What if I was nothing (Tommy Conlon fanfiction)

Part 4

"I am Tommy, by the way," he said as we were walking through the park.
"I know," I smiled at him, "I am Shani."
"How do you know me?"
"I remember you from a high school. You were a senior, when I got there."
"Hmmm," he hummed and we continued walking in silence.
It was a special feeling, I felt safe with him, he was really big guy, if I met him alone so laye in the park, I would gave him my stuff without him asking and ran away screaming. And well, that's the reason, why it felt so weird. I felt safe and scared a little bit at the same time. He watched people passing us by, few homeless men and women, he was quiet. And that made me a little bit uncomfortable.
"So, tell me, what do you do? Where do you work?" I said and tried to not sound so scared and nervous.
"I am a marine."
I opened my mouth in surprise.
"So, I believe that this is useless," I looked at my palm and watched a pepper spray I was holding.
He began to laugh. "Oh, you decided that a pan would be way too obvious, so you took a pepper spray, hmm? It's not useless," he suddenly took a step closer to me. "But, if you used it now, you would spray it to your face, not mine." He took a small bottle and turned it. "Now, that's better."
"I'm sorry," I said softly. "Don't get me wrong, you are a stranger for me. And I feel like a small girl beside you, helpless, powerless."
"How about I promise you, I am a good guy and I just want to get you home safely?"
"I would say, I believe you," I gave him a smile and we continued walking.
When we entered my neighbourhood, I noticed he frowned a little and he kept looking around.
"So," I stopped, "this is my house."
"You are kidding, right? This is where you live?" he looked at our big house.
"Yes."
"You live in the richest part of our city and you have to  work as a waitress, so you could study and pay for student loan."
"My father doesn't approve my choice of occupation, he thinks it's stupid and useless. So, that us why I am on my own in that. If I could, believe me, I would move out from this house, but I can't afford my own flat and when I asked for a place at the dorm, they looked at me like I'm crazy, that I think they will give me a room, when I live in the same city."
I sat on a stair and Tommy sat next to me.
"How about your mom? She doesn't approve it either?"
"She died two years ago."
"I'm sorry," Tommy whispered and then we sat there quietly.
I have no idea how long we were there, but it seemed like time has stopped. I can't remember when it was the last time I spent whole night outside, not locked in my room or in work. When was the last time, I walked through the night city and admired glittering lights, people passing me by, smiling, laughing, some crying or frowning, but that's life. I always have watched people in my work or at the college, I wondered, what is the reason behind the emotions I see in their faces. Is it love, promotion, successful exam, or is it just a the smallest thing like the smell of a fresh donut and the taste of a coffee in their mouth? Do they think the same, when they look at me?
I looked around, I wouldn't tell it is the deepest night. So many lights, street lamps, bilboards, signs, glittering, blinking so bright, they absorb and cover the shine of the stars.
"It's a shame," I suddenly said and it surprised me the same way it surprised Tommy.
"What?" he asked.
"That you can't see stars. I can't remember, when I looked at the sky and saw just a moon and starts. Without blinking lights of a planes, helicopters or the city lights covering the night sky, making it look..."
"Hollow," Tommy finished my sentence.
"Exactly." I looked at him and sighed. "I should go to sleep, I have a long shift tomorrow. Well,  in fact, I have a long shift today, in like four hours. Thank you for your company."
"No problem," he nodded and stood up. "Good night, Shani."
"Good night, Tommy."