@fvckmuses
It was like there was no air left in Ella’s lungs. The restaurant was closing. She barely heard the man as he led her to the door. The small girl sat outside for awhile, her teddy bear, Milo, on her lap, nuzzling her face against him. She was scared, so scared. All she had was $200 that he’d slipped into her purse. If she weren’t quite so naive, she’d feel a little like a cheap hooker, but her mind hadn’t gone there, hadn’t really the capacity to go there. “What do I do? What do I do?” she mumbled to herself, to Milo who, at this point, she really wished would answer her. He didn’t, of course. The first thing was that she had to stay awake cause falling asleep out here - even she understood that was bad.
The bright lights flickered, catching her eye as she stood to walk. Her heart hammered, eyes scanning the busy street. It was getting late. Shivering, the light jacket she had which matched the dress wasn’t quite enough for being outside. “I’m so dumb,” she chastised herself for thinking the man, a man who purchased her, could actually care about her. Maybe she was better off going back to the one before him, beg him to take her in again. She had no idea how to find him, find anyone, really.
Entering the diner, the small girl was trembling, shuffling to the nearest small booth and slipping into it. Mia spotted her, head tilting slightly, trying not to be too excited as she noticed the teddy bear. Maybe it was for a little sister or cousin or ... no, the girl clutched it the way she clutched monkey. It was hers. Mia knew it. Coming over to her, “Can I get you anything?” Mia asked, gently easing a menu in front of her. Ella squirmed a bit before slowly lifting her head to see the girl, someone even tinier than her. There was some sort of comfort to that. “J-Just coffee, um, if that’s ok,” she half said, half asked. Mia nodded, “it’s ok.” Going back, she got the coffee for the girl, grabbing a piece of apple pie with ice cream on top. She brought it back, “you looked like you could use this. Don’t worry, it’s on the house,” she remembered hearing Layla say that though she also knew it meant she would pay for it which she didn’t mind. The girl looked sad.
After some time passed, Ella hadn’t left. It was late, meaning the place was slowed to a crawl. Slipping into the booth, she started to ask about the teddy bear which opened Ella up. Mia told her all about monkey, the pair speaking quietly as they both had enough understanding to realize others didn’t get it. It was a quick bond with Ella explaining her situation, asking if Mia knew what to do. Of course, the tiny red head nodded, “Yeah - we’ll ask my Daddy,” she whispered to her. “I bet he’d let you stay over tonight. I have a fort. And movies. I bet we have ice cream,” she grinned. Ella couldn’t help but smile back, “Really? It sounds nice!” Mia nodded, “he should be here soon. He doesn’t like me walking home alone this late.”
Not too much after that, Mia’s head lifted as she saw his car pull up, a giddy smile on her lips when he walked into the diner, waving him over, “Noah!” she called, waiting until he was close, “Can my friend, Ella, sleep over tonight? She has nowhere to go. Please, Daddy?” she whispered, looking up at him with big eyes.