Chapter 45: Driving Test

The song that blared through the speakers was "do my thang" by Miley Cyrus. "OMG this is just the perfect song right now for my mood" she said as she smiled. She felt so good she started jamming out and singing along "every single night and every single day I'mma do my thang I'mma do my thang so don't you worry about me I'll be okay I'mma do my thang" she was enjoying herself so much she just wanted it to last as long as possible. She was just a block away from the DMV and pulled right into the lot and as her heart rate sped, up she closed her eyes and turned off the truck. Once the truck and radio were off, she was greeted with another sound which came from her phone that sat in her cup holder. The alerts for her messages had started up again and she cursed under her breath as she picked up her phone.
Bianca opened the message window and saw that there were 10 messages. Two from Alex four from blocked01 and four from Block02. "Oh, Geez, this is just getting out of hand" she bitched as she couldn't stop her hands from shaking. She didn't bother reading them but instead replied to them all with the same thing "Just stop texting I'm busy I need some alone time." She turned off her phone and she moved from the truck to the DMV door. She closed her eyes and took in a big deep breath opening the door slowly. She already knew she'd be fine with the written and driving test, all she needed to do now was turn in the driving form showing she had completed all the hours of training. She was sent over to the testing area once they made copies of all the driving training. She sat down and completed the written test in 15 minutes.
Once the next step was over and the next step up, they asked her to go to the vehicle and wait for an instructor. They asked what numbered space she was in, and she went out and waited in the truck. A young man finally came up to her driver side window and asked her to put on the headlights and then to use the break and all the blinkers so he could make sure they were working. "WTF is he asking me to do this for?" She thought not sure why he needed the basics. Once everything seemed to be fine, the young handsome guy got in the truck. She rechecked all the mirrors and put on her seatbelt and then slowly turned on the truck. She gripped the wheel tight and waited for the instructor to begin. Once they were on their way everything seemed to be going great. The instructor had asked her to do a few simple parking moves and he smiled when everything was done, she didn't know how she was doing and just did what was asked. Finally, he asked her to head back to the DMV and park in an empty space. She got a little nervous and wasn't sure if she had passed or not. "I don't see why I wouldn't. I seem to be the safest driver around here in this damn town" she muttered to herself.
She pulled into an empty spot and turned the truck right off her breathing had got faster and her hand started to shake. "You've passed and also… " the young man said as he handed her the "you've passed paperwork." She slowly took it with trembling hands and felt like she was going to pass out. When she looked at the test and she saw that there was a little note along with it "That's my number" he said as they both met eye to eye. Bianca didn't know what to do now "Thank you ummm" "Brandon is my name" he said before she could ask and assuming that was what the question was going to be. "Okay Brandon then thank you for your number, but I have a lot going on right now" she said as she opened the door and she walked to the back of the truck and waited for Brandon to join her.
Once he climbed out and walked to where she was standing, he looked into her eyes and waited for her to explain. She rolled her eyes and figured what the hell. "Brandon I would like to hang out sometime but that's all I can offer anyone right now" she said as she stood in front of him. Brandon gave her a tight smile and nodded "Okay I can work with that" he said as he followed her inside. She took her test to the counter, and they congratulated her for passing it all with 100%. She knew it was no big deal since a monkey could do it. They asked her to take a seat in the photo area and wait to be called to get her photo and license finished. Once all said and done it only had taken a half hour with some time to kill. She decided to head out to mamas for a visit needing to feel grounded even if for a little while. She pulled up into the drive and took out a few groceries she had stopped to pick up for mama. Bianca decided that she would spend a little time with mama and keep a little stash of money with her for any emergencies that might arise.
She grabbed her school bag and headed for the door, with mama was waiting for her as she came up the steps. Mama held open the door and Bianca went straight to the kitchen with mama right behind her. Bianca put up the groceries and sat down at the kitchen table, mama joined her with some warm tea and cookies. Bianca thanked her and then pulled out a big envelope full of cash and set it down in front of her. Mama didn't understand what was going on, so she's just waited for Bianca's next move. Bianca cleared her throat and slowly opened the package and she slowly pulled out her wad of cash and once again setting it on top of the envelope. Mama gasped and turned towards Bianca and grabbed her hand softly when it began to shake. Bianca closed her eyes and tried to find the words to explain why she had all this money. "Mama this is hard for me to talk about and well I'm not going to go into deep detail, but I have told you about who and what my mother is. So yes, lets’ just say I have no choice but to do what is asked of me" she said as a lone tear ran down her cheek. Mama tightened her grip on Bianca's hand she urged "Go ahead dear finish what you wanted to say. I'm here for you and whatever you need, this is a safe place for you."
Bianca looked to her with fear in her eyes and she knew she needed to finish what she was holding to herself and get out everything. "So, I've been taking self-defense classes at the studio and training in some other things. I don't want to be like my mother forever" she said as she finally took off the rubber band that was around the money. Bianca still hadn't had the chance to count it and didn't really want to, either. "I've acquired $17,500 since Monday and this is another payment I got today. I haven't been able to count it yet though" she said shrugging trying to process it all still. Bianca handed mama the next stack of money with a rubber band and asked her to count it. They both counted the money and when they both wrapped their stacks back up, they stayed silent for a bit. Mama was the first one to speak and all she said was "$12,000 all in hundred-dollar bills."
Bianca slowly put her hands on her thighs and let out a long sigh $8,000 all in hundred-dollar bills" she said as she looked at mama and cried and this time had not stopped as the dam ripped right open. Mama stood up and wrapped her arms around Bianca she didn't know what else to do, but her mother instincts had kicked in. Bianca had calmed her crying and asked mama to have a seat so that she could ask her some important questions. "Mama you've been so great to me and treating me with such kindness. I want to ask if it would be okay to leave the $12,000 with you? Maybe add to it when I need to so that if someday when I am ever able to get out I can" she looked to mama and they both smiled at one another. Mama nodded and slowly got up again, she went to her china hutch and grabbed a wooden box. She brought it to her table and set it down slowly. Once mama had taken her seat again, she opened up the box and slowly picked up the money and placed it in the box. "It'll stay safe in here and whenever you need it it'll be here" she said as she closed up the box.
They didn't say another word about it and Bianca got up and thanked mama for everything. She walked to the door with mama behind her. "I'll try to visit more often now that I have a car, but that won't change anything except I can get somewhere faster" she admitted. Mama hugged Bianca and told her to be careful, then asked her "You're staying safe right I mean protection all?", "Yes mama I am I went to the Planned Parenthood today actually for a checkup" she said as she kissed mama on the cheek and left. She only had about three hours left to get all her things done before she needed to be home. She headed straight to the studio and pulled into the lot 13 minutes later. She noticed that Heather's truck was nowhere to be seen. She turned off the truck and grabbed her phone, after turning it back on she had two voicemails and at least a dozen text messages. She didn't want to even read the texts and didn't know if she ever wanted to. She listened to the voicemail, and it had been from Nevaeh asking her where she was.
Nevaeh was starting to worry about Bianca since she hadn't responded to any text messages. Bianca deleted the voicemail and went to the next wanting to get on with her day. The second and final message was from Tyler letting her know he wouldn't be at the studio. "Wow a whole day almost to myself. This is the best day ever" she said as she deleted the message. She got out of the truck and practically ran inside.