I didn't want to be here. It wasn't the Santa Carla heat, music from the concert on the beach, or nauseous smells from the surrounding restaurants on the board walk. The constant work of stacking VHS', cassettes, and books kept me almost happily distracted. It was almost closing time on the board walk, twelve o'clock. After that was when the children, mothers, and whoever wanted it be alive by sun up made sure to be home. Everyone else out was fair game. It was like an unspoken rule among the people who lived in the town. If you wanted to live, make sure you were inside and make sure they never saw or noticed you otherwise... Well you'd find out.

The bells rung, making me snap my head to the doors. The beads in my white dreadlocked hair clattered as the rest of my body caught up with me. There were no other people; the store was empty besides me. This made me a bit more cautious as I grabbed the stacks of tapes I'd been working on and carried them to the back room. My black side cut beach skirt and black knitted crop top, which had an off the shoulder frilly layer covered my breasts,flowed as I walked causing a gentle breeze against my skin. My belly button barbell glistened in the florescence lights. With one hand I opened the door to the back room and set the tapes down on the closest desk. I turned back and made my way to the front. As I was the one to close up shop, I had to lock the front door from the inside. Max informed me last night that I'd have to lock up alone tonight.

Working at VideoMax had its perks but closing up alone? Yeah, that wasn't one of them. It was creepy especially when you had to walk alone. I turned out the light and headed back to the back storage room. I was especially glad that I had the competence to turn on the light as a guide way to the back before going to lock the front door. Surprisingly enough I'd made my way to the back without causing a mess which happened way more than would be expected. That in itself was a miracle if I ever saw one.

As I pushed the door to the back open, I quickly hit the lights to the storage and locked the door. Maybe if I hauled ass to the church then maybe, just maybe, I'd get lucky and they'd let me in for the night. I was already too far from the shelter. I pushed my bag up on my shoulder and my dreads from my face as I began the long journey from the video store. It was probably a good thing I didn't decorate my old apartment. I was an eighteen year old runaway with now no place to live.

I didn't have a horrible life or anything,I was just homeless because I forgot to pay the rent. It wasn't anything new though. I forgot shit all the time and I didn't exactly have any family to stay with either. When I was a bit younger I left home I was in and made my way across the country to California. I wasn't sure why I chose California at first. It seemed my style, you know? Rock bands, crazy hair, gnarly clothes, "Land of the Runaways," they said. "Sounds perfect," was my first and only thought so I left.

It started slowly then became constant and unending, the Rain rain was the least of my worries though. While thinking of my past, I made my way down the winding street to Fairview Chapel,which doubled to be a homeless shelter. And that's where I'd found the doors to be locked. Locked until eight a.m. the next day. So, being stuck out in the rain and having minimal options, I began to walk back to the video store. I still had the keys, I could stay in storage and if Max found me, I'd tell him the truth. I was a good five to ten miles away and I was already soaked. Why did I even offer to close up tonight? Maybe it was because I was an ignorant waste of space with a soft spot for my poor boss. Was it because I felt like Max needed free time? He had a date tonight actually and I was hoping he'd be more successful this time. Max wasn't one for dates, for some reason none of these women actually came back. I can only blame myself for this; I was sure this would happen at some point though, being out too late. I had been careful until now. Now I was "free-game."

I was half a mile back towards the shop with nine and a half to go when I heard it. It wasn't thunder; no it couldn't just be what I was practically praying for at the moment. It was the damned roar of a motorcycle. I was fucked, utterly fucked.

Maybe they'd pass by without noticing me. As the sounds got closer, I could hear the yelling. It had to be them. No one else in this god forsaken town rode motorcycles or was this loud at night. I kept my pace, walking in the worsening rain. My dreads were soaked, practically plastered against my head. The motorcycle grew louder and I worked with much effort to keep my heartbeat at a normal pace. It got to the point of where I was sure that the cyclist would pass by me, no problem.

"Hey babe, need a ride," the cyclist called. I turned my head left to look at him but kept walking. Fat fucking chance of getting somewhere safe until morning.

"No thanks," I replied, looking forward as I did so. I tried so hard not to stare. He was insanely gorgeous, even a blind woman could see that. He wore dirty white pants, brown leather boots, a fishnet top, and a black tailcoat jacket that was adorned with pins and a concho belt that was the length of his torso that went across his body. He had huge blonde hair, baby blue eyes, and a killer smile. I would have guessed he was at least six foot, if not taller. Despite his beauty, a top of that bike, he was absolutely intimidating.

