James’s POV

Turns out getting a job is a lot harder than I thought it would be. I tried literally every job in this shitty ass town that had a help wanted sign from dishwasher, to host, to any shitty retail job and every application I filled out was either immediately thrown away or I somehow managed to bomb the interview so bad I wasn’t even worth a call back to tell me I didn’t get the job. 

Every time I came back from an interview Dev’s face was bright and hopeful but the second he takes in my face the hope drains from his face and he’s left with a small frown as he wraps me up in his arms.

“You were too good for that job anyway,” he whispered in my ear every time. “Fuck them for not being able to see that.”

He had been trying to find a job this whole time too with the same amount of luck as me. Being a self proclaimed spoiled brat made him a bit out of touch with the whole work thing and the interviewers always seem to somehow pick up on that and did the same with him as they did with me.

No we were a month into our time without having jobs and it was starting to show. The surplus of food we had bought with Dev’s card was starting to dwindle pretty fast. We only had a few cans left and we had started resorting to drinking out of our neighbors water hose but even now they had started catching onto us and Dev is starting to get nervous they’ll call the cops on us to make up stop trespassing. 

Hope was starting to dwindle pretty fast too though. Day after day without getting any leads on a job and food starting to lessen does wonders to ones’ hope.

Today both of us were on our last lead for a job and I for one knew I didn’t get it, all I could do was hope Dev got his as I walked back to our condemned house.

However the second I got to the driveway my blood ran cold and I could feel the color drain from my face. A chain link fence had been thrown around the property sloppily with an old worn out sign hanging on it that said Demolition Sight in big bold letters. A pad lock on a chain prevented us from trying to open the door. 

My stomach dropped down to my feet as the realization that for the first time since we left our parents’ we were actually homeless.

“Fuck,” I shouted as I kicked the damn fence as hard as I could but it did little damage to the fucking thing. Rage coursed through my body as the thoughts of what we were going to do now; I came up with no solutions.

After a while of just staring at the damn fence and the house that I had slowly started to think of as home I forced myself over the fence to at least grab our bags so we wouldn’t have to start completely over. 

For the next hour I sat on the curb waiting for Dev to come back, hoping maybe he’d have a job and a solution to our problem.

Sadly he was at a loss just like me. No jobs, no home, no money. The hope was gone.

We spent the next several nights huddling behind dumpsters and back alleys. Our sleeping bags did little to help against the cold weather and the last of our food was officially gone.


“You have to go back,” I said softly as I braced myself against the wall of the alley we had claimed for the night.

“James we’ve been over this. I’m not leaving you out here.”

“I’m not asking anymore. You’re going back to you’re parents house. End of discussion. Get up, I’ll walk you back.” I go to push myself up but his hand caught my shoulder and shoved my back down into my spot. 

“What about our plans? You said we were going to get a house, start a family. Are you really going to give up on that now?”

“Devon look around you for three seconds. In case you haven’t noticed we have nothing! No job, no money, not even a roof over our heads anymore. The plan is gone! There is no plan anymore.”

“Then we’ll make a new plan.”

“There’s no point of making a plan if we have no way to achieve it! One of us doesn’t have to live like this! One of us could be sleeping in a heated house, with food, and never have to worry about money again. One of us should be taking advantage of that!”

“And what do I tell them when I turn up after a month of maxing out his card and radio silence?”

“Just tell them you were out with the bastards he approves up, living it up or something. He’s not going to care anyway! You’re going back!”

“You can’t make me go.”

“Fucking watch me,” I seethed as I stood up, my arms wrapping around his body randomly as I threw him over my shoulder.

“James put me down right now!” He screamed as he wiggled around in my grip but it was a useless attempt, my grip was too strong and after a small adjustment I was on my to mouth of the alley. 

I barley made three steps before Devon’s elbow was being shoved into the side of my head.

“What the actual fuck!”

“Fucking put me down you bastard.”

“Are you going to walk yourself?”

“No.”

“Then no.”

I barley got the words out of my mouth before another hit came crashing into my face. Then a hit to my stomach then a rather hard hit to my temple. My vision blurred for a second, my grip faltered and in those split seconds Dev had wormed his way out of my grip and was on the ground with a murderous glare glued onto his face.

“Stop putting up a fight!”

