You know it was not a good idea.

A sane person would be able to tell from the sound coming from behind the door. Now was not the time to tell them anything. She waited outside the door, fidgeting nervously.

She could just wait right? Leave a note for him to find in the morning and leave before he could have a chance to stop her.

Yea...

That would be the best choice.

She turned on her heel, heading from her room and winced at the sound of her mother crying.

---

Annabell stood on the side of the road, shivering from the cold wind that tore at the thin grey hoodie wrapped around her shoulders. Disheveled brown hair tangled around her face in the wind from the highway.

Cars sped passed her, oblivious to one little girl. The drivers had better things on their minds than a skinny, lost girl.

A sigh escaped Annabell's lips as she began to walk again. She was far from home now, at least four states away. Before leaving she had stolen a wad of money from her father's desk.

He would never miss it. He never did.

A place to stay would be in order before long. Light was fading slowly in the horizon and the roadside was no place to be for a girl alone in the dark. The problem that floated through her mind with every step she took, grew a bit stronger with a growl from her stomach. Her supply of cash was beginning to run low. It'd been three weeks, she only had enough to get her to her Aunt's if she was careful. Which meant skipping a few nights in a cheap motel somewhere.

Blinking lights lead her to a small coffee shop. Not a high class Starbucks, just a tiny little hole in the wall.

Settling into the booth near the window, Annabell looked around her. She had always been paranoid and now stared slightly suspicious of the rest of the shops inhabitants.

She felt cold, alone and completely out of place. She had not had a shower in two days and had not eaten in...she couldn't remember. Unable to think straight, she simply folded her arms on the table and rested her head on them.

The smell of hot coffees tormented her. No way she could get a cup, not if she wanted the bus ticket to get her to Texas.

Oh god....

Her stomach growled unhappily at her. She did her best to ignore it. Annabell closed her eyes in hopes she could sleep a few more minutes, before someone threw her out. That kept happening a lot, not being a paying customer didn't sit well with management.

It didn't take long before she felt herself drifting away, the sounds of the shop seeming distant and otherworldly.

"Hey hunnie, you want anything?"

Annabell turned her head slightly, thinking she was still dreaming.

"Not now mama...." A mumble escaped as she sighed slightly annoyed.

A small laugh rang next to her and she managed to force her eyes open, wincing at the strain it put on her swollen eye, just enough to stare up at a scrawny boy, holding a brown mug in both hands.

He smiled kindly down at her with mild worry tingeing his eyes. It was not something she was used to since she started her trip. People didn't really care about anyone but themselves.

"Do you want anything to drink?" He asked her again, tapping the side of the mug with a nail.

Annabell was not sure exactly how to answer his question, she settled on shaking her head.

"I don't...I can't pay." She straightened up, but kept her eyes on the table.

This was the part she hated, the part where someone asked her to leave if she did not buy something soon.

"This one's on me then." The man sat the mug down on the table next to her, taking the seat across the table from her.

The mug steamed with the tantalizing smell of freshly ground coffee. Annabell had to resist the urge to grab the mug and down it all in one greedy gulp. Instead, she gently picked it up and took a long sip.

"Thanks...really." She managed a small smile as she looked up at him.

He grinned back as if to say it was nothing. She decided he had a charming smile, the kind that made you feel better no matter what was wrong.

Annabell reminded herself you could not judge a book by the cover. A laugh spread through her subconscious at the cliche.

He let her sip the coffee in peace for a few moments before asking anything. "So what's yer name then, girlie?"

Annabell did not answer right away. She didn't want to be found, she wanted to start over.

"Scarlette..." Her face tinted pink slightly, she had never liked lying.

And he could tell.

"Right, you got a place to stay the night?"

Oh shit...

The panic must have shown on her face, "Whoa...no no...not what you're thinking sweet cheeks. Rita...works at the counter....she's got a room she let's out now and then."

Annabell...Scarlette...sighed with relief.

"That....That'd be wonderful."