A Long Way Home

Chapter Four

Erik's POV

I was wondering where he was going to take me. When we got back to the house I tried to get a little sleep before we left that night but something was bothering me in the back of my mind.
I'm gonna tell him about me being homeless tonight.
•••

Javen's POV

Buzz buzz buzz! The alarm went off in the background. I lied my hand over the button to shut the alarm off. It was 1:45am, time to take Erik to the special place.
It was on the roof of Radio City Music Hall, since we lived in New York. It had the best view from the roof I've seen, so why not take him up there in the middle of the night, which was illegal. Fun right.
"Wake up," I said while gently shaking his shoulder.
He groggily sat up and rubbed his eyes. "What time is it?"
It's 1:50am.
"Oh yay time to go to the special place!" he said with excitement on his face and in his voice.
I opened my window and looked out into the sky that was filled with billions of stars, it was a view in itself.
The roof stuck out under my window since I was on the second floor. I climbed out onto it with Erik behind me. I then shuffled down trying to keep my balance as it slanted down. At the end I jumped off onto the trampoline that was in my back yard having a slight bounce under me.
I turned and saw Erik cowardly still standing on the roof.
Me: Come on, you'll be fine don't worry. I said while gesturing toward the trampoline.
Erik: But I'm scared Javen, I'm afraid of heights.
I climbed back onto the roof and pushed him off. While he fell he tried to not scream so he covered his mouth with his hands. His eyes wrote fear all in them.
I followed him down, landing on top of him.
Erik: Uhh, your crushing me!
Me: Sorry. I quickly jumped off of him laughing.
He began to laugh too.
We, as quietly as we could, snuck around the house to the sidewalk in the front heading out into the town.
•••

Erik's POV

I was clueless to where we were headed to but I just followed behind him. We ran through the main town of New York. The crowds were piling up in front of clubs and parties. People leaving and going in. We kept running. It felt like hours before we finally got to the place.
Javen: This is it! He said obviously excited to show me as he opened his arms wide as if to embrace the place.
Me: Wow. It was the Radio City Music hall. I had been here for a concert before.
Me: Are we going to watch a show? I asked him tilting my head while looking into his eyes.
Erik: No we are going someplace even better!
He grabbed my hand and dragged my around to the side of the building. He started to climb the ladder that went all the way up to the roof. I realized that he was taking me on the roof.
My stomach started to churn and I started to sweat.
Javen: Oh yeah, I'm sorry, I forget you were afraid of heights.
Me: No it's fine, I can do it.
I began to climb, my hands started to sweat even more and I thought I was going to slip off the ladder. Luckily there was a wire guard that wrapped around the ladder that went all the way up to the top. It made me feel a little safer with the guard pressing against my back.
We finally got to the top and the view was amazing. I glanced at it for a few seconds until the world started to tilt so I stepped away from the edge.
I looked around. It had a picnic blanket with lit candles around it. It was very romantic and Javen was sitting in the very middle. He tapped on the picnic basket and said, "I brought pizza and sandwiches." Thanks Javen.
I walked over to him and sat down. We ate and talked, after we were done Javen payed back, crossing his feet and patting for me to lay back too. I did.
Javen: Have you ever noticed how beautiful the night sky is, with all the stars.
     Me: Yeah, it's really beautiful.
     Javen: I know we just met a few days ago but I like you a lot.
     Me: I like you too.
     Javen and I sat there for a while not saying much and looking at the stars. Finally I got the guts to tell Javen about my secret. My palms began to sweat and I was shaking but I knew I had to tell him.
     Me: Hey Javen?
     Javen: Yeah.
     Me: I have to tell you something that might scare you off and I'll never see you again and I like you so I'm scared to tell you but I don't want to lie.
     Javen: Okay, I'm ready, you need to know you can trust me.
     Me: Ok, here it goes.... I'm homeless. My mom left us when I was little and my dad committed suicide so I was left all alone. He took me to a foster home before he died because he couldn't support us. It was horrible there, the kids bullied me so I ran away when I was 11. I've been homeless ever since and it's been really hard, trying to get money. I feel terrible for begging for money and not being able to earn it myself. I mow lawns in the summer but the winters I have to beg. The looks people give me are terrible and some people just keep walking, not giving me a second look. I'm sorry I lied.
     Javen pulled me into a hug and held me tight. I began to cry for the first time in forever and I got his sweater all wet with tears. After my sorrowful moment he let me go. He still held me just not as close and comforted me. I was so happy in that very moment, I was actually being cared for.
     "You can stay with us for a little while, my mom will definitely be open to it," He said.
     "Thank you so much!" I said hugging him again.
     I can finally be happy again. I had thought to myself, and I was right, my life after that was the most amazing it's been ever.