"Don't talk to me about effort as if you know who the fuck I am." She did lower her voice this time only because the last thing she needed was people staring at them. "You want a sob story, someone to rescue? Find some other homeless little girl. I am where I am because I choose to be there. Never for any other reason." It was precisely the lack of control that made her so angry but she would be loathe to admit it.
She took a step back from him now, trying to calm herself. It was true that she had nowhere to sleep tonight. Clothes she had, and they were stashed in a safe place. But a bed was something she'd yet to find. A night in a hotel meant clean sheets, heat, and a shower without having to break in somewhere or have perverts watching her. A nice, long hot shower was something she hadn't had in a good long while. If she didn't play nice, those things would not be hers for the night.
"Look, I'm sorry." Her tone was still angry but there was some hint of remorse in it. True it was faked remorse, but to Laura's credit she was raised to be a very good actress. "The offer of help from a man has ever come without strings attached." That part was true enough. Young, middle-aged, old. All of them had one thing in mind in exchange for help. "If I didn't piss you off enough to rescind the offer..." She trailed off and looked up at him with an unreadable expression. One night, that was all. besides, if anything were to happen it wasn't as though she couldn't defend herself.