I ended up dropping the damn soap on the floor. Ugh! I swear, this caller's gonna catch these hands. My ringtone's been straight-up assaulting my ears for like half an hour. Picking up the dented soap, I put it back on the rack. “I should just get some body wash, man. Rubbing a bar of soap on my fine self is just abuse, you know? If that's Leon calling, I'm gonna wreck that dude. Can't you take a hint? If I ain't picking up, it means I can't, you ultimate goofball!”

After taking what feels like forever, I step out of the shower feeling like the freshest dude on the planet. My feet all wet as I strut into the only room, leaving a mini pool behind me. I ain't using a towel. Honestly, I haven't seen my towel since I moved in here. It's MIA. The ringing phone gets me so riled up that I put off checking it and just flopped onto the bed instead. My cool, damp hair against the warm, dry sheets.

I can hear the text notifications coming in now. It's probably bro, bored out of his mind. Letting out a yawn, I roll onto my side and chuck the phone away. Not in the mood to listen to him babble. Lying there, yawning out of my skull, I rack my brain trying to figure out what to do. Can't even use my phone, it's still buzzing. Not a single idea pops into my head.

Cracking my neck, trying to psych myself up to do my schoolwork. Stomping around the room for a bit, I check the pile of clothes. There it is. I throw the bag on the bed and flop down... Only for a bunch of books to come tumbling down on me. Along with wrappers, chocolates, and more wrappers. Ugh! Thanks a lot, you hamster!

Lying on my stomach,  I stare at the equation lovingly, hoping for it to seem any less thorny. Hm... I can't wrap my head around you, you little punk 'x'. Trying to figure out the value of 'x', I flip the notebook and check the teacher's solution.

My thick textbook goes flying across the room and smacks into the wall, followed by a bunch of other books. stuffing my face with bro's leftover chocolates I drop my heavy head onto the sheets. Ugh! Screw all these equations. My head's starting to pound! I chuck my empty bag on the floor too. No one's here to complain about the mess anyway.

Forgetting about the phone, I get up. My back's killing me. This mattress is way too flat. Rubbing my face, I drag my feet into the kitchen as my stomach rumbles. After rummaging through the drawers and cabinets I plop down on the floor, the taste of that greenish stuff still lingering in my throat, my back against the wall. I deserve to eat something good, but from the looks of it - am I broke? There's nothing in here. Should I call bro and go grocery shopping with him? Tapping my feet, I chew my lip. But I've been ignoring him because I didn't feel like hearing him out and now -

A moment later, I find myself standing in the middle of nowhere. Have I been living in this part of the city my whole life? I'm out in the streets with two dark alleys in front of me and two behind me, and I haven't got a clue which one I came from. Was it always this dark at night? Squinting my eyes, my fingers in my flip-flops turning cold as I try to focus and see what lies beyond the darkness in the alley ahead of me. I see nothing.

A slightly cool night breeze hits me. Leaves on the trees start rustling. Beads of sweat popping up on my skin. Clenching my fists, I stand there, feeling like I'm about to get my organs harvested tonight.

Crossing my arms, I try to play it cool. Haha, lol. Not even she gets my heart racing this fast. How can I not recognize a thing just because it's dark? I walk through these streets for school every single day!

 Tiptoeing towards a bush just behind me I find some comfort hiding in the shadows. Wishing someone could come and rescue me, I start picking at my nails a little too hard. Ouch! But how embarrassing would it be? I'm a dude. Dang! why is this neighborhood so quiet though? It's so quiet that it feels like my vision is being played with no audio except monotonous and loud sounds of crickets chirping. Ribbits. 

I have no idea what I should do. Suddenly,  remembering Jesus I close my eyes, throw my neck back, and flutter my eyelids open. All I see are bright stars and more stars up in the sky. Useless! I still can't see my way. And where the heck is the moon? It's night! It’s supposed to be in the sky!

Should I sniff the scent of lavender and try to follow it back? The soap I just used was lavender, but considering how much I've sweated already, it's a weak option. If I can get back in one piece, I'll have Bro put me on lockdown because I deserve it! And my butt should be whipped with a belt too. Only then will I learn my lesson.

Can’t bro come here now though? He pops his head anywhere anytime! I feel betrayed because as my bro, he should have sensed that I was in danger and should have been here already! I should call that jerk!

Cussing, I stash the phone back in my pants pocket. Out of battery! After racking my brain for what feels like eons, I run out of nails to gnaw on. Catching some rolling noise from a distance, I lean back, making sure I'm out of sight. How come no human is in sight? But the sound... I'm not sure if it’s in my head or not. Something brushes against my feet, and yelping I jerk away. Haha, it was just my long trousers. Breathing a sigh of relief, I lift my eyes off of my feet. A dude on a skateboard is coming from ahead. Great, here comes my little prince. I call out to him, but he ignores me. Desperate and worried, I get up as soon as he comes right in front of me.

All of a sudden, the whole silence is shattered by a rough and loud muffled cry. The poor dude was skating so rough he toppled over and crashed. His face hit against the concrete road. My brows knit and my nose wrinkles at the sight. Must hurt so bad. Running towards him in my flip-flops, I almost trip too.

 My chest is heaving as I wait with my arm in the air. He doesn’t notice my hand, but groaning, he pulls himself and peels off of the road. My arm’s aching after being suspended for so long, but I utter no word. After all, I am gonna ask him about the directions. 

Spitting he looks up and slaps away my hand as he gets up on his own two ragged hands.

“What’s your deal?” I ask rolling my eyes. But he can’t see. It’s dark. “Ask yourself the same question freak” he fires back. Something hit me in my stomach soon enough. All my guts coming to my mouth. body crashed to the ground. Slumped and breathing ragged. I-I thought love hurts the most. Hoping that my organs are implanted in someone who will do good with his life, I bid farewell to mine.

