Hey guys, this is the author! This is my first story I am posting to this website. All I ask is that you help a sister out and a bare with me as I attempt to figure this formatting out. Some topics are based on interpretation and personal experiences. I'm doing my best to accurately depict and tell this story to my abilities end. Thank you all! ~IceknowsInsanity~

Chapter One:

I didn't want to be here. It wasn't the Santa Carla heat, music from the concert on the beach, or nauseating smells from the surrounding restaurants on the board walk. The constant work of stacking VHS', cassettes, and books kept me almost happily distracted.

It was almost closing time on the board walk, twelve o'clock. After that was when the children, mothers, and whoever wanted to be alive by sun up made sure to be home. Everyone else out was fair game. It was an unspoken rule among the people who lived here. If you wanted to live, make sure you were inside and make sure they never saw or noticed you otherwise… well… you'd find out.

Jake found out. He was a manager here. Keyword being 'was'. Last we saw him was maybe five days ago? We were working the same shift, but after some unwanted guests showed up he sent me home early. No one had seen him or heard from him since that night. He might have been a hardcore guy- hard to scare-, but whatever happened, he's long gone. If he's not back by tomorrow I'm betting he's dead. Horrible to say that about a coworker but like I said. If someone's out that late and got noticed by the wrong people… well as I said… They'd find of finding out, that is how my story began.

The bells rung making my gaze snap to the doors. The beads in my dreadlocked hair clattered as the rest of my body caught up with me. There were no one else; the store was empty aside from myself. This made me a bit more cautious as I grabbed the stacks of tapes I'd been working on and carried them to the back room. My side cut beach skirt, flowed as I walked causing a gentle breeze as I went. My belly button barbell glistened in the florescence lights, which also made my yellow Bon Jovi cut off top reflect off the glass of the shop windows. With one hand I opened the door to the back room and set the tapes down on the closest desk.

I turned back and made my way to the front. As I was the one to close up shop, I had to lock the front door from the inside. Max informed me last night that I'd have to lock up by myself tonight. Working at VideoMax had its perks but closing up alone? Yeah, that wasn't one of them. It was creepy especially when you had to walk through the dark store alone.

I turned out the light and headed back to the back storage room. I was especially glad that I had the idea to turn on the light as a guide to the back before going to lock the front door. Surprisingly enough I'd made my way to the back without causing a mess which happened way more than one would expected. That in itself was a miracle if I ever saw one considering my rather clumsy nature.

As I pushed the door to the store back open, I quickly hit the lights to the storage and locked the back door. Maybe if I hauled ass to the church then maybe, just maybe, I'd get lucky and they'd let me in for the night. I was already too far from the shelter as it was for the time. I pushed my raged bag up on my shoulder, my dreads from my face, and pulled my worn leather jacket tighter around me as I began the long journey from the video store. It was probably a good thing I didn't decorate my old apartment. I was an eighteen year old runaway who was now without a place to live.

I didn't have a horrible life or anything,I was just homeless because I forgot to pay the rent but technically I guess it was by choice. But upon hearing someone say they were homeless, everyone felt the need to shove their sympathy at you. I made the choice to lead this life and I didn't regret it. The only thing I did somewhat regret was forgetting to square up the cash for my apartment.

xXx

This wasn't anything new though. I forgot shit all the time. Sometimes people just fuck up but don't want to admit it. This time, I feel like it's safe to say I fucked up, in more ways than one and perhaps royally this time around.

I didn't exactly have any family to stay with. When I was a bit younger I left the home I was in and made my way across the country to California. It was a foster home, it's where they stick you when you don't have a home and the orphanages are full or in my case, you were a bit harder to deal with. It's not like there was anyone back in New Jersey waiting for me anyway. I figured my best option was to move on and out from the north eastern snow and to the sunny west coast.

I wasn't sure why I chose California at first. It seemed my style, you know? Rock bands, crazy hair, gnarly clothes, "Land of the Runaways," they said. "Sounds perfect," was my first and only thought so I left. I didn't anticipate any problems. Definitely not the drug war, gang fights, or creeps that prey on the innocent in the dead of night. I guess you could say I was sheltered to an extent and didn't expect any of this. I mean, yeah, there were the same things in New Jersey for sure. I guess when they said, Santa Carla, California, Land of the Runaways, I figured it would've been more like the island or place in Pinocchio were the kids lived however they wanted. You know, before they turned into donkeys anyway. I just figured maybe it would be better than where I came from.. Here though... if you were to ask the two boys who ran Frog Comics, they'd say you were lunch. For the ghouls, goblins, and other creatures of the night.

