Take It All Away

To Trust Again

Awarded 1st in a competition hosted by Ithildaeforever and GadSul

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-To Trust Again-

The street was deserted, and except for the scurrying of resident rats near the drains and cooing of roosting pigeons in the cornice gargoyles, she was enjoying the moment of solitude.

Until an angry voice made her nearly jump out of her skin.

"Hey!"

She started to run, her worn Converse scuffing on the asphalt.

"Hey, come back," the footsteps were catching up to her. "You took my iPod!" the deep voice accused just as his hand grabbed at her arm. She ducked and spun to face him, a cute guy with designer jeans and a skateboard under one arm. His brown hair ruffled in the cold breeze, the tint of amber matching the hues in his eyes. Seriously, girl, stop checking him out and find your tongue!

"Finders, keepers," she shrugged.

"I literally just dropped it and was about to pick it up! You can't claim it if the owner is right there," he reasoned.

But she'd become sick of reason ages ago. Tossing her stringy black hair over her shoulder, she retorted, "Well, your fault for dropping it."

He pressed his mouth shut as if biting back a sharp reply, and instead said softly, "I'd like it back, please."

"Fine, whatever," she rolled her eyes and handed it to him. "I'll probably find something better on Baxter's anyway." She turned to go, folding her arms against the cold.

"Wait."

She stopped for some strange reason. Maybe it was the unexpected kindness in his voice. Or the way his eyes made her heart beat a little faster.

"I'm Jackson," he held out his hand, but she just stared at it like it was toxic and shoved her own hands in her pockets. "And you are?"

She lifted an eyebrow. Like I'm gonna tell you, stranger. "You can call me alley...as in alley cat," she said sarcastically.

He tilted his head, an emotion that probably passed for concern furrowing his brows. "You on the street, Alley?"

"Aren't we both?" she looked him up and down.

"You know what I mean."

She did, and didn't reply.

"Aren't you cold? Do you have a warmer coat?" he persisted.

"Do I look like I can afford one?" she scoffed, her patience wearing thin like the knees of her faded and torn jeans.

"I'm so sorry...here," he pulled out his wallet, "Take this money...it's all I have on me, but it should cover a coat and someplace warm to stay tonight."

"I don't want your charity," she practically spat the word she despised so much; she hated people pitying her. Just because she was out alone like this didn't mean her life was a mess. Ok, maybe parts of it were, but that was none of this guy's business. She could take care of herself.

She watched his broad shoulders sag in a sigh, "Ok, but... when you're ready to care about yourself, there are people who want to help."

"Yeah, right," she scoffed

His eyes flashed, "Fine, just take it or leave it! You could make something of yourself if you really wanted," she nearly felt guilty under his intense gaze, "but if you just want to keep taking-taking-taking things that don't belong to you, you'll get nowhere in life."