The Nexus

(For Remy and Amani!)

Amani stuck her tongue out in concentration. She was in the window of a bakeshop decorating a cake, her pink hair was cut short and stuck out at all angles under the headband that kept her hair out of her face. She looked like a disaster but didn't care. She had flour smeared on her face and different color splotches on her hands, arms, and apron from food colorings. The cake that she was decorating was corneli lace, so she had to continue the design in one go. Around the shop she was in was the normal small town shops like a market, a bank, and a drugstore. This shop stuck out half because of its large front windows and the amount of people coming and going from the shop.

The bank. That was the only thing he was here for. Since leaving Augustus' house in a hurry for his life, he has been hoofing it through the woods to throw him off. Who knew if the old man would be spry enough to follow him or not? He wasn't taking any chances. He needed to get any money his parents may have left in their account and get out of the area. For good.

Remy felt like every eye in the town was on him as he walked the sidewalks. No doubt it was because he had run for his life in torn clothing that was now covered in sweat and mud. He wiped his face off best he could, but the gangly teen still looked a mess! His hair had twigs in it which he realized as he ran his fingers through it. But he found the bank easily. Taking a deep breath and checking his pocket for the hundredth time to make sure his wallet was there, Remy went inside.


Some minutes later he walked out with a sour look on his face. He'd been turned out and he half thought they planned to call the police on him. Someone had frozen his accounts, as he suspected. This all seemed to be a big conspiracy. He shoved his hands in his pockets and walked back up the side walk, lost in thought.

Amani was just putting the final touches on the cake before she moved it to the display stand in the window. Happy with the outcome she transfered it to a stand and adjusted it so the nicest side faced outside. She took a moment to look out the window watching people walk by when someone caught her eye. A boy who looked about her age was walking past. He was cute under all the dirt smudges. She decided it was time to take some samples outside, maybe he would eat one and talk to her. She took a plate of cut up ginger snaps and went to stand on the street enticing people to come in and buy something.

Remy kept his eyes froward and his ears open. He was hoping that the bank teller didn't think he was a criminal and he was trying to siphon funds or something. He was intent on finding his way back to the forest so he felt safer and hoping that he could think of a better plan. Obviously money was out of the question. His stomach growled and he winced. The new sensation of smells and sounds was really starting to wear him down and give him a headache. Just then something tantalizing was coming from some shop in front of him.

Cookies? Yes, even before all this, he could have known it was cookies. They smelt fresh and hot and his mouth began to water. But when he found the girl holding the plate he balked. She was strange looking with bright pink hair.. Who would employ such a punk? And the cookies were gingersnaps to boot! So bitter.... But his stomach was making a giant fuss and they were free. He side stepped the girl and kept his eyes down on the cookies. He took one and shoved it in his mouth, expecting to hate the taste... but... It was so good.

His cheeks pinked, but he took a handful of the cookies and ran off. He knew it was rude and he should not have done it, but hunger was driving him nuts. His tastes had changed since he had, it seemed and bitter was delicious.

Amani was glad when the boy came to take a cookie. She was right he was cute, but he looks sad, dirty, and he was definity hungry. She was about to say something to him but he ran off. She hoped he would come back, she would be in and out of the store all day. When the platter was empty she went back inside and started decorating another cake. Next time she would talk to him, and of course give him something else to eat.

Remy stole off to his make shift home in the woods. He huddled into the mass of bundles sticks and ate the ginger snaps like he would never eat again. It was strange to all of a sudden like a flavor he had never liked previously. Every single detail of his world up until that night had changed so drastically.

He wouldn't venture into the town for another few days, at least. Just in case people were after him.

Everyday was the same for Amani after that. Decorate cakes, take out samples, and help customers. She kept a look out for the boy. She was outside again with a plate of chocolate chip cookies, talking to customers, still covered in food coloring splotches. She was prepared to go after him this time.

The chocolate chips did not entice him at all. They smelled... too sweet now, as they had been his favorite before. Oh well. He would have to eat something if he wanted to put his plan in motion.

He still looked a ragged mess, like some poor beggar boy, but he'd managed to at least wash his face a little. Remy approached the bake shop with caution. The same girl was outside with the tray again. She was a small thing, shorter than him and maybe the same age? Or maybe younger. It was hard to tell.

Other people were hovering around the tray so Remy stood back and waited for a clear opening.

She smiled when she saw him. She waited patiently but was very excited to talk to him. He still looked like a disaster, if he was nice maybe she could help. She did have a place of her own and he looked like he could use a place to crash for a while.

Remy was quick when the crowd parted. But his heart sank just a little to find there were only three cookies left. He didn't want to be that person who took the last one... But he would.

As his hand reached out for the treat another, bigger and stronger one snagged him. "A'right, enough o' you boy. I seen you yestuhday filching treats. These ain't for the likes o' beggers like you!" The baker was rotund and large and much scarier than he should be. Remy balked and tried too hard to get away from him and ended up knocking the tray.

The tray fell from her hands. She turned to the baker. "Don't be mean. Can't you see he's hungry! We throw out so much food a day let him eat the stupid cookies." She bent down to pick up the fallen treats. She gave him a large smile, "Hi, I'm Amani, what's your name?" She pulled a wrapped up package out of her apron and held it to him. "They're ginger snaps, they're from two days ago but they will be good with tea." She have him a reassuring smile.

Remy's eyes were wide with fear. This man could easily call the police on him and get him locked up... And then they would know. They would all know. This nice girl would know too and she would hate him. He wrenched free of the chef and bowed his head. "Sorry sir, won't 'appen again." He backed away as he spoke and lokced eyes with the girl briefly. He made a grab for the cookies and ran off again.

Amani dropped the tray again and yelled,"Hey wait!" she sprinted after him trying to catch his sleeve and round in front of him to talk to him.

Remy's heart was beating in his throat by the time he stopped running. He was on the other side of town now, pressed against an alley wall, trying to catch his breath.

When he could breathe more comfortably, he sat down and began to eat the cookies.

"Damnit, damnit, damnit!" Amani muttered as she moped back to work. She cleaned up the mess she left outside the building. She didn't know how she would be able to help him if he kept running away. She finished her work and stopped by a few shops on the way home, buying a few things as well as keeping an eye out for him. She walked a few minutes into the woods to her tree hoping next time she would be faster.

Remy stayed in the alley for as long as he dare. Even though no one came looking for him. And no one spared him even a glance. It was all in his head, the suspicion that people were after him. He began to relax for once and got to his feet. He would stop being so paranoid, he decided and left the alleyway, walking like anyone else in the crowd. He made his way back to the woods, to gather this things. He would find a new town where people definitely did not know him.

Amani was out the door for work very early this morning. She was taking the shortcut through the woods to the bakery, popping out in the parking lot behin the store. She walked slowly eating an apple, she would get there early anyway and would have to wait to clock in. Amani looked like she hadn't slept well.

He barely slept at all himself. It was much harder to sleep on the ground than he had first anticipated when he'd run off, but it was all he had. The lack of sleep was making him more agitated that usual as he packed his things. He would need a bigger bag, though. There was no way he could keep carrying on with the small one he'd grabbed. Perhaps he could find a thrift store or something on his way out of town...

Amani heard rusting and at this hour that was very weird. All the townsfolk, besides the baker and herself would be asleep. She walked in the direction of the sound, thinking it was a hurt animal or something. Her half eaten apple forgotten about, although still in her hand.