Chapter 5 - Walking the line

From my new, more conspicuous hiding place (round the corner), I could see everything that was going on between Kairi and the stranger. I could not however, hear any of it. I peered round for a closer look, but just at that moment, Kairi decided to turn around, and spotted me watching her. I legged it down the road, being followed by Kairi and her screams. I looked around. The stranger had gone; it was just Kairi chasing me. Damn she was fast! Looking around for any possible escape route, I spied a ladder to a fire escape. I jumped onto it, climbed to the top, and removed it from the fence, so that it fell to the ground, blocking Kairi's path to me.

"YOU BASTARD!" Kairi was mad... seriously mad... "I'm gonna get you! You just wait! You have no idea what's coming you sneaky dick!" For a polite girl, she certainly had an impolite vocabulary. But that was not my main concern. There was truth in Kairi's eyes... what was she going to do? I could feel my heart hammering in my chest, and I knew I was afraid...

xXx

It took me over half an hour to get someone's attention, and even then, they were reluctant to replace the ladder. Modern society these days was so corrupt. Nobody looked out for anybody anymore. Then... I thought of my parents. Before I even walked through the door I could hear it. Great... the second time this week I can't go home! I thought about going to Sora's. That's what I usually did. But with Jake there, would I even be noticed? I decided to go anyway. It only ever takes me five minutes to walk to Sora's from my house. As I rang the bell, I thought about leaving, but I had no-where else to go.

"Heya Riku! Jake's in bed. You wanna do something?" I smiled, something I hadn't done in nearly a week. It was perfect. Sora and I went upstairs to play on his Ps2, and Jake was no-where to be seen.

"Say Riku. How come you came over again without warning me? That's like the second time this week! I don't mind but my Mum's getting a bit pissed off..."

"Sorry Sora... I just needed to get out of my house you know..." Or away from it... I thought to myself.

"Are you O.K. Riku? You seem down."

"Nah. I'm fine."

"Oh my God what's that?"

"What? What?" What the hell was on me that scared Sora so much?

"Riku! You've got a huge scratch on your head! It's bleeding!" Oh I see. I must have got that when I was running away from Kairi. But I wasn't going to tell Sora that...

"Ahh...Um I just... fell over..." Sora gave me one of those 'I'm not buyin' it honey' looks again, but said nothing. He got up and left the room, but reappeared again a second later with a wet flannel and a box of plasters. I smiled. Sora was just too sweet for his own good. I let him tend to my wounds, inwardly jumping for joy at his every touch. I closed my eyes as he worked; praying that this moment would last forever. When he had finished, I looked into his eyes, and for a second; I swear I saw some emotion in them I'd never seen before. We were so close, but neither of us was moving away. I just looked into his eyes, desperately wondering what he was thinking as he gazed into mine. Seconds later, I leaned forward and gently planted my lips on his. I didn't even realise what I was doing until I was actually doing it. I couldn't believe it, how could I have been so stupid! I backed away quickly, muttered something along the lines of an apology, and legged it out of the building.

xXx

"Well T... you can't say I didn't go for it," I moaned.

"I'm sorry mate... I didn't mean to drive you into doing anything..." Tidus tried to think of a kind word to fill the gap.

"Stupid," I finished for him.

"It wasn't stupid... Just a little hasty perhaps..."

"A little hasty? T, he's never gonna want to be in the same room as me ever again! I've ruined my entire fucking life! This is why I NEVER 'go for it'!"

"Dude chill!" I tried to listen to Tidus, but how could I? My life was over. I collapsed onto the bed and stared up at the ceiling.

"I'm screwed," I breathed. Tidus nodded sympathetically.

"You're screwed. At least you enjoyed it though... right?"

"Hell yeah..." I closed my eyes and remembered... the best moment of my life.

xXx

I woke up with a stiff neck from sleeping on Tidus' cheap old sofa. But it was better than sleeping on the streets... I would never forget that.

"Hey mate! You're up! I've brought you some breakfast!" Thank God I had someone left. Coming round here yesterday, I wasn't sure if Tidus would let me in after the shit I'd put him through... but he did. Thank God.

"Thanks T! You're a great mate."

"I know," He joked. At least I could still count on him. But the rest of my life was over without Sora. I tried not to think about it as I munched through my cereal. I tried not to think about my lonely future.