"Where you headin'," he asked over the pounding of the rain against the blacktop. He acted like it weren't pissing and pouring, like it was just another day on the beach. It was almost ridiculous, it was almost so ridiculous that it slightly pissed me off.

"Home," I said shortly, hoping he'd get the hint that I would in fact gladly walk the miles to get to the video store safely. He had to be one of the guys I heard people whispering about, one of the boys I'd heard about Max running out from Maria. They apparently came in after my shift was over to wreak havoc about the shop. Max warned me if I was ever on late night shift, like tonight to ignore them unless he was there. He said they weren't to be messed with since I hadn't encountered them before. He didn't want them to hurt me is what he said. I didn't need Max to tell me that, but then again I was a little afraid this would happen.

"I can give you a lift," he offered in a rather sweet tone. I made sure I was looking ahead and not at him. It was too tempting, he was not going to get my attention that easily. Everything about him made me want to lose my mind. Not in the good way either. Something about him made me sick to my stomach and it wasn't his looks for sure. He was easy on the eyes but it was something that I couldn't see, the tight feeling I got in my chest. The one that screamed to away from there as fast as possible.

"It's not too far."

"It'll be faster and you'll get out of the rain. You look like you've been stuck out here a while," he said and he had a point. I had been out here a long time.

"You just won't let up will you," I asked, cocking an eyebrow at him. I wasn't sure what kind of bullshit he was trying to pull but I wasn't for it at all.

"What kind of guy would I be if I'd left a hot broad like you out in the rain," he asked cocking an eyebrow back at me goofily. The rain hadn't messed up his perfect hair yet. This guy must have used a shit ton of hairspray.

"The kind that leaves with the girls in the missing posters," I muttered.

"What was that," he asked, quite evidently frowning, I didn't need to look at him to see that.

"Not a very good one," I said a bit louder for him to hear although I was sure, almost defiantly sure he'd heard my comment before.

"Exactly. I'd feel better knowing you got home safely," he replied with a breathtaking smile. I wasn't sure how I really saw it in the darkness but the city lamps provided enough light for me to be sure that he wasn't someone I exactly wanted to mess with.

"Why do you even care so much?" It made absolutely no sense. Why was he even bothering with me? This gave me a bad feeling, something pulled at the pit of my stomach.

"Well honestly babe, you look like you could use a friend," he said sincerely, but for all I knew he had a trick or two up his sleeve for me. By a trick I mean a pocket knife that he would probably use to rob and then stab me with. There are so many criminals in Santa Carla you'd be weary around anyone, even during the day. All I have to say is that they don't talk about the shit that happens in the dark when people talk about how great and free this place is.

"What makes you think I don't have any friends?" I was annoyed by how spot on he was. I hadn't talked to anyone but Max and begrudgingly enough, Maria.

"You're walking out in the rain alone," he stated as if it were the most obvious concept in the world.

"I don't see what your problem is. I'm content walking home in this shit fest of a storm," I laughed and skipped a little in fake enjoyment.

"I'll do anything you want babe. Let me give you a ride but you have to promise me something," he said with a goofy smile, leaning on the handlebars of his bike.

"What would I be promising?" What the hell would he possibly want from me?

"That you'll see me again . Like tomorrow night," and his grin got even bigger if possible.

"That's probably not a good idea nor a safe one. I don't think I should. Besides motorcycles are dangerous, I can only imagine how much more it gets while the roads are wet."

"Seriously?," he smirked as I tried to keep a constant distance between us.

"As a heart attack," I couldn't help the way a slight smile crept into my face.

"Ooooh you got me there girl. What if I promise to drive as safe as I can. I'll take you anywhere you want to go," he replied with the same almost trademark goofy smile, offering me a hand.

"First you offered to take me home, now you claim you'll take me anywhere. What makes you think I'm not going home,"

"Your bag, you have a pair of shoes tied to a slightly over flowing bag of clothing. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see that you have nowhere to go," I stopped in my tracks, irritated beyond belief. Why did he have to keep doing that? Calling me out on my bullshit.

"Do you know VideoMax,"

"Of course I do, the one with the hottest tapes in all of Santa Carla," he laughed doing his best impression of Max's voice.

"Take me there,"

"As you wish babe," he smiled, offering his hand again. I took if cautiously as I swung one leg over the bike. The rain died down a bit, but not much. Maybe it was our speed that made it feel like the pounding of the rain had softened in comparison to the wind on my arms and face as I tried not to hide in his back. I'd never ridden a bike before, let alone a motor cycle.

