"Jackpot!" Alex shouted as the restaurant's back door creaked open, spilling rays of warm, yellow light into the damp alley.
A familiar worker stepped out, carrying a large bag and a soda.
"Hello, Jimmy!" Alex waved eagerly at his favorite worker.
"Hey there, Alex!" Jimmy, a tall, stocky worker with a friendly grin, stepped out with a warm smile, holding up the bag like a small treasure, just out of Alex's reach.
"Hey, give me that!" Alex jumped trying to reach it.
"Easy there, tiger. You know the drill, show me the papers." said Jimmy reaching his hand.
Sighing, Alex fished a crumpled, grimy paper from his pocket. He smoothed it against his thigh before handing it over. Jimmy scanned the ink. "A C-plus? Not bad, kid. You're keeping your head above water."
He handed the food over, his expression turning serious. "Stay in that building, I know you're tempted to quit school and start working, but no one's going to hire you straight off the streets. You've got to finish school, Alex."
"I know," Alex said, clutching the warm bag to his chest like a treasure. "I'm trying, Thank you Jimmy."
"We would've tossed this anyway," Jimmy lied with a wink. "Just remember you owe me for the soda. That didn't come from the kitchen."
"I'll pay you back. I promise."
"I got to go. It was nice seeing you, Alex. Take care."
"Take care, Jimmy. Thank you."
With that, Alex walked back to his spot between the alleyways. It was relatively safe, a known sleeping place for homeless kids, so people in the neighborhood tended to keep an extra eye on it.
Walking down his favorite alley, Alex soon reached what he liked to call the Rabbit Hole. It was filled with kids his age, boys and girls who had banded together to look out for one another.
Some kids had drifted away over time, and very few remained. Alex sometimes thought about leaving too; he didn't like sharing his food. But there was one reason he always stayed.
"ALEX IS BACK!" shouted a young, red-haired girl named Lily as she spotted him first and alerted the others.
With a cheer, the Rabbits emerged from their little burrows, two boys and a girl. All the kids who stayed behind in the Rabbit Hole.
Alex lifted the bag. "The food is here!"
The youngest Rabbit, Casey, was always given her food first. Next came Lily, and then the boys, Ethan and Victor, received theirs last. Each kid got a simple burger, while the fries were shared among everyone.
The soda was originally for Alex, but soon it started being passed around, with each Rabbit taking a small sip, everyone except Casey, who was forgiven for going over her limit.
"Alex, the fitness gym revoked our trial membership today," Ethan said, breaking the bad news as they ate.
"What? They can't do that! We still have a week left," Alex protested.
The trial membership was their only reliable access to showers. Community centers existed, but they had strict rules, limited hours, and almost no privacy.
At the gym, they could wash up quickly, safely, and without anyone staring. Losing it meant they'd have to go to school smelling bad something they'd gone to great lengths to avoid.
They'd been through so many trial memberships, bouncing from gym to gym, losing some, being kicked out of others, but never before had one been revoked before the end.
Ethan shrugged, trying to hide his frustration. "I just don't know how… the community center showers are never empty, and we'd have to wait forever."
Victor muttered, "And they're always watching, like we're some kind of charity project. I'd rather stink than deal with that."
"Then I think we need to scout for more fitness centers tomorrow after school," Alex said. "Anyway, I'm tired and have to get to school. Goodnight, everyone."
"Goodnight, Alex. I'll take the first watch, then it's your turn. Ethan, you okay with that?" Victor asked.
"Yeah, sure. Goodnight," Ethan replied.
The next morning, Alex shuffled into class, still tired from the night in the alley. His bag was slung over one shoulder, and he tried to blend in at the back of the room.
The class blur of hunger and exhaustion. Alex sat in the back of History, his head throbbing under the fluorescent lights. He tried to focus on the chalkboard, but the dates and names swam together.
"Alex, can I have a word?"
Alex approached shyly. Ms. Harper was among the few who truly took care of him, often giving him extra food and cutting him some slack on his assignments. He respected her greatly for her kindness and she was also very beautiful.
"You look a little tired," she said softly. "Everything okay?"
"Yeah... everything is fine," he lied, looking at his shoes.
She gave him a knowing look. "I know life isn't always easy, Alex. But I want you to know that if you or your friends ever need a safe place, my home has room for dinner tonight. Nothing fancy, just home-cooked food food and company."
Alex blinked, surprised. "Th-thank you, Ms. Harper," he said quietly.
"I mean it," she said, giving him a reassuring nod. "Bring Ethan, Victor, Casey, Lily, anyone their age. Just be sure to come at the evening, okay?"
A small spark of warmth spread through Alex's chest. For the first time in a long while, the day ahead didn't feel quite so heavy.
Alex swallowed, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Thank you, Ms. Harper. Really… I appreciate it. We'll be there."
"Good," she said, smiling once more. "See you all this evening."
As Alex left the classroom, he felt lighter than he had in weeks. For the first time, he could imagine a safe place, a warm meal and company waiting for him and his friends.