Just one of the girls(Hayley)

[chels]

It had been a horrible shift for Chelsea. It seemed as though whatever could go wrong, did so and it all happened to her in a short six hour shift. Smoothies were spilled, food was burned, orders were gotten wrong, you named it, it happened to her. There was even an instance where a customer actually cursed her out for getting her order wrong when Chelsea was certain the the customer had simply forgotten what she had ordered and decided to take it out on her. No, right now she just wanted to get this last part of her shift done...counting down her register and get the hell out of here and into a hot bath at home. She may not be much of a girly girl, but that was one thing that she really enjoyed.

Knowing her luck however, there would be an attack and she would be forced to forget her own personal needs for those of the world, something that she sometimes resented, and right now was one of those times. She was not a selfish person, but right now, she really needed to take care of herself for once. She was always looking after someone else...her sister, her brothers, her parents, and now the world. No pressure or anything.

Still, being a ranger had its benefits. She had friends now, something that she was not used to having, and she was doing something good, and that was important, but still, she was tired! Giving a tired sigh, she tucked a strand of her blond hair behind her ear she commenced her task of counting her money, wanting to get it over with as soon as possible. So focused she was on her task, she did not know that there was someone in front of her until they were literally right in front of her at the bar.

[hayley]

Buzz…buzz..buzz..buzz..BAM! The timer went quiet after it had hit the walls of the red heads bedroom. Hayley growled as she looked up from her bed and saw her timer broken on the floor. Great… now I need to buy a new timer! she growled and fell back on her pillow. It was the fourth timer this week and all because of her new life.

The news was kind of shocking when it hit her. ’’ WELCOME TO THE DINO THUNDER CREW! ‘’ Hayley rolled her eyes. Great.. if she didn’t meet the woman in the museum and had to attack a monster for the first time of her life she would still be on the road singing. Something she loved most of all was just ripped out of her hands. Maybe it was something to get used to.

Hayley stepped out of bed and tiptoed to the shower where she let the hot water wake her up and relax her muscles. How she loved showers. After the shower Hayley got dressed and styled up to go to Haley’s before she had to go to her vocal lessons. She still thought it was funny to see a bar named like her yet missing one letter in the name.

Hayley grabbed her car keys from the kitchen table and drove off to Haley’s. Hayley arrived early and just opened the door to see major panic among the customers. Hayley frowned and noticed Chelsea. Also a new girl to this life. As new as Hayley was and yet different in every way. Hayley mingled in very easily, she was just being herself but Chelsea seemed to have a slow start at things. Hayley walked over to her and wanted to say hi and order her daily coffee.

Hayley raised her hand a little when Chelsea turned around. Hey. Would it be a crime if I asked for a caramel latte? Hayley asked with half a smile hoping she didn’t scare Chelsea. Hayley sometimes seemed scary enough with unnatural green eyes. Though she had to tell everyone tons of times she was no alien or a demon. It was something she was used to as well.

Things never seemed weird to Hayley, monster, zombies, neither of those would scare her or make her back down. Hayley watched enough episodes of Xena to know what she was doing. And she was pretty good with pressure points.

[chels]

Hey. Would it be a crime if I asked for a caramel latte?

Shit! After weeks of being on constant guard, this simple request did a lot to scare the heck out of Chelsea, without thinking, she went to her right hip to reach for a whip that was not there. "Great, I'm already paranoid and battle ready as Dr. O would say" Forcing herself to breath, she prepared a reply that the person asking for a latte this late in her shift would not like. Customer service or not, she was not in the mood for this crap.

"Can't you see that...." and she stopped. The face grinning right back at her was a familiar one. The redhead in front of her was a girl that Chelsea barely knew before she became a ranger, but since had become somewhat close with due to their unique "club". Her attitude changing immediately, she gave the other girl a smile and put down the money she was counting.

"Sorry 'bout that. It's been....a rough day. I can get that for you, but as you can see, I am counting out my register for today and can't ring you up for it." She paused as she gave another smile, "so I guess I can't charge you for this can I?" Closing her drawer, she quickly made the drink and brought it to her teammate before resuming her counting, talking to Hayley while she did so.

