Black Rain

Black Rain- Chapter One

Chris couldn't help but to see the familiar face of the man he had seen on the streets so many times before. He was almost for sure the guy was a runaway. He didn't look to be any older than maybe seventeen. Every time Chris had seen him, he always had on the same clothes, his dark brown hair always styled the same way, and the same look of lost in his eyes.

Many times before Chris had thought about walking up and speaking to the mysterious boy, but he could never come up with the courage to. He knew the boy couldn't hurt him, Chris was very good at defending himself, but it was just something holding Chris back.

"Do you know him or something?" One of Chris' friends, by the name of Stone, asked him. Chris didn't take his look off of the boy as he sat on the sidewalk, enjoying a cigarette which looked to be some sort of one of those 100's. Probably a cigarette he bummed off some old lady off the street.

"I don't, but I've seen him around a lot lately. I think he's... lost or something."

Stone shrugged his shoulders, and stuffed another french fry into his mouth. "If you've seen him around a lot, then I'm sure he knows his way around."

"You think he ran away from home or something?" Chris asked.

"Go ask him." Stone told him.

Chris bit his lip, pondering on if he should walk up to the boy and start a conversation. He still had that feeling of something holding him back. He couldn't quite place it.

"Ahh, I don't know. He doesn't look like he wants to be bothered." Chris sighed.

Stone reached into his pocket and pulled out a half of pack of cigarettes. He slid them over to Chris.

"Here, go talk to him, and give him these cigarettes. Also," Stone reached back into his pocket and pulled out a twenty dollar bill. "Give that to him too. Just Incase, you know, he is a runaway, I'm sure he'll appreciate it."

Chris didn't waste any time picking up the money and cigarettes. He was quick to shoot out of the restaurant, as he noticed the boy had finished his cigarette and was beginning to walk away.

"Hey! Wait up!" Chris called to him. The boy, who figured the voice was for someone else, continued walking, until Chris ran up in front of him and stopped him in his tracks.

"Hey there." Chris greeted, giving the boy a comforting smile.

"Do I know you?" The boy asked, in a rather snappy tone. Chris' smile faded.

"Well, no, I don't believe so. I'm Chris. I seen you sitting to yourself on the street. I couldn't help but notice I've seen you around quite a bit."

The boy nodded his head. "Yeah, maybe so. I'm Eddie."

"Eddie, huh? Well, it's nice to meet you. Are, uh, are you running away from home or-"

"Don't ask me that. It's none of your business. You don't even know me." Eddie said. He pushed past Chris and began to continue to walk in the same direction as he was going. Chris followed beside him.

"Hey, I'm sorry, alright? You're right, I don't know you, but uh... I... well, my friend wanted me to give this to you, actually." Chris said. Eddie stopped again, and looked to see what was in Chris' hand.

"That's very sweet, but I can't accept that. Thank your friend for me, but I don't need it. I'm alright." Eddie tried to convince him, but Chris continued to urge him on until he took the money and cigarettes, stuffing them into his pocket.

"Thank you, Chris." Eddie said. His voice and tone was much softer now, and Chris very much liked it.

"You're welcome, Eddie." Chris said, once again giving him another smile. He couldn't help but to make eye contact with Eddie. Seeing him closer, he really admired his eyes. They were such a beautiful shade of blue. They seemed almost hypnotizing, and Chris was finding it hard to take his gaze off them.

"Well, I guess I'll see you around." Eddie said. He stood on his tippy toes, and to Chris' surprise, Eddie placed a gentle little kiss on his cheek.

Then, Eddie walked off. Chris just stood there and watched him, feeling as if he were glued in his spot.

"Well, that was interesting." Stone said, snapping Chris out of his daze. "He kissed you on the cheek. What was that all about?"

Chris chuckled. "I'm sure it was nothing. He said thanks, by the way. For the money and smokes."

Stone grinned. "Think maybe he got a little crush on you? How cute."

"He doesn't even know me. It was just a small, thanking gesture." Chris assured him. Stone shrugged his shoulders.

"Anyway, I think we should head out. Mom told me not to stay out any later than six."

"Still listening to mother." Chris teased. Stone flipped him off.

Stone was eighteen years old, but still lived with his parents, and still followed by their rules. He was cool, but he was still a mommy's boy.

* * * 

Chris laid awake in bed, closing his eyes, and trying to find sleep. But his mind kept wondering off to Eddie. Such a lovely boy. Definitely too lovely to be out alone on the streets, and maybe, just maybe, Chris was a little worried over him.

There were so many questions Chris wondered about. But the one that stuck out the most was if he'd ever see Eddie again. Which approach could he bring upon him this time just to get him to speak? One thing for sure, don't rush into questions about him running away.

Chris gave up with trying to fall asleep. So he pulled himself out of bed and flicked his night light on. His eyes turned to the window; staring out into the empty, wet streets.

His heart felt as if it had stopped beating when he saw a figure slowly walking by. Chris was quick to pull himself out of bed and rush over the window. All his hopes of it being Eddie faded once he got a closer look at the man walking by.

"Shit." Chris whispered. He closed the curtains to his room and laid back down.

"I'll find you again." Chris whispered to himself. He pulled the covers back over his body and turned his light back out.