It started slowly at first but then became constant and thundering. The incoming rain was the least of my worries though. While thinking of my past I made my way down the winding streets to Fairview Chapel, which doubled to be a homeless shelter. And that's where I'd found the doors to be locked. Locked until eight a.m. the next day, well after the sun rose.

So, being stuck out in the rain and having minimal options, I began to walk back to the video store. I still had the keys, I could stay in storage and if Max found me, I'd tell him the truth. He wouldn't be mad, or at least I hoped not.. He might be actually, after all he was the one who'd helped me get the apartment I just lost. In all honesty, it was a fantastic apartment, one I especially wouldn't have been able to rent. I wasn't a destructive tenant by any means. It's just the way the world is- it's built so that kids like me, people like me were to struggle to get beyond where they currently are. Max, my boss, he's really about helping people. It's not like you run into someone like that all the time, someone who genuinely uses their status to help those in need and look for nothing in return.

Lost in my thoughts again.. I was a good five to ten miles away and I was already soaked. Why did I even offer to close up tonight? Maybe it was because I was an ignorant waste of space with a soft spot for my poor boss? Was it because I felt like Max needed free time? He actually had a date tonight and I was hoping he'd be more successful this time.

Max wasn't one for dates, for some reason none of these women actually came back. It wasn't like Max was a late night predator. He wasn't the type to be anything but a gentleman. He was kind, and cared for those of us who worked in the shop. He wasn't pushy either, he was very patient. Especially with me; he was only pushy when it came to an individual's well being. He was very insistent that I find a safe place to live or good friends to stay with. He was right and I'm glad I listened to him when I did.. See, Max is the one that found me.

Upon first arriving I was like most fifteen year old punks, I was a troublemaker- still am for sure. I was quick with my hands, and usually quicker with my thoughts. I stalked places out and then stole merchandise and resold it for cash. Stealing the essentials were easy, sure, but some of the more important things were harder to steal. And I rather not get caught stealing them, I would of rather just get caught buying them- however it wasn't like there I would be embarrassed if someone caught me, I didn't know anyone here. It did however make it harder to prove credibility if I decided to stay here. I watched Max's store for days- people flocked in and out of there constantly. With the crowds that ran through there, the small staffing, and the cover of night it would be an easy gig. What I didn't expect was the dad at the front desk to have eyes in the back of his head. Or to see me when I was hidden behind a small crowd. What blew my cover was my reflection in the glass. He saw me stuff the VHS tapes in my bag and turn for the exit. He called out to me softly- he remained very nonthreatening the entire time. He offered me a job with a small cash advance up front in exchange for the movies back. I had watched him for a long time before entering that store, there was nothing out of the ordinary about that guy- he seemed like an honest, hardworking guy. So I trusted him and that's where we are today. I handed over the tapes and he gave me thirty dollars out of his pocket to get some dinner for the night and some essentials because the next day was my first day. Since then I'd never looked back and I kept up with my lovely job in customer service.

I can only blame myself for this... The being out late part; Max's ladies not coming back is on him, I've trying to help but my wing-woman abilities only stretch so far… The father-daughter duo worked out really well surprisingly, even if it was fake. It was nice, I had someone who cared about me in a distant but family like way. It wasn't what I expected here that's for sure. But I was sure this would happen at some point though- being out too late. I had been careful until now. Now I was "free-game."

xXx

I was half a mile back towards the shop with nine and a half to go when I heard it. It wasn't thunder; no it couldn't be what I was practically praying for at the moment. It was the damned roar of a motorcycle. I was surely fucked, utterly fucked. Maybe they'd pass by without noticing me.

As the sounds got closer, I could hear the yelling. It had to be them. No one else in this god forsaken town rode motorcycles or was this loud at night. I kept my pace, walking in the worsening rain. I tried to stay towards buildings, under the canopies that leaned off some of them. My dreads were soaked, practically plastered against my head. The motorcycle grew louder and I worked with much effort to keep my heartbeat at a normal pace. People said they could hear your heart thunder in your chest; it was like they could smell your fear as they stared into your soul… I was sure that the cyclist would pass by me, no problem as the noise of the bike got louder and it didn't sound to be slowing down.

