Run [Stereo Kicks/ James Graham]

Chapter 5

Months whirled by, my life dragging on as it always did, struggling more, but managing to get by. Some time during June, I headed down to a section of London, where I'd heard activity.
Girls were crammed onto the streets, talking excitedly, waiting outside a large building. Frowning, I crept forwards, trying to decipher what was going on.
"Stereo Kicks... Live June 11th..." I muttered. "Huh." Despite my open life, I had no idea who Stereo Kicks were.
"Charlie's so adorable!"
"But James's voice... I can't wait to hear it..."
"Barclay's such a gentleman!"
All the girls were discussing who I presumed were Stereo Kicks. With a roll of my eyes, I left the scene. There was too many people to try and find anything. Besides, I still hated stealing.
"You here for the concert?" A large man stopped me as I wandered past the queue.
"No."
"What you doing, then?"
"I was just passing by. I haven't heard of them, so I'm not interested." I forced a grimacing smile on my face as his eyebrows rose.
"Never heard of Stereo Kicks?" He said incredulously.
"I'm homeless, thanks." I spat at him, turning around and walking away, my defences growing. Girls who had overheard watched me leave, but I payed them no mind, going all the way back to my hideout. Now the warmer months were approaching, I had spread my hideout into something larger and more comfortable over heat conserving. However, I had my small corner for my bed, as it got chilly at night.
Once night fell, I got up again, planning to find anything left over from the Stereo- thingys concert. Kicks. That was it.
There was rubbish everywhere, which I turned my nose up at, picking my way through to the back of the venue. A large courtyard appeared, and I walked into it.
"-absolutely smashed it, honestly." Someone was opening a door behind me, so I span around, watching with horror as their eyes met mine.
Several boys were standing in front of me, and I backed off, planning to run past them and make my escape back to my hideout. "What're you doing out here, love?" One of them stepped out. He had a fairly high-pitched voice, with a nice accent, and light brown hair styled into a quiff.
"Don't touch me." My clear defensiveness made them stop short. "I mean it."
"We wouldn't hurt you. You haven't stayed out waiting, have you? Why weren't you here earlier if you wanted to meet us?" Another walked forwards, but I stopped him with a killer glare.
"I have no desire to meet you, nor do I know your names. I'm homeless, thank you very much. I was here to see if I could pick anything up, but I'm leaving now. Bye." With that, I sprang forwards, running down the tiny alley and back onto the Main Street.
"Wait!" They called after me, but I continued running, until I hit something very solid and fell to the ground.
"Got her." It grunted. Security. Damn. I struggled wildly, as they carried me back to the courtyard. Going limp, I waited to strike.
"What's going on?" A masculine voice said as the outline of a slim teenager, with yet another frickin' quiff stepped outside, eyeing me. His dark eyes and hair contrasted his pale skin.
"Found her, James." One of them nodded to me, making me seeth, just as two younger teens walked out, and I turned to look at them.
I caught those amazingly familiar blue eyes, seeing them widen in shock, and I ran. Ran like never before.
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"AMELIA! Please! Please, come back! Don't do this to me!" His agonised screams filled my ears as I tried to sleep that night. I'd found Reece, yet I'd run away again.
But, if I joined him, he could be hurt. Besides, I was comfortable on the streets. It was where I belonged.
Rain fell, and I got up miserably, going to find some food from downtown. Three o'clock in the morning struck as I walked, going to a Starbucks, pulling my hood over my face.
"Reece, I swear to god-"
"Leave it." His voice filled my ears, and my eyes widened, as a group of them sat not far away from me. With my hood still covering my face, I causally sipped the coffee I'd bought as a treat. "I-it doesn't matter."
"It does, Reecey. It matters to you."
"Don't call me that."
"Why not? You haven't had a problem with it before." I recognised the voice vaguely from one that had spoken earlier.
"It's what she called me." The bitter tone made my heart break, so I looked up. Eight boys, including my dear twin, were sitting around a nearby table. Reece's frame was tense, upset, his brown and blond hair falling messily, eyes glued to the table.
One of them looked up, sensing someone watching, and before I could look away, I had met their eyes. We looked at each other for a while, until he cocked an eyebrow, silently challenging me to come over, to at least let Reece know I was okay.
