Joel had gotten up early that day after being woken up several times by Blaine’s snoring. He didn’t mind, he liked getting up before the sun it made the day longer.

He had made himself coffee and left to go for a walk in the park, before people started to make their way to work and it became too busy to enjoy the scenery.

By the time the sun had risen Joel was walking round central park breathing in the morning air. It wasn’t very busy at this time. Only a few confused looking students that had probably been there all night, and a few middle aged couples walking their dogs.

He had stayed in the park for a few hours watching the squirrels being chased by dogs and little children run around holding ice-creams. Joel liked to come out, here, when things got too much at home.

When he got out of prison and Benjamin had offered him his spare room, Joel thought he had struck gold. Him and Benjamin had shared a cell and had become quite good friends. Joel had gotten to know Benjamin well and sharing an apartment with him sounded like fun. One thing Joel had never known about Benjamin was why he had got locked up in the first place.

Joel soon found that out when he moved in. People would come to the door 24/7 always looking for Benjamin. Joel had asked Benjamin what everyone wanted with him and why so many people had to see him. Benjamin had been resistant to tell Joel at first. Joel found out anyway.

Joel had been alone in the house when someone had stared banning at the door. He had told Benjamin he would not open the door under any circumstances, but the person at the door wouldn’t leave. He had walked up to the door and opened it only to be thrown out the way and pushed up against a wall. There was a tall, muscular man holding Joel, shouting at him, asking him where Benjamin was.

Joel had no idea where Benjamin was so instead he asked the man what he wanted with him.

“He’s in a spot of trouble”

Joel didn’t know what he meant by this. The two had only gotten out of prison a few weeks ago. He wondered what Benjamin must have done to get himself into trouble already. Joel had asked the man who he was. Turned out Benjamin had been selling drugs to the man, Kenneth, since they had got out of prison. Kenneth had given Benjamin money to get some cocaine and had failed. Now the man was here to get his money back.

That’s how Joel had gotten involved in this whole thing. He had tried to stay out of trouble his whole life, but just getting in with the wrong crowd could change everything. Joel had become Benjamin’s work mate after that. They would go round selling drugs and making a profit, a big one. He always worried that he had done the wrong thing the day he told Benjamin, Kenneth had come round and that he would help him get out of trouble, but there was no turning back now.

Joel had been worried about getting Blaine to come and stay with him. He didn’t want what had happened to him to happen to Blaine. He wanted to protect him and shelter him from the horrors of the streets.

Thinking of Blaine reminded Joel that he should get back to the flat and see if the lazy boy had risen yet.

Joel got up from the cold bench he was sitting at and started to walk in the direction of the main park entrance. The grass was long, and had wild flowers growing in the flower beds, it reminded Joel of summer and carefree days as a kid.

When he had got to his apartment building he started to head up the stairs to his apartment. When he entered the landing of his floor he could hear shouting, which wasn’t unusual at all. He turned the corner towards his apartment, digging around in his pockets for his keys, only to drop them when he saw, he didn’t need them as his door was already flung open.

……….

Blaine’s eyes were closed waiting for the sound of the gun to fill his ears. Instead of hearing a gun though, he heard a voice, a familiar voice. Blaine allowed his eyes to open a crack and to be greeted with the wonderful sight of Joel tackling the strong man to the floor.

Blaine opened his eyes fully just to be sure what he was seeing was real. It was true Joel had come to save him and was now fighting, blood and bones, on the floor.  Blaine rushed down to pull the big man off of Joel while Rick ran out of the door, not even shooting a look behind him.

Joel was fighting, trying to knock the guy out and wouldn’t let Blaine pull him off. Instead, he shouted for Blaine to “Run”.

“NO, no I can’t. I can’t leave you, what if you get hurt?”

“Go Blaine. I’ll be fine. Just go.”

Blaine didn’t want to go, but there wasn’t much he could do for Joel now. Even if he got out of this fight there would be many more to come after this. Blaine liked his quiet life and didn’t want to get wrapped up in all this trouble. Although it was too late to save Joel from this mess he could still save himself. So after shouting a goodbye to Joel, Blaine ran into his bedroom. He grabbed his guitar and his small rucksack, gave the room one last look goodbye, heaved the window open, and climbed down the fire escape.

……….

After running for what seemed like forever, Blaine finally found himself a safe distance from the apartment. He stopped, seeing where he was, deciding where would be a good place to stay round here. He saw an abandoned looking apartment building and settled himself down by the trash cans outside. He wrapped his arms around himself for warmth, ready for the cold evening to come. Ready for the life on the streets, he thought he had left.