A Strong Kind of Weak

Chapter 6

I was mentally hitting myself as I changed in the back room. Why the hell I'd agreed to walking Alex home, I'd never know, but I couldn't go back on my word. Besides, he'd looked genuinely terrified and I wasn't that mean.

I walked out to see him standing by the entrance, hands in his pockets.

"So which area do you live in?"

He fell into step beside me as we walked down the street. The sky was a dark blue as night came and the air was brisk.

"By the ice cream shop, on...uh...Armadillo Street."

I couldn't help but snort. I didn't say anything though because, honestly, that name speaks for itself.

"Yea, yea, it's hilarious. What about you?"

"A bout a twenty minute walk from there."

I didn't offer any other information and he didn't ask.

"You live so far from the shop."

"Yep."

He nodded and didn't say anything else. He did, however, jump at a rustling sound in a nearby bush. When a squirrel ran out his ears turned pink.

"Sorry. It's just, new neighborhood, dark scary street..."

I rolled my eyes and kept walking.

"Uhh...Nic?"

"What?"

"There aren't any thieves or murderers, right?"

"Uhh, there have been a couple instances, but nothing too bad."

"Right..."

We kept walking, but this time I noticed Alex was walking much closer to me. I sighed and pulled out my key ring. I stopped and turned to him.

"Take out your keys."

He stopped. "Uhh...what?"

"Your keys. House, bike, whatever."

He did as I asked and I took his keys and my house key off the ring.

"Here. Put them in between your fingers, like claws. If someone jumps you, you sort of have a weapon."

He smiled a bit as he followed my instructions and then held up his fist at me threateningly. I rolled my eyes as we continued on.

"This is so cool! Where did you learn it?"

"YouTube."

Alex laughed and I looked away. I had actually learned it from my old friend, Zachary. We had lots of tricks to survive in our neighborhood, but Alex didn't need to know about that.

We were nearing Alex's street when there was another rustling noise. This time Alex stepped forward and lifted his 'claws'.

"Come out, treacherous squirrel. I warn you: I am armed!"

"I'm no squirrel, boy."

We both jumped as a guy with matted hair and a coat in worse shape than mine stepped out, a near empty whiskey bottle in his hand and a menacing look in his eyes.

"What are you kids doing out this late? It's so dark out, I can hardly see."

He was right. The sun had long since set and aside from a few streetlamps, the only light came from the moon.

"You're right," I said cautiously, grabbing Alex's shirt to pull him back. "We should be going then."

"Aw, no worries. I can walk you home if you want."