A Long Way Home

Chapter One

     Erik's POV

The cold rain fell hard as I cowered under a small section of roof sticking out of a building. People walked past quickly not giving me a second glance. I had nothing, no clothes, food, water, or a home. My parents left me on the streets when I was 10 years old when I told them that I had a boyfriend. They shrugged it off like it was nothing because I was ten and didn't understand what it meant. After a few months they got mad at each other. My mom left our family after being abused by my father. Luckily he never touched me. He tried to support us on our own, handling three jobs at once. One night he decided he couldn't do it anymore, especially not with me and him together, it was all to much.
     He took me to a foster home and left me there. Two weeks later I heard on the news that his dead body was found 50 feet underwater and tied to a cinder block making him sink.
     I didn't cry. I was in complete shock for days, all my "new brothers and sisters" asked me why I didn't cry and told me I have no heart and didn't really love him.
     I ended up running away after being constantly pestered about his death and being bullied by them.
     I have nowhere to go and I'm scared. I stand out here every day holding a cup for money but I only make around 10 dollars a day. Enough to buy two meals. It lasts though, for being seventeen I am very responsible with my money and belongings.                       
                                        •••

     I am freezing my but off just hoping and praying some would would come and help me. Preferably a super cute guy. My butt finally started to go numb so I took this as a sign to count how much money I made today. 13 dollars! I was so happy that it almost brought me to tears.
     There was a pizza restaurant that was across the road so I took the yellow stripped crosswalk to the shabby run down pizza place.
     You would think in New York the place would be crowded but it was actually pretty empty. There was a elderly couple sitting in a booth next to the front window next to the door. There was also a son and his mom in the line waiting to get their pizza.
     "Order up!" a woman in a green apron with the place's logo on it. She handed the woman and the son their pizzas and they headed into the now residing rain. The elderly couple had already gotten theirs so it was now my turn.

Cashier: Welcome, what would you like on you pizza today?
Erik: Just a medium cheese pizza on thin crust.
Cashier: Ok sir, to here or to go?
Erik: For here please.
Cashier: Yes sir, we'll have your pizza out in split second. She said smiling while looking at me.
     Her teeth were insanely white.
     I sat in a far corner all to myself and waited. After a little while my pizza was done. I grabbed it and handed the total money ($8.75) to her. She gave me my change and I went and sat down to eat.
I picked a booth because those are the most comfortable. It was towards the back and had no window around it. I liked it this way since I didn't want people watching me eat through the window.
I plopped the pizza onto the table, the aroma from it glided through the wind into my nostrils making me feel to excited for just a pizza.
I then sat down and began to eat.
The taste was incredible! The dough wasn't floppy and had a nice crunch when you bit into it. The pizza had the perfect amount of sauce underneath the stringy delicious cheese. It was the best thing I had eaten in a while, most of the time the people walking gave me food so I didn't have to spend my money on food. Instead I spent it on clothes and sleeping supplies and occasionally packs of water.
I was halfway through when a boy that looked about my age walked up to the table I was sitting at.
I looked up at him and we made eye contact.
His eyes were a deep blue. I then traveled down to what he was wearing. He had on a large brown jacket with a red wool sweater on underneath. He wore ripped black skinny jeans that made his butt stand out. I then looked back up to his face. Along with his blue eyes he had a lip piercing that was on the left side of his lip. It was just a simple small hoop. His hair was a hazelnut brown covered with a red beanie on top. He was holding a, what I thought was, a coffee.
Boy: Hey is this seat taken? He asked while sitting down across from me.
Me: By you I guess. I said hesitantly.
Boy: Cool. So what is your name? Mine is Javen.
Me: Mine's Erik.
Javen:That's cute I guess.
Me: Yeah, so why did you randomly walk up to me?
Javen: Because you looked lonely sitting here by yourself. He said while smirking.
Me: Oh, well thanks I could use the company, I'm always alone.
Javen: Not anymore! He said smiling brightly.
Me: Thanks.
We talked some more about our personal lives and hobbies. I didn't tell him about me being homeless because I figured it might scare him off. I made up a story that my mom is away on a business trip and my dad is currently unemployed. I also told him I was gay. I had to tell everyone that before we got to know each other. Turns out he was gay too. We talked about our coming out stories and I of course made mine up.
It began to get late and the store was closing. We sat there for almost three hours talking.
Javen: Hey you wanna hang out at my place tonight?
Me: Yeah!
Javen: Here call your dad and tell him. He said while holding out his cell phone.
I stepped over to the side and faked calling him since he wasn't even on this earth anymore.
Me: He said yes! I said maybe too excitedly.
Javen: Ok then let's get going.