"Hey babe, need a ride," the cyclist called. I turned my head left to look at him but kept walking. Fuck, so much for not slowing down.

"No thanks," I replied, looking forward as I did so.

I tried so hard not to stare. He was insanely gorgeous, anyone could've told you that but it was a way that was relaxing. He wore dirty white pants, brown leather boots, a fishnet top, and a black tailcoat jacket that was adorned with pins and a concho belt that was the length of his torso that went across his body. His hair was huge and blonde;his eyes shone a bright baby blue even under the street lamp, and he wore a killer smile, one the devil would be jealous of. I would have guessed he was at least six foot, if not taller. Along side his beauty, atop of that bike, he just had looks that made you melt. You wanted to relax, you wanted to smile at him, and you wanted to do whatever he told you to.

"Where you headin'," he asked over the pounding of the rain against the blacktop. He acted like it weren't pissing and pouring, like it was just another day on the beach. It was ridiculous, it was almost so ridiculous that it slightly pissed me off. He was ridiculously attractive AND charming.

"Home," I said shortly, hoping he'd get the hint that I would in fact gladly walk the distance in this shit weather.

He had to be one of the guys I heard people whispering about, one of the boys I'd heard about Max running away from Maria. They apparently came in after my shift was over to wreak havoc about the shop. People said they were attractive as the sun was hot in summer, but obviously dangerous as any other night prowlers.

Max warned me if I was ever on late night shift, like tonight, to ignore them unless he was there. He said they weren't too bad, but they were one of those teen biker gangs. He didn't want them to hurt me is what he said, he didn't know what they were capable of. However he shouldn't have told me that- sure I liked to run my mouth and that landed me in hot water- but that wasn't the real problem I think. A biker gang of insanely gorgeous guys? Max knows me too well, of course I'd want to be all over that- just like gravy on mashed potatoes, on Thanksgiving. Fuck, I think I might be hungry...

"I can give you a lift," he offered in a rather sweet tone. I made sure I was looking ahead and not at him. It was too tempting, he was not going to get my attention that easily.

Everything about him made me want to lose my mind. Not in the good way either. Something about him made me sick to my stomach and it wasn't his looks for sure. He was easy on the eyes but it was something that I couldn't see, the tight feeling I got in my chest. The one that screamed to away from there as fast as possible. Yet something made me pull to him like a magnet. I was afraid even if I wanted to run away that I wouldn't.

"It's not too far."

"It'll be faster and you'll get out of the rain. You look like you've been stuck out here a while," he said and he had a point. I had been out here a long time.

"You just won't let up will you," I asked, cocking an eyebrow at him. I wasn't sure what kind of bullshit he was trying to pull and I was sure I didn't want to stick around for it. But I didn't want to run, I didn't want to set him off after me. So I decided to tread carefully; I'd let him think I would let him persuade me but I would do what I had to, to survive.

"What kind of guy would I be if I'd left a gorgeous gal like you out in the rain," he asked cocking an eyebrow back at me in a goofy manner.

The rain hadn't messed up his perfect hair yet. This guy must have used a shit ton of hairspray.

"The kind that leaves with the girls in the missing posters," I muttered. I was beginning to remember him, slowly but surely. He came in a few times, although it was most recently with a pair of girls. They recently ended up on the missing persons board. He didn't seem to suspicious though. Those girls seemed comfortable enough around him, they seemed to known and trust him pretty well. Maybe he wasn't so bad. Besides they disappeared after a while of hanging out with him- I'd seen him with them before once or twice. Really if I'm that worried, I should consider if he does plan on hunting me then he won't kill me this time. If anyone spotted us together he would be prime suspect. Regardless, if I am going with theory and my gut then I should be okay. If not I guess I had a good run.. I can't believe I'll probably say yes to this ride.

"What was that," he asked, quite evidently frowning, I didn't need to look at him to see that.

"Not a very good one," I said a bit louder for him to hear although I was sure, almost defiantly sure he'd heard my comment before.

