Ryan leads me closer to the building and opens the door. In the medium-sized room are about fifteen other kids, all around my age, sitting on blankets in the floor or beat-up couches, playing cards or talking in groups.
A girl with dirty blond hair pulled back into a messy braid glares at Ryan. Everyone turns their eyes on me. "Who's she?" The blonde asks menacingly, jumping up from her game of blackjack.
"Chill out, Pick. This is Laylee. Laylee Connor." Ryan meets her stare equally. Pick looks me up and down, and I am suddenly conscious of my bedhead.
"There are a lot of 'Connor's in this town. Are you sure this is the one?" Pick poked a thin finger in the middle of my chest and put her face an inch from mine. "You Faith's daughter?"
"Yeah, I am." I push her hand away.
Ryan takes his place on the floor and everyone makes a circle around him. "C'mere, Lay." he pats the ground next to him.
"Why do keep calling me 'Lay'?"
"We have to keep names short and sweet around here. Sit" I do. "You already know Pick and myself. This is Mai, Taz, Mac, Liz, Eric, Leigh, Bree, Ace, Blade, and Cam. Jess and Gabe are out on a job."
"What sort of job?"
"Do you know what a 'runner' is, Lay?"