"So, what brings you here to my little corner of hell? Vocal lessons?" Chelsea had seen the redhead practice on occasion and did admire her talent, one that she wished that she had, and had often told her that she and Kira should really team up at least once. "As you can see, it has been pretty busy here today and I have no idea why. It seems as though everyone in town wants to hang here today. Usually, I don't mind, but today....." She could not finish. For some reason she started to break down. The stress of the day combined with her family life and other things finally got to the strong girl. Her hands started to shake and the tears started to fall. It got so bad that she could no longer hold the money. "close enough" she thought to herself before slamming the drawer shut.

She looked up at Hayley with a tear streamed face and attempted to apologize. "I'm really sorry about that, I don't usually act like this"

[hayley]

Hayley hoped she didn’t scare Chelsea off too much and when she noticed Chelsea was counting money she was too late. Damnit. Hayley stepped back a little and looked around at the people just leaving. We’re not a show, look somewhere else. Hayley spoke softly and looked back at Chelsea. She was making a little scene but that’s fine, Hayley would jump higher in the sky when someone just happened to look right into her.

Hayley chuckled waving her sorry away and was delighted to know she got her coffee for free. You’re an angel. she said thankfully. Hayley took a sip of her coffee and happily smiled. She was so glad this kind of coffee existed, it was like a piece of heaven in a paper cup. Hayley bit her bottom lip and smiled looking up at the question. Yup, though they say I don’t need it anymore, I recently got the flu and my voice sounds like crap. she said with a joke but a tad serious.

Hayley smiled friendly but saw something in chelsea’s eyes that would change the whole mood. Hayley dropped her back and jumped over the counter right on time to grab some tissues. Hayley again didn’t listen to her apology and grabbed the girl together placing her head on Hayley’s shoulder. Shh, just cry, if you don’t those tears will stay there and annoy you to your grave. Hayley spoke and petted the girl’s head.

[chels]

Hayley's easygoing nature should have kept this from happening, though Chelsea figured that nothing in this world could stop those tears from flowing. It was all just too much for her to handle all at once, and when Hayley jumped over the counter and gave her a tissue, she knew that she was right to feel comfortable around her. Maybe she could be trusted with some other things that she had been holding onto. Shh, just cry, if you don’t those tears will stay there and annoy you to your grave" Chelsea gave a small smile and sniffled as she thanked her for the tissue and used it to dry her eyes as best as she could. Technically, Hayley wasn't supposed to be behind the bar, but Chels was not about to mention that. Besides, she was leaving herself in just a few minutes.

"Thanks for the tissue. Again, I am so sorry for breaking down like that. I try not to most of the time, to try and give off that strong girl exterior that my father forced into me. But sometimes, sometimes I just can't help it you know?" She had to tell someone what was going on, it was time, and she may not know it, but Hayley was about to hear one hell of a tale. "Listen, let me clock out and meet you in five minutes in that far corner booth. If you don't mind I need to talk" Chelsea did not wait to hear the other girls response. She simple turned and headed to the back room to punch out.

Five minutes later, she made her way through the crowded cafe to where, to her relief, Hayley sat waiting for her. Smiling gratefully at her pink clad counterpart, she slipped into the booth across from her., waving off the waitress who had come to take their order. What she had to say was hard enough and she wanted to get it all out now while she still could.

"Thank you so much for staying. It really does mean a lot to me and I feel as though I owe you some kind of explanation for my little meltdown. As you may know, I come from a large family. I have four older brothers and a younger sister. My father, until recently, worked on ranches and farms for my entire life. However, things have been bad for that industry lately, which is why my family moved to Reefside. Well, things are hard at home, My parents are constantly fighting over money, and there are some weeks that we barely have enough to eat. That's why I am working so much here, to try and help out. But on top of this job, I have to take care of my sister and then there is school, and..." She trailed off a bit as she fought for the words to say. [color=purple"....I have to take care of my mother most days too. There are times when she is so zonked out on God knows what that she can barely function"[/color] Now this next part was going to be the hardest.

"My father is the worse. Losing his job hit him hard in the pride department and he had taken to drinking....and taking it out on my sister and I. Since my mother is no longer available to him...

