Betrayed, but New Love Found

You Like To Pick Up Strays

Holly

“Someone looks chipper this morning,” Angie said as Holly walked into the room. “Where did you go that you have to come back wearing a robe?”

Holly’s face bloomed, “The gym. It was really invigorating. Took a shower there. Best shower of my life.”

“I guess so. Anyway, I’m packed ready to go when you are.”

“Okay, we can grab breakfast downstairs or get McDonald's something,” Holly said.

She went to her room in the suite and pulled on a pair of jeggings with a light purple sweater. It was supposed to be in the 50s the rest of the way through Colorado, but she knew heading north at the end of November was going to get a little more chilly.

Holly brushed her hair, teeth, and dabbed on some lip gloss after putting on mascara. She then packed everything up and was ready to go within an hour. A light knock on the main door had her rolling her suitcase out into the main area and answering the door.

When she opened the door, a young man was there with a cart. On that cart were croissants, pats of butter, melted chocolate, carafes of coffee and cranberry and orange juice. When the young man stopped after he walked in, he took the dome lids off of two plates and there was a full breakfast of scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, toast and waffles. The young man opened a small door on the cart and took out cutlery and maple syrup.

He arranged everything on the round table that was in the suite. He then left without a word. Holly and Angie were so stunned by the array of food that they didn’t say anything either.

“What just happened? Did you order room service while I was gone?” Holly asked Angie.

“No. Wow, look at all the food. Should we eat it?”

There was a small folded card in the middle of the table, Holly stepped over to it and picked it up.

You expended a lot of energy this morning. Wouldn’t want you to faint while driving. Drive safe, and I’ll see you in my dreams, Belissima. A

Holly’s cheeks flamed.

“What is it?” Angie asked.

“Nothing, just a nice note. Let’s eat up.”

They devoured the breakfast. When they went down to the lobby, Holly gave Angie the keys to her truck and asked her to take the suitcases and to wait for her while she checked out.

Holly walked up to the reception area and gave the room keys to the girl behind the desk. Holly held her breath as a receipt was printed out.

“We hope you enjoyed your stay here at Hotel Florence.” She was handed the receipt. When Holly looked at it she saw nothing but zeros.

“I don’t understand. I haven’t paid for anything yet.”

“Your payment has been taken care of. We hope you’ve enjoyed your stay,” the girl said again with a brilliant smile.

“What is happening?” Holly whispered. She looked around, she was waiting for a camera crew to come out and say ‘surprise,’ or ‘it’s a prank,’ but none of that happened. She looked at the girl again, and just got another smile.

Okay then, guess that was it. Holly turned and walked out of the hotel. She actually practically sprinted. She got to the truck and jumped in. She was grateful Angie had already started the truck.

“Where’s the fire?” Angie asked as Holly stepped on the gas and drove them out of the parking lot.

“I don’t know what’s going on, but I think we just stayed at that hotel free of charge.”

“No way!” Angie exclaimed.

Holly nodded as she looked over at Angie’s face and then they both smiled and burst into laughter.

“You’re my fairy godmother,” Angie said, laughing.

“And here I was going to say, you’re my good luck charm.” They both let out another round of laughter.

They sang at the top of their lungs to Kelly Clarkson, Lady Gaga and Pink. Holly did admit Angie’s voice. She really could sing. They stopped at a gas station to fill up, use the restroom and get snacks.

When they stepped out with their bags, they both saw the young man with his thumb out just by the exit of the gas station. Holly looked at Angie.

“You think we should get his story?”

“You like to pick up strays, huh,” Angie said.

“Used to be one,” Holly said with a shrug and Angie nodded.

They both said f*ck it, and walked over to the young man.

He saw them coming. He hitched his pack on his back and waited.

“Hi,” Angie said.

“Hi,” the man said.

“I’m Angie, this is Holly. Where are you headed?”

Holly noticed the slight discoloration under his left eye. Someone had hit him.

“Anywhere that’s not here,” he said.

Holly observed him. He was young, more Angie’s age than hers. He was tall and skinny, and looked like he could use a meal. Holly got in her bag and pulled out a turkey sandwich on white bread and handed it to him. He nodded at her with thanks and tore into it. His brown hair was long and in a man bun, he had pretty brown eyes and long eyelashes.

“How old are you, what’s your name?” Holly asked.

“Nineteen. My name’s Zion Fisher.”

“Why are you hitchin?” Angie asked.

The boy looked at her and then at me. Then he shrugged.

“My dad’s an a*shole. Brought a new woman home who didn’t like that he had a kid living with him. So, he told me to leave. Said it was time I got out on my own. I told him I just needed some time to save up some money, but he said no, and we got in a fight. Gave me this,” he said, rubbing his eye lightly with his fingertips. Figured I’d hitch until I felt something somewhere, you know? I have fifty bucks on me and that’s it. I can give you half for gas, if I can get a ride.”

