Read Online Luxe by Ashley Antoinette - Free Book Online

happened, but what hurt most was that he hadn’t returned her sentiments.
    She had never known a pain so great. Every part of her hurt. Her heart was broken, her spirit crushed, and her body healing from a shooting that should have killed her. Bleu’s pain overwhelmed her as she pulled her suitcase all the way outside. She didn’t stop until she was standing in front of the bus stop. The next bus didn’t come for another twenty minutes, more than enough time to change her mind, but she knew that this was it. This had been the plan all along, and when her ride finally arrived, she stepped onto the bus without looking back. She had no love for a city that had no love for her. Los Angeles, California, here I come.

 
    6
    The bus ride was a blur. After countless transfers, days of traveling, and slipping in and out of consciousness from the pain pills she had taken, Bleu had finally arrived. La-la land … the place where dreams came true. This was it and as she stepped out of the Greyhound station with her bag in hand she looked around in amazement. She had done it. She was here. After years of imagining what it would be like, she was standing in the middle of the city … inhaling the smog-filled air.
    Now what? she thought. She had no plan. She had missed the first half of the first semester. She couldn’t just drop into her classes. She was too far behind. She had hopped on a bus and traveled across the country with no real clue of what she would do once she arrived, but after everything that had happened to her, she had no regrets.
    She looked left, then right, slightly overwhelmed by the magnitude of her new surroundings. She didn’t have any money. She couldn’t get a room. She would have to spend her first night on the streets.
    â€œHey, you need a ride?”
    She looked down the block to the cabbie who was sitting on the hood of his car. A cigarette dangled between his fingers as he blew smoke into the air. Knowing that her pockets were on E, she shook her head to decline. “No, I’ll walk, thanks. But can you tell me where UCLA is?”
    â€œYou’re walking to UCLA? From here? At this time of night?” the cabbie asked.
    Bleu nodded. She was fully aware of her peculiar destination. It was 1:00 a.m., but she just had to see it, up close and personal. She had researched it and looked at pictures a thousand times, but she wanted to plant her feet on campus. She deserved to.
    â€œCan you just point me in the right direction?” she asked. “I don’t mind walking.”
    The Hispanic gentleman smashed his cigarette into the curb and then tossed the butt before ruffling his fingers through his jet-black hair. “Come on; I’m going that way anyway. I’ll give you a lift,” he offered.
    Bleu didn’t move. She was young, but she was from the murder capital. If he thought she looked like easy bait, he was mistaken. “I’m good,” she said, declining his offer.
    â€œHey, it’s on the house. I’m not trying to get you,” he replied. He could sense her skepticism and he held out a finger. “Hey, look at this.” He went into his glove compartment and pulled out his state license. “You’re a smart cookie,” the cabbie stated. He held it out for her. “That there is my state permit. I’m licensed to drive this here piece of shit. This is a big city. You’re smart to worry, but if you see one of these you’re safe to get inside. Okay?”
    After inspecting it thoroughly, she removed her cell phone and took a picture of the man’s face.
    â€œI’m sending your picture to my parents,” she lied. “If you kill me, at least the police will know who to look for.”
    The cabbie held out his hands in amusement, then clapped them together and said, “Good idea! Now let’s get you to UCLA.”
    She climbed into the back of the cab and watched as the driver