Chapter 4 - Social decline

A week passed, and our homeless boy kept his distance from Petal. He felt guilty for causing her to become an outcast, just because she interacted with him in public. Of course, he followed her and watched the girl's everyday movement. There were moments and instances when he felt like a stalker, but he couldn't help it. Something was drawing him towards her. An invisible thread dragged him every day across the city to all the spots she was frequenting, only to spot her smiling face. 

After that little fight with her friends over him, they became a little distant as well. They kept her around them, but didn't interact much with her. That one friend, whom she walked with that fateful day, was the only one who walked alongside Petal. He caught her name. That girl's name was Zina, with a short-cut bob and brown, glaring eyes. Despite being Petal's friend, he did not have a high opinion of her.  

The way she talked about him was vile. He was a human being as well, a little bit unlucky in life, but still... At least Petal had a heart. Grabbing his chest, he sighed. His cheeks flushed. So much time had passed, and he couldn't get Petal out of his head. What was this weird obsession? He must find out!

*

Another day and again, Petal walked behind her so-called friends. The three guys and three other girls were walking next to each other, talking. Petal, with a downcast face, was far behind them. Was she still part of the group?

Our guy was worried. He plopped down on the grass, dipping his face into his knees. He never should have let her come close to him, but how could he even? He was out of his mind, almost fully unconscious, when she walked up to him to help him. 

He wished he could help her. Brushing the hair out of his face, he looked up again. Petals' friends were gone, and she stood across the street, holding the school back in front of her. Their eyes met, and hers lit up. At the closed crossing, she sped over. 

The flustered homeless guy began to scramble on the ground. What should he do?! Nobody can see them together. He grabbed his knees again and became a small ball of misery. Petal stopped halfway. She saw his reaction. Her face became gloomy again, hung low. The girl turned and walked off. 

She felt that she bothered him too much. At the last step, she stopped and straightened up. For a moment, turning towards our homeless guy, looking. She ran up, put something on the ground in front of him, and ran away. He was taken aback, glancing at the small bag she had left behind.

After opening and checking the inside, he spotted some food, water, and a handmade bracelet. What was that about?! Anyways, it made him smile.

* 

Five days had passed, and he hadn't seen her in the meantime. Hiding in his usual spot. On the grass near the bushes across the school, he was in a bad mood, and then he heard it. 
"Anastasia... Mira... wait for me!" Turning, he spotted Zina running up to the other two girls who hung out with Petal in the past. One tall blond with ocean blue eyes and a thick accent, probably Anastasia. The other, a little shorter than her but taller than Zina. Fiery red hair and green eyes. That was Mira. 

He heard them talking crap about Petal, which infuriated him. Fake friends... one of the reasons he hated other humans. "Hey Zina! Where is your midget friend? Did she finally get the memo that she shouldn't show her face in front of us?" Anastasia snickered. "At least, she can hang out with the homeless people, after we are done with her." Mira's evil words echoed in our guy's ears. 

How could they?! Petal appeared out of nowhere. She heard every single word. The homeless guy saw her first. He was horrified and speechless. All this just because she chose to help him. Should he step in? Should he protect her? What if he makes it even worse? 

Then they appeared... The three ruthless guys. The main perpetrator who shouted at our guy before, the other day. That tall, black-haired, and green-eyed devil... Joshua. And the two henchmen. Brown semi-short hair and the same brown boyish eyes. Our boy, though his name was Danny. And Mark was the one with the buzz cut, blond hair, and strict silver eyes.

Joshua came up from behind Petal and put his arm around her, dragging her with him. "Oh, common ladies! Stop the nonsense, or you will hurt her feelings." He said that in a mocking tone. Petal did not dare to look up and kept staring at the gravel under her feet. 

The three girls turned towards the sound of Joshua's voice. They saw Petal. At least Zina had the decency to look guilty by turning her face away. Anastasia, with folded arms, dobbled down. "So what! She should already know the truth and know her place." Coming closer and pointing her finger at her forehead. "You should be grateful just by breathing the air near us." 

Mira kept smirking from behind Anastasia. Zina continued to look uncomfortable, as her friend was publicly humiliated, but couldn't say anything. Joshua squeezed Petal's shoulders even more. Danny and Mark were silently judging the poor girl. Everybody was jointly looking down on Petal.

Finally, she brushed Joshua's arm away, glaring into his eyes, and without a word or a fight, she walked away from the group. For a brief moment, her eyes met with Zinas, and she just shook her head and continued to walk away. 

After this uncomfortable show, our homeless guy went to the city to get some money by begging next to the road. He sat in the shadow of a small cherry tree, staring holes into nothingness. The weather began to shift again. From the sunny scorching heat into strong rain. Did he stand up and go into hiding? No, his mood was soiled by what he witnessed a few hours ago, and for being the reason for Petal's social decline. 

The rain became even stronger. The huge TV on the street aired a live weather forecast, but our boy did not pay any attention to it. His clothes were already soaked. The droplets were slowly collecting on the tips of his hair. With the head pointing toward the ground, he sulked. 

Suddenly, a pair of tiny women's shoes appeared in front of him, and the rain stopped pouring over him. The boy slowly looked up. 

Petal!

Her facial expression was downcast just the same as the weather. Her eyes filled with tears. "I told you to take better care of yourself. Why don't you have the umbrella I gave you? Look at yourself, you are soaking! "

The young man was shocked. Was she sad because of him? Then something caught his attention behind Petal. That huge street TV... the weather forecast. They showed live footage from the harbor... the bridge under which he lived. The water was rising dangerously close to his hiding space. 

His photo album! The only thing he owned from his past life!!! He had to get there before the water does. The boy jumped up, which frightened Petal. Dropping the umbrella from her hand, she fell to the ground. For a second, they silently stared at each other... Why did she react in this manner?