It was all it took. I burst into tears, running over to them, and wrapping my arms around Reece. They jumped, and Reece suddenly cried out.
My bones were crushed as he hugged me tighter than he ever had before, tears streaming down both of our faces. My brown hair was long, hiding our faces from the others as we sobbed.
"I'm so, so, so, so, so sorry, Reecey." I whispered.
"Why?" Reece sounded strangled.
"I did it to protect you." Hiccups interrupted my speech as I clung onto him.
"Please - please, come back." He cried, and my heart went cold.
"I- I..." The pain in his eyes as he realised what I was saying caused me to cry harder. "Can't."
"Please."
"Reecey, they'll hurt you." When we were finally composed somewhat, I noticed the other boys sitting there, completely confused.
"I don't care. You're hurting me more like this." Reece sobbed brokenly, refusing to let me go.
"You've clearly got friends, and probably an amazing girlfriend. Don't. Just - it's my place, on the streets." I tried to convince him, even as my heart splintered into fragments smaller than the tear drops falling from our eyes.
"No. It's not."
"It is."
"Why do you wear that necklace, then?" One of the boys spoke up, pulling us from our trance. During the commotion, my necklace had come free of my shirt, and had the picture clearly on display.
"I can't go back." Even as I said it, Reece tightened his arms around me from where I was sitting on his lap, cuddled into him. "I can't."
"Why?"
"B-because they said they'd hurt Reece." My voice broke.
"We've got the best security." Suddenly, the boys were taking Reece's side.
"I'm not letting you leave. Last time you did that, it was over three years." Reece murmured thickly, emotions clogging up his voice. "Worst mistake of my life."
"I'm doing it for you! Don't - don't make this harder than it already is." I sobbed, clutching onto Reece. "You're clearly amazing, a-and I don't have no place with that life anymore."
"Please. I'll kill myself." He sounded so desperate, so broken, as he shifted me so I could hardly move, and I burrowed into his chest.
"D-d-don't."
"Amelia."
"Reecey." Tears were still falling steadily down my face. "I did it to protect you. If I come back, there's no guarantee they won't hurt you. Besides... I'm used to the streets now."
"You shouldn't be. It's not a place for a teenage girl. You could come back." One of the boys said quietly, and I hit my head against Reece's shoulder in frustration. It was so, so tempting, but I couldn't. All I needed was for them to agree with me, just once, and I could leave.
"You're famous?" I asked the table in general.
"Sort of."
"Then I definitely can't just come and barge into everything. It'd all mess up." Slowly, I slid from Reece's grip, despite already missing the comforting arms. "I have... To go."
"No." Reece stood up also, stepping right up to me so we were almost pressed together. "No, you don't."
"Reece..." Trailing a hand slowly down his face, I paused. They all watched me as I struggled, struggled desperately with my decision. "I shouldn't."
"But you could." He bargained.
As they waited, I looked out of the window onto the streets outside, the so familiar streets. Someone was slouching past, clothes not dissimilar from mine, their glow of wealth long faded. "I can't."
I ran, trying to stop the tears from blinding my vision as they raced after me, Reece sobbing once more. The pavement hit back against me as I ran, tears still falling constantly.
"No!" Suddenly, a warm weight collided with me, but it wasn't Reece. "You can't do this to him."
"Let me go!" Squirming, I almost got free of their hold, but the arms were around my waist, hands clenched together in front of my stomach so I'd have to do a practical flip to get away. Which I did. But this mystery boy just lifted me closer to him as the others surrounded us. "I can't!"
"I'm begging you, you can!" Reece was almost hysterical. "Don't leave me!"
"I have to!"
"No you fucking don't!" He snapped, enclosing me in a hug, the other arms falling away.
"I need to protect you..."
"Other than that, would you come back?"
"Yes."
"Then come back!" Reece said desperately. I stared back into his bright, blue eyes, that were glazed over in tears, and didn't step away, didn't let his arms fall from around me.
Just as they all relaxed, thinking I'd changed my mind, I pressed a kiss to his cheek. "I love you, Reecey."
"I love you, too, Amelia."
And I ran.