"Relax babe, don't freak out," he said, scooting me closer to him ", and hold on tight." The bike roared and we shot forward. I wrapped my arms around his waist in attempts to keep from being left behind. There were two things I'd learned while riding with him. One, he rode like the wind. Two, he thought my fear during the ride was hilarious. These two went hand in hand. Although he rode smoothly, he was as wind and I, having never ridden a motorcycle before, had a hell of a time trying to figure out where I should put my hands but I just ended up awkwardly feeling him up. I won't lie; he was very distracting which was great. I didn't even fear for my life because of that. I was too busy getting a good feel of his rockin' body. It was exhilarating and I was sure, if not for the short drizzle that the rain had simmered down to then, the road behind us would have been set afire.

"How you holding up babe," he called laughing as he did so. I just put my face in the back of his damp jacket and wrapped my arms around him tighter. We were less than a mile from the board walk and thank God for that.

"Thanks," I said as he helped gently helped me off the back of his motorcycle. I was brushing my skirt out as it was ruffled up my leg from our ride.

"Any time," he pause, a smile suddenly appeared on his face,"Wait, what's your name babe?"He dug into the front left breast pocket of his tailcoat. Fuck. What was I even going to tell him? He knows where I work or at least where I'm staying. If he is persistent enough to insist on taking me here, he'll be more than likely to come 'visit' me here.

"Cassandra. Preferably Sandra for short," I sighed as I lifted my dreads off my back and readjusted my bag on my shoulder. They were mostly dry as of now as were the rest of my clothes.

"I'm Paul and I'll see you tomorrow babe, don't forget," he smiled even wider as he pulled a joint from his pocket before making a gesture for me to come closer. I made sure to distance myself from him when I got off and I wasn't about to get any closer than I already was. I didn't trust him at all.

He dismounted his bike and grabbed me to him. With one arm around my lower back and joint in the other, he leaned down in one swift movement and his lips were on mine. What the hell kind of bullshit. This isn't healthy for someone who has probably developed social anxiety over the years. It seems impossible to do so working at a store where people come check out movies but very time someone came in, my stomach would drop, I'd feel sick, and I'd be counting the moments up until they left.

"Goodnight Sandra," he smirked as I stood frozen in panic. He removed his hands from me which made breathing a whole lot easier. He took his time lighting his joint with half lidded eyes and the smugness. You could feel it rolling off him. I turned around , looking over my shoulder every once in a while, and headed to the back door which I locked hurriedly earlier just to come back to until the morning when it was safe. I unlocked the door and turned to look at him, mostly in reassurance that he was still there. He gave me a wink before kick starting his monster of a motorcycle and pulled away as I shut the door behind me. I locked it and settled my bag onto the floor suddenly exhausted. I touched my lips lightly in confusion. I wanted to know why he left so familiar, his lips and his character.I grabbed the blanket from Max's office and his old coat that he always left hanging on the coat hanger. I went straight to the comfiest place in the entire store. Right under the checkout desk in the front of the store.

On many occasions, before Maria was an employee, I would take naps under the desk during my shift with the guy who worked here when I did. His name was Jake, and he was a real rad dude although he did usually run with the Surfer Nazi's. He had blonde hair, super tan skin, and brown eyes. He wasn't really my type, but he was an overall nice guy. When he worked together before he disappeared, he let me sleep because he knew I didn't have a place to stay and I was tired from defending myself all night. There was a reason why I never liked being out at night. I always would end up in a horribly familiar place, in the same situation at least it seemed the same, like deja vu with the same results every time. I never slept but he understood this was difficult to keep up with. Jake was probably the only person I willingly spoke to besides Max. I don't miss him though. I know he's dead; it wasn't hard to figure out. He never showed up for work and word on the boardwalk was the Surfer Nazi's got in a tiff with the Lost Boys. It seemed that everyone knew those boys were trouble, everyone but him apparently because he was dead and gone now. I wasn't going to be stupid like Jake, I was going to try and do better for myself. Of course it wasn't guaranteed I could do that. If I slipped up like I did last night, I'd most definitely be deader than Barbra and Adam from Beetlejuice.

I had taken my favorite spot under the desk. The whole shop was dark, just like I loved it. I settled under the green plaid blanket and stuffed Max's jacket under my head. Tiredness washed over my body and I sunk into a restless sleep with my fingers on my lips. I couldn't help my last thought; he gave me a good night kiss...

Revised: 8/6/17