“You know, for a holdapper... you seeem pretty amateur.”, I referred to the guy following me, “sneakily”.

“Well, I think you could be a little useful yourself kid. If you just give me that bag I think you’ll leave here in one piece-“,

“Yeah, you know you can join me for dinner if you want. I have literally nothing on my bag except for a box of cereal and a liter of milk.”, I proceeded to tell him still walking.

“Excuse me? I wil slit your throat if you don’t give me-“, I interrupted him and threw my bag at him.

“Yeah you can have it. I really have nothing on me, and my pants don’t have pockets if you’re asking for my money, I don’t even have a phone *Laughs*”, I calmly saud and walked away.

“Wha-what?”, he was left confused.

I arrived at home, and he still wouldnt stop following me. I don’t even have a proper home, what could he possibly gain by gollowing me?

“Hey kid, you can keep your cereal! And what are you doing here? This place is private property!”, he yelled at me, following me inside the rundown apartment builiding.

“Are you seriously going to fooliw me all the way inside? You see where I stay at right? Or are you-are you going to take advantage of me?!”,

“Kid! HEY! I’m not that kind of guy! Geez, Look I’m out of here.”, he threw the creal back at me and left.

His stomach growled, and he looked at me again.

“Ok, you can stay and have dinner.”, I told him.

We went inside, I opoened my rechargeable light and we ate dinner.

“Hey kid, how’d you end up living here?”, he asked.

“Just eat your cereal and go, and I’m not a kid. I’m nineteen dude.”,

“Just curious, it seems you don’t have parents. And why stay here when you can stay in an orphanage.”,

“Why do you think I’m in here?! I’m not accepted in orphanages. They say I’m too old, and the one I was staying in before was burned down. How about you? How’d you end up following me?”,

“I was hungry. And same as you I have nowhere permanent to stay, and I have noone.”,

“So you just steal? You can get a job at that gas station we just passed. That’ll probably help.”,

“*Scoffs* Sure, I’ll check that out tomorrow. So, you go to school?”,

“I do. It’s my first year at college, I don’t know how I got in but... I did, and I got a scholarship. Tuition and yearly payments are free.”,

“Wow, what course you in? *Slurps Milk*.”,

“Pilot, I wanna see the world. And I want to feel free.”,

“Nice. Well I gotta go, thanks for dinner. Also, I wanna try the job you told me about, so please don’t report me yet.”,

“I-I won’t-yet. Besides if I do it you’d probably snitch on me too.”,

“You know it kid, see you around.... if I will.”,

“Hey!”, I shouted and approached him, and pulled him out the campus.

*Whispering* “What the hell are you even doing here? And what are you wearing?”,

“I got the job, I just wanted to stop by and say thanks.”,

“*Groans* Fine, you’re welcome! Now leave.”, I said and walked away.

How the hell did he even find my school! And what time we would come out, this is what I get for talking to strangers.

“Ćher, who was that guy? Stalker? Maniac? Perv? I’ll call the cops, just say so.”, Stephanie, my friend from school, she studies engineering, 30 years old and has a daughter.

I only see her daughter when I babysit and sleep in their place sometimes.

She knows about me working at the Deli, and being orphaned... and that’s it. I couldn’t bring up the homeless part.

“Uh-a-kinda like a stalker but he’s probably not that bad.”, I distracted.

“Well if you say so. But for a stalker he does clean up nice.”, she kid and laughed.

“See you later, Steph... I gotta go home.”,

(At the gate)

“Seriously?! Here? AGAIN!”,

“What? I got lunch, and I thought the salad and pizza might be better than cereal.”,

“I’m not eating tonight, I just stopped by the apartment to change into my uniform.”,

“You’re working? Is your school allowing that?”,

“Yeah, they are.... why-just go. Take your pizza and salad too!”,

*Groans* WHY ME?!

“Excuse me, *Nervous laugh* just-just the burger please.”, the customer neevously ordered.

