We entered a small brunt building that looked like it hadn't seen paint in years and Johnny grinned. "Welcome to our small, humble home. It's not much but, it keeps the rain out."

I looked around. Personally, it was better than you'd think a homeless person's house would be. There was a small mattress in the corner that was decently clean and I saw they had put together a fireplace to keep warm. It was pretty cozy.

I nodded. "You live here all by yourself?"

Jerry nodded. "Yeah. But, we don't have to worry about anything and we can sleep as long as we want." He ran over to the mattress and plopped down.

I turned to Johnny. "So, what is the kid patrol? Like police or something?"

He shrugged. "Pretty much. They look for kids that don't have parents or refuse to go to school and give them to 'new families'." He used his fingers to show parentheses.

"So, you guys don't have anybody?"

"Nope. We like it that way too. No annoying parents to boss you around or pretend to care about you. It's pretty nice." He smiled. "What about you? Anyone who cares for you?"

Marcus flashed through my mind and I looked down. "Not really."

He smiled. "You can stay with us. We ran away from our familie a long time ago and never looked back. You're more then welcome to do the same."

I made a small hm. "I would but... It's hard to explain."

He shrugged and started messing with the fireplace, putting sticks and stuff on it before lighting a piece of paper and dropping it onto the wood. "Why were you in a back alley crying?"

I paused. "I was... running."

"From?"

I sighed and leaned against a wall. "A friend. I hurt them and I didn't know what to do."

He sighed. "We don't really have friends so we wouldn't know what that feel like but, if you want to talk we're happy to listen."

In the end I told them everything. Marcus, my parents, what had happened last night and this morning. They listen and sometimes asked a few questions and it made me feel better to be able to talk to someone about it.

"Why do you stay there if they treat you so bad? If it was me I'd just leave. I don't take crap from people." Johnny said, leaning against the wall.

Jerry nodded. "Our mom and dad never did that but, we got tired of them always telling us what to do and what not to do. If we lived where you live we'd have already left."

I shrugged. "I've only had the courage to do that once and it didn't end well."

"What happened?" Jerry asked.

"I... packed. I grabbed everything I would need, which wasn't very much, and got ready to leave."

***Flashback***

I grabbed my notebook and a few shirts and pants and stuffed them all in my bag. I was trying to hurry because my parents would be up any moment. I folded a blanket and tried my best to fit it into the bag, zipping it as closed as I could.

There was a squeak and someone said, "Where do you think you're going, shit?"

I turned and saw my mother standing in my doorway. She was glaring at me, her arms crossed and eyes sparking with anger. I backed up. "M-mom... I wasn't-"

"You lying, sneaky brat! You don't know how good you have it!" She came towards me and grabbed me by my hair.

I whimpered as she dragged me down the stairs and threw me into her room. I looked up and saw my dad. His eyes were narrowed. "He was trying to leave." My mother said, her arms crossing in triumph.

"N-no! I didn't! I-I-" My voice was cut off as my father grabbed me and slammed me into the wall.

"You're in so much trouble." He growled. I felt his hand tighten around my neck and I started crying.

"Pl-please..."

***Flashback ends***

I had subconsciously started crying, tears rolling down my ckeeks. Jerry looked shocked and Johnny looked like he felt bad for me. "Why didn't you try again?" Jerry asked.

I scoffed. "Would you want to try again and risk having that happen to you for a second time?"

Jerry frowned. "Not really..."

I sighed and wiped my face. "Forget it. I'm probably never going to leave and I'll be there for the rest of my life. If they don't kill me first."

After a few minutes of silence Johnny stood up. "Well, this air is too tense. I say we go and do something fun."

Jerry smiled and stood up aswell. "Yeah! Come on, Eliot! You can come too!"

I frowned. "What are we doing?"

Johnny grinned. "Train jumping."

*******

I stared wide eyed at the two brothers. "This is what we're doing?!"

We were standing on a platform waiting for a tain to pass. I could hear it in the distance so I knew it was close. Johnny and Jerry were both smiling and bouncing a little. "This is going to be awesome!" Jerry giggled.

"It's easy. The train has to slow down when it passes the station so it makes it easier to grab and hold on. When the train gets about two thirds of the way past you will see rails. Grab one and don't let go!" Johnny said excitedly.

I was sure the horror on my face showed since they both laugh and told me it was really fun. I heard a whistle and we all looked down the tracks. The train came around the corner and it started to slow but, not by much as it whipped past us.

I heard Johnny say to look for the rail and I did my best with how fast the train was going.

"Woohoo!" I glanced over and saw Johnny and Jerry were both gone. "Come on, Eliot!" I looked back at the train and saw them fly by me, holding onto the train.

I took a deep breath before I jumped. I grabbed a rail and felt my body lurch sideways as I was yanked along with the train. I closed my eyes tightly and held onto the rail like it was a lifeline. To be honest, it was.

After a few minutes I slowly opened my eyes again. The train was going faster now that it was out of the station but, it was running smoother and my hair was pushed back as the wind blew in my face.

My feet were standing on a small ledge on the side of the train and I was surprised my legs weren't shaking. I looked in front of me and saw Johnny and Jerry laughing and leaning off the side of the train.

I smiled and looked out as we passed trees and buildings. We were going through a small part of town. I laughed and reached out to touch a flag as we passed another station.

This is almost like flying. I feel so free.

We went around until we made it back to the same station we had started at and we all jumped off. I laughed and turned to Johnny. "That was so cool!"

He smiled. "I know, right? We do that all the time."

I was breathing hard from the adrenaline and I leaned over to catch my breath. "Wow..."

Jerry jumped on my back and giggled. "We should go again!"

Johnny looked up at the slowly darkening sky. "Nah. We need to get back before it gets to dark." He turned to me. "You want to stay with us?"

I fowned and glanced in the direction of home. "No. I should go home before I get in trouble." I hadn't realized I'd been gone all day.

"Okay. Feel free to drop by anytime you want. We'd be happy to have you as a guest." Johnny said with a smile.

I nodded and said goodbye. As I walked home I wondered if my parents had noticed my absence. If they hadn't they would soon. It was my job to make them dinner and if I didn't they usually freaked.

It took me a while but, I finally neared the house. As I approached my mood dropped a little. I would need to go in the front door. I sighed and prayed my parents were passed out on the couch or something.

I stepped up onto the porch and put my hand on the door nobb. Just was I turned it I heard, "Eliot!"

I froze and I turned around just as Marcus wrapped his arms around me. I didn't move. Then he whispered, "I thought you weren't coming back."

Time moved in slow motion as he held onto me like I would just disappear if he so much as lossened his arms. He buried his face in my neck and I felt something warm drip onto my skin.

My eyes widened when I realized he was crying. A lump formed in my throat. No one had ever cried for me. Never. I slowly brought my arms up and clung to him.

He cradled me. "I was so worried. I thought I had lost you forever."

I shook my head. "I-I am so sorry... I didn't mean any of those things I said. N-none of it..."

He gave a small laughed through his tears. "I know. You don't lie very well."

I closed my eyes. I hated this feeling. I hated how he made me feel something like this. I hate him so much.

Because I love him...

*******

Hey everyone! He hasn't actually said it yet! There is still plenty to come before he admits it to Marcus so don't get your hopes up. It will do you no good to freak out now. Just hold it in for a little while longer, okay? Haha! Hope you enjoyed this chapter! AS ALWAYS VOTE, COMMENT, FOLLOW AND STAY AWESOME!

-Nekoco