Look at me, Little One.

Tight-in-the-wallet.

 Zachary laid his head down on the table, ignoring his friend, who was blabbering off about the newest gossip in Liberty High. The scent of coffee and Cappuccinos drifted around Starbucks and was particularly strong around their table-- they were sitting right next to the counter, in the direction facing the coffee makers.

He was reviewing how much money he had left in his pockets from selling those baseball and pokemon cards to little kids. He was getting a little tight... only twenty-seven bucks left in his old leather wallet, which Zach had gotten from an old friend when she was adopted by a childless couple. He had to live through another month on stale bread and cereal with boiled carrot slices from the previous night, twenty seven bucks wasn't quite close to enough for Ben, his best friend at the orphanage, and him. If only Ben hadn't ended up with his laptop taken away for staying up past lights-out time, he could've hacked up enough to last them a year.

Now, Benjamin was stuck inside the orphanage on dishwasher duty, because he lost a bet to Jack Ferdinand.

"Are you listening? The field trip and last day of school is tomorrow! You were so excited about it--"

Ryan poked his friend, crossing his arms indignantly.

"If you'll ever listen to a single word I say.."

"And if your words ever have any significance." Zach retorted. He knew the field trip to the waterpark was tomorrow, and he was excited about it. It took him three months of work to get fifty dollars for the ticket, and since he earned his money himself-- the orphanage caretakers couldn't say no to signing his permission slip.

Zach still didn't see why he needed a permission slip. First off he didn't even have parents, and second of all, he was fifteen and a high school sophomore. It wasn't as if they were still in elementary, they were old enough to make their own choices. But it was the way the school ran, so he had to oblige. It would take less work to just get the signature than argue with the principal over the matter.

"You're daydreaming again, come on.. Let's go. I need to return that copy of the Order of Phoenix to the library.." Ryan stood up, draining the last of his coffee in a gulp. Zach picked up his cup of coffee, which was still warm and half full, and followed Ryan out the screen door. The cold winter air greeted them sharply, a chill running down Zach's spine made him almost feel like someone was watching his back.

Just the wind. He thought to himself. There was no stalker that'd waste their time on a scrawny fifteen year old boy in oversized old clothes. He shook his head free of the paranoid thought and caught on with Ryan, who was already a few steps ahead on the concrete sidewalk.

"Wait up!"

--------------

Alexandria Felix wrapped her arm around her wife's waist, watching the distant retreating form of Zachary Harcourt and Ryan James. Her watch ticked softly on her wrist, and Alex peered at it to see that it was already seven o'clock in the night. What was the two boys doing, out alone so late?

Arlene gently tapped Alex's shoulder, pulling her from her train of thoughts.

"When are we going? I have all the information and paperwork ready..."

Alex considered for a moment.

"Right after his field trip."