Man, why am I always feeling so lazy and beat? I muster up the strength to stand tall and get ready to defend myself. My legs start doing the jitterbug. shit. It's totally against my pride to get physically attacked. Shit. shit. Shit. I don’t want any bruises. 

"What's your deal?" he says, taking a step back.

"You clocked me first," I shoot back. "It's payback time, you little punk."

"You spooked me!" he says firmly.

"I did what? Stop with the false accusations! And do you wear your heart on your sleeve to get spooked that easily? I just wanted to"

"Wow, your voice is quivering... are you scared?" he taunts.

" Huh? Me, scared? And you should listen to your mama and not skate around so late at night."

"OK Dad"

"Shut up, you wannabe tough guy, and don't tick me off-"

"You're ticking me off-" he interrupts, checking if the skateboard is okay.

"Get some manners. You don't interrupt when an adult is talking," I shoot back.

"Are you gonna whine about it?" he teases.

“I just warned you not to tick me off. I had to buy eggs and mop the floor and crap, I messed up," I grumble, throwing my arms up to my head. My head's pounding like crazy. Huh? What did I just say? Flinging my arm, I pout a bit. What the heck, Xion?

"Um... what? 

"GET THE HECK OUTTA HERE YOU HOODLUMS!" a woman yells from her window. "SCRAM BEFORE I CALL THE COPS!" she hollers again.

Before the message even registered in my brain, my feet were already sprinting, and I realized he was running beside me, sticking close. I quickly try to veer off my path.

"You know your way around here?" he asks. I can hear my heart thumping in my ears. It’s superbly dark and he is on my heels. Glancing sideways in a hurry, I spot streetlights and dash over there. My feet hit the concrete under the street lamp. The dim yellow light casts a strange shadow. He rushes over, bewildered. When he steps into the circle of light, he slows down for a moment too long, he's frozen in place. Taking advantage of him in awe of my charm, I lean forward, and in one swift move yank his face mask off. Struggling he jerks away, and the cap comes off too.

A dim light shone down from above, casting a shadowy figure with sharp features, a clenched jaw, and short, slightly wavy hair. tired, gray eyes and pale skin. Patchy lips, mouth open slightly as if disgusted. 

"What the heck, Tamana? Why are you out here skating so late? And you skate? You skate?" I furrowed my brows and flared my nostrils shocked. I could never, not even at gunpoint imagine her doing something besides sleeping. 

"Tanaka," she rolled her eyes giving me a look like she’s talking to a worm in pajamas.

"Don't argue with me! Seriously, and then you ask me if I know the way around here? You don't know how things can be out in the dark-" “hypocrite” 

“Whad’ya say?” I drop my jaw for more effects.

Looking sideways bored she asks me "So, were you lost? Never mind”

"Do I look like a kid to get lost? Jeez,” sighing I drop my arms “I was going to the convenience store!” snapping back I wait for her to reply. 

"oh . ok. Must be a cat hiding behind the bush" Running a hand through her hair she replies and puts her hands in her pants pockets. Seriously. What the heck is wrong with her? How come she is acting so indifferent when it’s me she’s talking to? I already knew this grumpy paws is ill-mannered but this is next level. I look at her from head to toe. How come I thought she was a dude? an oversized T-shirt. Cap. face mask. Cargo pant. Everything is either black or gray, I think. And then she’s almost as tall as me. "And why are you dressed like a dude?"

“I surmise that roundhouse kick wasn’t enough for you,” she spits out, striding ahead. 

That was a roundhouse kick-- no wonder it folded me like a twig.

She’s walking ahead of me with such swagger, power in every step, cap pulled low over her eyes. I simply stand dropping my arms. Clenching shut my slightly open mouth. Leaning a little I stare at her. 

 Her head is covered with a cap, held high as she walks towards the dark alley. The wind hits again, and I stumbble very slightly, feeling flimsy. Awkwardly laughing I yell at her “Haha. No. it was more than enough”

Coming to an abrupt halt near the corner, briefly, she turns to glance at me.  I can’t see but there's a little moue under that mask. Some wavy mops of hair coming astray fall over her ears and forehead. She puts her skateboard in her left arm. Half-finger gloves come in contact with the wheels, giving them the spin as she holds the board on her side. I take the heaviest breath trying to make my decision. It’s dark where she stands, everything behind her is pitch black. Her gray eyes gleam briefly. Leaving the pale glow of street light I walk towards her standing in the dark.

 The look in her eyes makes it more than obvious that she wants my company.

“Stop following me around” She looks me up and down and growls “Like a dog”

huh? the heck? You were asking me to come–oh I get it, you are shy and just act hardcore. Here you go, I cracked the code!  Go ahead and continue acting all cool but I know my bro almost pulled you that day too. Jeez, …why act tough? “Is that your way of saying I am cute Like a puppy?” grinning I say “Is it because I have big brown eyes–you think I look like a golden retriever? Don’t you?”

  She mutters something and hops on her board. 

Gasping for breath, I trail behind her as she cruises on her board. I need to hit the store. I’ll juice up my phone there and figure my way back. She’s not too far ahead but just beside me. I notice she's skating a bit slow and I almost twist my ankle tripping over a tiny rock. Jeez.

The wind hits her, her loose shirt sways, her short hair flies, and she lifts both arms for a moment. Moving up and down, then she bends down, making the sharpest turn. I lose sight of her.

 Dang rad!

Perplexed, I pick up my pace and the dark alley comes to an end. Traffic lights hit my face, and a bunch of shops came into view. Breathing ragged, I slow down, looking around. I don’t see her. Guess she split.