A Day For Tomorrow

Chapter Four

It was a starry night, and the moon wasn't blocked by stray clouds. It felt nice. I glance down at Ricky, his nose and cheeks red. He didn't seem to mind it this time. It was quiet without Sam and Angie. They were always the loud ones, playfully fighting or howling with laughter.

"Luci, I don't want to live alone with my dad." Ricky suddenly says. "Especially now that mom's gone."

"Yeah? Do you have somewhere you can go?" I ask him, looking at the city streets.

"I was gonna ask if I could stay at your place. At least until I can muster enough to get my own place or something."

"You won't be able to smoke at the complex." I inform him, smirking.

"I know. That'll make you and Sam happy I'm sure." He replies.

"Sorry not everyone can be like Angie." I say, cackling as he punches me with a light blush on his face.

"Shut up. At least I like girls." He shoots back. I know it was a joke, or at least I hope it was, but I fall silent in the awkwardness. "I was kidding, lighten up, tight cheeks." He tries to play off. I take in the dark sky more, the sun dying it's canvas purples and pinks as it rises.

"I know." I reply in monotone. I let my stare move across the street and I spot the alleyway, those 3 goons eyeing me down already. I feel my throat start to close up quickly. "Ricky, why don't we head back now." I say, stopping abruptly. He stops too and looks at me.

"Why?"

"Listen you can move your shit into my apartment I don't care. Let's just go now." I push.

"Dude why? We just got out here." He fights. I look back over at the alley, the goons no longer there. This rises panic in me and my eyes search frantically for those huge monsters. "What's wrong? Jerky are yo-"

"We need to go. Now." I grip onto his coat and yank him in the opposite direction, moving faster than his legs can keep up with.

"Luke, you're scaring me. What happened?" He asks, nearly tripping over himself trying to keep up with how fast I'm pulling him.

"Just shut up and use your damn feet." I spit at him. My venomous words silence him, it finally clicking that something is very wrong and we need to get out. With us both panting at this point, I let go of him and look behind us. There they were, menacingly moving toward us like we were prey. "Ricky, fucking move." I push and start running as fast as I can. I can hear my heartbeat loud in my ears and my mouth is dry as ever. I don't even know if Ricky is keeping up with me, I can't make myself look to find out. I nearly died last time. I was drunk and fucked up and they nearly killed me. What if they get to him. I turn and slow down to see if he's following when a body collides with mine and we fall. The breath escapes my lungs as my back hits the asphalt and I take a minute to open my eyes. When I do though, I'm met with Rickys hazel ones. I feel my face get hot and subconsciously lick my lips.

"Sorry, Jerky." He breathes out and moves off of me. I dreadfully sit up and look to see if they had followed us more, but thankfully don't see them.

"Fuck." I manage and let my body meet the sidewalk again.

"What happened?" Ricky asks me.

"We almost died." I pant out.

"What do you mean?"

"I saw them. The guys that jumped me. Fuck, they were looking right at me and... fuck!" I breathe out as I start to catch my breath again and force myself up.

"Oh shit. Why'd we run? Death would be a blessing right now honestly." I look at Ricky, but his eyes are off looking in the distance.

"No. It wouldn't. Don't say that again." I command harshly. He stays quiet, but gets up to his feet and starts walking again, and I follow. The rest of the walk back was quiet, as was it when we got inside. He shyly handed me my jacket back, or tried to before I spoke up. "You don't actually want to die, do you?" He responds with a shrug, then sighs before speaking.