PICKING UP THE PIECES Chapter 1

I walked through the pouring rain, not caring that I had no idea where I was…not caring that the rain had soaked through to my skin…not caring about the weird looks I was getting from people walking by with umbrellas or driving by in their cars. All that was on my mind was my desire to escape my life.

I felt tired…drained…I was only a mere shell of the person I used to be….before IT started happening.

I heard a car pulling up beside me. I turned towards it, ready to tell the driver to keep going. I had no intention of accepting a ride from anyone, especially the people who had stopped for me thus far. Those disgusting guys who looked at me as if undressing me with their eyes.

This car, however, was a black, stretch limo. The back window rolled down and I was surprised to see a young boy peer out at me. He had long, black hair and gray eyes, just like me.

"Excuse me, miss, would you like a ride?"

"Um…no. No thank you."

"You're gonna get sick. C'mon, I can have my driver drop you off wherever you want to go."

I looked at him. He seemed genuinely concerned. "I…I don't know…"

He opened the door and stepped out. "Ok then. If you won't accept a ride, I'll just walk with you."

My mouth dropped open. Was he for real? "That's crazy! It's pouring!"

"Exactly!" he said with a cute little grin. "So…what's it gonna be?"

"Fine! Ok! You can give me a ride!"

He smirked. "I thought so." He opened the door for me. "Ladies first." I climbed into the limo with him right behind me. "My name's Mokuba. What's yours?"

"Naia." I replied softly.

"It's nice to meet you, Naia. Where would you like to go?"

"Um…I really don't know."

He looked shocked. "You mean you have nowhere to go?"

I shook my head. "Not really. I sort of…um…ran away from home."

"Oh." There was an awkward silence before he spoke up again. "Well you can stay at my house if you'd like."

I looked over at him. "Won't your parents mind?"

"My parents died when I was really young. It's just my big brother and me now. We have plenty of room."

"Will he be ok with it? Your brother, I mean?"

"He shouldn't care. He's hardly ever home anyway."

"Well, ok. If you're sure."

"Great!" he said with a big smile. He tapped on the driver's window.

"Yes, Master Kaiba?"

"Take us home, Roland."

"Yes sir."

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