Runaways and dreamers

Chapter 24- Familiar faces

Katie woke up smiling, which she hadn't done in years. Not since James and Tommy. But, now she felt safe again. Jace had her convinced for the moment that nothing she did could get rid of him. To her it felt strange to be genuinely happy and secure, like nothing could break her world again. At least not with Jace around. There was hope now—that maybe she wouldn't be alone and left to fend for herself anymore.

Jace sat up slowly, smiling at her, "Good Morning."

A grin spread across her face, "Morning."

"What do you say we go get some food?" Jace suggested, a slightly mischievous smile on his lips.

Chuckling, Katie arched a brow at him teasingly, "Up for practicing some theft, huh?"

Jace nodded with a laugh, "Definitely." Pulling on their jackets, they headed into the city. It was early, nearly 9 AM, but most stores in the city opened at quarter to 8 if not earlier.
Katie walked next to Jace as they looked carefully at the stores as they passed by. The streets were already beginning getting crowded with business people as well as street vendors and others.

Glancing around, Katie nearly stopped in her tracks thinking she'd seen someone she recognized. But she shook her head and kept going, I'm just being stupid. How on earth would he even be here? God knows how far away he could be by now. Dismissing her instincts that told her she had seen a face she remembered, she refocused on finding a store to steal from.

/*\*/*\*/*\*/

Security guards had been on high alert all day, keeping careful watch for thieves and other criminals. Needless to say, Katie and Jace were unsuccessful in stealing any food. They weren't caught or arrested because, for once, they just didn't attempt stealing with such careful security. There was no way they wouldn't have been caught. Giving up, they started back toward the small place they were staying at currently, and decided to try again tomorrow.

"Well that was a waste of time." Jace muttered as they closed the door of the small house behind them. You could barely even call it a house though, it was more of a very small cottage.

"Yeah," Katie nodded in agreement, sitting down on the counter, "probably have better luck tomorrow."

"I wonder why security was so tight today." Jace added with a slightly confused look.

"I don't know, we haven't stolen anything in a couple days, not sure what or who they could've been on the lookout for." Katie answered, tilting her head thoughtfully. It didn't make sense... There was no reason as far as Katie and Jace knew for the security to be on high alert. They couldn't think of what they could have been watching for. It wasn't a holiday or anything either to warrant increased security or anything of the sort.

/*\*/*\*/*\*/

Same time the next day, almost 9 in the morning, they set off into the city to try their luck again. Security seemed more relaxed today which was a good sign for hungry thieves. Though, a few stores still seemed to be on higher alert, Katie and Jace steered clear of those ones. The small store on the corner seemed to have dismissed any extra security from yesterday—making it a perfect target.

The two wandered inside, appearing nonchalant and causal as they pretended to examine the souvenirs, small collectibles, and keychains at the front of the store. Slowly they wandered toward the food section of the store, being careful not to draw attention to themselves. The clerk behind the counter paid them no attention as they silently moved throughout the store. They seemed to be the only customers in the store. Heading closer to the racks of easily accessible food, Katie jumped and nearly screamed when they turned a corner and nearly ran right into a guy crouching at the end of the aisle. Catching her breath, Katie was just calming down when the guy turned around and everything in her world just stopped.

"Tommy?" Katie questioned uncertainly as took a hesitant step back, her ability to breath having seemingly deserted her.

The guy's face slackened in surprise as recognition ignited his eyes, "Katie?" He asked, slowly straightening up as if sudden movements might scare her off; like a threatened animal. After all, his previous experience with her had proved her untrusting and skittish.

Neither of them moved. It'd been years and yet somehow they'd both ended up right here after all that time. Tommy looked different now, more grown up, more rugged, but his smile and his eyes were unmistakable. Katie could never forget them; they were etched in her mind by countless memories that she could never forget and regret she couldn't let go of.

A grin lifted the corners of Tommy's mouth, the look of her hair and orange eyes being so familiar, so unchanged, after all the time that'd passed. It brought to mind all the times he'd spent with her beautiful like a sunset but painful at the end. Though the pain she'd brought him could never overshadow how much he'd loved her and the joy she'd created for him in their time together. The end couldn't destroy the journey.

Katie's initial shock passed as panic gripped her, her past was standing right in front of her, her biggest regret, right here. He'd been the familiar face on the street yesterday. Before she even knew what she was doing, she ran past Tommy, and out of the store.  Without even hesitating, Tommy ran after her. She didn't get more than about 20 feet from the store before he caught up to her; he'd always been faster. Grabbing her wrist, Tommy pulled Katie to a stop.

Panic grew in her chest, is he here for revenge? Finally going to get even for what I did to him?

But revenge was the furthest thing from his mind. Regret didn't haunt him like it did her, and hatred had never grown in him because he couldn't forget all the good parts. Tommy pulled Katie into a tight hug, holding her as close as possible. Tommy sighed in relief, murmuring in relived tone, "Katie."