Alone

Chapter 3

When morning came, the girl rose from her pillow, wiping her eyes and brushing the hair out of her face. She got up from the bed, taking Spike into her hands and descending down the stairs into the kitchen. Her eyes fell upon the couch, where the blanket that had been draped over the couch was now folded neatly with the pillow resting atop. The once dusty floor had an actual shine to it, along with the furniture around her.

The smell of eggs filled her nose, making a smile form on her cracked lips. Jared stood at the stove, a pan that held two eggs in it, held firmly in his grip. "Morning," he said without turning around, sensing her presence. "Making eggs for you. Do you like eggs?" The girl shook her head as she sat down at the table. "Brownie points for you Mr. Jared." She mused. "Why thank you kind young lady," he said spilling the eggs on a paper plate and bringing it over to the table. He set it in front of her, along with a glass of milk that she had not noticed. Spike made his way over to it, but she put a hand in front of him, stopping him in his tracks. "My milk, get your own. Thanks man!" She exclaimed, digging in instantly. Jared laughed as he watched the girl engulf her food. "Glad you like it, first time makin' eggs." He said smiling. "Pretty damn good for a first timer," she said through a mouthful of eggs. Jared sat in the seat across from her, resting his head in his hands.

When the girl had finished, she dabbed her mouth with her scarf, pushing the plate away from her. "Thank you." She smiled happily. "Your welcome." Jared replied, rising and taking the plate to throw away in the trash. "So where are we going today?" He asked, humming to himself. "Well, I was thinking of showing you where I go to get my food." Jared spun around and gave her an unreadable look. "I actually had to hunt down these eggs from a tree in central park at 6:30 this morning. I'm not keen on stealing if that's what you were referring to on 'where you get your food from'." He said with air quotations. The girl stood, obviously offended at the comment, the chair screeching at the floor. "I'm no thief," she protested crossing her arms, "I don't steal, I take. Those people don't need things as much as I do, every girl for herself out there and if I'm hungry, they better suffer the loss of a damn apple. For all I care they can go starve if they'd like, but not me. No I've starved too many times. I shouldn't have to live this life, so I will bring everyone around me down with me," And with that, she turned on her heels and ascended the stairs again, wandering in the bedroom and slamming the door shut.

"Whoops." Jared said shrugging. The small mouse resting on the table seemed to shake his head at the boy, making the boy grimace in response. "What was I supposed to do? Say 'okay lets go steal some shit!'" He raced up the steps and gently knocked on the bedroom door. "Are you gonna let me in so I can apologize for being an idiot, or do I have to get this little mouse dude to chew a hole big enough that I can fit through?" He heard a small giggle from inside the room, before he heard footsteps coming towards the door.

The door opened slowly, revealing the girls features partially through the small crack. "Progress." The boy nodded in affirmative. A smile couldn't help but creep on the girls face until she opened the door all the way and stepped aside, allowing the boy to enter. She sat on the edge of the bed and rested her hands in her lap, as the boy sat in front of her on the floor, tucking his feet under him. Another laugh escaped from her lips. "What on earth are you doing?" She asked through her giggles. "Being polite and not sitting on the bed." He mused. "If I had parents, they'd be cheering you on right now," She said laughing and tapping the space beside her, "come on don't be shy, I don't bite." "But Spike does." The boy said pointing to the mouse who still sat in the doorway, seeming to glare at the boy. "Aw he just hasn't gotten used to you yet," she said rising and scooping Spike up into her arms. "See he's harmless," she said stroking Spike's head gently.

"Still keeping my distance." He laughed holding his hands out in front of him. "I'm sure he won't bite unless I tell him to. So don't piss me off any time soon." She joked as Jared stood and sat next to the girl. "So what now? Didn't you say you wanted to show me around thief?" Jared laughed punching her in the arm playfully. She felt another laugh escape from her freely, this new feeling seeming to show up, making her feel happy every time it does. "Yeah. Let's go. We have a long day ahead of us." She said standing up and extending her arm to help him up. He took her hand and rose to his feet.

"Should I be afraid?" He asked adjusting the hat still firm on his head. "Yes." She answered and couldn't help but smile. They made there way down the staircase and to the front door, Spike following close behind. "Hold down the fort while we are gone would yah?" The small mouse spun in a full circle before looking back up at them. "See you soon." She said before closing the door and hopping down the steps with Jared close to her side.

The sidewalks didn't occupy much people, the snow might have had something to deal with this fact. It didn't bother people like her though, no where to go and nothing better to other then to roam the streets and discover new things with every passing day. "It's so vacant around here." Jared said looking around in observation of his new surroundings. "It's only like this in the winter time. People chicken out once the snow starts to fall, and they find that its too cold to walk. Why walk when you could drive a car instead?" She pointed out. Something inside her told her to turn around and glance back.

Fear struck inside of her as the boy that had been harassing her this whole week appeared in her mind of sight. "Oh shit," she said pulling Jared into a nearby ally and slamming the both of them against the wall. "What just happened?" He asked trying to catch his breath. "Take a look real quick." She said pointing out. Jared looked around the corner and spotted the boy immediately. "The boy with the eye patch?" He asked walking back by the girls side. "Yes. He has been harassing me this whole week. He won't seem to go away and leave me alone." She said with fear in her voice. "Let's put a stop to that mess." Jared said cracking his neck and stepping back out on the sidewalk. The girl didn't pull him back in the ally. She let him go.

Before she could protest, Jared pulled the boy into the ally they occupied and threw him against the wall. "Recognize this girl?" He asked digging his arm into the other boys neck. "Yes of course I do," he said through choked breaths. "I saw her first to clarify." He said laughing despite himself. "Funny." Jared said, kneeing him in the groin. The boy groaned in response and clenched his teeth to hide his pain. "If I have to speak to you again I won't be as nice as I am now. You don't think this is nice, just wait then." He finished with another knee to the groin and threw him down on the ground. "Come on, this piece of trash doesn't deserve the attention we are giving him." He said pulling the girls arm out of the ally.

"You handled that pretty well." She said laughing and patting him on the back. "Well now that we are friends, friends have each others backs." He said smiling and fixing the hat on his head. He jumped when the girl rose on her toes and pecked him on the cheek. "Thank you." She said smiling and poking his nose. "Nina. My name is Nina." "Nina. Hmmm it has a nice ring to it." Jared said linking arms with the girl.