Reckless Love

Chapter Seven*Meeting

Are you ready to go in, love?

He says this while smiling at me. I answer with a nod as all the memories start to flood in.

-Flashback-

Get back here, you stupid kids! The shopkeeper yells as Josh and I run.

Stupid old man doesn't quit, Josh says as the guy cases us for robbing his store.

Let's split up, Josh nods and keeps running straight as I turn and run into an alleyway.

A brick wall blocks the alleyway, shoot!

I look at the abandoned buildings on each side. I jump through the window of one of the buildings and sit under it.

I hear footsteps behind me I cover my mouth with my hand

They soon grow quiet. I let out a sigh and stood up.
That's when I hear it-a soft, almost imperceptible cry.

At first, I think it's just the wind, or maybe my mind is playing tricks on me, but then I hear it again-faint, muffled.

What is that?

I turn the corner, curiosity pulling me forward, and as I round it, I spot her. A small girl is sitting on the cold floor, knees pulled up to her chest, her face buried in them.

Her shoulders shake with the

She's crying.

I freeze for a second. It's such a soft sound, barely a whisper in the air, but it hits me in the chest like a sudden punch.

I step forward cautiously, trying to sound calm, to not make the situation more awkward.

Hey... uh, are you okay?

Her head jerks up at the sound of my voice, and for a moment, I don't even breathe. Her eyes-bright, striking blue, like a piece of sky captured in a child's gaze-lock onto mine. It's like the world suddenly pauses.

She doesn't say anything at first. Just stares at me with wide, watery eyes, and then, in the softest voice, like she's not sure I'll even hear her, she whispers

I... I'm okay

But I can hear it in her voice. She's not okay.

You don't sound okay, I say softly, sitting down beside her on the floor.

My heart clenches a little at the sight of her, her messy brown curls, a tangled mess on top of her head like no one's taken the time to comb them in days.

She flinches slightly at my words, but then sighs, her head falling back to rest on her knees.

I'm just sad, she mutters. Her voice is barely audible, but the words hit like a cold wave.

I nod, not pressing her any further. Sometimes it's better to just leave it. "So... how old are you?"

Fourteen, I stammer, barely glancing at him, my face still hidden in my knees.

I can't help but blink in surprise. Really fourteen (only a little younger than me.)

I give him a weak, half-hearted smile, but it doesn't reach my eyes. "Yeah... I'm fourteen. So, um... what are you doing here

Oh, you know... just running away because I just robbed a store.

Really you robbed a store!

The excitement in her eyes makes me blush