Silent Longing
~Mackenzie~

This time being on the run was harder. She still had no place she could call home. The church had been a disaster. After they stole her backpack and shoes she knew it wouldn’t be long before they tried to take something else from her. The final straw was when in the middle of the night they tried to take the last thing that held any value to her. The opal ring Billy gave her. They somehow thought they would be able to slip it off her finger while she was sleeping. Thankfully she woke up in time, and left before they tried again. But here it was a week later and with no money and nowhere else she can turn she was losing Billy’s ring anyway. The ring was the last part of Genoa City she had, but there was no other way she could come up with some money. She decided that maybe it would be best if she went home, to Genoa City, if only for a little while. That is until she could convince Kay or someone to give her enough money to help her survive when she headed back out on the street. As she pushed open the rickety door of the old pawnshop and looked around for some help. The old man behind the counter smiled at her and motioned her over.

“What can I do for you miss?”
“I…I…I wanted to know…I want to pawn a ring of mine,” she said
“Are you sure?” he asked as he watched Mackenzie nervously touch the ring.
“Yeah,” she said quietly.
“How much money you looking for?”
“I…I don’t know, enough to get me home at least.”
“Do your folks know you are here? I mean do they know that you are in need of money?”
“My folks are not import…can I pawn this ring or not?” she asked impatiently as she was starting to waver as to if she should pawn the ring or not.
“Well, how old are you? Because you have to be at least 18 to pawn something.”
“I…I’m 18…”
“Can I see some i.d.?” he asked not quite believing Mackenzie.
“You need my i.d.? Well umm my wallet was stolen and I’m gonna use this money to purchase a new one,” she said hoping that he believed her.
“Your wallet was stolen huh? Thought you were trying to get home.” As he looked at Mackenzie he noticed her look of terror as he caught her in her lie. He softened up a bit sensing Mackenzie’s reaction to his question and asked, “Are you in any trouble, cause I can call someone for you if you want me.”
“No, I’m fine. I just want to pawn this ring that’s all. Will I be able to or not?”
“Yeah sure, if that’s what you want to do. I’ll give you $40.00 for it.”
“That’s all?” she asked not sure that would be enough money to get her the things she needed to make it back to Genoa City.
“Well,” he said as he looked at her. Something was telling him that Mackenzie was in need of help and if a few extra dollars helped her it was the least he could do. “I don’t usually do this after I give a price, but the most I can give you is uhh $55.00, and that’s as high as I can go.”
“$55.00 huh, well ok, if that’s all you can give me,” she said thankful that he had no other questions for her.
“Fill this slip out and I’ll go get the money for you.” Mackenzie filled out the slip as best she could; using all her willpower to keep from crying over the thought of losing her ring. If only there was some way she could insure that she got it back. When the old man came back she asked, “Can you make me a promise?”
“A promise, what kind of promise?”
“Please don’t sell the ring. I…I…I’m coming back to get it.”
“Well the longest I normally hold anything is 30 days, but if you really intend on coming back to get this ring I will hold it for 60. But after that I can’t make any promises.”
“I understand, but I promise I’ll be back. This ring means too much to me not to come back.”
“If it means that much why are you pawning it in the first place?” Again he sensed a change in Mackenzie so not to rattle her more he simply shook his head and replied, “Sixty days, that’s all. The ring please.” Mackenzie lovingly touched the ring one last time and handed it over to the old man. She quietly said “Thank you” and turned to leave. Unbeknownst to Mackenzie the old man gave her $75.00, which was more than enough to get her home. He could not help but notice how her eyes filled with tears as she gave him the ring. Trying to help Mackenzie he searched to see if she left a phone number on the pawn slip. He slowly dialed the number thinking he was doing the right thing, he would tell anyone who might be looking for her that she had just been there. After three rings he thought that maybe he was making a mistake by calling but someone finally answered the phone. As he spoke to the friendly voice on the other end he said, “Well, I know this may sound a little strange, but umm there was a young woman who just came into my shop and pawned a ring she claimed was hers. I asked if she was in need of some help, but she wouldn’t tell me. Although if you ask me it did look like something was troubling her, she seemed awfully sad. But anyway she left this number on the pawn slip and I just wanted to call to let you know where she was. I’m not really sure where she is headed but I do know with this being a small town and all she won’t be able to leave here until the morning. I know what it’s like for a child of your own to go missing so I wanted to do something that might help. Sorry if I bothered you, but I just thought you would want to know.” The friendly voice on the other end thanked him for calling and assured him that his call was truly needed. She said that his call was the first sign of hope they had in a long time. He smiled to himself happy that he helped someone who truly looked to be in need. As the bell on his door chimed a new customer erased thoughts of Mackenzie.

~Billy~

The ringing of his cell phone woke Raul and Billy from their sleep. Hours after their truce had crumbled and the building blocks of their new friendship had been put in place they had drifted off to sleep which while searching for Mackenzie was becoming a rare occurrence.
“Hey Raul, answer the phone,” Billy mumbled as sleep still claimed him.
“Aww, it’s your phone you get it,” Raul replied trying to savor the last seconds of sleep he would get.
“Come on man, you’re closer.”
“All right, all right. Who is this?” Raul asked his voice heavy with sleep.
“This…this is Rianna. Raul is that you?” she asked surprised he answered Billy’s phone.
“Yeah, this is me. Rianna why are you calling? Is something wrong?” he asked as the sound of Rianna’s voice took away the last remnants of sleepiness he was feeling.
“Well, I just got a really strange phone call and thought I should call and tell you what this guy just told me.”
“Strange phone call? What was it about?” he asked curious to why Rianna was calling to tell them about her strange phone call.
She took a deep breath and replied, “It’s about Mackenzie.” Rianna recounted everything the old man told her about Mac hoping that the call would lead them to her. Raul told her that the town the man was calling from was not too far from where they were so hopefully they can catch up with her there before she leaves again. “Thank you Rianna. I think this is just what we needed.” “Uhh, Raul…you and Billy be safe ok.
“Thanks, we will be. I’m…I’m glad you called.”
“So am I, I’m glad you answered the phone. I…uhh…I miss you…”
“I miss you too.” He paused, thinking again that he was lucky to have found Rianna during the summer, and that she stayed by his side when all the secrets from the summer came out.
“I…umm…I’ve been thinking about you a lot and I can’t wait to see you when we get home.” “I been thinking about you too. Hurry up and come home, Raul. Tell Billy that I said I hope you both find Mac soon. Bye Raul.”
“Ok, bye Rianna.”