Ramshackle's Angel

3

A few days later, Stone was walking out of a bar with his newly stolen bottles of rum when he saw Lorelai carrying a bag over her shoulder. And by the looks of it, it was maybe bread and other dry food items. She looked around cautiously before she saw him.

"Stone!" She called out with a gleeful wave.

He rolled his eyes before he walked over to her. She smiled.

"So, how is one of Ramshackle's best troublemakers doing today?" She asked with a playful smirk and shove.

"You know, the usual" he replied before he took a cigarette out and lit it.

She sighed and smiled. Then she remembered something.

"Oh! Vinnie and Skipp are keeping an eye on the scrap house. I just needed to get a few things for the booths. I'm heading back now. Care to join me?" She told him.

He thought about her offer. Though Vinnie and Skipp have been to her place numerous times, he's surprisingly never seen what the scrap house. All he knew was that is was a place for Scraps to get supplies they needed like food, water, and such. It also acted as a house for new kids on the street until they can go out on their own.

"Sure, why not?"

"How did you even find this place?" He asked.

"Oh, well, the sugar mill had been abandoned for about...twenty, thirty years or so. So I just, I don't know, I just turned it into a refuge for Scraps like you and me" she explained, hope shining in her green eyes.

This made Stone smile just the tiniest bit. She was so sweet. Too sweet for Ramshackle. But, she wanted to help people. And that alone gave him hope. Hope that things would be better in the future.

"Welcome to the Scrap house!" She told him proudly as they entered the old sugar mill.

Imagine this⬇️

Inside of here⬇️

"Whoa." He breathed out as he saw the market-like place inside the old building.

"I know, right? Scraps from all over town come here. It's incredible! My dad would be proud of me" she told him, saying the last part quietly.

Stone nodded before one of Lorelai's helpers came over to them.

"Hey boss! Is that more dry goods for the food booth?" He asked.

"Yep! Here you go" she replied before she handed the bag to him.

"Thanks!"

He walked off and through the crowds of kids getting the things they needed. Lorelai sighed happily before she stretched out her arms and back.

"Ah! Well, I could use a drink. How about you?"

Stone nodded before she grabbed his cold hand and started leading him to a less crowded area.They walk into a bar-like area and sat down at a table. She ordered two drinks and took out her own cigarette and lit it.

"So, what caused you to start this place?" Stone asked as he crossed his arms and leaned back in his seat.

"Oh! Well...my dad, actually. He died before I was born and my mom wasn't exactly the greatest. But she did tell me once that he always wanted to start a place like this to help those in need. And growing up in a city that was entirely made up by the worst of the worst, I always felt like I needed to help them. So...in a way, I guess you can say that my dad's dream was passed down to me" she explained before taking a puff of her cigarette and blew out the smoke.

He nodded before their drinks arrived. Lorelai grabbed her's but struggled to take the bottle cap off.

"Stupid, fucking cap. Why are these so hard to-" she was suddenly cut off by Stone's cold hands brushing against her's as he takes the bottle from her.

She watched as he easily opened the bottle cap and handed it back to her. She laughed nervously before she took a sip of the weak alcohol. Stone's eyes never left her. Not that he would never admit it, but he loved it when Vinnie or Skipp invited her along for one of their schemes, because he got to hang out with her. When the first met nearly a year ago, he didn't know her name until a week after they had initially met. But he loved the way she cared about people that nobody else did or how whenever she was shy or embarrassed she would cutely bite her bottom lip. But her eyes was most likely his favorite. They were absolutely beautiful and perfectly showcased her true emotions. They held hope. Finally, she calmed down and looked at her drink.

"You know, if my mom knew that I was hanging around someone like you, she would have my head."

She lightly traced her finger over the rim of the top of the bottle with a frown on her face. But that frown was soon replaced with a soft smile.

"But if it means being with you, I wouldn't mind losing my head" she told him before taking another drink from the bottle.

That's when his face turned red and his hands immediately got sweaty. This feeling was so weird as his stomach swirled at the thought of the girl in front of him. He wanted to hug her and never let go, to get into trouble together, just to anything together just for the sheer fun of it.

"Lorelai" he said.

Her eyes met his as he raised his finger to speak but nothing came out. She just sat there patiently and watched him as he tried to figure out his words, her head resting on the palm of her hand.

"Maybe, we could, I don't know, do this again..." he said before he covered his face with his turtleneck and slumped into his arms, almost as if he was hiding from her.

Now her face was red as her eyes widened. She quickly looked at the ground for a moment, afraid that she might do something stupid. Finally, she took a deep breath and looked at her best friend.

"Are you...asking me on a date?" She asked, biting back her excitement.

Stone gulped.

"Y-yeah I guess that's what's happening..." he said nervously.

Not being able to hold it in anymore, she did something that Stone was not expecting. She squeaked.

Immediately afterwards, she covered her mouth as she blushed.

"Uh...Yeah! I'D LOVE TOO! I GOTTA GO. BYE!!!" she quickly told him before she ran off.

"Why'd I do that? Why'd I do that? Why'd I do that? Why'd I do that?" She repeatedly asked herself before she was out of sight.

Stone on the other hand was completely frozen as his face turned beet red. A small, silly smile crossed his face soon followed.