Leaving the kitchen by the plastic tunnel, you look around to make sure no-one's spotted you. You are not in the mood to deal with Sol right now. Hurrying out of the doorway, you cut down the nearest alleyway, already calculating a route home. You're focused on your mental map, stumbling round a corner, when you suddenly crash into something unfamiliar and a hell of a lot taller than you. You stumble back, and look up, hastily fighting back the blush that's creeping across your cheeks.
"Sorry..." you mumble, attempting to edge past her, just as she shuffles to the left. After a few embarrassing feints, you finally manage to move in different directions, and you take the opportunity to make a break for it.
"Wait!" She calls you back, and you turn. She's pretty, in a sort of raggedy way - but then, no-one in this neighbourhood has been clean for a long time. "Aren't you Morgan? Morgan... Price? That's you, right?"
You consider lying, but she looks pretty smart.
"Yeah. That's me."
She hesitates for a moment, as if she didn't expect you to actually answer, than smiles, and that is pretty, because she has a dimple in one cheek, and you notice that her eyes are a reddish brown, almost amber.
She seems to notice you staring, because her face returns to a carefully structured blank almost immediately.
"Well, I'd best be going then," she says, stiffly, and turns to go. This time, it's you who calls her back.
"Hey!" She turns. "What did you say your name was?"
She hesitates again, then answers, haltingly; "Rhiannon. Rhiannon Parry."
You give her the trademark grin. "Well, Rhiannon Parry, I'll have to see you around sometime!"
She blushes and scurries off. You sigh, and head back along the way you were headed. You're tired. You're always tired, these days. Who isn't?
You finally get home, ducking under the corrugated iron and collapsing onto the disintegrating camp bed. You yawn loudly and fall deeply asleep.
