The next day arrived with a mix of excitement and nerves buzzing in Noir's chest. He had agreed to Jess's plan, but something in the back of his mind kept telling him to stay sharp. Don't trust him completely. Keep your eyes open.
As the sun dipped behind the horizon, casting the slums in an eerie half-light, Noir made his way to their usual meeting spot near the school. He got there early, eyes scanning the empty streets. The usual evening noise—the vendors packing up, kids being called home—echoed through the narrow alleyways.
After a few minutes, Jess strolled up, looking as calm and confident as ever. "Ready?" he asked with that familiar grin.
Noir nodded, keeping his face neutral. "Yeah. Just remember, we get in and out fast. No messing around."
Jess raised his hands, mocking surrender. "Got it. In and out. No games." But there was a spark in his eyes that made Noir's stomach twist.
They slipped toward the side entrance of the school, sticking to the shadows like they'd been doing this for years. Jess pulled a key from his pocket and held it up with a wink. "Swiped this from one of the janitors. Makes things easier, huh?"
Noir's heart raced as Jess unlocked the door. This is it, he thought. The door clicked open, and they stepped into the dimly lit hallways. The scent of chalk and paper hit him instantly, and he felt an odd thrill shoot up his spine.
Jess led the way, casual as ever, past darkened classrooms until they reached a door at the end of the hallway. "Storage room," Jess whispered. "Full of old books and supplies. No one checks it."
With a gentle push, Jess opened the door, and Noir's eyes widened. Shelves packed with books. Boxes filled with notebooks, pens, supplies—things he'd never had access to. For a second, he forgot to be cautious. His eyes darted from shelf to shelf, absorbing everything. This is what I need.
"See anything you like?" Jess leaned casually against the doorway, watching him.
Noir moved fast, pulling down a few books. His fingers traced the words on the pages, as if touching them might make the knowledge sink in faster. He grabbed an old math book, a dictionary, and some half-used notebooks. So much to learn...
Jess chuckled from the doorway. "You really are hungry for this stuff, huh?"
Noir shrugged, trying to play it cool. "I just... I need to know more. I need to get out of here someday."
Jess nodded, smiling. "Fair enough. But hey, don't worry. I've got your back."
Before Noir could respond, footsteps echoed in the hallway outside. His heart leapt into his throat. Jess's expression shifted immediately from relaxed to alert. "Quick, hide!" he whispered, grabbing Noir's arm and pulling him behind a stack of boxes.
The footsteps got louder, closer, and Noir's heart pounded in his chest. If we get caught... He glanced at Jess, who, oddly enough, didn't seem worried at all. In fact, there was a tiny smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. Why is he so calm?
A janitor appeared at the doorway, peering into the room, muttering to himself. Jess pressed a finger to his lips, signaling Noir to stay quiet. Noir held his breath. After what felt like an eternity, the janitor turned and shuffled back down the hallway, oblivious to their presence.
Jess exhaled and stood up, grinning like it had all been a joke. "See? No problem." He glanced at Noir. "Grab a couple more things, and let's get outta here."
Noir's mind was still racing, but he grabbed another book and tucked it under his arm. Why didn't he seem worried? Something about Jess's calm reaction gnawed at him. "I'm ready. Let's go."
They slipped back toward the side entrance, just as quietly as they had entered. But then Jess stopped, eyes sparkling with mischief. "Hey, you know what would be fun?"
Noir shot him a wary look. "What?"
Jess leaned in, eyes twinkling. "We should leave something behind. Move a chair, knock over some books. Make the teachers think the place is haunted or something."
Noir felt a cold shiver run down his spine. What's with him? "No," he said firmly. "We came to get what we needed, not to mess around. You promised."
Jess raised his hands again, laughing. "Alright, alright. No fun, I get it." But as they continued toward the door, Noir couldn't shake the feeling that Jess was testing him—seeing how far he could push.
Once they were outside, Noir let out a sigh of relief. "We made it," he murmured, clutching the books tightly to his chest.
Jess nodded, looking pleased. "Told you, nothing to worry about." He gave Noir a strange look, one that was friendly but had something else lurking beneath the surface—something Noir couldn't quite put his finger on. "So, what's next? Wanna do this again sometime?"
Noir hesitated. He knew he should say no. He should walk away now, before things got too complicated. But the pull of the books, the taste of something more... it was hard to resist. "Maybe," he replied cautiously. "We'll see."
Jess's grin widened. "Great. I think we make a solid team, you and me." He clapped Noir on the shoulder and turned to leave. "See you around, Noir."
As Jess disappeared into the night, Noir stood there, clutching the books, his instincts screaming at him to be careful. He's helping me... but why? There was a small part of him, though, that wanted to believe Jess was genuine. That maybe, just maybe, he wasn't as bad as he seemed.
I'll stay sharp, Noir told himself. I'll play along, but I won't let my guard down.
Over the next few weeks, Jess showed up almost daily. He brought books, food, small gifts—sometimes a pencil, sometimes even a clean shirt. And each time, Jess seemed genuinely interested in Noir's thoughts, his dreams.
One day, as they sat in a quiet corner, flipping through pages of a book, Jess said, "You're smarter than most of the kids I know. You've got something special, Noir. Don't let anyone tell you different."
Noir felt warmth spread through his chest, a rare feeling that he was slowly getting used to. "Thanks," he said, still cautious but starting to believe Jess might be right. "I just... I need to find a way out of here."
Jess nodded thoughtfully. "And you will. We will. I'm with you, Noir. I wanna help you get there."
