Alone

Chapter 4

They made their way around to the food carts on the streets and ate all the possible samples, joking around and pushing each other into passing strangers. Once they had finally gotten back to the house, the sun had been shining through the windows, creating an orange tint in the room. "Do you want something to eat?" Nina asked walking to the fridge and opening it. "Don't want to waste your food on me." He responded, taking Spike into his arms and testing his trust.

"Wouldn't be wasting if your going to be living here now." His head snapped up. "You mean your letting me stay?" He asked walking behind her. She turned around holding this time four pieces of bread and the jar of peanut butter. "Because you've been nothing but nice to me and even helped me with my little issue I was having, it would be rude to say no." She finished with a large smile. Jared returned the smile as he wrapped his arms around her, catching her by surprise. She froze in place, still holding the bread and peanut butter. "Thank you," he muttered. "I can never repay you."

Once they separated he gave her a smile and walked over to the table. "Alright this won't be a gourmet meal but its something," she said setting everything down. Jared took two pieces of the bread and spread some peanut butter, giving it to her. "Why thank you," she said laughing and taking a hungry bite. Jared made his own sandwich, and put the peanut butter back. Once he got back, Nina had already finished eating her sandwich. "Okay then someone was hungry," Jared said laughing as he sat down in one of the chairs at the table. "Yeah. Nervous, actually." Nina replied, her fingers tapping on the table repetitively. "About what?" Jared asked with a mouthful of food. "I wanted to talk to u about something. You know, I've never really had another person in my life before so, I feel like now I can actually share my feelings with someone and have them relate somehow. I don't know there has just been alot that I haven't really let out in my life that I would actually like to let out."

Jared's chewing slowed to a stop and he set his half eaten sandwich down. "I understand where your coming from." He said pushing the sandwich aside and letting Spike finish it. "Just know that now I'll always be here for me when you need me. I'm here to listen and help however I can." He said reaching across the table and taking her hand in his. "I feel like I've known you all my life already. I can't repay you for anything either. My debt is already too much. But I can ensure a strong friendship, full and complete with my care. As long as we have each others backs, I'm sure we can get through anything together." She wiped at her cheek, his words cutting deep. "Thank you. And I feel the same. It's almost as though we have already created an unbreakable bond in such short notice."

They sat and talked about their lives, talking about how neither of them had parents to confide in or to take care of them, to be there for them. It is a sad thing when a child grows up without proper care, but sadly for these two, that's exactly what happened.

"You know I can't even remember what they looked like," Nina said sitting up a little bit, "I don't even know which parent I look more like. I have no idea what I looked like as a baby and I have no memory of anything. Just that I was put in a foster family, and I ran away when I thought I could take care of myself." Jared nodded his head. "Me too. I have no memory, no baby pictures, nothing. What was once a lonely life, though, isn't anymore. I found you. And I am quite happy for that. I'm not scared to venture out into the world anymore and not being able to come back to something, because now I can come back to this place," he said gesturing his hands around the room, "and back to you." He said, his gaze landing on her, as well as his hand on hers. "I'm so glad that you are happy here. I truthfully thought I was going to be alone for the rest of my life as well, but then you came along and changed my mind."

They sat their for a while, talking about themselves, the other listening intently. They shared about their past lives and some of their experiences that they have had in the past. They did this until the sun started to peek through the windows once again, both of them rising from their chairs.

"Wow we talked all night until morning. Guess today will be a lazy day." Nina said laughing and moving a strand of her out of her face. "I guess so." Jared smiled, making his way over to the couch and perching himself on the edge. "Sleep well, Nina." He said before he flattened his body and immediately let sleep take over him. "Goodnight Jared." Nina replied, even as the boy slept. She made her way up the stairs, holding a sleeping Spike in her arms, and slumped down onto her bed. She set Spike down on the nightstand next to her and soon fell asleep as well.

She ran, the flames soon to catch her. This had been the strangest dream she would soon never to forget. As she made her way across the brown dried out ground that stretched out before her, she reached the edge, a cliff. She skidded to a stop and gazed over the edge, a pit of fire stared up at her, waiting to engulf her in its monstrous flames. She was to face all of this danger alone. No one to accompany her, to help her through this nightmare. She could hear her sleeping body call out into the night as the flames that had been chasing her came closer. She felt the heat become painfully hot against her legs, as it rose up her body. Then, she heard a voice cry out her name beside her. "Nina!" It called. She turned her head, her vision blurry from the tears clouding her eyes. She made out a figure standing there, the flames circling around them. "Nina wake up!" It called out to her. She squeezed her eyes shut as she screamed out "Help me!"

"Nina wake up!" Jared's voice came through. Her eyes shot open, and her body jolted forward only to be pulled into a warm embrace. Not as hot as the flames, but a comforting heat radiating off the body of her friend. His protective arms pulled her figure against him, as he stroked her face, wiping the tears that had fallen down her cheeks. She felt the sweat collect on her head, and she finally let the sobs escape from her. "It's okay. I've got you now." Jared cooed, still holding her. He felt her body shake intensely, as she had still been scared. "You're safe now. Don't you worry. I'm here. And I will not leave you." He said kissing the top of her head and bringing it to his chest. She buried her face there, and they remained that way for a long while.