She stopped here, unable to continue anymore due to the tears falling again. She just lifted her right sleeve to show the cigarette burns, and then turned and lifted her shirt just enough to show Hayley the welts there on her back. Just enough so that only she saw them.

And the worse part was that what she showed was not the worse she had been through. She just hoped that the other girl caught her meaning in her unfinished statement.

[hayley]

Hayley hated other people in pain, not the people themselves but the pain they had to carry with them. Souls like Chelsea shouldn’t carry so much pain that would turn into hatred. don’t thank me, in rough times, all you need is a shoulder to cry on. she spoke friendly and smiled. Chelsea looked so pure , so sweet and innocent, Hayley couldn’t imagine what pain is hidden inside.

Hayley didn’t follow everything Chelsea said and just sat down where Chelsea told her to wait and looked at her watch. Damn she was late. Hayley took another sip of her coffee and watched Chelsea coming her way. Hayley raised a brow out of curiosity and a tad of fear while Chelsea sat down looking kinda nervous. Hayley feared this would happen, that she would listen to a whole life story.

Not that she hated it, not at all, but she was always so scared when people tell terrible stories about home. As soon as Chelsea spoke Hayley just sat and listened. And the more she said the more her blood felt like boiling up. She knew how it felt, when your father started to drink, you’re mother joined and they beat you up together. And when it wasn’t good enough they used a wipe against you.

Soon Hayley’s jaw dropped.. as in available.. holy damn! Chelsea was a friggin rape victim! Hayley’s blood reached high cooking point after the wounds and marks and the red head got up. I know how you feel, to be honest my dad never went that far, but him and my mother together against me ended up badly. she spoke and raised the back of her shirt, showing off huge scars all over her back.

Hayley turned back at Chelsea and couldn’t even feel happy anymore. You’re not sleeping in your own bed tonight. Neither will your sister. My vocals teacher also happens to be my aunt. You’re staying with me and your little sister will be sleeping at my aunts, don’t worry about her. You need to stay safe. I’ll visit your home and get you your clothes. My aunt also works for child protection services. You’ll both be safe. Hayley spoke in a hush.

This was insane, kids abused like this. And especially a young innocent child!

[chels]

Chelsea had thought that it would be hard to tell her full story, and to a girl that she barely knew, but the more she talked, the better that she felt. It felt good to finally get all of this off of her chest. And when Hayley lifted her own shirt.....I know how you feel, to be honest my dad never went that far, but him and my mother together against me ended up badly"/...and showed her own scars, Chelsea knew that she had made the right choice. She finally had found someone that she could share her pain with, someone who could understand the pain that she had been through.

The tears were still flowing but she was starting to feel something that she had not dared to feel in a very long time....hope. Though all of that came crashing down when Hayley spoke next. You’re not sleeping in your own bed tonight. Neither will your sister. My vocals teacher also happens to be my aunt. You’re staying with me and your little sister will be sleeping at my aunts, don’t worry about her. You need to stay safe. I’ll visit your home and get you your clothes. My aunt also works for child protection services. You’ll both be safe. No! That could not happen! and she let her know.

"NO! Please Hayley no! I can't separate myself from my sister. We are all we have for each other and besides, he will KILL us!"

In truth, she would love to come and stay with Hayley. It made sense with both of them being survivors of this, but she could not leave her sister. Even if they were both out of the house, they had to be together. They had been through too much together to be separated now. What would she do if Chelsea were not there to protect her? To hold her when she cried? To tell her that everything was going to be alright?

"Hayley, I love you for this, I really do please believe me, but I can't leave her. I just can't. And....and there is my mother to think about to. Despite what she has, or in this case, has not done, I still love her, and if we left, he would literally kill her, I know it. No, as much as I want to, I can't do that to my family. They would hate me forever and I cannot deal with that kind of shame. Please understand."

[hayley]

Hayley felt terrible. How could she even think of taking Chelsea away from her family like this. It was a bad thing to think and a bad thing to do. Hayley wanted to apologize but kept quiet cause of Chelsea’s words coming out of her mouth like word vomit. Hayley bit her bottom lip and closed her eyes for a minute. She couldn’t get angry at Chelsea and now Chelsea told Hayley her story, Hayley felt lowing owing her.

