cut him off "Persistent aren't you?" she sighed "Fine."

Safaree smiled as well as Carlie. "Wait, Safaree Samuels? You're the owner?" Nicki questioned.

"Yep and I've heard about how well you did on your first day on the job." Nicki gave her first genuine smile in some time.

She couldn't deny that he was a sexy man but what did he have in store for her? She held her guard up in case this nice guy thing was just an act.

Why?

This is just a taste. I'm curious to know you guys thoughts so comment and all that and if people want me to continue I will post another chapter.

A beautiful 7 year old little girl sat in another room with her hands over her ears trying to ignore the argument her parents were having. She hated when they argued but it happened so much.

"I'm sick of this shit! Every time I turn around, I find out about another girl you've cheated on me with!" Nicki was pissed.

"Well what the fuck are you going to do about it?" James got in her face. Nicki pushed his face.

"I'm not going to continue sitting here being disrespected on the daily basis while you fuck all these hoes and bring back God knows what."

"Well you can get the fuck out, you haven't been useful ever since you had that child anyway." He pushed her against the wall.

"Get the fuck off me and don't ever disrespect my child!" Nicki spat back as Carlie sat crying in the room she was in. Carlie didn't really care for her father.

"When I come back, I want you and that child out my fucking house." His eyes were red and filled with unnecessary hatred. Nicki was nothing but good to him.

"But where are we supposed to go?" Nicki was holding back tears. He knew she had just lost her job yesterday and didn't have much cash in her pocket.

"I don't give a fuck just get out. Don't take none of my shit either." He said nonchalantly before walking out.

As he walked out, the tears flowed. She didn't understand where she went wrong, she was nothing but nice to him and he always treated her like shit. Carlie ran over to her mother with tears in her eyes and hugged her. Nicki was tired of her daughter watching her mother get verbally and physically abused. Maybe this was for the best.

Nicki packed up her and Carlie's things then loaded them into her blue Bravada truck. It didn't hit her until they drove away that she and her daughter were now homeless. This caused more tears.

She had no one to call. She had family and friends but they were all in New York. Her mother was not the least bit pleased when Nic announced her plans to move to Los Angeles with James. None of her family or friends like him, they didn't like the way she was treated by him. He gave her an ultimatum: move to LA with him or stay in NY and she could forget about them two together.

They all wanted her to stay but she was in love. She felt she owed it to her daughter to give her a family that included both parents. James was an asshole from the start but it seems as though it got worse when they moved to LA.

She couldn't call her mom to be bombarded with "I told you so's" plus she didn't have enough money to even book one flight back home. She couldn't face the embarrassment of everyone being right, not yet. She had a job interview tomorrow, she's going to try to make it work on her own first.

Her thoughts were interrupted by Carlie saying "I'm glad you're done with him. I didn't like seeing him hurt you mommy, he's mean." This made Nic tear up, she didn't want her daughter to experience what she had to when she was little but it was too late.

"I know babe. We won't see him no more if you don't want to."

"Good because I don't."

"Ok, are you hungry?" Nic changed the subject. "Yes!" Carlie exclaimed. It was about 7:30.

They pulled into McDonald's parking lot. Carlie got a Chicken McNugget happy meal and Nicki got a chicken salad.

After they ate, they settled into their car and drove to a quiet area. The car seats were their beds tonight. Nicki prayed this would all turn around for them. Carlie deserved so much more than this.