They walked together down the streets passed all the bars and closed shops. With the Tramp at her side it was the first time she had felt protected and safe.
She didn't have to worry about being followed by any more drunken men.
"So how'd a lady like yourself get those burns?" Tramp asked before looking down at his own scars that covered his arms
"My horrible cousins threw a very special photo into the fireplace." She sighed reliving the events. "I just had to retrieve it before it was lost."
"Well don't worry Pidge I can fix up those burns." He placed his hand onto her shoulder lightly as they walked down the street.
He had done this many times before but this time he was nervous putting his hand there.
She didn't understand his gesture at first. Was it like when Jock or Trusty put their arms around her or like the couples down at the park?
Jock and Trusty had always done that since they were kids telling stories or pointing something out. But the way couples did it at the park was different. The girl would always lean into the guy and they would gaze at each other every few steps.
They walked a few more blocks in silence. Not an awkward silence but a peaceful one. Lacey took in the environment of this side of town. Everything was so different. The people, the shops, and the restaurants. How everyone acted walking down the street. She was used to a smile or a head nod but here it was a wink from a drunken man or a scowl from a lady.
The Tramp suddenly took a sharp right heading down another alleyway. This one wasn't empty like the alley she was just in. Instead it had a group of men standing outside a door smoking cigarettes. From a few feet away Lacey could smell their booze filled breaths as the laughed and talked loudly.
She leaned closer into the Tramps chest making as much space between her and the men. The Tramp avoided eye contact with the men hoping they wouldn't recognize him.
"Hey Tramp what number is she?" One of the men laughed
"I bet he's lost count by now." Another yelled loudly
The group broke out in laughter as they took more sips from their bottles.
After Lacey and the Tramp were out of the alley she lifted her head from his chest. He looked down at her sharing a glance before pointing out something a few block away. Not much farther down the road past the entrance of the junkyard was an old abandoned trailer.
The Junkyard from a distance looked normal but up close Lacey saw it in a whole new light. Her Aunt had warned her about a group called the "Junkyard Dogs" and she had never believed her. Why would anyone live in a Junkyard? She used to think to herself when she was younger.
"It's like my own version of your snob hill houses." Tramp chuckled as he opened the door snapping Lacey out of her gaze.
"It's... unique." Lacey hesitated finishing her comment as she walked into the trailer.
Except for a small beaten up couch that doubled as a bed and a sink, everything seemed broken. The cabinet doors were hanging by a hinge and the section for a refrigerator and dish washer were empty.
Tramp scurried threw the cabinets before grabbing a small jar.
"Here put this on the burns and by tomorrow they'll fine." He said opening the lid
"Where did you get this?" She asked examining the bottle.
It seemed like real medicine but she still was skeptical.
"My friend Buster got it after an incident happened to our friend Peg."
After inspecting the bottle she took out a small amount and rubbed it on her burns. She winced as she applied medicine.
"What happened to Peg?" She asked handing the bottle back
"Long Story." He said quickly obviously avoiding the answer.
"Thank you." She smiled innocently. He put the bottle back into the cabinet and leaned his elbows on the broken counter.
"You hungry?" Tramp asked staring into her big brown eyes.
She looked away shyly as she could feel herself blushing at his stare. After nodding in response the Tramp grabbed her good hand leading her out of the trailer.
"Come on Pidge, I'll show the best restaurant in all of town." He bragged as they walked past the junkyard entrance again.
Lacey couldn't help but look through the small crack searching for people. I wonder if there really is a Junkyard Society she thought to herself and her and the Tramp walked down the dirt sidewalks.
Im sorry this chapter is short but I can't wait to write the dinner scene! I promise I'll try making the chapters longer.