Fixing Me ∞ Hood

Chapter 3 - Run

"Hey! You kids, get back here!" The old man yelled.

Dylan and I both laughed as we ran out of the store, spray paint cans in our hands. We didn't pay. With hoodies covering our faces we kept running, listening the shop owner yell after us. 

"Oh my God, that felt so good!" I smiled widely after Dylan and I stopped to hide in a dark alleyway. 

"I know right," he grinned back. "We haven't done that for a while."

"So, fellow delinquent, shall we get vandalising?" I raised one eyebrow and smirked.

"Yes we shall."

Dylan slung his arm lazily around my shoulders as we walked out of the alleyway and towards the place where all juveniles go to graffiti. It's an alleyway between two buildings, and the walls on either side are so long that not every space is full yet. It's pretty awesome in there. I feel at home. Some people are so talented, it's amazing. 

Every single picture or phrase or word or name means something on those walls. It's how us delinquents express ourselves, but everyone else just sees it as illegal vandalism. That's why no one ever understands us, because they see everything as black and white. They don't give us a chance.

All I've ever wanted is a chance. But I never get one.

~

"What do you think?" I smiled and placed my hands on my hips. 

Dylan appeared beside me and we both admire my work. It didn't really take me that long, but I'm so pleased with it. It's my wish on a wall. I painted a bird, mostly black with hot pink and orange mixed in. I think it's one of my best works. 

"That's amazing, Jordan." Dylan grinned. "What does it mean?"

"Freedom," I tilted my head to the side. "What about yours?"

"They're aliens," he wrapped his arm around my waist. "Because I feel like you and I are just aliens in this world."

"I like it." I nodded and grinned up at him. 

"You two, don't move!" A voice yelled further up the alleyway towards the entrance. 

Dylan and I both turn to see two police officers jogging towards us.

"Shit." I muttered.

"Run, come on!"

Dylan grabs my hand and we both quickly run further down the alleyway, everything getting darker and darker with each step.

"Get back here!" One police offer yells.

"Stop running, we're the police!" The other yells.

Our breaths and footsteps echo off the damp brick walls as we continue to run down the dark and cold alleyway. This is longer than I remember, much, much longer.

"Dylan, they're getting closer." I yelled after looking over my shoulder.

"I know!" He hissed and pulled me around a corner.

"What are you doing? We should have gone the other way!" I yanked on his hand.

"No, it's this way, come on!"

As we continue to run, I realise two things. One; that this looks nothing like the way we usually go to get out, meaning that we went the wrong way. And two; this is such a thrill. I forgot what it's like to be in trouble with the law. I forgot what it's like to be chased by the police. I feel like the delinquent everyone thinks I am. 

Just as a mischievous smile starts making it's way onto my lips Dylan stops abruptly and mutters a long string of swear words under his breath. 

"What?" I puff out. "What's wrong?"