8

"Oh my god, Ana. Your eyes are like coming out of your head."

I ignored my friends' laughter, looking around.

Shane raised his eyebrows at me, amused.

"Haven't you ever been into the city...?"

I shook my head.

"No. I live in a small town that's like three hours from here. I've never really been anywhere besides Pennsylvania to visit my Uncle."

Rose laughed and said: "Give me your phone."

I frowned.

"Why?"

"Just do it."

I sighed and handed her my phone, tapping my fingers on my thighs and looking around while I waited for her to finish.

After a couple minutes, she handed my phone back to me.

I looked at it, curiously.

I had three new contacts.

Ro Ro with a rose emoji next to it.

Shaney Boo.

And lastly, Gordon.

I smiled.

"Why did you add you guys' numbers to my phone?"

"Incase you get lost or get into any trouble. You can call us or text us if you need to."

I blinked a few times.

I wasn't really used to people caring that much.

For years, the only friend I had was Mel.

This was totally new territory to me.

Rose didn't seem to mind that I didn't have anything to say to her in return.

Instead she hooked arms with me and smiled.

"Come on, Let's go get some coffee then start exploring."

After a quick stop at Starbucks, Rose dragged me into some girly boutique.

While she looked through the clothing, I stood by the window and looked outside, sipping my coffee.

Hours later, Rose was still dragging me into stores and boutiques.

I groaned and moaned the whole time, but she ignored me.

She was making our trip to Manhattan tiring.

Finally, I sighed and told her: "I'm going to go look around the corner to see if there's any good restaurants for lunch. I'll be right back."

I was pretty sure that she didn't hear me, too engrossed by the clothes she was looking at.

I didn't bother trying to get her attention.

Instead I walked outside and began to explore.

There was lot's of taxi's and cars and peoples.

The amount of people was what was making me borderline having a panic attack.

But I pushed the feeling down, looking around, taking in everything.

I was so lost in thought and so amazed, that I barely registered walking into an alleyway.

I only realized it when someone shouted out at me.

"Hey! You! What're you doing back here?"

I snapped out of my daze and locked eyes with a rough looking boy who looked slightly younger than me.

His blue eyes were narrowed and were tracking my every move.

His blonde hair was messy and dirty, his shirt looked to big for him and his jeans too small.

I bit my lip.

"Oh... Um... I didn't mean to bother you. I'll leave now."

I turned to walk away but his fingers curled around my arm tightly, yanking me back.

I winced.

"What's your name?"

I looked down and answered him in a quiet voice: "Ana..."

"What was that? I didn't hear you."

His grip on my arm tightened and I bit my lip harder.

"I said my name is Ana."

He made a face.

"Cute name for a cute rich girl."

"Hey! I am not a rich girl!"

"You look like one."

"But I'm not."

"Well you've got more money than me, that's for sure."

I suddenly felt bad, as I looked him over again.

He was a street kid.

That much was obvious.

His attitude and appearance gave it away.

I licked my lips and forced a smile on my face.

"What's your name?"

He looked shocked for a moment but quickly covered it up, returning to glaring at me.

"Why do you care?"

"I just want to know your name..."

He narrowed his eyes.

"Are you here to take me somewhere?"

"Wh- What?"

He shook me slightly and grabbed my other arm, pulling me close.

"You're here to take me to some foster home or something! I can tell!"

I shook my head, quickly.

"No! I swear! I'm not!"

"Well, I'm not going back! And I'm not going to let some skinny girl make me!"

My eyes widened in fear and I tried to protest but he slammed me against the wall.

I yelped, my head hitting the wall with a sickening thud.

Pain spread through my skull, but he didn't seem to notice as his hand connected with my face.

I hissed in pain and reached blindly for anything that would help me get out of this mess.

I could see Kylie over the boy's shoulder.

Her eyes were wide fear.

Ana! Do something!, she shouted.

I whimpered in response, still reaching for something, anything.

He pushed me to the ground and my ankle twisted as I tripped over what looked to be a broom stick.

I gritted my teeth as I picked up the broom stick and swung it.

It made contact with his head and he fell.

I wasted no time.

I jumped to my feet, sprinting.

I ran from the alleyway and out into the busy streets of Manhattan.

A taxi almost ran me over and the driver yelled swear words at me, but I ignored him.

I could feel panic rising in me, the familiar fuzzy feeling of an attack coming over me.

I stumbled onto the sidewalk, my ankle throbbing.

I bit my trembling bottom lip, pulling out my phone.

I fumbled, almost dropping it but managed to click on a contact, my fingers trembling as I held the phone up to my ear.

"Hello?"

Part of me was frustrated that it was Gordon I had called, but the other part of me was relieved.

Relieved that he had answered at all.

"Gordon?"

"Ana? Is that you?"

He sounded confused.

Understandably so.

"Yeah..."

I could feel the tears falling down my face.

Some slid down to my lips.

It burned the cut that was on my lip.

I wiped them away with the back of my hand, annoyed.

"Is something wrong...?"

I opened my mouth to explain to him what happened but instead, all that came out was sobs.

"Hey, hey, hey. It's okay. Can you tell me where you are?"

I looked around then gave him the street name.

"Okay... just hang in there. I'll be there soon."

He hung up and I wrapped my arms around myself.

I pressed myself against a wall for security, to assure myself that no one could come up behind me.

My eyes kept darting around, feeling like I was on high alert.

Kylie stood next to me, her serious dark eyes watching me.

She didn't say anything.

She just stood there.

And somehow, that was enough.

"Ana?'

I jumped and pressed my back against the wall even more.

He rested his hands on my shoulders and gave me a soft look.

"Hey, hey. It's just me. Calm down."

I nodded slowly, chewing on my bottom lip.

He frowned and inspected my split lip then narrowed his eyes, seeing that I was bleeding from where I had hit my head on the wall.

He took my hand and I didn't resist.

He lead me into a small cafe and then to the bathroom.

No one seemed to find this odd.

He used the garbage can to keep the door shut.

I watched him.

He turned and looked at me, frowning.

"Sit on the counter."

I did what he said and sat on the bathroom counter.

I could hear Kylie whine about how dirty the counter probably was.

I ignored her.

Gordon ran a paper towel underneath the water and then cleaned my cut on my head and pressed it to my lip.

"Anything else hurt?"

"My ankle. I think I might have twisted it."

He nodded.

"We can have the doctor look at when we get back. I can piggyback you for now."

I opened my mouth to protest but he gave me a sharp look, preventing me from doing so.

He didn't ask me what happened.

He just threw the paper towel and had me hop onto his back.

We didn't talk anymore after he cleaned me up.

Back at the group home, after the doctor had checked me over and after Rose and Alison fussed over me, I went back to my room.

I curled up on my bed, sighing.

My head and ankle throbbed and my lip stung but otherwise I was okay.

I was beginning to fall asleep when my phone buzzed, announcing that I had a new text.

I frowned.

The only person who could be texting me was Mel.

But she was busy tonight.

I sighed and checked my phone.

Gordon: Hey, how're you feeling?

A smile formed on my face and I texted him back.

Me: I'm fine. But you know I'm right next door. You could just walk over and ask me in person.

Gordon: What's the fun in that?

I laughed.

Me: Wow okay.

After that we ended up texting until I fell asleep in the middle of replying to him.

I woke up to this text from him: Goodnight, Banana. Sweet dreams, my soulless friend. :)