Unlikely Love

Criminal

Rue woke up, dazed and warm. The last thing she remembered was a strange man putting a coat around her. The man had three heads and four arms. That wasn't right... New York is crazy but, not THAT crazy, right?

She drifted back to sleep, but suddenly awoke to the sound of a man yelling at her, and poking her with a stick. "Back off!" She told him, standing up. "I'm going, I'm going."

Rue tried to remember what had happened, but she was too hungry and tired. Everything ached. Then she saw it...

——

"What are you doing?" Carlos smirked at her. His hair brushed into his face, and he left it there.

Rue jumped at the sound of his voice. She was enjoying her biscuits with honey, something she hadn't tasted in four years. "Umm... It's not what you think!" She exclaimed, and then cleared her voice, seeing how pleading and shrimpy her voice sounded. "Sorry."

"Accepted. What's your name Junior?" He asked.

Rue knew his voice, but she couldn't remember why. She crawled from under the table, and stood her ground. "Wouldn't you like to know? And don't call me Junior."

"I do want to know, that's why I asked. What were you doing, anyway?"

"I haven't eaten today," Rue admitted, realizing this man might show her kindness. "I was hungry."

"So you stole my food?" He questioned, raising his thin eyebrows.

"Yeah... Sorry. It's just that, I had ten dollars worth of food, and well, I was painted with it." She showed him the stains in her shirt.

Carlos laughed. "Who is the artist?"

"The Boxx Brothers..." Rue smiled. She didn't mean to be funny, but she was to him.

"Oh... Those thugs?"

"You know them?" When he nodded, Rue expected an explanation, but none came, so she asked, "What's your name?"

"I can keep secrets, too."

"Okay, Mystery Guy!" Rue laughed.

"I gotta go," He said suddenly. "Here, have these." He handed her the rest of his biscuits.

"Oh, well, bye! Sorry again!" Rue called as he left.

"Oh, by the way, I'm Carlos!" He yelled at her. Then he turned the corner with his food, and was lost in the crowd, leaving Rue in the bakery, not knowing why she was there.

"Rue! My name is Rue!" She shouted back, but knew he wouldn't hear her. Then she realized that Carlos had given her his coat. She blushed, and walked home.

Without Sidney, Rue's garbage home seemed extra dumpy. There seemed to be more rats, less light, and many more flies. Rue sighed and nibbles on her biscuits. She left one naturally, for Sidney. But Sidney didn't come back. Sidney didn't come back...

When Rue went to sleep, she had a nightmare; She dreamed that Sidney was taken from her, and was tortured in her new home. She was scared, and blamed Rue for it. And then, Sidney was there, at the police station, filing a criminal report for Rue, the person who kidnapped her. Next, Rue was thrown in a jail sell, with her lawyer sitting there, doing nothing, and Sidney smiling.

——-

Rue woke up with a jerk. Was she really a criminal? She had kidnapped Sidney from the foster center, well, kind of. She did let the officer take her away. She did lie to everyone, and barely care. She did so many things and thought it was okay. And most of all; She stole food from the same guy who gave her a coat to stay warm.

Rue stayed up all night, convinced that the cops would show up any minute. Surely Carlos would have told somebody. Without a doubt. Rue chanted the words in her head; I am a criminal. I am a criminal! I AM A CRIMINAL!!!

When the sun rose, Rue had passed out. She awoke to the sound of birds chirping. A butterfly flew by her ear, but then ran into the wall. Rue checked the insect, to see if today would be any better. She was disappointed to see the the beautiful bug had died.

Rue didn't bother to comb her hair, or change clothes. She just threw on Carlos' jacket. She started walking to the streets, sleepily and sad. She half expected to see Sidney walking next to her, complaining about something.

She quickly walked the streets, looking for hiring signs. When she found one, it was for Grandma O's Unique Antiques. Rue sighed. She walked in, and was greeted by a different person.

"Hello. I'm Carlos. How can I help you... You!!" Carlos exclaimed, and ran to the door. "How have you been?"

"Oh, uh, Carlos," She stuttered, stunned, "When did you start working here?"

"I had my interview yesterday. It was right after some girl had a big blowout. Her name was Lou or something? Anyway, Journey was literally ready to hire anybody, so she hired me!! I came home with more then a vase... I came home with a job!" He explained.

"Oh... Why do you need a job here?" She asked, blushing from embarrassment. There was no way she was going to tell him her name.

"I was fired from my last job... I was a waiter at some restaurant..."

"Oh, well, I need a job, too... Can I see Journey, please?"

"Yeah. She is in the Employees Only Section. Go ahead!! Good luck!!" He smiled and pointed to the door. She walked over and took a deep breath.

"Interview jitters?" A voice asked. The voice was small, but steady. When Rue saw the body for this voice, she was shocked.

A tall man, with strong arms and perfect hair was smiling at her, pointing at her face.

"Didn't anyone tell you it's rude to point?" Rue asked back, keeping her ground. For all she knew, this guy could be looking for a fight.

"Yeah. Didn't anyone tell you to respect your elders?" He showed Rue a video of her, screaming at Journey, and two boys snickering in the background. He laughed. "Nothing to say now, huh?"

"Where did you get that? Who filmed that?" Rue questioned.

"The Boxx Brothers. It's what they do," He answered.

"Who are you?"

"Galik. Galik Corps. And you are Rue, right? A runaway, and a street rat?" He told her.

"So?"

"I am too," He stated.

"Good for you," Rue congratulated

"Yeah. Wanna tip?" Before Rue could answer, he continued, "You aren't gonna get the job. Just lie to the boy, and steal some money while you're working."

"Yeah, right! What's in it for you?"

"We split it."

"I'm not doing that. I've lied too much," Rue protested.

"We rely on lies, Rue!! Just do it. You won't regret it, I promise. It's for a good cause. It's for you."

"Fine."

Rue walked to the cash register, putting on her actress skills. "I got the job!!" She exclaimed to Carlos, who jumped for joy.

In her head, Rue whispered; I'm a criminal. I'm a criminal. I'M A CRIMINAL!!!