"Exactly. I'd feel better knowing you got home safely. There's plenty of predators out prowling tonight," he replied with a breathtaking smile in which I was sure I saw sharp canines in. I wasn't sure how I really saw it in the darkness but the city lamps provided enough light for me to be sure that he wasn't someone I exactly wanted to mess with. Which was a shame- everything to this shit brain of mine was screaming to tease him, to piss him off and make this so much more difficult than it had to be.

"Why do you even care so much?"

It made absolutely no sense. Why was he even bothering with me? This gave me a strange feeling, something pulled at the pit of my stomach. But I still didn't run. I knew the impending danger of running from him and possibly into someone worse, and I had a pretty good idea of what he could do to me. More like I could imagine what I wanted him to do to me.

Where the fuck did that thought come from? Not that it was wrong or incorrect.. With a glance at the man on the bike, I instantly corrected myself, that was totally a me thought. It was just an inconvenient me thought at unfortunate time. God I hate that he's so attractive and inviting.. I knew my flaws, I had since I left the first time around.. Attracted to danger, bad decisions, and beautiful men, I learned from my mistakes… But sometimes you just want to make them again for the fun of it.

"Well honestly babe, you look like you could use a friend," he said sincerely, but for all I knew he had a trick or two up his sleeve for me. By a trick I mean a pocket knife that he would probably use to rob and then stab me with. Which I'm not wrong to say- he looks as much street trash as I do. But there is something so inviting, intriguing, something that makes me feel like I should trust him.

There are so many criminals in Santa Carla you'd be weary around anyone, even during the day. All I have to say is they don't talk about the shit that happens in the dark when people talk about how great and free this place is. And with my affinity for danger and adventure, that's exactly what would happen.

"What makes you think I don't have any friends?" I was annoyed by how correct he was. I hadn't talked to anyone but Max and begrudgingly enough, Maria.

"You're walking out in the rain alone," he stated as if it were the most obvious concept in the world.

"I don't see what your problem is. I'm content walking home in this shit fest of a storm," I laughed and skipped a little in fake enjoyment.

"My problem is that I'm trying this new thing where I'm a nice guy to people who look like they need help and you're making this incredibly hard for me. But look, I'll make you a promise so you know I'll honor what I'm saying," he said with a goofy smile, leaning on the handlebars of his bike.

"What would that promise be?" What the hell could he possibly say that would make me trust him?

"You can hold onto my pocket knife the entire ride, I usually hold onto it so if I meet a pretty girl like yourself I can take her for a drive, dinner, and then to go carve our names in a tree in some park. You know, like any other hopeless romantic, but hey the choice is yours. I just figured a good way to get in with an interesting and attractive lady would to be improve her situation. In this case, help her home, out of the way of predators and man's natural enemy- the weather," and his grin got even bigger if possible.

"That's a pretty solid excuse… How long did it take you to think that one up? Also aren't motorcycles are dangerous? I can only imagine how much more it gets while the roads are wet."

"Seriously?," he smirked as I tried to keep a constant distance between us.

"As a heart attack, besides what's to say you let me hold onto that knife and we end up in an accident and I accidentally end up stabbing you? Then what?" I couldn't help the way a slight smile crept into my face.

"Ooooh you got me there girl. What if I promise to drive as safe as I can. If I drive safely, you won't get a chance to use that blade on me, unless you really want to," he shot me a wink and dramatically offered me a hand, "Come on, I'll take you anywhere you want to go."

"First you offered to take me home, now you claim you'll take me anywhere. What makes you think I'm not going home?"

"Your bag. You have a pair of shoes tied to a slightly over flowing bag of clothing. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see that you have nowhere to go," I stopped in my tracks, irritated beyond belief. Why did he have to keep doing that? Calling me out on my bullshit.

"Do you know VideoMax?" I sighed. At this point it was unavoidable, so I slapped on my best smile. Fake it til you make it right kids?

"Of course I do, the one with the hottest tapes in all of Santa Carla," he laughed doing his best impression of Max's voice.

"Take me there,"

"As you wish babe," he smiled, offering his hand again.

I took if cautiously as I swung one leg over the bike. The rain had died down a bit, but not much. I'd never ridden a bike before, let alone a motor cycle.