“Oh, I am so sorry. If you’ll wait just a moment, we’ll get your order. Thank you.”, I responded and sighed in relief.

“Hey, you’ve been groaning all night. What the heck girl? You’re scaring the customers up front.”,

“Sorry cook, rough day at school.”,

“Eh! That’s why I dropped out, here’s the burger.”,

“Yes, thanks.”,

AAAAaaannd that’s exactly the reason why I love talking to that man.

“Here you go Ma’am, thanks for waiting.”,

“You know, you have amazing complexion. Can I interest you in a modeling gig?”, she asked me.

“I’m flattered ma’am but... I have school in the morning and-“, I was interrupted.

“No pressure, I mean I can see you here again right? It’s only held in Thursday to Sunday, and we don’t shoot in the morning. It’s understandable if you can’t stop by since, you do still have other commitments. Here’s my card if you’re interested.”,

“I’m-I’ll think about it ma’am thank you.”, I told her and went back to my post.

“Oh whatcha got there girlie? A business card? Is that for you or me?!,” the Cook asked me.

“I-I think it’s for me Cook.”,

“Eh worth a shot asking.”,

(Back at the apartment)

*Sighs* What should I do? I need money... but is this rally the way to go? Will the school even allow it?

“Hey! I still have the pizza, and-is that a business card?”,

“It’s none of your business amateur go!”,

“No, you’ll finish this pizza with me.”, he persisted.

“I already ate dinner, I work at a Deli idiot.”,

“Can I stay at the other room for the moment? I got caught at the last place I was staying in.”,

“What are you asking me for? I didn’t even get permission to stay here. Yet here I am.”,

“I’ll just take that as a yes, and if you’re thinking about that business offer, take it man.”,

“Wait-wait-wait, sit down and give me some of that pizza.”,

He sat down and handed a cold drink as well.

“Sooo.”,

“Why should I accept it? Maybe the school won’t allow it this time?”,

“I’m sure they will, they wouldn’t have granted you permission to work in a Deli in the first place if they knew you didn’t need it. It’s the same situation, you need to be financially stable for the opportunity up ahead. And now that you live on your own you need something to support yourself.”,

“That’s pretty good advice man, were you a councillor before or something?”,

“No, I never even finished high school. My parents just cut me off when they got divorced.”,

“I’m sorry for asking man, and this might be an opportunity for you too. Maybe you can enroll back in and finish your education, maybe even attend college.”,

“I like that idea, maybe I need to find a more stable job first.”,

“Yeah, and you can also take up to be a councillor, or maybe you should decide that yourself.”,

“No-no, it’s a good idea. I’ll be sure to remember that.”,

“So... you got a name you thief?”, I asked.

“Sebastian Davis, you?”,

“It became my official name since I was adopted one time. Ćher Williams.”,

“Did they give you up? Seriously?”,

“Yeah, I kinda knew that they couldn’t support me anymore so I suggested it and they agreed, they said they’ll come back for me, that’s why I want to work and find them myself.”,

“That’s very nice of you Ćher.”,

“Ok now get out of here, I gotta go to sleep.”,

“Oh-of course-of course. Tell me if you’re accepting the offer, I can lend you the gas station’s phone.”,

I smiled, this guy’s not that bad. Do I have another friend now?

“Thanks, I think I’m ready to accept it if the school agrees.”,

“G’night Ćher. Damn, I’ll never get tired of your name.”,

“And yours is already starting to creep the hell out of me, Sebastian. Good night.”,

“Ćheeer... Ćher!”,

“Ugh-yeah Steph?”,

“Girl, you’ve been staring at the card for forever. Just call already! The school approved!,”

“I know-I know. It’s just that I promised someone that I’ll use his workplace’s phone to accept.”,

“Who? That little stalker of yours yesterday?”,

“Yeah, that guy. He’s-at the gate again isn’t he?”,

“Yup. Well I gotta go home my baby will freak out at her mom again if I don’t make it home at playtime.”,

“Tell Fèliz I said hi.”,

“Sure Ćher, and while we’re at it. Why don’t you introduce me to your friend.”,

(The gate)

“Ćher! Did.... and who might this lovely lady be?”,

“She’s a friend of mine. Uhm-Steph this is Sebastian, Sebastian this is Stephanie.”,

“Nice to meet you Sebastian. I gotta go now, but trust me... if you show up here again... I won’t take my eyes off you if you approach Ćher willy-nilly.”.

