Chasing Rainbows

Chapter Two

When I got home that night, Mom and Dad were at each other's throats.  Literally.  They were extremely close, gesturing wildly but not throwing punches or slaps or any other form of violence.  They kept getting louder and louder until the whole north side could probably hear them.

Quietly making it to my room, I quickly stripped of my work clothes and donned something I usually wore when I used to jog.  After I pulled on a light jacket and a pair of old, beat-up Converse, I lifted my window and climbed outside.

The night air was a little cool, but it wasn't uncomfortable.  I walked down the street in relative silence, the only sounds being cricket song, a few lone cars driving by, and my soft footsteps on the pavement.  I hadn't been out this late before, so I didn't know if anything was open.  I'd stuffed my phone, wallet and keys into the pockets of my jacket so I had cash, a way to get back into the house in case my parents shut the window, and a form of communication.  Though I didn't want to let anyone know I'd left the house.

As I focused on the sound of my footsteps, the houses and closed shops passed by without much notice.  Before I knew it, I had already reached the train tracks that separated the north and south parts of town.  Several warnings people had told me when I was younger bounced around my head.  For the first time in my life I ignored them as I made my way across the tracks.

When I'd crossed the last track, I stopped on a patch of grass for a moment.  I didn't feel anything different.  The air was still cool, but there was no change in the general atmosphere.

I quickly checked the time on my phone and saw that it was only eleven thirty.  My parents usually kept arguing nearly two more hours so I was probably good on time.  As I walked an unfamiliar way, I looked at the buildings I passed, mentally trying to take note of them in case Mom and Dad got really bad again.

Eventually I reached a bunch of warehouses on a gravel plot.  I stopped and cautiously looked around.  Seeing no one, I took hesitant steps forward.  I'd just made it past the second warehouse when a voice rang out, causing me to freeze.

"You there, what are you doing so far on this side of the tracks this late at night?"

I turned toward the owner of the voice, the guy hidden by a bright light above him.  He was just behind it's range to where his face was shrouded in darkness.

"Are you just gonna stand there or are you gonna answer the question?"

I snapped back to reality at those words and choked out a stuttering, "Just going for a walk."

The guy scoffed and kicked a boot into the gravel.  "Okay, so why are you walking on the South Side?"

I stated at my feet.  "My parents are fighting again.  I just... I just couldn't take the volume anymore."

Why am I telling him this? I screamed at myself.  I don't know this guy!  For all I know, he could want to kill me!

"Your parents, huh," his voice softened, as if he understood.  "I see.  Then let me be the one to tell you that this side of the tracks is too dangerous to be wandering around aimlessly.  You don't want to know what these guys are capable of."

I looked back up to where the guy's face would be.  "Who are you?" I asked, my own voice betraying me.  I didn't want to make him mad!

"No one to cross," he replied simply.  "Do you know how to get back?"

I thought a moment, then shook my head.  The guy sighed, and I heard his boots crunch through the gravel toward me.  I tensed instinctively.

"Relax," he said.  "I'm not gonna hurt you.  I'm just gonna take you to the tracks.  Is that okay?"

I nodded hesitantly, then looked up to his face.  He was younger than I thought...

The guy was probably a couple years older than me, and he was covered in tattoos along with a couple piercings.  His hair was black and looked like it had gel in it, but it also might have just been like that.  His ice blue eyes seemed to stare straight through me.

"Follow me, and stay close."

I did, not wanting to disobey him in fear of what he might do.  Who knew what he was capable of!

He led me a way that was different than how I'd come, through a gate and past a row of houses that looked like they hadn't been inhabited in ages.  Most windows were boarded, and some of the doors were only half there.

"Do you think you can find your way back from here?" the guy asked, stopping suddenly.  I walked into his back.

"Ah, I'm-I'm sorry!" I stuttered, my body flushing slightly in embarrassment.

"Don't worry about it.  Did you hear me?"

"Yeah, I...  I did.  I don't know... This part doesn't look familiar..." I trailed off, looking down at the ground.

"There's a Denny's a couple blocks ahead and then one left," the guy said.  "Do you want to try to find it yourself or should I take you somewhere else you can find your way from?"

Something suddenly popped into my head.  "Why are you being so nice to me?" I asked.

A smile graced his features for a split second before he said, "You're not the type to cause trouble.  You looked so lost when I asked if you knew where to go.  So I'm doing you a favor by helping you find at least some of your way back to where you belong."

"Oh."  It made sense.  I wasn't exactly the best with directions.  "Uh, if you could walk with me a bit more...

"Just let me know when you see something familiar."

We walked in silence for a few minutes until I saw the church a mile from my house.

"Oh!"  I pointed to it.

"Here?" the guy asked.

I nodded and turned to him with a smile.  "Thank you so much!"

His eyes widened for a fraction of a second before his cool facade returned.

"Don't mention it," he said.  "Don't go back over there, okay?  Believe me when I say you don't wanna get tangled up with those guys."

"Well, what about you?"

"Hm?"  A single eyebrow raised.

I quickly slapped a hand over my mouth.  Why did I say that?  Oh God, Grace, you've messed it up now!

The guy began to chuckle.  "I'm Jax," he said.  "And that's all you need to know, Grace."

I stared at him.

"You were talking to yourself.  Anyway, you might wanna get home before your parents notice you're missing.  Goodnight, Grace."

I stood in shocked silence as he disappeared around a corner.

A/N: Chapter Two!  Yay!  The picture there is Jax, and the faceclaim I'm using is Andy Black because...reasons...  Anyway, enjoy the second chapter you guys!  Feedback is always appreciated!