"Relax babe, don't freak out," he said, scooting me closer to him ", and hold on tight." The bike roared and we shot forward. I wrapped my arms around his waist in attempts to keep from being left behind. There were two things I'd learned while riding with him. One, he rode like the wind. Two, he thought my fear during the ride was hilarious. Although he rode smoothly, he was as wind and I, having never ridden a motorcycle before, had a hell of a time trying to figure out where I should put my hands but I just ended up grabbing at his torso quite a bit. I won't lie; he was very distracting which was great and I don't think he minded either- if his howling laughter was anything to go by each time I found some new real estate. I was too busy getting my kicks to pay attention to how nervous I was. It was exhilarating and I was sure, if not for the short drizzle that the rain had simmered down to then, the road behind us would have been set afire.

xXx

"How you holding up babe," he called laughing as he did so. I just put my face in the back of his damp jacket and wrapped my arms around him tighter. We were less than a mile from the board walk and thank god for that.

"Thanks," I said as he helped gently helped me off the back of his motorcycle. I was brushing my skirt out as it was ruffled up my leg from our ride.

"Any time," he pause, a smile suddenly appeared on his face,"Wait, what's your name babe?"

He dug into the front left breast pocket of his tailcoat.

Fuck. What was I even going to tell him? He knows where I work or at least where I'm staying. If he was persistent enough to insist on taking me here, he'll be more than likely to come 'visit' me here.

"Cassandra. Preferably Sandra for short," I sighed as I lifted my dreads off my back and readjusted my bag on my shoulder. They were mostly dry as of now as were the rest of my clothes.

"I'm Paul and I'll see you tomorrow babe, don't forget, you still have my knife," he smiled even wider as he pulled a joint from his breast pocket and a lighter along with it.

He dismounted his bike and slid up beside me. With one arm around my lower back and joint in the other, he leaned down in one swift movement and his lips were on mine.

"Goodnight Sandra," he smirked almost mockingly. He removed his hands from me which made breathing a whole lot easier. God I'm mad he's hot.

He took his time lighting his joint with half lidded eyes and the smugness. You could feel it rolling off him. I turned around, looking over my shoulder every once in a while, and headed to the back door which I locked hurriedly earlier just to come back to until the morning when it was safe. I unlocked the door and turned to look at him, mostly in reassurance that he was still there. He gave me a wink before kick starting his monster of a motorcycle and pulling away as I shut the door behind me. I locked it and settled my bag onto the floor suddenly exhausted.

I touched my lips lightly in confusion. I wanted to know why he felt so familiar, his lips and his character. I grabbed the blanket from Max's office and his old coat that he always left hanging on the coat hanger. I went straight to the comfiest place in the entire store. Right under the checkout desk in the front of the store.

On many occasions, before Maria was an employee, I would take naps under the desk during my shift with the guy who worked here when I did.

His name was Jake, and he was a real rad dude although he did usually run with the Surfer Nazi's. He had blonde hair, super tan skin, and brown eyes. He wasn't really my bag of cats, but he was an overall nice guy and not bad looking in any sense of the phrase. When we worked together before he disappeared, he let me sleep because he knew I didn't have a place to stay and I was tired from defending myself all night.

There was a reason why I never liked being out at night. I always would end up in a horribly familiar place, in the same situation at least it seemed the same, like deja vu with the same results every time. I never slept but he understood this was difficult to keep up with. Jake was probably the only person I willingly spoke to besides Max. I don't miss him though. I know he's dead; it wasn't hard to figure out.

He never showed up for work and word on the boardwalk was the Surfer Nazi's got in a tiff with the Lost Boys. It seemed that everyone knew those boys were trouble, everyone but him apparently, because he was dead and gone now. I wasn't going to be stupid like Jake, I was going to try and do better for myself- I was going to survive. Of course it wasn't guaranteed I could do that... If I slipped up like I did tonight, I'd most definitely be deader than Barbra and Adam from Beetlejuice...

I had taken my favorite spot under the desk. The whole shop was dark, just like I loved it. I settled under the green plaid blanket and stuffed Max's jacket under my head. Tiredness washed over my body and I sunk into a restless sleep with my fingers on my lips. I couldn't help my last thought; he gave me a good night kiss… and I still had his damn knife..

Revised: 5/10/2020