A bead of sweat trickles down Jade's forehead as she trudges through the muggy city streets. Despite the heat, she absentmindedly yanks at her sweatshirt's hood as if wishing it would completely devour her. However, even with the hoodie's best efforts in consuming its owner, the night-time streetlights seem to mock her as they shine on her like a spotlight.

She digs her hands deeper into her pocket with her fists clenched, desperately trying to subdue her thundering heart. Fear and anxiety grip her in an unforgiving vice, causing her muscles to tense until they're aching. She calms herself with a tremulous sigh, finally allowing her breaths to come out as steady and rhythmic as the mantra echoing in her mind.

I can do this. I can do this. I can do this. I can-

Her gaze lands on an elderly man shuffling down the deserted street. Instantly, time stills until the teen is left staring numbly at the passerby. Though all too quickly reality strikes back and panic spreads across her body like wildfire. Her heart reverts back to its frenzied pounding, mercilessly banging against her lungs until strained, shallow breaths whisper past her lips.

The man approaches her at a painfully slow speed, and she unintentionally matches the sluggish pace, giving her time to think.

I can't do this.

It's now or never.

I can't do this.

Get yourself together.

I can't do this.

Here he comes, do it!

I can-

Just as the elder is about to pass her, Jade sets her jaw and swiftly slams him against the brick wall. Her ears buzz and a sense of lightheadedness overcomes her. Though she's surprised by how firm and venomous her voice is. "Gimme your money."

His eyes meet her icy gaze and for a moment all he can do is stare. However, he's wrenched from his terrified stupor when she reveals an old pocket knife buried in her pockets.

"The money." She hisses.

"O-okay, okay." He mutters, reaching into his pockets and before she can react a barrage of pepper spray assaults her.

A starburst of pain explodes behind her eyes and she can't help the scream that falls from her lips. Her hands fly over burning eyes and she's blind to her victim's escape. She stumbles forward until she's leaning against the wall, her frame trembling with ragged gasps of torment.

She's vaguely aware of rapidly approaching footsteps and she wonders if the man had come back to spray her again. Though instead a young latina hesitantly advances, quickly surveying the situation. "Um," she hesitates for a moment, "need help?"

Jade flinches at the voice and her head snaps towards the new arrival. She squints her eyes until they're barely open, but immediately regrets it when the humid air bites at her sensitive retinas. "Fuck." she grinds out at both the pain as well as her sudden vulnerability. "Just leave me alone." But the order loses much of its hostility as her voice shakes.

Rather than comply, Tori brings her half-empty water bottle towards the stranger, making sure the plastic brushes against her fingers so she's aware of its presence. Jade freezes at the sudden contact but quickly grips the bottle and wastes no time in splashing the water against her face.

Minutes drag by and with one last sigh, Jade tries opening her eyes one more time. A relieved exhale brushes past her lips when her eyes don't rebel with another bout of pain. Though all she can discern is a blurry silhouette against the urban background. "What do you want?" She asks suspiciously.

Tori freezes at the goth's intense gaze. Soft green hues swim in her electrifying blue irises, that is nearly swallowed by the bloodshot sclera. The latina's poised demeanor crumbles beneath the fierce scrutiny. Her heart rate quickens and she digs her teeth into her lower lip like a dazed schoolgirl.

"What do you want?" Jade repeats with more authority, snapping Tori out of her reverie. She sees the silhouette jolt, before replying.

"Just came to make sure you were okay." She puts her hands up in mock surrender. Though after tearing her eyes from Jade's gaze, she's able to truly analyze the near-criminal. Dark circles hide beneath the inflamed flesh under her eye. Her inky black hair lies limply over the baggy sweatshirt, and she seemed to be struggling under the weight of her backpack.

"Well I'm fine. So I guess you're free to go now." Jade deadpans, making to walk past the other girl.

"Wait." Tori blurts, "Can you even see? It's only been a few minutes and-"

"I'll manage." She replies without looking back. Though, not even a dozen steps later, her previously forgotten exhaustion and hunger gnaws at her. Trying to maneuver through the blurred streets sends her already fatigued mind tumbling. Jade pauses for a moment and leans heavily on the nearest streetlight. She's vaguely aware of someone shouting before darkness quickly overwhelms her and she crumples to the ground.

Tori rushes towards the fallen girl until she's crouching in front of her. Tanned fingers brush ebony locks away from the pale face and she anxiously asks, "Hey, can you hear me?" Jade's expression remains unchanged. "Crap." Tori mutters, quickly scanning the area for anyone else that could help. But yet again she comes up empty-handed when she sees the streets are deserted.

Out of options, she fishes her phone out of her pocket in hopes of calling an ambulance. However, before dialing the key numbers, she glances back at the stranger. Her eyes are still slightly swollen and a soft red. "Crap, what am I going to tell them about the pepper spray?" She whispers to herself, not wanting to get the girl in trouble, since she herself had become all too familiar with such circumstances.

Not even considering abandoning her in the street, Tori first slides Jade's backpack off her shoulders, and slips it on to her own. Her brows knit in surprise and confusion at the hulking weight of the bag. Nevertheless, she carefully gathers the unconscious girl in her arms. Her body trembles under the combined weight, but still she strides towards her apartment that is just around the corner.

