Fluff Among Thieves [Uncharted 4]

No More Tears (Young Sam Drake)

"Head's up!" "It's coming to you!"

The kids on your team were screaming after the baseball was hit high up into the air.

"Home run!"

The snobby one who was hitting just had to gloat.

You were forced to chase the ball as it flew over the fence out into the alley behind the fence of the broken down field in the neighborhood. Snatching the ball up from the dirt, you head back through the gap in the fence only to find out the kids had quit their game and ditched you in the five minutes it took to fetch the ball.

"Jerks." You kick the dirt, deciding to go home, although it was your first time out and about during summer break. It was a new neighborhood since your move that year, and fitting in was hard enough. You found this place to play only because you followed the group of kids there.

Your parents were treasure hunters and always gone looking for cool artifacts and lost cities, leaving you to stay home with chores, riding the bus to school, and going to sleep on time. Friends came and went since you would probably have to pack your bags and move again next month.

In an hour's worth of walking, you weren't even in your neighborhood now. Looking like a doofus while still carrying around the yellowing baseball, you turn toward the curb, taking a seat and crossed your arms on top of your legs. You bury your face into your arms, feeling your face getting hotter, threatening to spill tears for kids you weren't even close with.

You didn't care who heard you crying, and the area seemed to be dead quiet anyway.

"Sam, look! There's a girl over there."

Oh great, boys. You hope they weren't the same ones from the park.

They were approaching you by the sounds of footsteps drawing closer. "Hey, are you alright?" Someone puts a hand on your shoulder, though you don't look up.

"Sam let's just go."

"Hang on a second, Nate."

"Just leave me alone.." you mumble.

"You sure? You're sitting in front of an orphanage. I'd be careful; they might think you got dropped off here."

"That's not funny Sam."

You finally look up and there was an older kid standing in front of you. Maybe he was the "Sam" the younger one kept mentioning. Your eyes were still red from crying.

"I live here... well... kind of. This isn't my street though."

"You're lost, aren't you?" Sam asks. You nod.

"Then don't cry about it, just tell us where you live and we'll help you get home."

You were shocked, this kid didn't even know you, but here he was trying to help.

"Where are your parents?"

"I – uh, they're not home for days, sometimes weeks. They're fortune hunters." you admit.

"That's awesome," he says.

"Yeah I guess."

Sam tells his brother to wait once you tell him your address, and he gives you a ride home on his motorcycle. Stopping out in front of your house, he lets you get off first.

"Thanks for the ride, I owe you one." You smile at him.

"No problem, honest. Just don't cry anymore, you're too pretty for that."

Ugh, he was flirting with you. At least it wasn't some stupid joke.

"Will you be around?"

"It depends, I gotta get something, but maybe I could swing by tomorrow. Unless your parents come home and you forget to tell me," he jokes.

"Nah, they won't be home for weeks if I can remember. I'm never playing baseball with those selfish jerks ever again." You forget you're still holding the baseball, and quickly toss it into the bushes of the neighbor's house.

"So, partying?" Sam asks.

"Yeah, I could be a delinquent for a night. Just give me a ride." you smirk.

He nods, sparing you one more mischievous smile before starting up his bike and speeding off into the night. You honestly hoped you would see him again soon.