“Well it seems like your lucky day, kid. Angie and I are on an adventure. I just met her a few days ago. I have a place in Montana with fifty acres of land. I could use some help if you’re willing to work. I’m sure we can find you a place to stay on the land, free room and board if you work for me. I’ll pay you a decent wage once we figure out what needs to be done.”

“Seriously? Just like that?””

“Seriously. Angie and I are orphans. We have no family. Just us. Like I said, starting an adventure.”

“You aren’t scared, I might try something? Rob you?”

Holly looked him up and down. Took out her phone and took a picture of him.

“I’m sending this to my lawyer along with your name in case something happens to me.” She lied through her teeth.

“That’s smart. Okay, I’m no trouble. I just need to get out of town. I’ll come if the offer is still on the table.”

“It is. Welcome to our little group. You’ll have to sit in the back. Do you want to get anything before we leave? Some water, a couple of snacks?”

She watched him think about it.

“Yeah, give me five,” he said.

Holly pointed out her truck, and then they waited for Zion.

“He’s cute,” Angie said.

Holly smirked and gave her a sly look.

“What? It’s hard not to notice. He’s got confidence but some vulnerability too. And his eyes are to die for.”

“Seriously, I’d kill for his lashes,” Holly said. Angie nodded and she opened a meat stick.

Zion came out and over to the truck. After he buckled in, Holly started the truck and they were on their way.

They stopped in Billings, Montana for the night. They walked around for a little while to get their still muscles loose. Then they stopped at a local mom-and-pop's diner.

They ordered their food and Holly asked Zion if there was anything he needed. Clean clothes, socks, underwear and toiletries.

He stared at her for a long time and then Holly gave him the same deal she gave Angie.

“You’re like a genie, granting wishes.”

That made Holly and Angie laugh and he blushed.

“You’re sweet, but no. I know what it’s like to be on your own young. If you need anything just ask.”

“Thank you, but no, I don’t. I have about a week's worth of clothes in my pack, another pair of shoes, a thick jacket and all my toiletries. But thank you for offering.”

“You have good manners,” Angie said.

“My mama raised me right. My dad wasn’t always the d**k he’s become. But when my mom passed, he changed. He started drinking. Sold my phone for money, stopped paying the bills. Everything was about to be shut off when he met Wanda. Apparently, she had money, and the moment she walked into our house she took charge. Didn’t want me around, and told my dad if he didn’t get rid of me she wasn’t going to take care of him. The rest of the story is what I told you earlier.”

“Man, we all come from some sh*t,” Angie said.

Holly nodded. She pulled out her phone and introduced Zion to her watchers as she streamed. Her community was excited to see a new face and praised Holly for building a family after what happened to her. Holly was surprised by those comments, but she guessed that was what she was doing. She signed off after a half hour and then explained to Zion that she was a streamer, had her own little channel on VidTube, and she did crafts and cooking segments. Showed him her Holly Homemaker page.

“I think that’s awesome. You know I can make your page look a lot better, make it look more professional. I like doing that stuff with computers,” he said.

“You mean like a web designer?” Holly asked excitedly.

“Well, I’ve never gone to school for it, but yeah, I can do stuff like that.”

“That’s fantastic. When we get a hotel room, you can get on my laptop and fool around.”

“Okay.”

They found a Best Western and Holly got a room with two queen-sized beds. Angie whispered she had no problem sharing a bed with Holly, and Holly was grateful she didn’t have to get two rooms.

After everyone had showered, Zion took a look at Holly’s Homemaker page. She was impressed by how he made it look so professional, brightened the colors, photoshopped a picture of her in a kitchen, with craft materials on the table. It looked like a legit picture.

“Zion, could you, with your skill, put your face on someone else’s body and make it look completely real?”

“Oh, yeah. Look, I’ll log in to AI Frame. It’s a site I used while I was in school in my photography class. We had to make a project using AI and make it look like an actual place. I did one of an Alien planet, and it looked real as f*ck.”

He pulled up his profile and went to his downloads. The picture he showed her was astonishing. If she didn’t know better she would have thought the planet Tarzon, as he called it was a real place. There were weird alien structures, and alien humanoids walking in the picture like it was a New York day on the streets.

“So, say I gave you a picture of me and Angie. You could put her head on my body, and would it look legit?”

“For sure. The only way you’d be able to tell the difference is if you put the picture in another program that can debunk AI pictures. Like Digitized. That’s a program that will tell if a picture is fake or not.”

“Thanks Zion. I’ll pay you a hundred dollars for this work tonight.”

“What? No, this took like fifteen minutes.”

“You did the work, you’re fantastic at it. You deserve it.”

She got in her purse and pulled out five twenties and handed it to him. He looked at her in shock as he took the money.

“Thank you,” he said.

A little while later they went to bed, and Holly laid on her back and stared at the ceiling. So all Kyle had to do was find out if those pictures were fake or not, instead of storming home and confronting her with them. She sighed heavily and closed her eyes. She wanted to cry about the injustice of it all. But she was done with crying, and it was time to move forward.