***
I make my way back to the empty lot where I sleep with no suspicious people anywhere in sight. It’s an especially cold night and the streets are deserted.
I dig up my sleeping bag and go to my corner. My shoulder and leg are still hurting, but the pain isn’t getting worse so I take that as a good sign. I curl up on my left side since any pressure on my right side sends waves of pain through my body. I close my eyes and try to sleep. My stomach is already complaining that it’s empty and I hope I’m able to get some food tomorrow.
I dream of men chasing me and guns haunting me all night.
“Hey, kid, are you all right?”
I feel something touch my shoulder and instincts take over. I’m on my feet and backed up to the wall in three seconds flat. My heart is pounding while Gavin looks at me with old, worried eyes.
“It’s just me, kid.”
I nod at him, unable to catch my breath.
“Are you all right? Some of the guys were talking about you and said you looked hurt.”
I lift up my pants leg to see how it looks. It’s still heavily bruised, but not sore to touch. I even feel more stable standing on it. After lifting my sleeve up on my shirt, I see my arm still looks a lot like my leg and my shoulder is still sore. I am able to move it, though, which is an improvement on yesterday.
“What the hell happened to you, kid?” Gavin looks at me with wide eyes, anger taking over his features.
“A man chased me.”
“What did you steal to get a beating like that?”
“I didn’t steal anything. I don’t know why he was chasing me. He had a gun, though.”
“A gun! What have you got yourself mixed up in, kid?” Gavin now looks worried rather than angry.
“I don’t know. I’ve never seen him before, I swear.”
“Maybe he was from one of them gangs. There’s been a few gang kids hanging around. You should stay low for a few days.”
“I can’t. I need food.”
“Here” Gavin takes a packet of chips, two bread rolls and a small carton of milk from the shopping bag he has slumped over his shoulder.
“Why?”
“You need this more than I do.”
“But I’m young and have good genes.” I throw his words back at him from when we first met, feeling bad that I’m taking his food from him.
“Yeah, but you need something in that stomach of yours. No one is chasing me, kid. Take it.”
“Thanks.” I grab both bread rolls and start eating them immediately, wishing I was able to pay Gavin back somehow for all the times he has helped me.
“You might need to leave, kid. If someone is looking for you that hard, they’re going to find you.”
“Leave?”
“Yeah, get on a bus and go to another town.”
I’m nervous at his words. As much as I pride myself that I don’t need anybody, I can’t imagine leaving Gavin.
“You’ll be fine, kid. You’re the strongest and fastest person I’ve ever known.” Gavin seems to sense my unease.
I just nod at him. Staying low doesn’t mean I have to leave, this guy will eventually find someone else to harass.
“I’ll ask around; see if anyone else has seen this guy. Maybe I can find out what he wants with you.”
“Thanks, Gavin.”
Gavin puts his hand on my shoulder. I don’t know when it became okay for him to do that without me freaking out, but he is the only person I know I can trust.
“Stay safe, kid. You deserve better than all this.”
Again I nod my head and say nothing. I couldn’t speak even if I wanted to.
Taken By Surprise Page 18