Day 1.

My name is Sam Harley. Hi. All my life, I have kept a secret, a dangerous one. It could jeopardize me or my family if I let it slip. So I keep it a secret. And I have for now 7 years. Currently, I am 19 in college. I hope to become an artist, I specialize in watercolor and pencil work. Though, I may fail in this profession because I have no money, connections, or friends. I have no friends or connections because I chose not to. If I let anyone and I mean anyone too close, I may spill everything I have worked so hard to keep a secret.

Though it has led me into an undesirable situation. I sit on a bus bench currently, I missed my bus again. I have no car because I have no money. It's currently 10:00 p.m. and the next bus isn't for another hour. I'm cold and tired and I only want to get to bed. This sucks. What is even more sucky is the fact that I'm not the only one. A guy that seems to be in his twenties sits next to me, absorbed by something on his phone. I sigh deeply in frustration. I am in the situation and I have to share this awkward moment with another guy. A shift is heard next to me and I look over to find soft green eyes staring back at me. I almost jump from the intensity of the stare he gives me.

"Hello?" I ask, almost stuttering. I wondered why he looked at me, suddenly snapping away from the bright light emitting from his phone.

He stays silent for a minute, continuing to stare at me, the bench was still ice cold which made this moment more awkward. The man then turns away, putting his phone in the front pocket of the jeans he wore. I felt confused by this action. What was wrong? Minutes passed before the man finally speaks.

"Did you miss your bus?" His deep voice sent shivers through me.

I almost let out a laugh before I stopped myself and I responded, "Isn't it obvious?" I say, stuffing my hands in the pockets of my jeans. The man lets out a quiet hum. Remaining silent once again.

The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

"Where's your car?" He asks after a moment.

"Don't have one."

"A bike?" He presses on.

"Nope." I let out an annoyed sigh. "Where is your car or bike? You are also here so you must've missed your bus."

"Same reason as you." He responds cooly.

No money. He is poor as well. I look over his outfit, His jeans were dirty and old, his t-shirt was getting snug on him and his jacket looked worn out. Almost identical to me. Except I don't have a jacket. I shiver slightly. I then wrap my arm around myself in hopes of warmth, the bus seat never warmed up, not once. I feel eyes on me before I hear another shift beside me. The man was taking off his jacket in one swift moment before he hands it to me.

"Here." He says with a smile. My eyes widen. There's no way he gave me his jacket when it's this cold.

"What about you? It's freezing!" I respond, trying to push the jacket back. He only smiles even more.

"I'm not cold. Don't worry." He gives me back the jacket and I don't move to put it on. He gives me a look that says he isn't going to change his mind. I sigh and I put on the jacket, zipping it up and stuffing my face into the jacket.

"What's your name?" I ask after a moment. I thought I should know the name of someone who handed me their jacket in freezing weather.

"Gregory. Greg for short" He responds, leaning back against the bench. "Yours?"

"Sammy. Sam for short." I respond, a smile forming on my face. The man lets out a chuckle.

"Sammy. I like that better. It's cute." He says, shifting his green eyes back over to me, I could've sworn they looked as if they had a hint of gold. I turn away and I hide my face in my jacket again out of embarrassment.

"Thanks..." I mumble.

For the rest of the time, we remained silent, and then the bus finally came. I stepped on the crowded bus and I slip into an empty seat. With no surprise, Greg slips in next to me considering there was only one more seat next to a man with greasy hair and suspicious bags. By suspicious I mean that it could hold a body.

We didn't bring up any conversation and then Greg's stop came. I try to give him his jacket back.

"Keep it. You will need it more than me." And with that, he left. I sigh in frustration. I didn't like taking people's stuff, but he insisted so I guess it's okay.

15 minutes later, I arrive at my house downtown. It isn't much but it'll do. I walk inside and I take off my shoes. I immediately head to bed, laying my head against the soft pillow. It took me exactly an hour to fall asleep. My mind was clouded with Gregory.