“Of course, what more do I expect from her best friend. And I promise you, nothing will harm her while she’s with me.”,

“Sure thing pal. Gotta go girl!”,

“Bye Steph!,”

“Did the school approve?!”, he asked all excited and giddy.

“They did! Are you sure we need to use that phone though? We have a payphone at the school too.”,

“No-no. You said you’ll do it. Now come on, I’m gonna be late.”,

(The Gas station)

\~Sebastian’s POV\~

“What’s taking so long? Are you sure-“,

She looked at me, she looks like she might cry. I probably shouldn’t say what I’m thinking right now.

“You’re right Sebastian, maybe I should try the Deli’s phone.”,

“No-here let me try...”,

“Dude... what are you doing? Oh\~ that phone’s broken man. Some old man wrecked that thing last night.”,

We looked at each other, she smiled in relief.

“I’ll probably try the Deli’s phone. Someone just filled in for me in the first hour of my shift so I should get going. Thanks anyways man.”,

“Su-sure.”,

She left.... ouch, tried my best.

“What was that man? You serious? You could’ve followed her out... go with her for a moment.”, my co-worker adviced.

“Nah, she’s got friends in that Deli too. They might even celebrate or something.”,

(At the Deli)

(Ćher’s POV)

“Thanks for filling up for me, something came up. I’m so sorry for being late.”,

“No worries. See you tomorrow cook!”,

“Yeah-yeah leave already!”,

“Ćher! Two order of onion rings on table four, move it.”,

“Yes cook.”,

(After her shift)

“So Ćher you calling that lady from yesterday?”, the cook asked.

“Wh-who?”,

“That business card lady! Who else?!,”

“I’m kidding-I’m kidding *Laughs*. Yes, I’m planning on calling her.”,

“You can always use our payphone here y’know?”,

“Maybe... later. I still have someone to talk to before all that.”,

“Suit yourself... I goota close up anyways. Go on then.”,

“Yes, cook! See ya!”,

(In front of the Apartment)

“Sebastian! I know where we can find a payphone, c’mon.”, I pulled him away.

“What? I thought you’d call using the Deli’s phone?”,

“Well, I didn’t. I just wanted to grant my promise.”, I said as we continued running.

We arrived at the phone booth, I immediately called and waited. It rang, my heart was racing from excitement... wil my life finally... finally change?

(Sebastian’s POV)

I waited outside the photo booth. I could tell that the already started talking, and how overwhelmed she was by everything. She was so excited and jumpy.

When she came out the phone booth, she held onto my arm tightly....

“I-I did it.... I GOT IN!”, she screamed.

“That’s great! You going first thing, thursday?”,

“I might, but I have to talk to the cook first. Hold on, I gotta make the call.”,

She got permission and everything, it was all set for her all she needs to do is actually... DO IT.

“Hey Ćher.”, I started up a conversation.

“What’s up man?”,

It’s only been a few days since we met, and now she’s moving so fast, the least I could do is maybe catch up. I don’t wanna hold her back.

“I visited a high school a while ago. They said they’ll love to have me join a program at their school for me to get my high school degree.”,

She gasped deeply, her eyes showed excitement.

“That’s amazing Sebastian! When are you going start?”,

“I can fill a spot next month.”,

“That’s amazing news! Wanna dine out?”,

“Wha-“,

“Wha-“, we saud in unison.

(Ćher’s POV)

“No! I mean the cook invited us for dinner! That’s what I meant.”,

“Oh-I’d love to join you then.”,

(Back at the Deli)

(Sebastian’s POV)

The cook.... doesn’t like me one bit.