After that night me and Arthur would often meet up almost every week. Sometimes he would come to my apartment and we would get takeout. Sometimes I would wait for him outside of his work and we'd go out to eat. But sometimes he would feel guilty about leaving his mom all alone so he'd stay home and I'd spend my nights alone playing my guitar. I was still in the process of looking for work, and I was becoming desperate. Bill's definitely wouldn't just go away on their own, not to mention if I didnt pay rent theres no doubt I'd get evicted. But luckily for me I found a small diner that was in need of a waitress. It wasn't the most glamorous or fun job in the world, but I was just happy that I was finally making some extra cash.

Today once my shift was finally over, I took the subway to meet up with Arthur at his job. Normally I would just wait outside the colorful building and Arthur would meet up with me. But today as I was waiting someone called out to me.

"Excuse me ma'am can I help you?'

I looked around to see who said that but didnt see anyone.

"Um, down here' said the voice again.

Looking down I saw that it was a little man, brown hair that seemed to be balding. He was dressed in black pants and a green long sleeved shirt.

"Oh I'm sorry, Hi I'm just waiting for my friend Arthur" I said trying to be as nice and polite as possible.

"Oh, he's upstairs lass. You can go and see him if you'd like.'

I thanked the man, who I later found out was named Gary. And fallowed him up a flight of old wooden stairs.

When we reached the top, we seemed to be in a dressing room. There were costumes on hangers, vanities with makeup, lockers, and a machine for the employees to clock in and out of.

What I saw next made me let out a small gasp.

Arthur had his back to me and he was shirtless. He was very skinny, so skinny that I could see his spine and ribs. And on his shoulder blades were big ugly purple (almost black) bruises. He was to busy stretching out theses goofy looking clown shoes to notice me.

"Umm..I think he's busy right now, maybe I should wait for him downstairs' I whispered to Gary.

"He'll be done in a sec love" said Gary trying to calm me down.

Suddenly a large man with thinning hair passed us and walked up to Arthur.

He asked him if he was okay and told him he had heard about what happened with the sign incident.

"They're just kids" said Arthur like it was no big deal.

"Fuck that, you can't let them do that. They'll take everything from you. Here take this' said the man before handing Arthur a brown paper bag.

Arthur looked inside and chuckled nervously.

"Randal..I'm not supposed to have a gun."

"Its okay, you can pay me back later. You know you're my boy.'

I shook my head and walked all the way into the room with Gary.

"Hey Arthur, you have a visitor."

Arthur, a long with all the other guys in the room looked at me in suprise.

I just ignored them and waved at my friend.

"Hey, Jenna' Arthur said quickly putting on a shirt. Almost as if he was scared and embarrassed for me to see his body.

"Arty, you didnt tell us you had a girlfriend" said Randal giving me an ugly pervy look.

"Pretty little thing ain't she?" Said another guy.

"She's um..actually a good friend of mine" Arthur said standing by me.

"We've known eachother since we were kids" I said with a straight face.

"From friends to lovers, how sweet."

Arthur suddenly began to laugh, and took me by my hand.

I gave a quick wave goodbye and fallowed him out the door.

And for some odd reason, when he held my hand I felt..happy..and safe.

Maybe...maybe I did want to be more than friends with him.

But I couldn't dwell on these feelings for long. Because once we were out of the building, Arthur lead me to the back alley way and began kicking bags of garbage out of frustration..