1954 - h.s.

1. The Diner

Chapter 1

"Parker, wait up!" shouted Mary. She was my only friend back in the orphanage. But now it's more like a pain in the ass. She is always clinging to me, and following my around. If I would've known she would be like this back in the orphanage, I wouldn't have escaped with her.

You got to live on your own at 21 around here, and Mary and I are only 20. I couldn't take another year in there. You get drafted to war at 18 so you should be drafted to adulthood at 18 too.

We left Hillgate orphanage four months ago, and Mary was still scared out of her mind to walk the New York City streets. I found them daring and adventurous.

I found myself an abandoned apartment to sleep in. Whoever was there must have cleared out because of the war a decade ago. Or maybe the building was shut down during the Great depression. I don't know what happened, but New York hadn't done anything with the building in a long time. It was basically falling apart. But it did have a surplus of supplies in it.

That's how I stay alive during winters. There are so many blankets in the building. I took all of them to the spot I call my room.

I have a job as a newspaper deliverer. I get paid a dollar a day and that's enough for me to buy a loaf of bread and something extra. I always saved up some extra money over the course of the week to buy myself a box of chocolate. It cost $1.86 so I always had to do some saving up.

I didn't get my box of chocolate last week because I had to buy Marco, my cat, some food. I fed him some lamb chops last week and now he won't go back to eating his stray cat food. He is a stray though. I found him in the building. He watches the place for me while I'm gone, to make sure there are no robbers.

"Parker, where are you going?" Mary asked.

"I'm going down to the local diner. I'm getting my weekly box." I like to call my chocolate "my box."

I arrived at the diner, and it was lit up like it usually is. Teenagers always hang around the diner during the afternoon. They skip school just to come down here.

The diner always smells like weed and alcohol. Probably because only delinquent kids come down here. I don't do weed but vodka does sound nice from time to time. The drinking age is 21 but the owner of the bar is best friends with the sheriff, so if you drink at the diner during the afternoon, you're pretty much safe.

"Mary, come on. You can't live your life inside your head all the damn time."

"No, Parker. That place is for bad teenagers and I'm not one of them. You may like getting into that nonsense but I'm too smart to damage my brain cells. One day I'm gonna work on Broadway and become a millionaire."

"Yeah, sure, whatever, Mary. I'm going in. Don't wait up for me. I'm gonna be a while."

Mary stalked off away for the diner, upset that I was "damaging brain cells." I entered in the door and ran up to the counter.

"Hey! Thomas! I haven't seen you in two weeks!" I shouted happily. Thomas was the owner of the diner.

"Parker! What can I get for you today?"

"My box. I haven't had it in so long." I said, emptying my coins onto the counter.

"Ah, no need for your money. I saved this one for ya last week and you never showed!"

"I didn't have any money! I had to buy extra lamp chops for Marco."

"Well go celebrate your free box with some of those kids. I hear The Gang has a sell today."

I hoped over the counter with my bag in my left hand and my box trapped snugly between my elbow and my side. I exited the diner to the alleyway where The Gang meets. They're the ones who sell the drugs and alcohol. I have beer back at the building, but it's warm and I don't want beer. I think I deserve some ice cold whipped vodka this week.

The Gang arrived with a bunch of people following after them. I was the first one in the alley so I get to take my order first.

There are five guys in The Gang: James, Richard (Richie), Donald, Bruce and Harry. Harry is the leader of The Gang. He came all the way from England two years ago. He's got dark hair, and green eyes, and a lot of ladies find his exotic accent intoxicating.

The "British people are polite and proper" stereotype was kicked down by him. He isn't polite at all. He is rude, vulgar, and arrogant. He's got that sly smile that seeps into you and manipulates you to get in his bed. And when he's finished with you, he acts as if he never knew you.

Almost every girl in the alley is ignored by him, except me and two other girls. And the two other girls are James', and Richie's girlfriend.

"Well if it isn't Parker Leighton. The bad girl who isn't so bad." Harry said, leaning on the wall with his signature half smile.

"You gonna try some drugs, sweet cheeks?" he spoke, opening his jacket.

"I stick by Parker. And no, I was here for some whipped vodka. Ya got any of that?"

He snapped his finger twice, and reached out behind him, never letting his gaze on me waver.

"Bruce. Whipped vodka for the lady."

Bruce opened up the box and handed Harry the bottle.

"Now, that will be $2 or for free if you meet me at my place later on."

"I guess I'll see you at your place." I said, smugly.

"Good."

I turned around to walk back to the diner, shoving my bottle under my jacket.

"And Parker?"

I stopped walking and turned my face slightly to see him.

"Don't play any games."