The sound of the falling rain against the pavement almost drowned out the gentle voice from behind Luke. He didn’t hear the words, but knew that they were directed at him. Turning on his heels, he was met with a black wallet being pushed into his face.
Luke looked from the man to the wallet a few times before shifting his umbrella and patting his pockets. “Well I’ll be damned.” Luke shook his head, offering the stranger a small smile as he took his wallet back. “Hey, thanks man–”
No sooner than the words left his lips, the man had turned and continued in the rain. Luke watched him for a second before frowning and going after him. “Hey! Hey, wait!” Once he got the man’s attention again, he offered another smile. “You drink coffee? Lemme buy ya one. We can git outta this damn rain, too.”
Unbelievable. It was such a bad day today; with all the tension back at home, he was hoping he could’ve gotten away for a while. Got away from all the yelling, all the accusations and physical objects thrown around. The last thing he wanted was to watch some asshole, oblivious to everyone in the world around him, drop something--his damn wallet--and be responsible for someone else’s lost item. He shouldn’t have to do this, he wasn’t at home playing a game of animal crossing...but at least the weather was nice.
After he’d picked it up, he was disappointed in himself; just as Uncle Pete was, just like his damn father, and dear Linda. They were all disappointed in him, and now he was too. But he flipped it open to check its contents--a drivers license, the mans name was Luke Carver. A credit card stuffed into one of the slips with a different first name on it, along with about a thousand other cards. Gift cards or membership cards, and loose change in the main part. A few cards there too, and some cash. This guy would be lost without this damn messy thing.
He didn’t want to resign to taking this item back to it’s owner when all he had set out to do was catch a cold. And he was soaked, freezing even. But this is what he wanted, on most days. To succumb to the elements. To let the rain rinse him from the thoughts burned into his head, to wash all the negativity away--but also still to just succumb to the elements. He wanted that damn cold.
He sighed, knowing the nearest police station was farther than he was willing to walk for a stupid wallet, and pursued the man who dropped it. He spent so much damn time contemplating what to do he’d almost lost him. And he was positive this would end quickly, well, maybe sure was a better word.
Five seconds of courage allowed him to speak up, which all in itself was a rare occurrence for Nick with strangers. He just knew that he was unlucky enough to have seen him drop it, so in the end, if it came down to it he’d just throw the damn thing at him and book it. But he turned around, and Nick averted his eyes just a bit to avoid any accidental contact. He made sure that this guy knew it was his wallet, though. Shove it in his face for a better look, he’d better take it and not say ‘oh that cant be mine’.
“I...think you dropped this.”
Humble, was all Nick could think of him before the man took what was rightfully his. He turned on his heel and left in the opposite direction. Maybe he’d go to the park--he was sure Uncle Pete would find him no matter where he went, but he especially hated looking in the park. And it’s not that he wanted to give him a hard time, he just didn’t want to go back home.
But he frowned, hearing heavy footsteps behind him and an eager voice. Really? This guy was going to give him a hard time, when all he wanted was to find a nice wet spot in the park to call his grave? He sighed, the rain had created enough chill to show his breath. He held himself as opposed to pocketing his hands, which he normally would have done. But he regarded the man for a moment, before frowning again.
“It..it’s fine. You don’t have’ta make it up to me or nothin’, jus’..whatever.” Nick shrugged, hoping to avoid any more conversation. He turned away once more.
