Category : Books-Fiction

Sub Category : Childrens

           “So, is that your real name, Quick?” I had to ask. He had a black mechanic jacket on with the sleeves cut almost all the way off showing his lean muscles, and a label that read “Quick” with another word missing, I’m assuming ‘Lube’ covered by a patch. 
           “Yeah I guess. That’s what everyone calls me down here.” He said in his quiet but raspy voice. 
            He’s probably a smoker, I thought while he continued shoveling food into his mouth. It being partly open. 
           “What’s your real name, or is that personal?” I asked shaking.
           I don’t know why but I have some anxious butterflies flying around my stomach. I haven’t felt this way since—
           “Jack.” He paused. “Is my real name.” He slurped down another gulp of soda. “And you?”
           Okay, now it’s my turn, please don’t embarrass yourself.  
          I sat up straight. “Alexis. Alexis Waters. Nice to meet yo—
          “Alexis? Is that like the plural of Alex?” He rudely interrupted. 
          “That is hilarious, but yes, it is.” I retorted. Wasn’t the first time I’d heard it. “But what about you, Quick?” I halfway smiled the word ‘Quick.’
          He smiled at me then looked down and laughed. His black hair poured over his face and I could see his ocean eyes come up to meet mine. A weak chill wafted over my body as they met. 
          “You know… Jack be nimble. Jack be…”
          “—Quick!” I said. “Gotcha. That’s cool. I like it. Can I just call you Jack?”
           I gave me him my flirty face. 
           “If you want.”
           He smiled and went back at it. I watched in awe and slight disgust as this young ‘Jack’ who had saved my life the night before stuffed his face with a burrito the shape of a brick. Paying for it was the absolute least I could’ve done for the guy. It made me smile, how much he was enjoying it. 
           “Aren’t you gonna eat anything?” he said with a fully-stuffed mouth. 
           “I’m good for now,” I said, still smiling. 
           The way he ate was reminiscent of how a squirrel or chipmunk would eat—holding his food close to his face while his eyes darted around looking for any possible threat that could take his snack away. It was cute. 
           Oh my God, did I just say he was cute? 
           At that thought, I had to remember where this guy came from, the streets. This had been his only meal in four days, he told me. And he had red pin-prick marks all over his arms and a few in his neck. Probably some kind of virus or disease. 
           As Jack finished, he wiped his hands on the white, paper napkins and took one last drink of his soda. He looked just like a little kid. But then he pushed his long, dark hair out of the way of his beautiful, chiseled face. He was no kid, that’s for sure. For a while, I couldn’t stop staring at him. At his perfect jawline, his piercing blue eyes, his—
           “So you say you’re the girl from last night?” he asked, interrupting my inappropriate thoughts. 
           How could I have these thoughts about this greasy, homeless guy I just met? He was cute, though. 
           My head was down looking at the table, so when he asked, I lifted my eyes to meet his. My signature look. Sure, it’s the same look you give a guy while performing oral on him, but hey, they fall for it. Every time. 
           “Yes, that was me. You don’t recognize me at all?” I asked while slowly batting my eyelashes.        
           What the hell?! Did I just ask that pathetic question? And who bats their eyelashes?
           He shifted in his seat. “Well, it was dark out, ya know…  Alexis?”
           “Yeah I guess.” Holy God! 
            Another wave of chills ran down my back from my neck as he said my name in that manly voice. I wish I had a voice recorder. I would listen to that voice all night. Is that creepy? Yeah. 
           Anyways… What else should I say?!
           There was a long and awkward pause. Nothing but silence. Except there was complete bedlam inside my head. This Jack was a good-looking guy, and would be drop-dead dreamy if he just cleaned-up a bit and cut his grody hair. 
           “Well, thanks for the food,” he said as he jumped up. 
           Was he leaving already. No, I could not let him get away again. I just have to see what he looks like without that hair and garbage stench. 
           “You’re leaving?” I asked. 
           “Yeah, I’ve got some things I gotta do?”
           “What sort of things? Could I come? I would like and need someone to show me the city.”
           Oh my god. What was I doing? I probably sounded so pathetic to him. Like a little kid begging her dad to take her with him. So I tried to recover, “I mean, someone should show me where not to go so we don’t have a repeat of last night.”
           We were already out the door and now I felt as if I was chasing him. So I stopped myself. 
           “That area you were at last night… stay away from there,” he said as he walked away, not even turning around to look at me. 
           “Bye!” I yelled like an idiot. 
           He continued to walk and threw up a hand at me. After that he blended into the crowd. I didn’t even get to thank him for saving me. I bought him food, which he hadn’t had in four days. But a nice ‘thank you’ should be said. 
           I may have lost him today, but I knew where his real name and where he hangs around at.