Run [Stereo Kicks/ James Graham]

Chapter 17

The next morning, I woke up, slipping out of my bed and tucking the blankets more carefully around Dean, and picking up £100. Leaving him sleeping, I headed off, the sky still dark as it approached dawn.
Finally, I made it to Asda, and went in, checking the time to see that they'd only been open for minutes. Only one till was operational, with one security guard to the side, but the rest of the place was deserted, exactly what I'd been hoping for.
After being nearly arrested, the police would be on the lookout for me, and I adjusted my hood nervously, heading to the clothing section. Dean needed a load more clothing, and I wanted another jacket.
Soon enough, I had found a varsity jacket in black and white that fitted me well, before I headed across to the boys section for Dean. His clothes were dirty and well-worn, and he could do with something to wear.
Clothes span out in front of me and I sighed, looking over the shirts, before jeans then jackets. About an hour later, I had gathered several tshirts, four pairs of jeans, two jackets, socks and underwear.
"Seventy pounds, thirty-six pence." Giving her eighty pounds in notes, I waited anxiously for my change, putting it carefully into my pocket. "Thank you."
"Thanks." I murmured before slipping out of the shop and into a random alley. Once I had changed my jacket over, I put as many of the clothes as I could into the backpack, before heading back to the hideout for breakfast.
"I was so worried about you!" Dean gasped when I arrived.
"Don't you worry about me, squirt, I can handle myself." With a bright smile, I found myself a clean outfit and him a new one.
While Dean started to make breakfast under my careful instruction, I planned the day out and things we had to do in the near future with a bit of chalk and the wall at the end of the alley.
"Right. I'm going to go to Go Outdoors and buy a tent. A small one, mind you, but there have been occasions when I've nearly lost everything due to wind, and that would last. In the meantime, you're going to sort through the materials and see what is scrap, what might be useful, and what is insulating or good quality."
"Yes, Amelia." Dean handed me two fruits and some rice, which I ate eagerly.
"After that, we're going to go take a shower, I'll wash my clothes, you can change into new ones, and then we'll get some more food, as you're growing still and really need it."
Finishing my breakfast, I took forty pounds, motioning for Dean to start when he was ready before leaving, not taking my backpack. I felt confident that I wouldn't be recognised, as my hair was flowing down my back, I had a completely different jacket on, and no backpack to distinguish me.
Go Outdoors was a fairly long walk away, but I jogged part of it, to keep my fitness and thus speed up.
"How may I help you?" A member of staff smiled at me.
"I'm looking for just a small tent. Forty pounds?" Really, I wanted to shop alone, so thanked her when she pointed to where the tents where and sped off before she could show me around.
There was a simple, small green tent that had 33% off, making it £39.99. Grinning, I ordered one, making my way over to the checkout. Having collected the tent, I paid quickly, not bothering with the penny change and leaving the store, the large bag over my arm. It weighed three kilos, so I started to jog, not wanting it to weigh me down over time, as I was over five miles away from the hideout.
"That's awesome!" Dean laughed when he saw the bag, my original hideout completely dismantled, three piles of materials to the side of the alley.
"It's only one man, but seems spacious enough for two plus stuff." I smiled back at him, as we set up erecting the tent. Once that was done, I sent Dean to make some more food, deciding it was worth splashing out for once, as I scanned through to ensure I was happy with the three piles before picking up the useful one.
Securing the insulating material around the outside of the tent, plus what I thought worthy from the maybe pile, I ate my breakfast.
"Where would we shower?" He asked me as I put our clothes and things like shampoo, conditioner, soap, new toothbrushes and toothpaste into the backpack to take with us.
"Toilets. There's this place that has showers as well." We headed off, leaving our other things inside the tent, apart from valuables that were tucked away in the secret hole in the wall. Paying twenty pence entry, I led him into the unisex toilets, choosing a random stall after handing him his clothes and stripping down.
The lukewarm water poured over my head and I showered quickly, brushing my hair out before lathering it in shampoo then conditioner.
Dean caught the bottles, I presumed, when I threw them across to him, and half of the soap bar. I washed my body off quickly, before taking my clothes and washing them out with the rest of the soap.
"Dean?"
"Yeah?"
"Close your eyes, I'm going to go dry my clothes off." Stepping out of the shower, I went over to the hairdryers, drying my clothes as fast as I could. When they were decently dry, I changed, letting Dean out.
