Jane strolled casually through the park, taking in the sights, the smells and the sounds that the place offered. She'd taken to her little walks ever since her parents had started fighting non-stop - she just had to get out.
Today was just like any other spring day in New York - mild, overcast with pollution, but not so bad in the wide expanse of Central Park. It was known as a bad area, but she had her pepper spray, so it didn't particularly phase her.
She'd just sat down to enjoy the lunch she'd packed herself when a boy about her age (18) came barging out of the bushes behind her. Startled, she stood quickly and stared at him. About 6ft tall, attractive with now-messy brown hair, the boy's eyes were punctuated by fear. "You gotta help me!" he panted, obviously out of breath from running. "They're after me!" Jane was about to ask "who", when 2 Black men plunged out of the same thicket the boy had emerged from seconds earlier. The boy moved into an attempt at a fighting stance, but obviously had no idea what he was doing.
One of the boys turned to his companion, looking at Jane, and said in a low voice "Who da fuck is dat?" Jane, having no love for gangbangers and blacks in general, decided to act. Reaching into her purse, she drew out her pepper spray and quickly gave each a squirt to the face. The effect was better than she could imagine. Both of them bolted, disappearing into the distance. The young white-boy eventually wiped the look of amazement off his face and replaced it with one of relief. "Thank you SO much!" he exclaimed. I thought I was dead
"Why were they chasing you?" "I honestly have no clue. Guilty of being white I guess."
"Yeah, you get that", Jane remarked. "Hi, I'm Steffan", the boy stated, taking her hand and shaking it. Normally Jane had a rule about talking to strangers in the park, but this guy seemed okay… and she couldn't deny the strange feelings she felt when she looked him in the eye… "Would you like to join me for lunch?" She said brightly. "How could I turn down an offer like that?" Steffan cheerfully replied.
Well, after talking for a little while, it turned out that Steffan actually lived in the building next to Jane's. Amazed by this coincidence, they spent the rest of the afternoon walking around the park together. Jane couldn't understand the feelings swirling around her head… and not just her head… This boy was doing things to her she'd never felt before… and all he was doing was walking and talking…
Jane didn't have much experience in the opposite sex, as she seldom trusted men living around her area… but she had a fair idea what was going on with her right now…