My fresh start

"Whats your story?"

We walk for a while in silence, his hand still clutching mine tightly, as though he was afraid I would run away. As we move in and out of different alleys, I begin to get more nervous. Not knowing where I am is a constant fear of mine. I need to know that I can escape at all times and being lost just doesn't help in such a situation.
But, as if from no where, at the end of a long, narrow walk way, stands a huge building, the candle lights in the window illuminating the darkness. As we walk towards it, Jack breaks the silence I had become accustomed to.
"So where ya from den Lana?" He asks, looking down at me. He's so much taller than me that I have to slightly crane my neck to look at him, an uncomfortable position for a long period of time, may I say. I look at him questioningly.
"Uhm, the Bronx. I ain't been there in quiet a while though. Whys you askin'?" I ask, tearing my eyes away from his to look forwards again, the laughs and chatter from the building slowly getting louder as we get closer.
"Well, What's a pretty goil like you doing round these parts? At night. Alone." He edges on, looking down at me suspiciously. I blush at his compliment. No one has ever said that to me before. Probably because I've never let myself become close enough with anyone to allow them to. But I can tell already that Jack is a flirt, there's no denying it.
"A lady never tells, Jacky." I say, winking cheekily at him. I generally don't talk about myself, and it feels foreign for someone to take interest in me. Nobody's ever asked. Besides, I don't like to talk about it. That is one memory I would rather not relive. It's hard to get over something that's scarred me both physically and mentally, let alone tell anyone about it.
He laughs at me, obviously thinking I'm joking. I'm really not.
"Well I'm sure I'll find out soon enough." He says. We stop just infront of the thick wood door, and he looks down at me nervously.
"The boys aint that used to goils being around. So, uh... Just be patient with em, I guess." He says, before swinging the wooden door open. The yelling become a lot louder, and all eyes turn to us.
"Jackys got a goil!!" Someone yells, followed by a wolf whistle. I blush heavily, and duck my head down to avoid further embarrassment. Screams of encouragement get thrown at Jack, and he laughs, shaking his head.
"Hey, everybody pipe down, will ya?!" He finally bellows, barely audible over the constant blabber of the 100+ boys staring back at us. The building falls suddenly quiet, the echo of their yells bouncing off the walls still. He nudges me gently further into the dank, stuffy room, nodding reassuringly at me. Shakily, I walk forward, staring down at my feet, and the worn out work boots adorning them. I take a deep breathe, to calm my nerves. It's so strange, to be afraid of a bunch of teenage boys. But what if they don't accept me? What if they kick me out? Thoughts run through my mind of worse case scenarios, and their outcomes. I'm not sure how much longer I can live on the street. It's cold, and dirty. "No place for a girl" people would mutter sympathetically as they walked past, shaking their heads. Never did they help me though. Not once did I receive help from anyone, despite the fact that I'm a girl. And to think I may have to go back now, it just terrifies me.
"This here's Lana. She's gon' be stay in' with is for a while." Jack pulls me out of my thoughts, slinging one of his muscular arms around my neck in a friendly way. No one says anything. They sort of look round at each other, as if communicating telepathically. I hold my breathe, waiting for the first boy to speak. I feel Jacks arm tighten round my neck protectively, though he doesn't seem to notice his own action. It's almost like he wants me here. Nobody has ever felt that for me before...
Finally, after what seems like minutes, a scruffy boy, leaning dependently on an old wooden crutch rises from his seat, pulling his flat cap off and revealing a young face, smiling warmly.
"Welcome t' the family, I'm Crutchie." He breaks the silence, tucking his cap underneath his arm carefully. Boys surrounding him pat him on the back and I feel my breathe release, and my shoulders relax. I smile shyly back at him.
"Nice to meet ya, Crutchie."
And from there, I'm introduced to what feels like hundreds of boys, who all smily happily back at me, welcoming me to their humble lodgings. I even got a hug from a tall boy who goes my the name of Specs. For obvious reasons. I noticed that all of them had nicknames. Not once did I hear a normal name. That's definitely something I will have to question later.
Eventually, I am seated at a wooden table with a tiny oil lamp flickering in the middle of it, projecting it's tiny amount of light across the room, and sending shadows running across the wall as we move. Jack pulls a chair up next to me, putting his elbows on the table and resting his face in his hands, smiling goofily at me. I raise my eyebrow at him.
"Jacky boy, wha'da ya doin'?" I ask sceptically, as the others start to slowly snicker around me. I look around at them, furrowing my eyebrows. What's so funny?
"Me thinks someone in love." Crutchie says, poking at one of Jacks dimples, but he merely swats his hand away, flicking him off in the process, to which the boys "ohhhh" at.
"I is not in love. I's simply wonderin' is all." Jack retorts, leaning back in his chair, crossing his large arms over his chest. He swings back onto the 2 hind legs of the chair, balancing delicately, still watching me.
"Bout what?" Someone calls out. I'm not sure who. I'm currently in a spontaneous staring contest with Jack, trying to read his face for any signs. His eyes twinkle slightly with humor, and he squints slightly at me, almost challenging me to speak. Everyone stays quiet, their gaze flicking between the two of us.
"What's ya story Lana?" Jack finally says, breaking the silence, swinging forwards in the chair, throwing his body forward so were almost face to face.
"What?"  I ask, retracting my body away from him, pushing my chair backwards slightly. A wave of whispers gather around us, all shrugging shoulders and nodding heads. I feel uncomfortable, even judged.
"A pretty goil like you ain't livin on the streets for no reason. How d' ya end up here?" Jack asks, leaning forwards further, placing his forearms on the table.
"Uh....."
----------------------------------------------
A/N
Ohhh, slight cliff hanger! How exciting!
So, I apologise for the very slow update, I'm working on that, I swear!
I hope you've enjoyed this chapter, it was a pretty fun one to write, I must say! Chapter 3 will be coming up soon!