Nick
I always have gotten into trouble with the police since I was 18, after I got out of high school. I only have gotten charged with an armed robbery, driving under the influence of alcohol, and stealing a car. I only had gotten my Driver’s License a year and a half before I had gotten my first charge. I’m 21 now, and I am currently living alone in a one bedroom apartment.
I decide to go for a run, to clear my head, and maybe, just maybe steal another car. As I make my way to the stairs, that’s when I see her. She is the most beautiful human being to walk this Earth. Her beauty is breathtaking. Apart from her beauty, she’s smart, funny, and sings like no one else. But why would she love someone like me? We were so close since Kindergarten, and then after I had gotten my first criminal charge, we started drifting apart. I don’t blame her. I sigh. We were inseparable. Now she won’t look at me the same, won’t even say ‘hi’ to me when we pass in the hall. She is Demi.
I make my way down the stairs. I look around the lobby of the apartment complex and see a gun on the table. Good, no one’s watching. I take the gun and put it in the waistband of my shorts, and make my way outside. I jog down to the corner, still making sure I have the gun. I look up and see Demi in her window, staring down at me. Why do I keep forgetting her window is on this corner? Stupid. I give her a half smile, hoping she would do the same. She doesn’t. I wonder what’s going on in her mind right now.
I jog down a block and stop at an alley way. I look down it. No one’s there. I half walk, half run, and see a shadow around the corner. I stop to see what it’s doing. I put my hand on the gun, ready to pull it out and shoot, if needed. The shadow is coming closer towards me. I press my body against the brick wall. Footsteps are getting louder; I press my lips together tightly, gripping the gun more tightly. As they turn the corner, I see it’s one of my friends, Jack.
“What are you doing here?” I ask. “Shouldn’t you be out studying or something?” He’s majoring in Criminal Justice, surprisingly.
“I needed to go for a walk, and I feel safer walking down alley ways than streets,” he says. He’s partially lying, I can tell. “I could ask the same thing for you, though.”
“But you hate alley ways with a passion. There’s-“ but he cuts me off. “There is nothing going on here, Nick. Why can’t you trust me, we’re buds, remember?” he says.
Yeah, “buds” all right. He never had difficulty telling me anything before, and even after he knows I’m a criminal. Why is this time different? I just sigh and nod. He seems different, in a bad way.
“Meet me at my apartment tomorrow afternoon,” he says. “I’ll tell you there. It’s too risky here.” He turns and runs down the alley way, not looking back.
--
The next afternoon, I find myself at Jack’s apartment. I knock. Not even a second after I knock, he opens the door. The scent of weed wafts out towards me and I cough walking in. The scent has rarely made me cough, since I’m used to it, though, since I also smoke once in a while.
“I need your help,” his voice is low. “I knew I would find you in an alley.”
“But why were you so freaked out though?”
“Because. I had to run. Run from the cops. I couldn’t get my first charge. My parents would kill me!”
“What did you even do? What did you do that you had to run from them?”
“I-“ his voice shakes. “I robbed a pizza place. I couldn’t get taken into custody and risk everything. I need your help. You knew how to take the heat. You know how to get out of trouble.”
“Okay, I’ll help you,” I bite my lower lip slowly. “But only if you help me get Demi. She hasn’t looked at me the same way since we were 18. And I really love her.”
“Fine. It’s a deal,” he looks out the window. “I know they’re going to come for me. I know that someone gave them my name and where I live. So, when they do, that’s when you work your magic.” I only nod.
