Untitled Part 1

Chapter 3: Reunion

I was walking now for about three and a half hours, but I needed to keep moving through the crowded city, making sure my hood stayed over my eyes and hair. 'Can't stop, you'll get caught,' I thought to myself as I walked with the crowd, trying to blend in and stay that way. It was spring, so the heat was slowly starting to return to the area. But that's a problem for me. A BIG problem. Especially if you have bad allergies- like me. And if your body temperature is higher than most people's.

I looked around the busy city, trying to find a place to rest and a bite to eat, sniffling a little as I did so. 'Man, do I need some chow,' I thought as I heard my stomach start to growl at me, reminding me of my hunger. Thank God I still had plenty of money for me to get some decent food. $50 can get me a long way- as long I planned to use it carefully. 'I hate having to beg for money, but pickpocketing is worse,' I reminded myself, making this a little harder to do. I looked around once more before I saw a Subway nearby, and I smiled. 'Perfect,' I thought as I started to make my way over to the restaurant. I had written down a letter to an old friend of mine, but I hadn't been able to find her yet. And I got out another sheet of paper, writing down what I needed to tell the cashier before I walked inside.

When I walked in, I saw a girl around my age, looking very bored as she looked through her phone. 'I'm sure she doesn't have a damn care in this fucking world,' I thought, looking at her with slight annoyance. 'She probably doesn't even realize that I'm standing right fucking here.' Holding the paper in my hand, I walked over to her, impatiently waiting for her to get off of the bright, noisy, ugly device.

I think I stood there for about five minutes before she looked up at me. 'Took ya long enough, asshole,' I thought irritably. "Uh, hi and welcome to Subway. How may I help you," she asked me as she put away her phone, sighing irritably. I handed her the paper, already having my order written down. "I'll get your sandwich ready," she said, grumbling through the whole process. 'OH, I'M SO FUCKING SORRY THAT I WANT SOMETHING TO FILL MY GROWLING BELLY, AND THAT YOU'RE TOO LAZY TO PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR JOB,' I ranted in my head, glaring at the girl as she made my sandwich. 'I MEAN, FOR FUCK'S SAKE! PAY MORE ATTENTION!'

As soon as she finished making my sandwich and gave me my tray, I paid for it and quickly grabbed it so I can find a good seat. I ate quietly, even though I wanted to eat like a pig. 'I don't want to attract attention from the few others around me,' I told myself mentally, continuing to eat my lunch in silence.

About thirty minutes later, I finished my sandwich, drink, and chips as I refused to look out the window. Keeping my hood pulled over my face, I went to the bathroom and washed my hands carefully. I trembled as I reached out to the handles on the sink. I ever so slowly turn them both on and rolled up my long sleeves, revealing all of my dark, evergrowing scars. I slowly put my hands in the water, wincing as the cold water hurt my damaged skin. But at the same time, the cold water felt so good. I washed my hands slowly and carefully, trying my best to barely hurt myself.

After what felt like forever, I dried off my hands with the paper towels and got out my bandages. 'Gotta clean these up,' I thought as I examined my ruined, flaky skin. Pulling out some aloe for my burns, I slowly peeled off my layers of clothing, seeing my bare, but burnt, skin. It hurt at first, but the cold air helped calm them down as I opened the aloe container and got some out. I rubbed the cool, moisturizing gel against my skin, loving how it calms them down. I looked in the mirror, seeing if they spread, and they did. Slowly realizing that I may need help with this soon, I needed to find someone who could put up with me and my... "schedule".

But that would have to wait. 'I need to not use them so much,' I scolded myself mentally, knowing that this would happen. I looked and saw that my tattoo was still there.

Unconsciously, I put my hand up to it, wishing I didn't remember how much pain that procedure put me in. I looked back in the mirror and saw my white tipped, bright red orange hair starting to get long again. I grabbed a small chunk of it, before assessing how much longer I should wait before cutting my strange hair. 'You've gotten pretty long,' I said mentally, looking at how my hair was before I headed back out, making sure to put up my hood before walking back out.

As I walked out and took my seat, I saw a couple walk inside. I had no interest in the boy until I saw who was with him. A short, timid girl with blond hair and a fair looking complexion. I knew this girl; She was the one I was looking for. My eyes widened slightly, seeing her acting differently than all those years ago. 'Stormy,' I couldn't help but think, knowing I couldn't speak. As soon as she and the boy saw me, I got up and gave them my letter, heading out with my head low and my eyes filled with tears. 'Good,' I thought, feeling extremely relieved. 'She's alive... But I hope she can do as I instructed in the letter... Seeing how it's been a long time since she has had any trouble.' When I reached the outside of the city, I started walking again. Before I left, I purchased a book bag, some much needed necessities, and some extra needed stuff.

I couldn't help but smile and cry as I walked away from the city, knowing that my fears were just false futures I thought up in my head. I don't remember how far I walked, or for how long, but one thing's for sure; I slept better than I did all those years ago.