The restaurant was surrounded by a rusty oil stained fence. Dead grass and thorny looking weeds were growing along the sorry excuse for metal. The space between the barricade and the building created a narrow ally.

I’d go that way.

I reached the back of the building. Hopping the fence was harder than it should have been. Thanks to this bum arm. The narrow space between structure and fence was big enough to travel along but I had to travel slow.

I was around three feet from the delivery parking strip on the other side of the building. Once I crossed that I’d be on safer ground.

My heart started to pound again for no reason. That was odd. There were no new noises, nothing I could see. Usually I hear of feel fear before I actually see and acknowledge it. There was nothing.

Then suddenly an overwhelming sense of peace washed over me. I took it as a good sign and started to run. I ran right out of the crag like space, and straight into a girl.

It was a hard blow, my torso against hers. We both went flying. I mumbled a string of profanities before landing flat on my back. While she screamed bloody murder.

Damn it. She probably gave me away now. And what the fuck was she doing out at this time a night!

I was on my feet in an instant, so was she.

I could hear foot steps coming towards me but I didn’t care. I was face to face with the most beautiful eyes. Even in the dark I could see the clear blue gaze piercing me. I was frozen. No this was impossible. What was she doing here?

"Spencer?" I breathed, just loud enough so she could hear. Recognition sparked in her eyes and her mouth opened slightly. She was shocked. It was written clear on her face. Her beautiful eyes blinked open and close a few times, as if checking to see if this was a dream.

"Ashley?" she said just as softly. If I thought I lost my brain earlier, it was gone now. Clouded and fogged up beyond use for the rest of the night. The foot steps were getting closer and louder but they sounded muted. Everything sounded muted. I felt like I was on another planet, like my own little bubble with Spencer. All thoughts and fears drained out of my mind like water in a sink.

A male figure appeared in the shadows. Slowly coming towards me and my old childhood friend. He was nothing but a dark silhouette behind the girl.

"Spencer? Are you ok" His voice questioned. Fatherly concern was present in his tough police voice. It sent chills through me but I couldn’t take my eyes of the blonde.

"Spencer?" his voice was held a twinge of anxiety now. She still didn’t respond to him. Our eyes were locked and we’d lost the key. He stepped close and finally came view.

"Oh my god" he breathed out. It was Arthur Carlin, Spencer’s father. At one point he was like a father to me too. He froze as well, blinking his eyes a good amount a times. We were all lost in our memories.

His shiny badge on his black uniform was the only thing that snapped me back to reality. He was a cop and I was the culprit. Sure we had history but this was his job he had to do what he had to do.

I could not get caught!

He noticed my realization. He put his arms up as you would to a dangerous animal. His voice was gentle, soothing. "Ashley it’s ok… just-"

A low menacing growl cut him off. A blur of something came charging out of the alley. It growled deep in his throat letting out a few sharp barks of warning. I backed up slowly. The waist high object lunged towards Arthur and Spencer Carlin. It was a fake lunge but Spencer screamed anyways.

There was screaming and barking and shouting. And soon more foot steps were making their way over to us. My brained cleared just enough for me to realize I had to get the hell out of here. I used this as my escape, and ran.

I ran back the way I came with only three things on my mind…

Run, and don’t stop.

Thank you dog!

And Spencer Carlin…