Such Horrible Things

"Home, probably. It doesn't look like I've got anything else to do today." she shrugged, the burger half gone, though it didn't look like she was going to eat anymore.

"well if you want you can hang out with me a bit longer." he offered. "that is if you want to" he repeated, not wanting to sound forcefull.

"I can't stay out too long, though, I'm a little sleep-deprived."

Jason chuckled. "taht makes two of us. a backseat is a poor substitute for a bed when you're as tall as I am" he said.

She shrugged, "I've managed with worse."

Jason chuckled. "you're going to have to tell me about that sometime" he said. it seemed like nothing really got him upset.

"It's not a story you'd want to hear." she chuckled, looking out the window.

Jason laughed. 'well nevermind then" he said. "so mind explaining why you're looking out the window like a daydreaming teenager?" he asked teasingly.

She blinked, "No, I don't daydream. I blank out. It's no big deal. Happens all the time."

Jason chuckled. "i figured I was just giving you crap." he said smiling at her.

"No, it's nothing about you." she smiled lightly, though it seemed forced.

Jason nodded a bit. "anyways I should get going. i got to pick up a car part or I can't race" he said standing up. "it was nice meeting you" he said shaking her hand before walking out the door, the guitar slung over his back. He had noticed the force smile, and had taken it as his cue that she was more than done talking to him.

She nodded, shaking his hand in return, "See ya around, kid."

Jason walked down the street on his own now. he sighed, "should have shut up sooner' he muttered, figuring he just blew a potential friendship. He heard a click as cold steel was pressed to his back. "give me your money rock boy" a voice hissed. "I ain't got any money. if I did do you really think I would be walking in the rain?" Jason asked. he felt the person try to take his guitar. "I guess this will fetch a few dollars" the voice chuckled. The second the cold steel was moved, jason spun on his heel and kicked the man across the face, causing the man to tense up and squeeze the trigger, the shot echoing throughout the area. In the following struggle, the gun was fired five more times.

Rowan stepped outside, trying to figure out what was going on.

the rain had a deep red color to it as it was washed out of an alley way. Jason and the man had both been shot, the man twice, once in the stomach and once in the heart, and jason had been shot in the shoulder and left foot. Jason was still breathing, but his assailant was dead.

Rowan fished through her pocket for some quarters, running over to a phone booth and calling the police.

Jason heard the police call. "oh f*** this... i'm not going to prison for something like this" he muttered as he tried to crawl away using his one good arm.

The cops soon pulled up, questioning Rowan, who was shaking nervously, and carting off the dead man and Jason.

Jason sighed. /with my luck i'm going to wind up in prison now/ he thought as he closed his eyes as the anesthesia took effect.

Rowan was let go, and after a lengthy trial/investigation period, they chalked the incident up to self-defense and let Jason go as well.

Jason sighed as he walked out of the hospital. His body was taped up pretty good as he walked down the street. he wondered where Rowan was right now. He hadn't seen her since he had gotten attacked.

Rowan was little more than skin and bones, even thinner than she was last he had seen her, walking the streets back to her home.

"hey" he called as he picked up the pace a bit, trying to catch up. It still hurt to move otherwise he would have at least tried to run to catch up.

Rowan looked around, trying to see who was talking. The voice sounded familiar...