A New Start

I was running through the dark, my heart was pounding it only got louder. I looked behind me and they were running after me.

"It's not fair!" I yelled as I kept running

I was running for my life, I had just been caught for something

my best friend Jessica did but, of course, she ran before me, and now it’s all

on me.

I hid behind the building. I caught my breath and looked around the corner to see if the officers were gone. I was not always like this; I was a good child, but I got into the wrong crowd in middle school and have been running since. I walked away and walked into my house I sighed as I looked around once again, I was alone but how did I feel? I hate it but I guess it is what it is.

“Sophia! Put your hands up” I hear a deep voice yell

I turned around to see a tall officer pointing a gun at me, my eyes widen as my hands went up, a moment went by, and then I was put into handcuffs. This was it; this was the last straw; I had never been arrested until this very moment.

” You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed for you. Do you understand your rights?” The same officer spoke as he put me into the back of the cruiser.

I looked out the window and did not speak once, about a fifteen-minute car ride we had arrived at the station. They got me out and made me sit in a random room to be interviewed. How did it get this bad? Why did I do it?

“We have a few questions for you Ms. Moore” The arresting officer spoke sitting down

“I have nothing to talk about,” I said leaning back into the seat

“We can give you a plea deal if you just give us what we need then you could be home tonight.” The officer spoke softly looking at me

I sighed and nodded when a knock came from the door, the officer got up and walked out and came back after a little while. He sat down and took his hat off and offered a saddened look.

“What is with that look?” I spoke looking at him, I was not ready for the answer

“Your mom was involved in a serious car accident this morning, she passed on the way to the hospital” He spoke looking at me

“Please tell me you have the wrong person?” I spoke with a saddened look

“I am so sorry, could you answer the question then we can get you somewhere safe for the night” The officer spoke

“Of course, uh it was not me. It was a girl named Jessica Graves; she lives at the end of my road.” I spoke softly

He nodded and wrote it down, he looked back up at me

“Now, what are you doing hanging with this group? You seem like a good kid.” The officer spoke softly looking at me

“I met them in middle school, which was the same year I went through something very traumatic; I do regret it but now I can only go forward. I have to do what’s right.” I spoke looking at him

“Well, are you hungry? We could go for burgers and fries before I take you to social services” He asked undoing the handcuff

I nodded and put my hands on the table, a moment later I run my hands through my long red hair, and I looked down and sighed. How could I be so stupid, how could my mom be gone, why was this happening to me at this moment? I was just starting my junior year in high school; I did not do well in school, but I wanted to do better for her.

“Well, let me go sign the paperwork then we can go.” The officer spoke walking out the door, I watched him leave.

I took my phone out and blocked each of the people in the group, she looked at the last photo I had taken with her mama. I was beyond sad, but it has not kicked in just yet, the officer came back in, and it knocked her out of her head

“Are you ready to go? You can pick where we go eat.” The officer spoke with a small smile

“Why are you being so nice to me, I ran from you earlier. I am always on the run.” I spoke looking at him as I got out of the chair

“Well, I know kids like you, and I never got them help but it is my chance to help someone, and it is the greatest thing I can do” He spoke with a smile

“Well, sir. Can I at least get your last name?” I asked him as I put my hair

“My first name is Cole.” He said with a big smile

“Well, hi Cole” I laughed as I looked over at him

Cole walked out of the interview room, and I followed behind him. We walked out of the station and went to his truck. We both got in and I buckled up.

“Now, where would you like to eat?” He asked turning on the engine, he looked over at me

“Could we go to Nanny’s Café, I have not been there since I was a little girl?” I asked him with a soft smile

He nodded and started to drive. He turned on the radio and the first song that came on was whiskey glasses by Morgan Wallen. I started to sing along, and he glanced over a few times with a smile. It was a nice gesture, but it was very odd.

He pulled into the parking lot and smiled as he parked, I took a moment to look out at the restaurant, then I got out, the last time I was here was the last time I had seen my dad. I was four, well that is what my mom told me anyway. I cannot remember that time or him for that matter. I must have drifted off because I felt a light tap on my shoulder.

I went back to reality and looked at him with a smile, I got out and sighed still thinking of everything that had gone down in the last couple of hours. In two hours, I had gotten arrested, ratted out my friends, and lost my mama. I am now completely alone. How do I go on?

“How many?” The host spoke smiling at the two of us.

“Just the two of us, that’s all,” Cole said with a nod

The host nodded grabbing two menus and leading us to a booth, she smiled as she placed the menus and silver wears. We sat down

“The waitress will be with shortly.” She spoke walking away

I opened the menu and scanned over it a little bit before he broke the silence

“So, how are you taking all of this? It must be a lot for you” Cole spoke looking at me

“I am okay, it just has not settled in just yet. I still have to plan her funeral and I have no idea what I am going to do. I am only sixteen” I spoke looking at him

“Doesn’t your mom have anyone else to plan it?” He asked looking at his menu

“My mom and I were the only ones. My dad left when I was very little, I do not remember him whatsoever, so it is just me.” I told him to decide on what I wanted

Before he could respond a little old lady came over to take our order

“Hi, Coley. What can I get for you today?” The little old lady spoke

“Hey, Mama. Can I get a peanut butter shake, a cheeseburger, and fries” Cole spoke hugging her.

“Of course, anything for my son, what will the little lady like?’ She spoke smiling over at me

“Could I get the uh same, but with extra peanut butter and a plain cheeseburger?” I asked her 

“Of course, you can little lady.” She spoke walking away

“So, your mom works here?” I asked Cole

“She actually owns this place.” Cole laughed looking at me

“Really! She is the nanny? My mama always loved her.” I spoke a bit excited

“The one and only. Now back to your mom’s funeral.” Cole spoke looking at me with a little sigh

“I do not know what I am doing,” I spoke a bit frustrated

“Well, what if Nanny and I help you plan it?” He asked

“Why would you do that for me, you do not know me or my mama?” I asked him

“I knew your mom really well; she was the kindest one I met other than my wife,” he told me as looked around

“I cannot let you do that; it would waste too much of your time, and I do not want you to waste it,” I told him as the little old lady came back with the milkshakes

“Mom tell her, we would help plan Georgia’s funeral,” Cole asked

“Of course, Georgie was the sweetest woman ever, she looked a lot like you when she was your age.” Nanny told me

“Fine, but how do I repay you both?” I asked looking at the pair

“No, repaying just do well in school and be the best person you can be.” Nanny spoke sitting the milkshakes in front of us both

I nodded and smiled softly, she walked away after a moment. I took a sip of the drink and a memory popped into my head of my dad; his face was blurry because I did not know what he looked like, but it was clearly the past because it was at Nanny’s Café. A smile planted on the little girl’s face as she took a drink of the shake.

“Sophia, the food is here!” Cole spoke as he took a big bite of the burger

I snapped back to reality once again and looked at the food, it looked really good. I took a big bite as well and smiled.

“This is really good,” I spoke with a mouth filled with food.

“It really is, isn’t it?” Cole laughed looking at me

I nodded and took another bit it was the best thing I had ever eaten

“My mama started this when her first grandchild was a year old over twenty years ago.” He had explained looking at me

“Is she a good grandma? I have never met any of my grandparents. I have not met anyone on my dad’s side?” I asked him as I took a drink from the shake

“She is the best grandma; all of her grandkids love her to death, and she loves them” Cole spoke finishing his burger.

At that moment I knew that Cole was some who I was going to be close, he seemed like a really good person, I just did not know what was yet to come