A/N: Here's the next chapter for you. Hopefully it gives a little more perspective on things.

CHAPTER 1: Cliche

Word Count: 2,354

It had been years ago when we first met. When I think about it now, it had been pretty cliche.

Back then, he'd been a new face in the town I was staying at. And naturally, I'd been curious.

I watched him quietly then, with a wallet he'd stolen himself, from some bimbo who had been too busy eyeing up a waiter two tables away. Watching in awe as he casually walked away from the small, crowded cafe, his prize tucked safely in his hoodie. From what I could tell, he had some skill with what he did. He was stealthy and sneaky as a fox- but on edge. He'd probably been at this only a few months or so.

I'd decided that the guy'd make a good... erm... "partner" given my situation. It'd been a while since I'd last tried to look for one. The last two didn't exactly pan out well, one turning out to be an A-class jerk, and the one after that... well... That was a trauma I didn't want to repeat...

I would have tried to keep flying solo, but one thing made it apparent that I needed a companion.

Adjusting the backpack on my shoulders, and pulling my hair from its short ponytail, I followed him. From a good distance, of course. I'd been keeping tabs on him for a few days already. I'd see him around town during the day. I could follow him around then, but when it got dark, he'd disappear. Trying to catch him on one of his more regular moments, when he was eating, or just walking around town, when his guard was lowered- that was nonexistent. He was too jumpy, and suspicious of everyone around him. So I had to think of a different approach.

If he was like me when I started out, he'd probably stay somewhere different every night, but from my experience here, there were few places people like us could stay. So I'd come to the conclusion that he found one solid hideaway, just like I did after a while. There was a better chance of a face to face meeting there. So I tried to find it.

I tailed him at first, trying to find clues to narrow down my search... He was smart though. He would always take a different route to his hideout, passing through back alleys, taking long, roundabout paths. He was obviously trying to avoid somebody, and his anxiety wasn't making anything any easier.

It was the third day since I first saw him, and I still couldn't find the place. Considering the smallish size of the town, I should have found it by now. I should've been able to talk to him already. The guy must've really hated whoever he was running away from.

So here I was again, my eyes were subtly trained on my quarry's back. Hopefully, I would be able to tail him properly this time.

I risked a glance at the lady he'd snagged the wallet from as I passed the cafe. She was chatting up the waiter she'd been eyeing, who was at her table now. One hand was blindly reaching for her open purse. It wouldn't be long before she noticed.

And I wasn't wrong.

The cafe was a few paces behind me when I heard her start panicking. Head bowed slightly, I turned my gaze to my worn sneakers and to the cracks in the pavement. The scene she was making now made me speed up a bit, doing my best to put some distance between myself and the shop. I did not want to be within the hysteric bitch's range if she started pointing a finger.

It seemed like the same thought had passed through my target's head, because when I turned to look for him again, he was much further from me than I would have liked. I had to jog slightly to catch up to him.

As I closed the distance between us, what happened next almost made me stop in my tracks. He looked back over his shoulder and his dark eyes met mine for a split second. I almost froze.

Almost.

I had been at this too long to freeze though- I'd learnt a long time ago that freezing only made things worse for me. So I continued jogging... right past him, and casually walked into an old book store.

The bell above the door tinkled and the man at the counter barely took notice of me as I stopped in front of one of the shelves, looking at the titles. I didn't really read them as I pulled down a random book. The words didn't really mean much, I just kept my head down and pretended to read. I put it back and moved down the aisle, looking at another book. The large glass window to my left was convenient, too.

He would be more alert now, and I had to be more careful. Even if I found the result of his little heist pretty funny, it made things that much harder for me. I paused for a moment, thinking about the look I had seen in his eyes. Did he figure it out? That I was tailing him?

No way. There was just no way.

If I'd spooked him enough though, and I probably already did a bit, he might actually leave the town sooner rather than later. I couldn't lose him now. Not after I had put so much effort into trying to find him. He at least had to hear my deal before he left.

I had to have been naive then... Having it in my head that he would listen to me so readily. Putting so much hope in one stranger. Life didn't really make me optimistic. And I wasn't. But the past few months had been brutal alone. Honestly... I really just couldn't lose the chance he presented.

Soon enough, I spotted my target again. He was on the opposite side of the road now. Time to make my exit. Just as I let the door to the bookshop close behind me, he turned into an alley about a block down. My eyes widened.

Damn.

I ran then, like a demon, across the street, and down the sidewalk. I was too concerned about him being out of my sights to slow down. I stopped for a moment, facing the opening to the alley...

Empty.

I quickly ran down its length, past dumpsters and old boxes, splish-splashing through puddles, and nearly tripping on a stray cat to get to the end. It hissed as I hopped over it and the thing scratched at my shoe. Bursting into the next street, I looked around frantically. He was gone.

Gone.

Anger was bubbling up dangerously inside of me. Taking a deep breath, I calmed myself down as best as I could. I couldn't let my emotions get the best of me.

Just breathe, and keep looking.

When the feeling slowly simmered down enough, I continued my search. Taking a chance, I turned up the street this time, keeping an eye out for his ridiculously white jacket as I walked.

