[ WP ] Make us fall in love with your character , and then immediately kill them off .

The hard slapping of his feet upon the pavement accompanied by the ferocious gales and wet needles. Seeking refuge, he runs beneath the busy freeway. He curls his fingers into his palms and vigorously rubs them. His eyes are a puffy red from crying. 
 
 `` You'll never start a fire that wa-'' 
 
 `` HOLY FUCKING SHIT!'' The kid, panting like a dog, hastily spins around and spots the old bum sitting in front of a trash can. 
 
 `` Check this shit out, boy.'' The old bum strikes a match and throws it in the barrel, a fresh fire burst into flames. `` You ever see fire before? F-I-R-E. Fire. It's pretty cool shit.'' 
 
 The kid just watched the old bum, afraid to move closer, but afraid to leave. *I'd rather be dry than wet. * 
 
 `` You comin' over or you just gon na stand there like a retard?'' 
 
 The boy slowly shuffles over to the barrel containing the fire and averts his gaze from the old bum. 
 
 `` So what the hell's a little faggot like you doin' out this late at night in a storm like this? 
 
 `` Fuck you, asshole. I've barely been here 5 minutes and you've already insulted me twice.'' 
 
 `` Hey, hey, do n't get too carried away with yourself, Firecracker. One spark and you're already set off. This is my territory, son. I'm being nice enough letting you stay, so you better answer my god damn questions when I ask. Now, how about you explain to me why you're out here, candy-ass, or I'll chase you out of this underpass.'' 
 
 The boy mumbles in response. 
 
 `` The fuck you say, son? I ca n't hear you with your head so far up your a-'' 
 
 `` I said I ca n't fucking take it anymore! Fuck them all! Mother's doped up and fucking all sorts of men, father never wanted me, and Andre die-'' The boy's voice cracked. He begins choking back tears. 
 
 `` It's... It's okay to cry, son...'' 
 
 `` Why, so you can call me a faggot again?!'' 
 
 `` I was just joking, boy. It's not everyday some teenager has a reason he truly believes is cause to run. I thought you were one of those faggots who got their phone taken away and so they run from home, or those faggots who has to get a job but refuses to work -- ah shit, ignore what I'm saying, boy. It ai n't making much sense... Sometimes you got ta talk about it. Running is n't always the answer. Look where it got me.'' The old bum offered the kid a crude smile. The kid was busy holding a mean face to notice. `` Tell me about this kid, Andre.'' 
 
 `` What about him?'' 
 
 `` Well, what was he like?'' 
 
 `` He... He's really athletic.'' 
 
 `` Okay, and what about that?'' 
 
 `` My fath-... My fathe-...'' 
 
 `` Spit it out boy, what's my judgment to you, anyway?'' 
 
 `` My father would lock us into a room together and do things. He'd decide to do it at the worst times. While Andre was over, he decided that was one of those times. Andre saw how uneasy I was and did n't want to leave me alone, but had to,'cause it ai n't his house. Father tried to do something bad this time, and I yelled. Andre tried to get in through the door but could n't. Father was already beating my face in for yelling. Andre broke in through the window and got father up against the wall and beat him. He would n't let up, either, and I was n't gon na stop him. It was... satisfying, to say the least... He almost killed father, and that's where he went wrong. He should'a killed him, he really should'a. I should'a at least finished the job myself. Mother saw father and got him taken to the hospital... They fixed'im up real fast. It was n't long til daddy was on his feet again. He could n't look me in the eyes, I should'a never gone soft for him again. I should'a stayed on high alert... Andre came over again and father saw him. He pulled his gun right out and...'' 
 
 `` Oh boohoo'' The old bum pantomimes wiping tears from his face. `` You think that's bad? All I heard that whole time was'I should'a, I should'a, I should'a.' How about you stop being a fuckin' pussy and do somethin' about it. He killed your only friend, you gon na let him get away with that?'' 
 
 `` **My friend is n't dead. **'' He glares at the old bum. `` He *can't* be dead. He got a scholarship, he was gon na play football, he *helped* me, damn it! Nobody's done that before!'' 
 
 A short silence followed. 
 
 `` The police have father anyways. Got him behind bars right now. I would n't be able to do anything no matter how hard I tried. Not like you care anyways, you just wan na have a good show of me killin' myself tryin' to stand up for myself.'' 
 
 `` Maybe. Maybe not. Listen, kid. Not everyone is out to get ya. But maybe you're right. Maybe I'm just fuckin' with ya and this is a gigantic waste of time... Or maybe I really care about you, kid. I do n't know what it is, but there's something about you that makes me feel like livin'. 
 
 A car's headlights begin approaching from the north. The old bum notices the lights and realizes it's already too late. 
 
 `` Hey kid, take my jacket. You do n't wan na catch a cold.'' 
 
 He hands the kid the jacket which the kid puts on to keep himself warm. 
 
 The car comes into the underpass and approaches the kid and the old bum. 
 
 `` Now get on outta here, kid. I do n't wan na see you around here anymore.'' The kid hesitates to leave. `` Get the fuck outta here now, kid! Leave now!'' 
 
 The kid takes off running and feels something heavy in the pockets weighing him down. He jumps around the corner of the underpass and survey's the contents of the jacket. He pulls out a small revolver, fully loaded. Before the kid realizes the full weight of what happened, he hears a single gunshot ring out in his head. 
 
 *No, Andre... No, god damnit Andre, I ca n't let you die for me again! Why me? Why would he choose to save me?! Why the hell would he give away his only protection to me?! * 
 
 The kid hears the car shift back into drive, the engine rev, and the car escape. He runs around the corner and fires 5 shots into the direction of the car, before it disappears into the black. 
 
 The kid walks forward into the underpass where he sees the old bum laying in a pool of his own blood with the offender having already left. 
 
 *Click* 
... 
 *BANG* 
 
 The kid drops to the ground, with only the chatter of the rain to keep his dying thoughts company.
