Red sighed, wiping away the tears Blue had left on his face. His brother was a handful to take care of and calm down. But Red couldn't help but love him. he calmly stood and walked over to the sink, looking at his puffy, tear stained face. He calmly took a paper towel from the dispenser opposite him, wet it under a stream of warm water, and wiped down his face. The others were talking so loudly I could hardly think.

This is so scary! Purple whimpered.
I don't trust all these people. Blue said.
Cheer up, Blue! Yellow chirped. All these strangers are just friends we don't know yet! I want to know ALL of them!
Oh hell no. Green grumbled. I'm tired of you nerds all complaining and being overly optimistic. Can you calm down?
I agree with Yellow! Orange chimed in, completely ignoring Green. The more friends the better!

"Shut up!" Red hissed at them. "God, I can't think with you all yelling like this! We need to find a newspaper or something!"

Or we could ask someone for directions to the nearest police station and we can get help there? Orange suggested.
No, they're not going to help us. Green insisted.
How do you know that? Orange argued back.
They had a birth certificate on record. Green hissed. Why is it that no one found it suspicious that we were never seen anywhere? The only child of an important family figure in the community never being seen in public? Never being entered into a prestigious private school? No one found that suspicious at all?

Everyone was silent. There were no answers. They were all more scared and unsure than ever. Red shook himself off and ran from the bathroom and the coffee shop.

Everyone in the coffee shop was shocked. A man who had run in wearing a blue onesie ran out wearing a red one with an entirely different hair color. But he was gone before they could ask him any questions.

Red ran down the streets of Seattle, not looking for anything, just running without reason or thought. He didn't know what he was running from or where he was going. All he could think about was the fear he felt. The fear of being in a place he didn't know, with a crowd of strangers, how he was alone, and the fear of himself. Being himself, and what he might turn into because of his fear. He didn't need Purple. Purple would be the last thing he wanted right now. Purple couldn't handle this world. Nobody but him could do this. He needed to do this on his own.

That's when he ran into a stranger.

The man was riding his bike on the sidewalk when Red slammed into him at full speed. At least, as fast as a skinny, under exercised boy could run. Surprisingly fast considering.

"FUCK!" The man screamed as they toppled over together. Red screamed, and suddenly he was painfully tangled up with a man and his bicycle.

On top of a stranger.

Red jumped up, apologizing profusely. "I'm so sorry! I'm so sorry, sir! I'm so sorry!" He stuttered, reaching out to help the stranger up. But he stopped. Woah.

Red wasn't very well educated due to his parents neglect, but this stranger was different from the other ones. He caught Red's attention. He was... Red didn't have the words for it. Attractive?

"I, I'm sorry!" Red said again.

God, shut up, Red. Green grumbled. You sound like an idiot.

The stranger simply chuckled and took Red's hand. "It's fine. You're sorry."

"Y-yeah."

He gave Red a good long look up and down the length of his body. "Nice onesie." He commented.

Red felt his cheeks heat up and everyone in his head clamored at the strangers words. "Thank you?"

The man laughed again. "You don't have to sound unsure. It was a compliment." Red smiled a little. The stranger seemed kind enough. Yellow and Orange seemed to be warming up to him. The cool colors seemed reluctant.

"So what's your name?" The man asked.

Oh no, what do I say? Red asked in a panic.
Ask him for his name first! Orange insisted. Red decided to take his advice. He was the social expert amongst them.

"You first." Red said.

The man nodded. "My name is John, but people just call be Barney."

Red swallowed the nervous lump in his throat. It was his turn now. The first time telling his name to a stranger. "My name is Red."

Barney laughed loudly. It was a nice sound. High pitched and full of soul. "I can see why." Red smiled. But wider this time. He liked Barney.

"I am really sorry about your bike." Red said, looking down at the wreckage.

"It's alright. I was going to buy a new one anyway." Barney told him. Red nodded, but couldn't help but feeling guilty.

Maybe there's something we can do to make up for it? Orange insisted.

Red wasn't hesitant, as were the others. The only ones who seemed to like this idea were Yellow and Orange. But Red decided to take a chance.

"I feel really bad." Red insisted. "There has to be something I can do to make up for this."

Barney seemed to hesitate. He stare at Red, almost as if trying to decide something. It made Red a little nervous. But he had already decided that this was what he wanted to do.

"Alright." Barney finally said. "Meet me here at 6:00 tonight."

Red was confused and nervous, but too curious to refuse. "Alright." Red replied. Barney grinned wide.

"Alright! It's a date." With that, he walked off.

Red was confused. A date? What did that mean?

This better turn out well. Green growled.