She sat down again and sighed. At least I owe you my story. My mom was a drunk, ever since my little sister was born she became a drunk. My dad lost his job and joined her. What he wasn’t was aggressive. No not him, she was. My mother thought of Nichole as an Angel. Nothing could hurt dear little Nichole and so nothing happened to her. Yet I was the family curse. My family was a family with a religion more firm than you could imagine.

They actually made sacrifices, human sacrifices if needed. What the biggest problem was , that my eyes and hair color, yes this is natural, were a curse from the gods as my mother saw it. And well that’s when she started to beat the hell out of me, even with empty or full bottles, depends on her mood. Not much later my dad joined in the violence. My mom ended up in jail and the rest of my family was killed while I was at a friend’s place. Hayley spoke softly and looked at Chelsea.

Hayley bit her bottom lip and raised a brow when she talked about her family getting killed by that man. Chelsea you’re an angel , but your sister, mother or brothers, thy don’t have to go through this. Here’s my aunt’s address, she has a huge house, bigger than the TV celebs, and this is ym address. If you ever feel like you want to see me, I’ll be found ob both these places a lot. Hayley said and gave Chelsea the piece of paper.

Hayley smiled friendly. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to force you or something. she spoke friendly.

[chels]

Finally, the sobs were starting to lessen, the tears starting to dry up. Chelsea had no idea if it was because she was starting to feel better or if she was just physically exhausted. After thinking about it for a moment, she decided that it was a little of both. She still could not believe that she had just spilled her guts to this girl, someone that she barely knew, though she had a feeling that they would become pretty good friends after this, but still, it was a new feeling for her, but still, it felt pretty good.

She sat there in horror as Hayley told her of her own abuse. How could people think like this? How could people like her own parents and Hayley's justify the abuse they inflicted upon their kids and think that it was okay? She was no expert on religion, but the scenario that was just described to her did not sound like any loving religion to her. Human sacrifices? That sounded like something that she had only read in books. People actually still did that? And here in the city? Suddenly, she felt sick to her stomach and fought hard against the urge to vomit. Composing herself, she forced herself to listen to Hayley as she continued to speak. She had already regretted her outburst, Hayley was only trying to help. Chelsea you’re an angel , but your sister, mother or brothers, thy don’t have to go through this. Here’s my aunt’s address, she has a huge house, bigger than the TV celebs, and this is ym address. If you ever feel like you want to see me, I’ll be found ob both these places a lot That did sound pretty good, and tempting, but she was still reluctant. She did not know any other home other than the one that she was raised in, and the thought of her and Kelsey leaving that home scared her almost as much as staying there.

She reassured the other girl when she apologized. She took her hand in hers and gave it a slight pat. "No, its me who is sorry. I had no right to speak out like that, and besides, you are only trying to help. Trust me, I appreciate it, and who knows? Someday in the very near future, I may take you up on that offer, I am just not ready yet, and even when I am, I have to have time to prepare. Thank you for listening to me, and even more for understanding." She paused her, an idea coming into her head.

"However, I do need to get out for a night. Do you think that I can stay with you just for tonight? I will just tell my family that it is a sleepover and they will not question it much, as long as I don't make it a habit. I am sorry if I am imposing, I just need to get away, even if it is only for one night"

[hayley]

hayley tried not to think of it, thinking of letting chelsea go back to the hell she came from, it was like putting your friend on the burning fire. Hayley couldn't stand the pain others are feeling, it was like she was able to stop it but did noting to do so. Hayley looked at chelsea and gave her amile, she wanted to go out for one night. What could hayley think of? She wasnt the clubbing type of girl.

Hayley frowned but then smiled. sure, lets go then. Ut first i'll have to rush to my vocals. she said a bit panicked and ran out the door with her coffee in her hand. She rushed to the studio seeing the fingers of her aunt tapping impatiently on the table. hayley! You are late again! Get in there and you better studied your song! hayley nodded and fled into the studio.

She grabbed the headphone and placed in on her head nodding at her aunt. The melody smoothly slipped into her ears and her own voice scared her at first but it was on the rit note and the right place. Hayley was happy when she was finished singing the song and got out of the studio. it sucked. she said a bit depressed and sat down looking at her aunt and chelsea.