(Mike's POV)

I hurried along the side of the road, adjusting the hood of my raincoat every once in a while.

Rain fell in great splotches on the sidewalk, which was caked with dust, mud, and dirt.

Streets paved with gold my ass I thought absently as I continued to walk.

I accidentally bumped into someone in my haste, and I hurriedly caught her hand.

"Are you alright?" I asked concernedly. It was a young girl with large, wide brown eyes filled with fear.

"I'm OK sir." She answered quietly, flinching away, almost as if she was expecting punishment. I frowned slightly. "Don't worry, you don't need to call me sir," I informed her gently.

"Ever?! Ever, where are you?!" A voice called out. The girl started to tremble, and I caught her by the shoulders gently. "Hey, hey, it's alright, tell me what's wrong." She shook her head and escaped easily from my light grasp.

A woman in clothes that were very nearly scraps rushed towards us. "There you are, you naughty child!" She scolded Ever. She turned to me, having finally caught sight of me. Her eyes flicked to my expensive raincoat and appraised the front of my jersey. (Which I genuinely liked to wear in public, not to show off, but because they're actually super comfy!)

She extended a hand to me, and I shook it reluctantly, remembering how the girl (Ever, I supposed) had flinched away.

"Alexia. Ms. Alexia Harolds." She said briskly.

I returned her firm handshake. "Mike. Mr. Mike Brezinski." Maybe, just maybe mocking her formal tone. I still wasn't over the fact that the poor girl had flinched away, expecting punishment for me bumping into her.

Her eyes narrowed, trying to figure out if I mad making fun of me. A fraction of a second later, her eyes widened comically and she gasped.

"I know your name! You're the quarterback of the LA sheep!!" I laughed inwardly at the incorrect name. "Actually, it's the LA Rams," I informed her. She flushed in embarrassment and struggled to come up with her next sentence.

I turned my attention back to the young girl. "Are you alright?" I asked yet again. Her eyes focused back onto her ripped shoes. "No..." she admitted softly. She lifted up her arm and showed me a large bruise that had begun to form on her forearm.

"I'm so sorry, I guess the brute football side of me came out!" I laughed. It really wasn't that funny, but Ms. Harolds tittered loudly.

"Don't you worry about the dumb child! I'm so sorry she bumped into you!" She exclaimed.

I turned a critical eye on her. "Well... actually I was the one who bumped into her," I stated firmly. "Well still. She should still apologize!" Ms. Harolds sniffed haughtily.

"Actually, I would like an apology from you, for being so rude to poor Ever here!" I told her. She drew herself up and turned on her heel.

"Goodbye Ever," I whispered softly to the girl who had lingered next to me. Her eyes filled with fear "Don't! Not the fosta home!" She begged. Foster home? I blinked once. Twice. Clearly this girl was being mistreated, and I had a strong desire to help her. But on the other hand, I would be completely mental to consider adopting a kid right now, in the prime of my football career!

There were things more important then football, I decided, as I looked her right in the eye. "I'll try," I told her. Her eyes filled with hope, and relief.

She turned around and started running to catch up with Ms. Harolds.

My mind still in a dizzy state of shock, I knocked into yet another person. "Sorry," I mumbled.

"Mike?" My eyes snapped to the person in front of me. I recognized that voice. "Zoe." I mumbled awkwardly. "What're you doing outside of Erica's apartment?" She asked, all business-like. "Uh... you guys are friends?" I asked. "Stop trying to change the topic!" She exclaimed. "Just answer the question!" I lowered my eyes to my feet.

"Ben is in a really bad place right now," I told her quietly. Her eyes narrowed. "Erica too..." she replied slowly after a long pause. Her eyes narrowed further. "Considering what he did to her!"

I glared at her and clenched my teeth. "Ben didn't do anything! Ashley forced herself on him!" I insisted. Zoe snorted. "Yeah right, all men are the same." I stepped back a bit. "Sexist much?" I asked defensively. Her eyes softened a bit. "Sorry." She offered grudgingly.

In the uncomfortable silence, I found myself drinking her presence in, staring into those nearly hypnotic green eyes of hers.

"Ben and Erica need each other," I said tentatively. She nodded her head. "So what're we going to do about it?" I asked. Her eyes met my gaze evenly. "Meet me at ten at Ellie's Fresh Coffee tomorrow." She announced. "Alright then," I responded.

(Ben's POV)

I pressed down on the chords of the piano keys absently, muttering notes under my breath, trying to figure out what should come next.

After exhausting my long playlist of breakup songs, I had decided to try to write one myself.

I heard a key twisting in the lock again. It was probably Mike coming home. In the last few days, he had decided to move in so we could both take care of each other because we both needed someone to be there.

"Alright, Mike?" I asked, slightly concerned at his ashen complexion, and slightly queasy look.

"It looks like I've finally gone mental considering what I've just done." He muttered. I stepped a little bit closer. "What is it that you've done?" I asked curiously.

"Well.." he started cautiously. "I might've offered to adopt a kid."

What. The. Heck.