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"So, um," Harry stuttered, stuffing another fork full of pie in his mouth. "How, uh, how did you get into… your line of work?"

Reese laughed softly looking down into her mostly full cup of coffee. She watched Harry shovel in more and more pie. A small fleck of whipped cream took refuge at the corner of his mouth, just below a very becoming mole. She smiled at the mole, remembering how as children she had tried to rub off the mark, thinking it was a dirt smudge. Moving of its own accord, her hand reached out to wipe the cream from his face. The instant he noticed her hand, he recoiled, ducking her fingers. Pulling her hand away in disappointment, she made a quick pointing motion to the corner of her mouth. Harry tugged a paper napkin from the dispenser between them. Pulling a large swig of coffee from her mug, Reese quietly lamented the wall that had apparently grown between them.

"I… got into the business," she said softly. "Pretty much right after I left." Harry stared blankly at her as he started his consumption warfare on his glass of milk. Her brow crinkled at the emptiness in his expression. It wasn't that long ago. Besides, he of all people should remember. Harry was the only one she had said goodbye to.

"Do you remember when I left?" He looked down at his hands, folding his used napkin and putting it on his plate.

"Yeah," he murmured. "I remember. My mother said you ran away."

Ah.

"I did," she agreed. "I had to." Harry nodded quickly; clearly uncomfortable with the conversation. A deeply scouring sadness bit into her chest. They had grown up together, almost inseparable. Inseparable that is, unless his mother was involved. His mother, of course, was always there. Mrs. Odum, though polite was as receptive to her presence as any starving dog might welcome a foreign presence near its food. Needless to say, hands were always expected to be kept to themselves. This became a bigger problem as they tended not to. Curiosity and children was an interesting combination. Curiosity, children, and hormones proved infinitely more problematic.

"So how are your parents?" His question stunned her. He knew she hated her parents. Even if he didn't, common sense dictated that if she ran away from home, then her relationship with her parents must be strained. Harry's eyes flicked back and forth from her face to the cup.

"Fine," she answered blankly. "How's your mom?"

"Oh," he perked up at the chance to mention his mom again. "She's good. She's doing well. I actually shouldn't stay too long. She's probably waiting for me."

"You live together?"

"Yeah." Reese sighed loudly at the admission. It appeared that Mother Odum took advantage of her leaving.

"You know, Harry," she muttered. "The last time we talked, you seemed pretty interested in moving away."

His head snapped up sharply, fixing upon her a sharp accusing glare. He set his cup down with a loud thump. A strange shadow passed over his face, adding a hardened edge to his sweet boyish face. Leaning back in his booth seat, he cocked his head at her.

"Maybe," he snapped. "Pretty easy to drop everything and run, right? Leave everyone behind?"

Her mouth opened, preparing to explain her actions.

"No thanks," Harry cut her off, as he rose to his feet. "It was nice to see ya, Reese." He tossed a few bills on the counter and made his way to the front door. Reese slumped in her chair. It wasn't fair. To either of them really.

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"Hey Harry!"

"Shhh." Harry waved his hand in warning. Reese clamped her mouth shut with all the dramatics of an 11-year-old; her teeth cracking together. Leaning against the railing, she quickly glanced over his shoulder at the somewhat deteriorating house behind him. In the window overlooking the front yard, she caught sight of a looming shadow behind the curtain. One guess who it was. She quickly put a very obvious foot of distance between herself and the fence. The shadow stayed in the window, shifting only slightly.

"Sorry," she murmured.

"It's ok," he answered, looking down at his feet. "She's working today, so she's not too happy." Reese nodded. Harry never said what his mom did, but they all knew. Ever since his dad left, Mrs. Odum was the sole bread-winner. According to her own mother and step-father, she was only good at one thing. Whether Harry knew what everyone said about his mother, or noticed the open door with a cover fee policy for her bedroom door, he never said. He only ever called it work.

"Wanna hang out later?" Reese was always quick to offer her company, whenever he seemed to need it. She adored him. He was such a sweet boy, that she couldn't help but want to be friends with him. She could reach out to him, and empathize without running the risk of being judged in return. She'd known too many people who just used her poor situation to make themselves feel better. Harry kept her on equal footing with him.

Harry stole a quick glance behind him at his mother's silhouette.

"I dunno." His disappointment at the admittance was evident in every syllable. "Mother will probably want me in bed early tonight."

A loud crash erupted from her house. Cringing at the sound of something else meeting its demise against a wall (or a skull), her shoulders sank slightly at having to figure out a way to side step the current warpath.

Reese sighted inwardly, not wanting to prod the issue further. Her heart a little heavier, she waved, and trudged up the steps to her front door.

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Uninterested in finishing her now cold cup of coffee, Reese dug through her pocket and dropped some money on the table to join Harry's contribution. Wrapping her coat tighter around her torso, she stepped out into the freezing air. A chilly breeze stung her nose, freezing the wet trails on her face.