John Pov
Alex and I stood at the edge of the road, still stripped down to our boxers and socks and Alex still had the bandage wrapped tightly around his arm.

The jumpsuit fell off his arm when we were climbing the fence.

"You know, I don't think anyone's going to pick us up. We outta go find some dollar store and steal some clothes and shit so we might actually get somewhere." Alex said.

I watched a car speed by, despite my attempt to hitchhike.

"Yeah. I think you're right." I said in defeat, letting my arm drop down.

We started to walk down the road, not talking too much but it wasn't absolute silence. We listened to cars zoom by, some of them blasting music.

I put my arm around Alex's shoulders and he did the same for me.

"You have nice biceps."
"Thanks."

He nodded.

"Wanna see where I was shot?"
He asked.

Oh damn.
I forgot that he was shot.

"Yeah sure."
I replied.

He took his arm off me and pointed about four inches above his right hip.

"It fractured my rib cage, went up through my liver and splintered my second lumbar vertebra, where it lodged." He told me.

"Your what now?"
I asked.

He sighed, laughing softly.
"My lower back." Alex said.

"Then why is the scar there?" I asked. "Because that's where the bullet hit me. The rest happened inside of my chest." He said.

"..Did it hurt?" I asked.

He chuckled, making me laugh along with him.

"No John. It felt amazing. My body loves being shot at. I lust the feeling," He said.

I burst out laughing, letting go of him to punch his arm.

"No, but uh..I wasn't supposed to make that out alive. They said I was supposed to be crippled after what happened, but some fuckin' miracle of- and get this- hospitals occurred and I survived that shit, walking away from it even."
He said.

"Damn." I muttered.
"What war were you fighting in?"
I asked.

"Well, they said I was to go to Iraq but was almost immediately taking out of that war and was sent to Afghanistan instead." He told me.

"Why were you taken out?" I asked.

"I..
got into some trouble with a few of my superiors...
in other words, I may or may not helped my friend fist fight another one of our own soldiers."
He said, smiling.

I snickered.
"Why'd you fight him?" I asked.

"The guy thought it was a good idea to say, and I quote,
'Hamilton is the bastard brat of a Scotch pedlar."
My friend, Morris, overheard and socked the guy...
And I pushed him into a trench."

I burst out laughing again.

"But anyway," He quickly said, a smile still on his face.

"I sort of fought in the war but most of my time was spent either helping plan attacks or you know, medical work. I was shot trying to help get a bullet out of Morris, who I mentioned earlier. He made it and right as I started to help him up I was hit."
He said.

"Sounds fun." I noted.
"Oh shut up," He breathed.

"What about you.
Got any..cool stories?"
He asked.

I thought for a minute.

"When I was seventeen, and I was in London at the time for school, I always wanted to get into some kind of medical school, and even thought of joining the army to be a doctor," I said pausing.

"Aw, you would've met me.
I mean..
probably.
I don't know if it would've gone to great. I was a bit of a prick when I was eighteen." He muttered.

"Oh, and what's changed?"
I asked playfully.

He rolled his eyes. Another car zoomed by and I wanted them to stop so badly. We've been walking for a good thirty minutes. Maybe a little longer.

"Anyway, I decided to do as my dad wanted and did law. I didn't hate it when I actually got into a law school, but when I was seventeen and everyone was trying to decide what they wanted to do when they were older, a bunch of London's biggest schools principles showed at my own school to talk about how amazing their school is...
I may shouted at this ridiculously stupid principle and nearly got suspended." I told Alex.

Alex smiled, laughing softly.
I realized that I could see a city not to far away. I nudged Alex who instantly saw what I saw.

We made short eye contact, then both took off like bullets, our socks tearing against the hot pavement.

I never thought I'd feel that rush of hope flowing through my body again. The adrenaline going insane nonstop from my fingertips to the pit of my stomach.

I know Alex felt it too.

I glanced at him and saw the spark in his eye, shining brighter than usual.
~•~•~•~

At last we hit the edge of the city, standing on the sidewalk, both of us slowing down and standing at the corner of a street.

People rushed by, staring at us. I mean, it's not everyday that you see two young adults, mostly naked, in public.

Alex nudged me and pointed to a dollar shop, next to a small coffee shop.

He kissed me,
then whispered,
"I'll beat you there,"

"Fuck you Alex." I whispered back.

"Love you too Laurens." He said, strolling down the side walk, gaining everyone's eyes on him.

Did he say..
he loves me?

..And there's that rush of adrenaline again.