The sun was hanging low when I finally decided to take a break.

It would start getting dark soon, and several hours had gone by since I'd last seen him. I'd been around town, and even checked out the places I had listed as his possible hideouts.

No luck.

Damn. Damndamndamn.

I tugged at my hair, reigning in the scream I wanted to let out. Why was this guy so hard to find?! I ended up kicking an empty soda can in frustration. Next thing I knew, I heard a metallic thunk, coupled with an angry yell.

"What the fuck?! "

I looked apprehensively in the direction I'd kicked. My leg was still half up when an angry dishwasher stomped in my direction, one hand held over his left eye.

Oh hell.

He probably would've just yelled at me, and I would have scampered off, not the least bit sorry, and he would have returned to whatever food joint he had come from. But I did one of the stupidest thing ever.

I kicked his balls when he got too close for my liking.

...

Or I tried to.

My little stunt would have been smart, and I could have ran, even walked away laughing, but I missed. I missed.

My sneakers were soon tapping hard and fast against the ground, the dishwasher at my heels. His apron was flapping menacingly around him as he ran after me, spitting curses. He glared, trying to burn holes in my back. One eye red and squinty, and his hand now on his thigh.

I had to give the guy credit. He was fast despite his obvious limp. I ran through most of the town, through alleys and back streets, and through a small, broken window to hide, before I finally got rid of him.

He walked past my hiding spot, his panting breaths covering the sound of my own hard exhales, which I tried to stifle behind a hand.

"Little shit..." He grumbled after looking around a bit, deciding to try looking somewhere else.

It took a while of nervous waiting before I slowly put my hand down, letting the sound of my ragged breaths bounce off the decrepit walls of the building I ended up in. I must have been at the far edge of town.

I leant against the cold brick wall, one hand on my chest. I could feel the frantic beating behind my ribs. I did my best to get a hold of myself as I slowed by breathing. My mind whirled, my shoes squeaked, and I felt the uncomfortable wetness of my socks as I curled and uncurled my toes, the events of the day slowly setting in.

The sun would set in a half an hour or so, and I was too far from my own place, from my supplies. It wouldn't have been the first time I had done a trek in the dark despite the danger- but I was beyond exhausted now. I hadn't eaten since my meager breakfast, and that wouldn't have been a problem, but not with the kind of exertion I put into today. My stomach rumbled painfully.

The chase involving the angry dishwasher had probably brought unwanted attention on me. I'd have to leave now. And soon. After staying here for weeks under the radar, I'd have to leave...

I could feel a sting in my hand now. The pain intensifying as the adrenaline in my body ebbed. It looked like I had cut my hand on some broken glass wriggling through that window earlier. I picked at the shards left in the wound, wincing.

Another rumble went through my stomach, so I shrugged my backpack off of my shoulders and dug through my stuff with my unbloodied hand. All I had was a jacket, half a bottle of water, and a swiss army knife, among other things. The lack of any form of food left me feeling angry at the world again.

Sliding down the wall into a sitting position, I noted how the deep cut would leave a scar. That didn't really matter...

I stared at the blood dripping down my fingers, frowning at the drops of water that mixed with the crimson liquid. It took me a moment to register the wetness on my cheeks. A moment more to process the soft, choked sobs that were coming from my mouth.

Shit. Shit. Shit.

I was breaking down.

I couldn't help the emotions that were washing like a wave over me then. Reluctantly, I accepted it and continued to cry quietly. My knees came up to my chin, my head bowing, and my shoulders slumping in defeat. My arms came to wrap around my shins, my hands fisting tightly in the dark material of my pants. I couldn't care less about the stain the blood would leave, no one would notice anyway...

"Wow." A voice cut through my moping. My head instantly shot up and took in the person standing across the room. I scrambled to wipe away any evidence of my tears, putting a serious frown on my face instead.

"Three days, and you finally lose it." I watched the teen in front of me as he walked toward me slowly. I tried to stand shakily, my legs feeling like jello.

"To think I thought you were one of them. You aren't, are you?" He crossed his arms, only a few feet separating us now, a suspicious look in his eye. I cocked my head to the side, not having any idea what the heck he was talking about.

"Nah. They wouldn't have let a pipsqueak like you out of The Farm anyway." He looked down, scoffing lightly at me.

The little bit of anger that I had left made me snap at him.

"I'm not some farm girl!" I said indignantly, trying again in vain to stand up.

My words seemed to amuse him, because he laughed, holding a hand out now.

I hesitantly took a hold of his hand as he helped me to my feet. Squeezing his hand as I stood, I plastered my own grim smile on my face. Pulling him down, or rather pulling myself up, I looked him in the eye. Pale green met deep brown. I should have been jumping for joy at the first sight of his white jacket... but he called me a pipsqueak.

"I'm no kid. I'm thirteen years old, so you better stop calling me a pipsqueak." I said firmly.

Technically I was still going to turn twelve in a few months, but telling him that wouldn't exactly help my case.

A/N: It would be nice to know what you guys think of the plot so far. Especially the pace of the story. Let me know with a review. Grazie.