Within ten minutes Jade lies unresponsively on Tori's ruby red couch, as she paces the chic condo. Her mind buzzes with panic and as an old nervous habit, she begins to voice her racing thoughts.

"Crap, crap, crap, what the heck was I thinking? Who takes a stranger who just tried to rob someone to their own home? What if she's a psycho killer who's trap I just fell into? Or what if she tells people I kidnapped her?" She glances back at the still unconscious guest. "What if she's actually really sick?" Tori studies her again more closely. This time counting the rise and fall of her chest, making sure that she hadn't precipitously died on her. Too busy gazing at steady surge of air filling her chest, Tori fails to notice the brunette slip into consciousness.

"Perv." Jade murmurs sluggishly as she spots Tori staring at her breast.

The latina's head snaps towards Jade's face and with it, a rush of blood storms her cheeks. "What- oh no, I was just- I thought- seriously it's not what it looks like." she stutters.

But Jade takes no notice to her. As the remnants of oblivion release its smothering grip on her, she begins to truly observe her surroundings. Her heart hitches before assuming a wild clamor. "Where the hell am I?" She can't help but mutter. Icy eyes latch onto the latina, and despite her harmless appearance, Jade feels all too vulnerable lying defenseless on the couch.

Tori catches the sudden anxiety lurking behind the stranger's eyes, and she quickly reassures her, "Don't worry. I'm not gonna hurt you. I just..." She pauses, unsure of what her end goal was. "I just wanted to help."

"So you kidnapped me?" Jade replies incredulously, lurching to a sitting position. Her vision does somersaults, but after a long blink it settles.

"Well I didn't want to leave you passed out on the street."

"Well I can handle myself just fine, so I think I'll be on my way. Unless you plan on keeping me hostage too." She eyes Tori challengingly.

Tori's motionless for a moment, truly at a loss at what to do. "At least eat something. I have some leftover pasta that's still really good."

Jade, who had been gathering her backpack which rested against the couch, pauses at the mention of food. Her stomach pitches painfully, floundering in its own hollowness, but for some reason she hears herself mumble, "I don't take handouts." She swings the hefty backpack over her shoulder, sways under its weight, then makes to leave.

"When's the last time you ate?" Tori blurts, hating the idea of letting the stranger leave when she is obviously unwell.

Jade's at the door now, her hand resting on the handle. "Don't worry about it."

"Please." Tanned fingers wrap around Jade's ivory wrist.

The goth swiftly turns towards Tori, intending to give her hell for daring to touch her. But she's taken aback by the sincerity shining in her eyes. For the first time she really looks at the girl. Her hair falls in soft curls, the shade of it nearly identical to her chocolate brown eyes. A small frown twists her lips, paired with a crease furrowed in her forehead. Even with worry warping her features, Jade's breath hitches at her beauty.

"I..." Jade pauses as an internal war rages in her mind. Half of her refuses to sink so low as to accept charity. But she can no longer deny the ravenous hunger built over the last few days. Begrudgingly she finally responds. "Fine. I'll stay just for the food."

Tori's lips quirk into a smile. "Awesome. How's spaghetti sound?" She strides towards the kitchen.

Jade trails behind her, and settles down at the dining table. "I don't really care. As long as it's edible."

Tori looks over her shoulder from the microwave, and gazes at Jade for a moment. She's somewhat perturbed by the intense, unblinking stare Jade shoots towards the plate of pasta. "So," Tori ventures, "Where are you from?"

"Why the hell do you wanna know? Are you going to stalk me?" She replies defensively.

"No," Tori immediately shakes her head, appalled at the idea. "No. I was just curious." She's silent for a moment. "Can I at least know your name?" She tries more gently. "I'm Tori."

The goth remains quiet, knowing she can't afford giving this stranger too much information about herself. Not under her current circumstances. But at the same time, something in her combats these thoughts. She doesn't know if its that ignorant hope that's already gotten her in so much trouble in the past. Or maybe because the latina seems to genuinely care what happens to her. However, if she's learned anything from her history, it's that she needs to stop indulging herself in such idiotic ideas.

"Look, you don't have to pretend to be nice anymore. I stayed for the food, and after this I'll be on my way and we'll never see each other again. So just stop with the Mother Teresa charade." Acid drips from her words, eating through Tori's vocal chords leaving her speechless.

After several silent seconds, Tori finally nods and gently places the now warm plate of spaghetti in front of Jade. Jade is mildly surprised that Tori hadn't promptly kicked her out after her outburst. Though she plays with the idea for only a moment, before launching into her first warm meal in much too long.

Tori sits at the opposite end of the table, methodically raking her nails across her palm. Her eyes uneasily flit from her guest, to anywhere else in the room. Every so often her gaze locks with Jade's, though she's always quick to unhinge the link.

In what feels like hours, Jade finishes the meal and raises from the table. She mutters something that almost sounds like a 'thanks', but the word gets lost in the screech of the chair scraping against the wooden floor.

At last Tori finds her voice, and she softly offers "Do you want a snack or something to take with you?"

Jade swiftly ambles towards the door, "I told you I don't do handouts." And with that she's gone.

To continue or not to continue, that is the question. What do you guys think?