The smile stayed on my face the entire way home, which seemed to pass much quicker than when I had walked to the hotel. Most likely because I knew where I was going another reason was that I was actually getting a standard place to stay instead of a rat's nest like I had slept at before.

I had stayed in many places most considered uninhabitable, once I had so little money I had to stay in a warehouse which had been condemned due to stability problems. After that place I had sworn to myself that I would never get myself into that situation again, where I had no money to feed myself.

So to make sure that never happened again I saved every penny I got, being careful of where I stayed and watching who I worked for, carefully to make sure I wasn't double crossed by them. Not that they could if they tried.

I arrived back at the motel and it seemed to look even more run down than it had earlier, probably because I had just seen a half decent one making this one look like something a tramp would deny shelter in.

Forcing my door open I almost took it off its remaining hinge, stepping into the room I scanned my belongings looking for what I would need and what I would take. It may have been a skip but everything had something that would help me, if only for a little while.

I didn't like stealing but gradually it became an almost normal thing for me to do. After a while it even became my job, stealing for people who gave me a few hundred pounds for it.

I stuffed my miniscule pile of clothes in my duffle bag, they were the only things I really owned which I had left with, everything else I acquired on my travel. Among the object that I kept separate, the ones which had sentimental value to me, was an old photo I had made sure I had taken with me. Along with my clothes this was something I had kept by my side at almost all times.

The only time I didn't have it on me was when I had either, a job to go to or it was possible I was going somewhere dangerous and I might have to fight meaning the photo would get ruined while I fought. The photo was one from my childhood, a picture of me, my mum and Dan.

It showed us as six year olds at the park both of us soaking from a fall in a pond from where he had tackled me after I had stolen his toy. I had only borrowed it for a little while. He wasn't the best at sharing back then, he got better as time went on but back then he was awful.

Along with us two was my mum she was just coming into the picture holding a towel she would soon wrap around us, both of us like we were babies. The day was perfect; not a cloud in the sky sun shining down reflecting off the lakes smooth surface, it was my favourite day. A kind of day I never had again. Sure some were close but never as good.

The memory brought a tear to my eye, I missed my friend I truly did but it was my fault it had to be. I was the one who caused it not them, who else could have done it. No one that's who it was me my fault and I was not going to go back home because I had caused so much heartache.

But I did owe him the knowledge that all was fine. With all the conflicting emotions I very nearly threw my duffle bag across the room as I grabbed at clothes stuffing them in not bothering to fold them. Any other time I would have folded them religiously, I usually saw it as a calming thing for me to do, it allowed me to relax my mind and just do a task I had done hundreds of times at what I used to call home.

Instead of doing that I all but folded my clothes into the bag pulling the string to close it. I had been so careless that some of my clothes had been drawn up out of my bag hanging out. I stuffed them back in, too annoyed to care that I was ruining them. Slinging it over my shoulder I walked from the room grabbing the photo and placing it in my pocket being careful not to crumple it.

I had paid for three nights so I had to be out today, I could have probably have snuck another night in without them knowing but there would have been no point.

Leaving the motel I stared down at the ground even that seemed to change as I left the premises of the motel. I looked down the path before I started walking and saw it was completely bare, no one was there which to anyone else wouldn't have mattered but there were usually lots of homeless laying on the floor.

I shook my head choosing to ignore it as it wasn't my problem instead walking to my new house quietly humming to myself to keep entertained.

It was rare that I was relaxed but today I felt surprisingly calm, I could only explain it as a result of my decision to speak or at least text Dan; I hadn't decided which yet. Most likely call but I didn't know if I'd chicken out or not.

The hotel came back in sight and I stopped my humming picking up my pace to make it there and to a standard room in as short a time as possible.

The doors to the hotel seemed to shine like it was a gateway to heaven, it sounded crazy even to my own ears but it was true. In a way the hotel was like another world and in the building I would make what was probably the most important decision I would make in years; both in the past and the future.

Pushing the surprisingly light door open I wandered over to the desk smiling at her as she flashed me a smile of her own. I dangled the keys to say without words that I was going up to my room.

