Page 3

I’m in the middle of bumfuck nowhere Connecticut. I didn’t even know there was a bumfuck nowhere in Connecticut.

Like a dumbass, I got off at the wrong stop. It wasn’t until I was several miles from the bus station that I realized I was truly lost.

I’m sweaty. I’m tired. I’m hungry.

There is nothing for miles and I sure as shit don’t plan to go back to the bus station when I’m already this far away.

I stumble upon a dirt road that is shaded by a canopy of trees.

Thank God.

I make a beeline toward the trees. I feel like dancing when the coolness of the shadows moves across my skin.

Rather than continuing down the path and risk getting even more lost, I opt to rest for a while before resuming my journey.

Swinging my backpack off my shoulders, I plop myself against the trunk of the closest tree.

“Come on,” I mutter, digging through my backpack in hopes of finding a granola bar. Honestly, I’d take a crumb at this point.

I freeze when I hear what sounds like footsteps.

When it seems to be traveling parallel to me and not toward me, I slowly zip my bag closed and crouch lower to the ground. I try to peak through the trees for the source of the sound.

Nothing.

My blood begins to pump and apprehension flows. With a wide smile, I move to follow the noise.

At the end of the path is a bridge; a ravine with rapidly flowing water runs below.

As I get closer, I spot a girl standing too close to the edge for my liking.

“What are you doing?” I whisper to myself with a raise of my brow. I creep closer and pause when a bright glint appears in her hand.

Squinting, I lean forward, trying to get a better look.

My stomach lurches as she moves closer to the edge of the bridge. I stand, getting ready to interrupt whatever she plans to do.

When I see the glint of a pocketknife in her hand, I take off in a run.

What the hell is this girl thinking?!

I slow my breathing once I’m close enough to stop her. She drops her hand to her side and lifts her chin toward the sky.

“What are you doing?” I say, causing her to quickly spin around and face me.

My eyes quickly shift between her, the knife, and the bridge’s edge.

I take a small step closer, and she tenses.

“You’re not going to jump, are you?” I ask, cautiously.

She raises her hands to halt my steps. “Don’t come closer. What do you want?”

Straightening my spine, I angle my head slightly and narrow my eyes.

“I asked you first. What are you doing?”

Instead of answering, she dismisses me and spins back toward the ravine.

Before I can stop her, she brings the knife’s edge to her arm and begins slicing upward.

I launch myself at her and grip onto the hood of her sweater. She falls hard to the ground when I jerk her backward.

“What the fuck?!” She screams and she scrambles to stand.

I scowl at her and plant my hands on my hips.

“Fuck off.” She growls and tries to move passed me.

She stumbles when I push her backward and away from the bridge.

My eyes shift toward the wound on her arm before I return my gaze to hers.

“Whatever you have going on, that isn’t going to fix it,” I scold, glancing pointedly at her bleeding arm.

Her nostrils flare as anger morphs over her small features. Without another word, she spins on her heels and begins walking away from me.

Okay, Sarah, you did your good deed. She’s leaving. Now it’s time for you to leave too.

Before I realize what is happening, I open my mouth.

“I can get you out.”

Her strides stop and she peers at me from over her shoulder. Her eyes narrow sightly.

“What do you mean?”

I swallow tightly.

No going back now.

“Whatever you’re going through, whatever situation you’re in, I can get you out. I’m heading to New York today. Come with me.”

We just need to find a ride.

She spins to face me fully. “Why would you offer me that?” she asks guardedly.

I can’t help but feel the tightness of my throat grow as memories of my brothers’ deaths flash through my mind.

“Because I’m running too,” I rasp before clearing my throat.

She doesn’t utter a word as she studies me closely.

“I’m Sarah,” I say gently as I offer her my hand.

She peers down at it then back at me before moving closer and placing her palm in my hand.

“Paige,” she states.

I smile softly as I release her. We stare at each other in a comfortable silence.

Whatever she’s been through is something that I can tell will haunt her for the rest of her life. As I study her, my eyes trace over her delicate features. She’s stunning.

She has olive colored skin, long wavy brown hair, and the lightest green eyes I’ve ever seen. They’re nearly transparent.

When she shifts uncomfortably and glances away from me, I clear my throat again.

“Well, Paige, we’re going to best friends by the end of this trip,” I announce with a firm nod.

Paige needs someone just as much as I do – if not more. And I’m going to be that person for her.

Her brows furrow but the corner of her lip twitches. “Why is that?”

I hike my bag up higher on my shoulder before walking passed her and down the path. I hear the crunch of dirt and gravel as she follows behind.

“Because we’re both lost souls and we need to stick together.” I peer over my shoulder, sending her a wink.

“I’m going to regret this, aren’t I?” she teases.

* * *

After a bus ride to the city, we find our way to the subway station.

“Alright, first things first.” I clap my hands once and face the map of the city on the graffiti-filled wall. “We need to figure out what area we want to live in so we can find some jobs and a place to live.”

When I don’t receive an answer, I spin and am met with Paige’s wide eyes. She stares at me with disbelief painted over her face.

“You didn’t have a plan for where you were going to stay?” she asks, completely flabbergasted.

I shrug. “Nope. I’ve been going through life by the seat of my pants.”

She makes a noise in her throat that is a cross between a whimper and a scoff.

“What?” I ask.

Her brows rise to her hairline, and she shakes her head slowly. “You’ve got a screw loose if you think we’re going to survive out here without jobs or a place to stay.”

I flick my wrist before spinning back to the map. “We’ll find all that and get settled in no time. Just watch.”

“I knew I was going to regret this,” she mutters under her breath.

“Brooklyn!” I shout with excitement. I whirl around and smile widely at Paige who stares blankly at me. “Let’s go to Brooklyn. “

Not giving her a chance to answer, I hook my arm with hers and pull her toward the ticket kiosk.

“As they say in The Hobbit ‘ We’re going on an adventure!’” My voice echoes despite the hustle and bustle of the city-goers around us.

“I think you mean, ‘I’m going on an adventure’, ” Paige groans. I don’t miss the subtle tilt of her lip as she tries to hide her amusement.

“Yea, well, there’s two of us so it would be stupid to say that.” I chuckle.

* * *

Fine. I’ll admit coming to New York without a plan was stupid. It’s been a week and we’ve been staying at a local shelter while trying to find jobs.

Paige sits on the floor in front of me as I French-braid her hair. She’s scouring the internet for job listings on a laptop the shelter’s manager let us borrow.

“Nothing?” I ask, twisting the strands of her thick brown hair.

“Nothing we’re qualified for,” she huffs, slumping her shoulders.

“Not even waitress jobs?”

She tries to shake her head.

“Don’t move,” I reprimand.

She stops moving and continues to scroll.

“Wait.” She sits up straighter and I grind my teeth when one of the strands arches upward in the center.

Great. Now I’m going to have to redo the whole damned thing.

With an annoyed sigh, I release her hair. Leaning forward, I scan the computer screen.

“Urgently hiring for elementary school office administrative aide.” Paige reads the listing and I scrunch my nose.

“You can have that one.”

I reach for the comb and work on redoing the braid as she fills out the application.