GS: I guess I should warn you that most of the stories are very short. They'll probably come out fast too and will just be a small collection of short stories. Every so often I'm thinking of showing the present-time Duo as he writes it but that would be in a separate chapters. You guys have to tell me what you think! If you don't like this I'll take it down but it's gonna be very cute and it'll give a lot of fuzzy feelings!

Chapter 2

Out of the Cold

It was about a year after that fateful day my father gave his life for my escape, that realised I had learned several important lessons. Number one, never sleep in garbage on the streets. I learned that fast when I woke up to see two red, gleaming eyes a few centimetres from my face. Number two, I was on my own. I left the town of my birth and I must have spent a few days walking and riding in cars with nice old ladies. I had no clue what my name was or where I had come from. My past life was a dream. And lastly, never trust anyone. Ever. It got you killed on the streets. I know children younger then I that had the power to strike someone down when they were unsuspecting.

The mind is a complex thing. At this time I spent approximately three and a half years living a nice comfortable life and in just one more, I was hardened. I couldn't imagine what a bed would feel like or to have a permanent residence. I couldn't read, count, write or talk properly. I had shower whenever it rained and a meal whenever I could choke down a scrap from the garbage. I was too young to know about homeless shelters or orphanages so my home was whatever box or crack I could fit into. I had several companions that stayed with me at one time or another. I can remember one vividly.

His name was Jason. He was sixteen when I met him. His father had kicked him out of the house and his mother was dead. I had stumbled onto his house one wet and cold night. Actually I fell on him in my hurry to get out of the cold and into his refrigerator box. At first I had been scared. He was older then me and I never had good experiences with older people. I tired to run but he, also being startled, grabbed me and pinned me to his chest. I kicked at him but he just grunted and whispered to me to cut it out.

I did eventually stop struggling, I hadn't eaten in a few days and my energy was drained. He held me tight for another few minutes before whispering, "are you going to run?"

"I ain't runnin' from nuthin'," I replied, trying to act tough. He let me go and I scurried to the end of the box, staring at him warily. He offered a friendly smile. I don't remember much about his appearance. It was dark and I only knew him for one night so it was hard to concentrate on cosmetics.

"My name's Jason, Jason Biggs," he extended a dirty, grimy hand to me. I looked at it strangely, no one had ever shaken my hand before. When I didn't accept it, he dropped it down, still smiling kindly. "What's yours?"

"My what?" I asked. No one had ever asked for my name before and I never asked for theirs.

"Your name of course," he chuckled. "I like to know who I'm talking to."

"I dun have un," I replied. His face dropped in shock.

"You don't have one? Everybody has a name! What did your parents call you?"

I didn't speak, why should he want to know? I glared at him, the only sound was the rain drumming on our little roof and dripping in the corner. His eyes watched me for a minute before switching the subject.

"So, how long have you lived here?"

"Dunno."

"A few days, months?"

"Seen hot weather, freezin' and now rainin'," I shrugged casually.

"Since last summer?" the guy looked shocked. "I've been out here for less then a month!"

I had no comprehension of what was month was so I stayed quiet. Jason looked at me sadly.

"I have it better then you I suppose. I have an aunt coming in a month, I can stay with her until I got to collage and I guess I have a future. What do you have?" he sighed and looked at me, It unnerved me and I wanted to run but he blocked my escape.

"Stay here," he said. "At least get out of the rain for one night."

I didn't understand what he was saying then. I didn't understand what he was offering. He spent the night talking to me. Telling me about his family, how beautiful and kind his mother was until she died. How much he loved his father before the man had found comfort in a bottle. He shared his life with me and I spent one night slowly soaking it up. The next day I woke up to him sleeping. I snuck out and ran away. He had been an unknown to me. He had a comfortable life, he was leaving and that scared me. I thought there was no escape to the streets. Once they sucked you in, there was no end. You were doomed to die in a can or alley until the rats ate you and no one missed you.

I didn't learn much that day but after a few years of living at the Church I realised what Jason had been trying to do for me. He had been trying to offer me his life in place of the one I never had. He let me out the rain for one night and I am eternally grateful of him to showing me that there was more to life then the next meal.