Wolfed Out (Discontinued)

Chapter 19: A Girl

The night was cold and dry in the city of Boston. Crickets chirped in the darkest spots within the grass as the moths huddled around the street lights. Once in a while a car would pass down the street, causing Taylor to jump just before he fell asleep. He was so tired, constantly yawning and struggled to keep his dirty eyes open. He hasn't slept in days. Whenever he found a bench to sleep on for the night, an officer would scatter him away like a stray dog. But not tonight. He finally came across one of the quietest streets away from downtown.

He laid on a bench at a bus station, spreading his legs out even though the bench was ice, but his legs ached in pain from walking for days. His arms hid in his shirt, stretching the material apart. He felt alone.

A young girl made her way down the street searching for her keys in her purse. Her purse was an even bigger maze in the dark, feeling for her keys somewhere in those pockets. She stood beneath a street light and took out her keys.

Not far from where she stood, a body was spread over a bench at a bus station. She usually avoided the homeless, hating to tell them she couldn't help them even though change jiggled in her pocket. But this seemed different. The figure didn't look homeless. He looked lost.

She approached the young man who slept peacefully on the bench. His hair was muddy and he had dark circles under his eyes. The rest of his face was hidden in his white shirt.

She touched his cold scaly skin. "Excuse me?" she said shaking his arm. Taylor awoke in a panic, jumping up from the bench. She backed away. "Hey! Hey!" she said with her hands in the air. She felt a bit scared.

Taylor looked at her, realizing it was just a girl. "Are you okay?" she asked. He cleared his dry throat. "Yeah, I'm fine. Thanks."

He laid back down on the bench, waiting for her to walk away. "Are you lost?"

He kept quiet, looking down the street. "I -" he paused, catching his breath. "I fell asleep on the bus and woke up here in Boston. So, something like that." he said. "I'll be fine, just waiting for the bus." he said trying to smile. She nodded and continued her way to her car. He watched her walk away and then laid back down on the cold bench.

Just as she was about to hop into her car, the guy began to cough. She looked back and found him hunched over, trying to catch his breath. The girl tossed her purse in the back and shut the door, running back to the young man.

"You don't seem well. You should stay at my place for the night, it's too cold to be waiting out here in a shirt."

He tried to stop coughing and looked at her car, imagining how warm it would be inside and to be able to rest somewhere comfy. He stood up, blowing his hot breath into his hands. "Okay."

She unlocked the door and walked in, switching the lights on. They walked down a mini hall and into the living room. Two couches circled a TV with a large antique desk against the wall that was stacked with portraits and pictures. He took off his shoes, the fuzzy carpet sinking in between his toes. She put down her purse and finally got a good look at him under the light. He didn't look as bad as she thought, but the dark circles under his eyes looked even worse. "When's the last time you slept?" she asked. He took his eyes off the portraits. "Is it that obvious?"

"Kind of."

"Not since the bus ride."

She nodded, looking around the room. "I guess you can take the guest room down the hall here. This apartment is small so you don't have to worry about getting lost. And you can use the shower, I can wash your clothes for you."