Their meetings became routine, almost comforting. Jess always showed up with something new—a book, a small radio, food he claimed he'd made himself. Noir found himself looking forward to these moments, feeling a strange sense of normalcy. And Jess's words always seemed to lift his spirits.
"You're different," Jess remarked one day, his tone casual but sincere. "Most people just settle for what life gives them. But you—you're always fighting, always wanting more."
Noir shrugged, though he couldn't help the small smile tugging at his lips. "I guess I have to. I don't have much of a choice."
Jess seemed to understand. "But you do have a choice. And you're choosing to be stronger, to rise above. That's something to be proud of."
Slowly, Noir began to trust Jess more. He shared bits of his past—things he hadn't told anyone. And Jess listened, nodding at the right moments, sometimes laughing, always seeming genuine. Noir began to believe that maybe, for the first time, he had found a real friend.
One evening, as they sat under the dim glow of a flickering streetlamp, Jess handed Noir a fresh notebook, the cover smooth and unblemished.
"Thought you could use this," Jess said with a grin. "Your other ones are falling apart."
Noir took the notebook, fingers tracing the clean edges. "Thanks," he mumbled, feeling a warmth spread through him. "You're always bringing me stuff. Why are you doing all this?"
Jess laughed. "I told you, I wanna help. You've got something special, Noir. I don't wanna see it wasted."
Noir felt a strange mix of emotions—gratitude, confusion, and hope. "No one's ever... done anything like this for me," he admitted quietly.
Jess smiled, soft and understanding. "Well, maybe they should've. You deserve it, Noir. You deserve better."
Noir started to believe that maybe, just maybe, Jess was right. But even as he let himself feel hope, a small voice inside him still whispered: Be careful.
Over the next few weeks, their routine continued. Jess kept bringing books, new supplies, and little bits of encouragement. Noir began to rely on these moments more than he wanted to admit. But every time Jess flashed that easy grin, something in Noir's gut told him to stay alert.
One afternoon, as they sat in their usual spot near the school, Jess handed Noir a small bundle. "Got something special for you today," he said, eyes gleaming.
Noir raised an eyebrow. "What's this?"
Jess unwrapped the bundle to reveal a pair of sneakers. They weren't brand-new, but they were clean and in way better condition than the falling-apart shoes Noir had been wearing. "I noticed yours are practically disintegrating," Jess said with a laugh. "Figured you could use these."
Noir blinked, surprised. He hadn't expected Jess to notice—or care. "You got these for me?"
Jess shrugged like it wasn't a big deal. "Yeah. Thought you'd appreciate them. Plus, if we ever need to run, you're gonna want decent shoes."
Noir felt a lump form in his throat. He stared at the sneakers, trying to keep his voice steady. "Thanks," he mumbled. "I don't really know what to say."
"You don't have to say anything," Jess said, flashing that familiar grin. "Just put them on. We've got places to be."
As Noir slipped on the sneakers, they fit perfectly, better than anything he'd had in years. He couldn't shake the gratitude swirling inside him, but that little voice was still there. Why's he doing all this? What does he want? But for now, Noir kept quiet.
The next few days felt like they were falling into a pattern. Jess showed up, like clockwork, always with something new—books, treats, or stories from his life. One day, Jess leaned back against a wall and said, "I've been thinking... You're too smart to stay stuck here. You've got so much potential, Noir."
Noir shrugged, keeping his guard up. "I don't know. It's hard to believe that sometimes."
Jess placed a hand on his shoulder, eyes serious. "Believe it. You've got something special. You just need the right opportunities. And I think I can help with that."
Noir felt that warmth in his chest again, that rare feeling of hope sneaking in. "You really think so?"
"I know so," Jess said with certainty. "And I'm not just talking. I'll help you get out of here. We'll find a way."
For a moment, Noir allowed himself to trust those words. "Thanks, Jess," he said quietly, for what felt like the hundredth time.
Jess grinned. "What are friends for?"
The bond between them felt real, growing stronger every day. Jess was always there, always encouraging, always bringing something new. He had even started talking about bigger plans.
"You know," Jess said one day, as they sat under a tree in a quiet corner of the city, "I've got an idea. Something that could really change things for you."
Noir looked at him, curiosity sparking. "What kind of idea?"
Jess glanced around, making sure no one was listening. "I know where we can get some real money—enough to make a big difference. But we'd have to be smart. It's risky, but it could be worth it."
Noir felt his heart race, a mix of excitement and apprehension. Money? That sounded tempting, but the word risky clung to his mind. "What kind of risk?"
Jess's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Nothing too crazy. Just an opportunity. I'll explain more soon, but think about it, alright? We could both get something out of this."
Noir nodded slowly, feeling conflicted. He trusted Jess more now, but something about this plan made his gut twist. "I'll think about it."
"Good," Jess said, flashing that confident smile. "We'll make it work. I promise."
As Noir made his way home that evening, his thoughts were a tangled mess. He felt closer to Jess than ever, and the idea of money—a way out—was hard to resist. But that small voice inside, the one that had always kept him safe, wouldn't stop whispering: Stay alert. Don't let your guard down.
I've trusted him this far, Noir thought, clutching the notebook Jess had given him earlier. But there's always a cost.
The night settled over the slums, dark and quiet, but for the first time in a long while, Noir wasn't sure if he should feel hopeful or afraid.
Whatever happens, he decided, I'll play along. But I'll be ready for whatever Jess is planning.