Leafway

Chapter 1

Three months ago...

Drip. Drop. Drip. Drop. The rain pattered continuously onto the red umbrella as a tall figure stood by the crosswalk, waiting for the light to turn green. The wind howled and wrapped around her as she stared straight ahead, drawing up foggy plumes of air. Ding! The crosswalk flickered green and she took a step forward, the puddle squelching underneath. The only thing she could hear was the continuous rhythm of the rain and the wind. How am I supposed to get home by curfew in this weather? She wondered silently, picking up her pace. She was almost at the last, faded strip when a huge honk blasted through the night. Startled, she dropped her umbrella and stared paralyzed in horror. She shut her eyes in anticipation on reflex, the rain soaking her from her scalp all the way down to every strand of her hair.

One, two, three, she counted in her head, then dared to blink an eye open. Is this what it's like to be dead? Dazed, she looked around and gradually her eyes and ear began to work; the constant buzzing in her ear had now cleared up into a full blown shouting.

"HAVE YOU GONE INSANE? WHO IN THE WORLD STUPIDLY STANDS IN FRONT OF AN INCOMING HONKING CAR? HELLO? YOU!" Her eyes flickered up to the stranger. "YES, YOU!" And her eyes met a pair of startling cold blue eyes, now narrowed and zoned in on her. If looks could kill...

By the time she opened her mouth to speak, the stranger had stopped ranting and just looked at her dumbfounded. "I do," she started, initiating a puzzled glance from him. She cleared her throat. "I stand in front of an incoming honking car because, well... no one said I didn't want to die, did they?"

The guy now glanced at her, utterly confused. "What?"

She looked up at him once more through the pouring rain. By now, both of them were soaked, although the stranger did have a jacket over his head to uselessly try and keep from being wet.

"I was so close to being home by curfew. Also, people first, not machines, smart one. Thanks a lot," she said vaguely, picking her umbrella up and starting to walk off.

"Wait!" She turned back around. "I-I'm sorry for almost running you over," he stuttered out, looking everywhere but her. "...even though you kind of were in my way," he murmured to himself. Sighing, he continued, "How about this? I drop you off at wherever you need to go, and you'll be in time for your oh-so-important curfew."

She looked at him funnily. She got the feeling that he was the kind of person that rarely admitted he did wrong and apologized.

"And I would get into a car with a complete stranger that almost ran me over because...?"

"Because if I were going to try and kidnap you or kill you, I would have let the car run you over," he deadpanned.

She pursed her lips and glanced from him to his car, and then to her watch. 10:47. "Fine, whatever." She walked over to the car and plopped into the seat in her soaked glory.

"Well, aren't you going to get in? Time's ticking!" she yelled at the shocked face.

"But... but the seat's leather... and my baby's brand new," he said, pain flashing in his eyes.

"You didn't quite seem to care about that when you ran me over."

"Almost. I almost ran you over," he automatically corrected, as he got into the passenger seat, careful not to let his dripping coat touch the seat. He looked over at her again, cringing at the water piling on the seat.

"513 Leafway Drive."

He gave her a puzzled look.

"The address, you nut job," causing him to scowl. This night was already playing out exactly the opposite of what he had planned.

They pulled up in front of the building. Big letters that spelled out LEAFWAY INTERNATIONAL HOSPITAL flickered in faint light.

"Wait, you aren't hurt, are you? I didn't actually hit you in any way with the car?" the stranger turned to her, panic rising in his voice.

"No, Jesus. I'm fine, I swear. It's just somewhere I need to be."

He gave her an onceover, and then seemed satisfied. "Well then, go. I don't need my seat any wetter," he snorted.

Aggravated, she flipped him off and then steppedout, instantly shivering. She had forgotten it was freezing and that she wassoaked. Then without any last words, she walked off and slipped through thedoors silently. What she didn't see was that the stranger had parked near theold, small building used to store little toys and distractions for the poorchildren that were unfortunate enough to have to stay at the hospital; not thatit was used anymore. He stepped inside, stripped himself of the wet clothes,and instantly settled down on an air mattress in the corner, falling asleep atonce. Back inside the coat that was strewn across the floor of the car, 43missed calls and 91 unread messages popped up onto the home screen.