A/N: Hey guys! So here is my new story! I know I said that this was going to be published next month but I finished chapter 2 at over 2000 words so I have decided to publish this chapter. I won't publish chapter 2 till chapter 3 is done so most likely next Saturday. I hope you guys like it! 1331 words!
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Walking down the alley ways of Maine, Raley skims his hand along the bumpy brick walls. The light at the entrance of the alley barley illuminates the cement floor and exit doors of pubs and shops. His torn-up sneaker's keep getting caught up in the trash everywhere and his distressed jeans keeping no warmth in. His jacket becoming several sizes to small barely keeping him alive.
Raley has been searching for the next location that his old friend told him where his pack would be. He said it would be down the alley way that had a Burger king on the left, a pub called Genie's on the right, and it would be hidden under a couple milk crates next to the dumpsters. But so far, all Raley's seen was a group of teens doing whatever they do these days and some cats with no fur. Walking a little farther he finds the dumpsters with the crates. He picks up the backpack and skim through it finding somethings like clothes and money. There was a phone at the bottom with a note saying, "please take it." Raley doesn't like having a phone on hand because he fears people tracking him or people following him. This time though he had a bad feeling of not having it on board. He slips the back over his shoulder and walks out. Digging into the side pocket he grabs the phone and finds his friend's number. Texting Bailey he thanks him for all he's done and for the meeting that he has scheduled. He runs down several blocks and sees a boy across leaning up against a pole in a leather jacket and smoking something.
The boy pushes his sunglasses down his nose and looks right at Raley; Raley blushes and walks faster but his luck ran dry. His luck ran so dry that the boy ended up following him. Raley ran. He ran hard. Hard enough to trip over a crate and hurt himself. Thankfully the guy was behind far enough that he picked himself up and started running. Turning corners was hard when someone runs that fast and there was a corner right up ahead. Raley grabbed the fire escape pole that was in front of him by two feet and spun himself up onto the garbage can, pulling the ladder down. He climbs up to the top as fast as he can. Crouching down Raley grabs a screwdriver out of a window seal next to him and unscrews the ladder. The boy was half way up when he noticed Raley unscrewing the ladder and had only one option. He jumped up and off the ladder, grabbing the platform and swung himself up. Raley bug-eyed ran as fast as he could up the fire escape. The boy was hot on his tail all Raley could do was continue running or and then he ran five more floors and again another set of four floors. Finally, he made it up to the top. He didn't have time for the beautiful view for the guy was still following him. Raley dashed, jumped off the roof, and landed perfectly on the next one. He repeats this till he reaches a spot where he can't jump anymore and swings himself over the ledge and drops.
He landed on a balcony and started swinging himself from one to the other till he reached ground. Walking out the alley he saw the boy three roofs behind, chest heaving, and gripping his head. Laughing he ran down a couple more streets till he reached a Target and walked inside and started walking around. Walking through the food section he picked up some water and supplies for a sandwich. He also picked up a bag of chips and fruit for when he gets to where he needs to go to next. The fall section was pretty much filled with women's clothing but there was a small section with coats and gloves for men. He picks a grey faux fur jacket and a warm beanie. Walking to the self-check-out aisle he noticed the same guy from earlier chatting with one of the service ladies flashing something shiny. Shit! A Cop! Raley knew he was in big trouble. Why would a cop be following him? No one has needed him for any legal manner sense he was ten and that was seven years ago. Unless, they found something that would involve him in the situation again. Quickly, he scanned his items. Ripping bags as he packs them as fast as he can, he walks out the door not letting the cop see him. He makes it out and starts walking down the street. Up ahead there is a bus stop and it looks like people are unloading. He makes a mad dash for the bus and hops inside. With his bags in hand and his bus card with the name Isaiah Parshall he sets out for his next home, if he can get it.
He sits far in the back hoping no one will notice him, but he notices someone else. The cop from earlier, holding up the bus trying to convince the driver into letting him upon the bus in hopes of a free ride home. At this time, he got a better look at the man. He looked only nineteen or twenty. Quite a young age for a cop, Raley thought. The cop was wearing the leather jacket from earlier and a grey tight shirt that pinched his abs when he breathed. The pants were an odd choice though, they had holes in them, paint stains, and weird printed patches on them. The funniest part was his hair. It was swept up into a little wavy hair due reminding him of surfing. The cop chuckled and started walking towards the back. Raley pulled his jacket on and flipped the hood up hiding in the corner of the seat. The cop was walking towards him but stopped and sat in the seat before his. Swinging his arm around the back of the seat he laughed and pulled out his phone, "Ma'am!... No... But, I... Yes, I understand. No, the kid ran away before I could get him Miss... Are you sure?... Then I'll meet up with you there and we will go together. I'm one bus 5 going down 4th street. I'll get off on Maverick Road... Yes, of course... No, I don't think he knows who I am. Yes, bye. See you there Ma'am... No. ETA about 5 minutes... Ok! Bye now." He slips his phone back inside his pocket and sighs. "She is the worst. God, I ask for... earplugs! YES! Earplugs!" The cop tells the driver his new set of plans and the driver stops. Before the cop can get up though, Raley grabs his pack swings it over his shoulder and shopping bags and runs past the cop and out the bus hurrying to get to the café in Credit Square.
Raley can hear the cop yelling at him to get back there but he wont listen. He runs and runs until he reaches the alley running along the café and goes in through the back. Slipping past cooks and waiter was the hard part. People were pacing back and forth going crazy and not even paying attention to him. They would run into him and yell at him to grab this and that. For a café they are busy, he thought. Raley starts walking towards the kitchen door and opens it looking for someone; there she was in all her old state still up to fashions sat Old Lady Higgens. His next big ticket to his new home; he went and sat in front of her. "MaMamy! It's been a while!" Raley smiles at Lady Higgens and laughs. "You know it's nice of you for what you are doing-" before he can finish his sentence Lady Higgens looks up at him and grabs his hands.