“Then let me stay.”

“This is not the life I promised you. I’m not going to let you suffer because of me!”

“This was my choice to make!” 

“A choice you made because of me!”

My hand shot forward to grab his shoulder again but a punch to my stomach had me doubling over.

“I’m happy with my choice-“ I don’t let him finish his sentence before my foot collides with his ankle, forcing him to loose his balance. My hand again goes for his shoulder as I try to get a better grip. I barely graze him before he’s rolling out of the way and charging at me, tackling me to the ground in seconds and climb on top of me.

“You know, I like us better in this position when we aren’t fighting,” I spat as I grabbed for his wrist in a futile attempt. 

“Then stop fighting me!”

“Then stop being stubborn!”

“Don’t tell me what to do!”

“If you two are going to cause a scene can you at least do it in an alley I don’t own?” My blood ran cold at the new voice. My arms went to Dev’s shoulders as I pushed him off before shoving him behind me.

“This has nothing to do with you. Leave, we’ll be out of your hair in a minute.”

“It does have something to do with me if you driving away customers. What are you two even fighting about?” My eyes track the man closely as he walked closer to us. His hair was brown and well kept, he was dressed a suit that seemed too expensive for a town like this. His eyes were so brown they were almost black and an ugly scar ran across his cheek. I didn’t like this guy one bit. 

“I said it’s none of your business.”

“Sounded like money problems from what I heard. You two looking for jobs?”

“What’s it to you,” Dev asked skeptically as he stared at the man from behind me.

“Devon,” I scolded without sparing him a glance.

“I’m always hiring. You two are a bit young so I’m guessing you’re parents don’t know you’re out here and I’m assuming you don’t care about that.”

“And you’re okay with that?”

“You have to be considering the job I’m offering. It’s not exactly a blue collar job.”

“What’s the pay?”

“Devon.”

“I pay commission so depends on how much you sell.”

“What are you selling exactly?”

“Devon shut up!”

“I sell anything you could want to buy. You two would be drug runners until I decide you’re more use to me somewhere else.”

“I’m not selling drugs for someone I don’t even know,” Devon spat.

“Not knowing him is the only problem that you have?!”

“My names Drake.”

“Like the singer?”

“Like the dragon.”

“Do you breathe fire too?”

“Not breathe it but I’ve been known to start a few here and there.”

“Get the actual fuck out of here before I beat your teeth in,” I seethed out as I grabbed Dev’s wrist and pushed him even farther behind me. My threat did little to to actually threaten him. The damn bastard throws his head back as he laughs before staring at the two of with a wide smile on his face.

“God you’re a fun kid. Come on kid reason with me, I’m offering you a job. If you’re out here in this weather you have no where else to go and you’ll be dead in a week at this rate. I’m doing you a favor. Take the help or die for all I care.”

“I’ll take the job.”

“Devon Harris!”

“You don’t have to come with me but I’m not going back to that house and I need a job.”

“What do you say no named kid? You coming with me or are you giving up?”

My heart was torn into. I didn’t want my like to end up like this. Drugs and gangs were never something I had sympathy for but at the same time Dev came before anything else in my heart.

“We’ll need a place to stay,” I sighed, my resolve breaking.

“You let me worry about that,” he said with a smirk, like he had won some epic prize and not two strays. “Follow me,” he said as he began walking without sparing a glance to the two of us to see if we would even follow him.

“You’re an actual fucking idiot,” I seethed to Devon as we started walking, several paces behind the strange man.

“Clearly I’m not the only idiot. You’re coming too.”

“Only because of you.”

“You said we needed jobs, we have them now and a place to stay apparently so we’re done fighting.”

“Oh I can think of few new reasons to start fighting with you again.” 

“Well don’t, I’m not in the mood to fight with you anymore.”

“Should have thought of that before you elbowed me in the face.”

“I told you to put me down.”

“I told you to leave.”

“I guess we’re both pissing each other off tonight.” I scoff at him but don’t say another word as walk farther and farther away from the center of town. 

“Pace yourselves,” Drake said as both of us started shivering and began walking faster to try and get out of this cold as soon as possible. “It’s a long walk and you two seem pretty weak after that little scuffle. I’m not carrying any of you if you pass out.”

We made a massive mistake.