I didn't know whether or not to use the lift or the stairs but seeing as fitness was an important requirement for my unwanted but chosen profession I did take the stairs and I hated my choice.

As I walked up I looked out of the windows on the walls, the view from where I was, was nothing special just the road and park. A few people were walking down the streets mostly couples though there were a few parents and children wandering around every now and then. The park was a stark contrast to the road it was packed it looked as though they were having a fair. Rides littered the grassy land as children jumped from the top of the bouncy slide along with many other games set out for them.

I remembered going to them with my friends when I was growing up, it seemed like a lifetime ago when in actuality it was only a few years. Still those years felt so long ago but I could still remember the day precisely the way it happened.

Dan had pestered me for weeks to go, fairs weren't my idea of fun so I was resistant, when I had given in he was happy to say the least but I still had my reservations on going. The others were much more willing participants to the point of wanting to go early so we'd have more time to go one the rides.

Julie had done her hair stating that this would be the perfect place for a date with Billy, Runo was wearing a white hat I hadn't seen since we were kids and Marucho had pulled out his 'special' glasses which he stated to be lucky. Alice didn't do anything big with her appearance but she did try to straighten her hair which looked very strange on her but she still looked nice, regardless.

We had arrived at the park at about nine and only a sprinkling of other people were dotted around the park in various places. The lack of people was good for me as I never really liked being in a big group I was content to have six friends and only that many.

We had gone on every ride at least three times and as much as I had hated to admit it I was really enjoying it, just letting go and having fun. I didn't do it much; it was a rare treat for me. Once Dan was bored of the rides we had managed to drag him to the games to win some prizes. Marucho had wanted to play on a game where we hooked ducks to win prizes hanging overhead.

He had won a scented ball on a springy chain claiming he had won thanks to his special glasses which were the same as his old ones but instead of being red they were a bright blue. I never understood why he insisted they were special; to me they were just a bit of metal covered with plastic.

I myself had been persuaded into playing a game, and for once I was glad I did participate I managed to win a blow up hammer. Not my first choice but it was still fun to hit Dan on the back of the head when he had a lapse in concentration and had wandered over to the food tables set about the place.

After a few more games we had somehow managed to waste a good few hours eating, how that happened I have no idea. I'm not usually one for meals that last longer than half a day of school.

Once we had finished our extremely long meal it was turning dark and we had been on our way back to the exit of the park; ready to have a nice lie down as we all felt we had deserved it.

I smiled as the memory replayed in my head, I had memorised how they all had looked before I ran. My minds image of them now must have been completely off. Shaking the saddening thought from my mind I half ran up the stairs.

It didn't take me long to make it to my room as I had been practically running up the stairs to make it there before the memory of my friends came back. With me rushing to make it inside the keys were rattling in my hand, it was almost impossible for me to keep it steady enough to unlock the door.

Once I had managed to open the door I was a stark contrast to what I had been like a moment ago. I stood frozen staring in shock at the room.

It was beautiful.

Clean, spacious, I even got a mint on my pillow. I smiled softly as I looked around the room. Fresh covers cleaned and pressed to remove even the finest wrinkle, bright scarlet carpet which was fluffed up thanks to some strange form of hoovering by the cleaners. Pure white curtains drawn open allowing the sun's rays to stream through.

Two dressers on either side of the double bed each with their own touch lamp, a larger one on the other side of the room, a shining mirror on the wall above it, looking more suited for a woman getting ready for a date than for me who barely spent five minutes on his appearance.

There was a white door next to the larger dresser drawer; which looked like it was for my en-suit toilet. Ordinarily I would have looked in the room to see what I had but right now my mind kept reminding me that I had something more important to do.

Rummaging around in my pocket for a few moments as I looked for my phone I tried to plan what I would say. I could feel the cold surface of the phone on my fingertips, pulling it out I redialled the number which was on the text he had sent me.

I placed it to my ear as it rang. I swallowed in anticipation as the rings didn't seem to end. As I was about to hang up someone picked up on the other line.

"Hello?" Taking a deep breath I prepared myself for what might happen.

"Dan."

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