Missing One

My small feet moved me down the darkened alley way. A flickering light could be seen in the distance as I carried on scuffing my black boots along the concrete floor. Running a hand through my hair it became tangled on a knot.

Something I knew had only just become in that position due to my hair being scrunched up in his hand. So I decided to leave it. I didn't particularly want to remind myself about what had just happened. Yes it happens every day but it still hurts knowing I have nowhere to go without being hurt physically.

Turning the same corner I usually do I saw the flickering light go off behind me and heard a man huddled beneath it with a blanket swear to himself. Then his voice trailed up my arms and surrounded my ears.

"Please baby let me stay with you tonight." I turned back to him sighing. This was a usual occurrence me and James had.

"James. You know Donny would kill us both if I let that happen." He nodded solemnly as if he knew the answer I would've given him. "I'm sorry, I'll find somewhere for you to go I promise." With that I turned slightly and mumbled under my breath. "If I find somewhere for myself first."

As I carried on walking away I heard him call out the words. "Be safe." For some reason I felt chills run up my body, clinging my leather jacket closer to myself in response. I was always safe. Even though I knew people saw me as this suicidal smoking teen I would never try to get myself hurt. My mum would always say "Stick up for yourself darling or there is no point even being here." She never liked me my mum. Even at a young age I knew she didn't want me to stick up for myself so I wouldn't have to be here. It hurt knowing even when I did have people, I was still alone then.

Feeling tears sting my eyes I quickly wiped them away, knowing I had just pulled blackened mascara over my lids and slightly down my cheek. It's not like it changed my homeless dirty look anyway. Right?

I pushed the same door off the small newsagents open and made my way over to the till. It was darker than usual and a gloom seemed to hang over the dusty shelves. The familiar voice of benny rushed to meet me.

"Samantha what are you doing back so soon? I gave you a pack yesterday already." I looked at his small features and looked down at my feet. Fiddling with my fingers in embarrassment. Should I tell him the truth? Would he let me have a pack for free if I did?

"D-donny took them." I stuttered to him. Remembering back to the other night when I was shoved up against the wall and touched all over just so he could find the pack he asked me to buy for him. He looked at me confused.

"Well you and Donny get along great don't you kids. Young love that's what it is, stealing each other's cigarettes. Oh how life has upgraded." I could feel my strong walls slipping from me. I was losing my image. Quickly I spoke up in loud voice.

"Ha. I need a pack and I need them now." A rough velvety voice sounded from behind me his words like liquid as they caused the hairs on my body to stand in fear.

"A girl like you shouldn't be here." Turning around without hesitation I was faced with a tall guy, brown curls messily placed on his head and big green eyes glaring down at me. He was dressed in the same attire I was, black everything. However his boots looked newer than my disgusting old ones.

"Who do you think you are? I come here all the time thank you very much."

"Well you aren't going to anymore. It's not right." Benny's voice spoke up.

"I think you shouldn't talk to her like that, she isn't the usual girl."

"Obviously not if she is talking to me like that." All this time his eyes still never left my face, it felt like he was trying to get me to scream and run in fear. Oh how wrong he was.