"I don't need to dry my hair." Dean giggled as I started to dry mine, instead brushing his teeth.
"Well my hair is a foot longer than yours, isn't it?" Playfully rolling my eyes, I picked up a pair of scissors. "And you're getting a haircut soon."
"You'll ruin my beautiful hair." He pouted.
"It's that or tie it in a ponytail before long." I shrugged.
"Fine." Dean consented grumpily, waiting until I'd finished brushing my teeth before I swiftly cut his hair shorter, making sure it was an even length. Leaving the top longer than the sides, I got some water and tried to give him a quiff. "Very funny."
"You look better now." I laughed, packing all of our things before leaving.
"Why aren't you having a haircut?"
"Because my hair grows fairly slow, and I'm a girl."
"I never knew that."
"Very funny."
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Two Months Later
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"You know, you should go find your brother." Dean commented.
"I'm-"
"I'm sorted, now. I've got a good understanding of how to survive, and there's enough food and things."
"No one gets left behind, that's the rule I always knew." I said firmly. He got the no-messing tone and fell silent.
"But if I wasn't on the streets-"
"You are, that's the thing. I am, too. That's how it is." Giving him a comforting smile so he knew I wasn't angry, I crawled out of the tent, stretching.
"What are we doing today?"
"You tell me." Dean looked surprised at this. "You said you know how to survive."
"Fresh food." He decided after scanning over our supplies.
"Right answer." I nudged him with my shoulder as we headed off to the market for some food.
"Excuse me?" A gentle hand was laid on my shoulder, as we both turned around. "Are you two homeless?"
"Yes, Ma'am." I said warily, shifting so Dean was slightly behind me, ready to bolt.
"I'm Alicia Edwards, head of London Orphanage." She introduced with a smile. "If you want, I can take you off the streets."
"Go on, Dean." I shoved him forwards with a smile, stepping back.
"Wait-"
"My number." Scribbling it down, I handed it to him. "I'll go back."
"Thank you for keeping me alive." He hugged me.
"My pleasure, I'm glad I met you." Dean hugged me tighter before letting go. "See you around... Squirt." Turning, I ran off, tears in my eyes. I'd lost another person in my life, but he was happy, and that was all that mattered.
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All my necessary items were in my backpack, I had showered and changed, eaten and drank fully before heading to where I had last seen the boys living. Taking a deep breath, I raised my fist and knocked.
"Hi, how can-" Charlie opened the door, before his jaw dropped. "Amelia?" He whispered.
"Hi." I smiled back at him. Suddenly, I was enclosed in a tight hug.
"I missed you." His voice wavered.
"Don't cry. Are the other boys in?" I murmured.
"Yeah. Lads! Guess what?" Charlie pulled me inside the flat, locking the door behind us. Throwing my shoes off, I followed him down to the lounge.
"You ordered surprise Domino's?" Someone yelled.
"You finally got a friend?"
"You found a cat?"
"I found a person." Charlie smiled brightly as we walked into the lounge. Nervously, I glanced up at them, unsure if they'd accept me after months apart.
My back smashed against the wall as a person collided painfully with me, their arms wrapped tighter around me than ever. "Hi, Reecey." I giggled, returning the hug. He was flat-out sobbing, and knelt on the floor in front of me, crying. "Ssh, I'm okay."
"I'm glad you're okay!" Looking up, I was met with RK. "Casey! If you ever dare loose her again, I will castrate you, force boiling water down your throat then break up with you, you hear me?"
"Yes." Casey muttered obediently, before giving me a hug. "Sorry."
"It's okay." I whispered, before letting go and hugging Barclay. "Nice to see you again."
"It's better for us, we were worried sick." Barclay shook his head at me.
"I see you've lost the duct tape." As Jake hugged me, he laughed, playfully smacking my shoulder.
"I would've hoped so, or I wouldn't be able to do any shows." Jake frowned suddenly. "It was lonely without you."
"I'm sorry."
"The fans went crazy sad when they heard." Tom put in quietly as he came over to me. "Amelia... I'm really sorry."
"It's cool." We hugged, before a hand was laid on my shoulder, and I turned to come face to face with James.
"Hi." James murmured.
"Hey." I breathed. It was so strange to see him after months. My heart started to beat as all my feelings for him broke free and rose to the surface again. He enclosed me in a tight hug, and I wrapped my arms around him, already feeling three times better.
"I've been waiting for months to do this." James whispered before he kissed me.