"A plan, I just need a plan, simple easy plan."

Megan paced back and forth in front of a small coffee shop near the exit of the airport. Several times she had walked out of the big doors, and then back in. And then out. And in.

"You gonna order something?" Said the cashier, who looked a little alarmed.

Megan sat down with a huff at one of the coffee shop tables. She pressed her hands to her head again, blocking out all the sounds of the busy airport and trying to relax.

"Okay," she said calmly as she swung her backpack onto the table and pulled out her phone. "First things first, I need somewhere to live." Megan opened safari and typed in, "apartments in New York." Thousands of ads popped up. Megan facepalmed.

"Oh great. Yeah, one latte please?"

...

After a few hours of intensive googling, Megan found a place that was nearby, (as far as she could tell), and was apparently a lovely, "family business." But most importantly, she could live there on two grand, for a while. Long enough to get a job and get settled.

Megan grinned widely when she realized to get there she would need a New York taxi... And scoffed at her own excitement, she wasn't here to be a tourist. Still, the novelty of it all made her feel lightheaded.

She put her phone back in her backpack and zipped everything tight, hoisted it on her shoulder, waved a goodbye to the cashier, who now looked more annoyed than scared, and stepped out the doors.

Of course she immediately wanted to go back inside, but she was rushed along with the crowd before she could change her mind. There were more people in this one crowd than there had ever been in quahog. Megan's eyes glanced around, taking it all in. Sunlight streamed through the tall buildings, shining on little shops and large restaurants. There was so much noise, sounds of people and animals just moving, cars honking, and she could even hear birds.

Megan breathed lightly, the rush of this new place, the realization that this was the start of her new life, the sounds, the smells... Megan suddenly let out a loud yell of joy. To her surprise, no one really payed any attention to the yelling stranger. If movies were anything to go buy, this was normal in New York. Megan laughed; this was... Amazing.

She put her headphones in, plugging some peppy music into her head as she just...started walking. She saw so much... Life. Megan grinned, and shashayed her way down the sidewalk, sidestepping the crowds of strangers and swaying to the music as she looked through window shops and up at billboards.

Pretty soon, Megan realized she didn't know where she was. Or how to get to her apartment. With two grand in her backpack, this was no time for tourism.

Megan opened Maps on her phone and looked up the address for the place she wanted to stay in. Despite her phones excellent service, it took a frustratingly long while to look up. As she waited, Megan glanced uncomfortably at the street, which was full of speeding cars. Suddenly getting a taxi seemed a little more dangerous than exciting. But hey, maybe that was good. I came here to start a new life. So what if it's dangerous; I'm not gonna let that stop me.

Megan stepped onto the street and raised her hand. Before she could even shout, a dirty yellow car pulled up right next to her, nearly running her foot over. Megan jumped back with a strangled half shriek. The window of the taxi rolled down to reveal a young man a litlle older than Megan, with dark tousled hair and a thin, shifty face that was both attractive and alarming. He glanced Megan up and down, and grinned. "Tourist, eh? Get in kid, before that other kid lifts your dough." Megan glanced behind her, where a young boy was trying to unzip her backpack. "Gah! Get away!" She pushed the boy away as he ran down the sidewalk, laughing.

"Kids, am I right? Get in here kid." He unlocked the car, and Megan quickly slid in. Glancing at the phone again, she told him the address, and then slumped down in the seat, which smelled of cigars and bagels.

"So, why are you here, kid?" Grinned the taxi driver. "Why are any of us here?" Echoed Megan sarcastically. She was just starting to realize how little sleep she had.

"Come on, kid. You don't live here, but judging from your destination, I'd say you're planning to."

"It's Megan, and yeah, I'm getting an apartment."

"And?"

"And I don't want to talk about it." Megan had already told someone her story, and she was trying not to be a victim. Forgetting about her past and moving on would ensure that she could forget about it someday, and that was all she wanted. "Why is everyone so nosy, anyway?"

"When someone sees a 'kid' like you, people are gonna ask questions."

Megan was about to blurt out that didn't make sense, but as she opened her mouth she remembered all the times she had done nothing but blather. She decided it might be a good idea to think before she talked. Megan closed her mouth and raised an eyebrow instead. But before she could think on it, the taxi driver flipped a switch and tuned into a punk rock station. Despite herself, Megan could feel her lips twitching into a crooked smile as the rusty notes lingered and young voices yelled in defiance. She had never listened to punk before, but now it was exactly the type of music she needed. The rebellious tune seemed to melt into her bones, and she leaned her head against the headrest and let her eyes close.

...

"Kid...kiddo...hey, wake up. Kid. KID. KID!"

"Hu-wha?" Megan blinked away the sleep and focused her eyes, where she saw the cabbies eyes staring into hers in annoyance.

"Gha-what? Don't crowd me!" Megan scrambled away hastily, and as she did so she saw the taxi drivers face crack into a smirk.

"Home sweet home. Come on out, kid." He straightened out of the door he was holding open and stepped back. Megan shouldered her backpack grumpily, but her face lost all tension when she saw were they were. The cabbies smirk changed into a satisfied grin as he saw Megan's obvious elation.

It wasn't perfect, but it was. They were in a large parking lot with trees overhanging, next to a large square building filled with balconies and windows, each with various artifacts of trash, laundry, and strange art. At the far end of the lot there was a surprisingly large pool, next to a playground that looked scrupulously clean. The entire place had an air of comfortable, colorful shabbiness.

Megan felt her tension ease away. This place already felt perfect and safe. Megan slowly turned to face the cabbie, who was holding out his hand with a grin on his face.

"Uh, sorry." Megan unslung her backpack and zipped open the front pocket, which was full of cash. As she rummaged for a ten, the cabbies grin reverted to a questioning smirk, but he didn't say a word.

"Thank you." Megan said as she handed him the cash, and was about to turn around when she felt the cabbies hand tap her shoulder, and he said, "my name, it's S. Thomas. You don't want to know what the S. stands for." He smirked again, and said, "thought your want to know, since this is my route, and unless you get a car soon, kid, it'll be my job to babysit you." He glanced at the apartments as he said, "you and everyone else in this building." He quickly stepped into his car and was about to close the door when he paused, and said with a sarcastic tilt to his voice, "good luck, Megan." Then he slammed the door and pulled away. Megan stepped back quickly to avoid the car, and twisted around to survey the building again, then walked up to it. It had open stairways leading up to each level of apartments, but it looked like the office was at the center of the building on floor level. Megan walked towards it and knocked quickly, and was surprised when the door was flung open. A large portly man with fraying tufts of brown hair and a portly nose saw Megan and sighed in relief. "You are just who we need!" He pulled Megan inside and threw the door shut.

...

Hey guys. Sorry I haven't been updating... Haitus went longer than planned due to several phone bans and school. If highschool is the best years of my life I should go ahead and give up now. Anyway.. I'll try not to leave it for this long again. Next time, guys!