When Terry and Kel Coleman run from their abusive father, they end up in Denver. The day they arrive, they meet three street kids named Rudy, Snap, and Josie. The brothers move into the trio's squat where Rudy and the others teach Terry and Kel the ins-and-outs of survival on the streets. While that happens, Terry and Rudy are drawn to each other and begin a tentative relationship.<br><br>Then Kel is almost kidnapped by a man sent by his father to bring him home. Forced to leave their squat to keep Kel safe, they turn to a local pastor for help. Thanks to the pastor, the five young people may find hope for their future -- if they can survive the present. In the process, can the budding relationship between Terry and Rudy survive, or will it be torn apart by the life they're forced to live?

Surviving

“We’re safe enough now,” he said as they walked to the bus stop. “But, for the next week or so I think we should avoid downtown and hope those punks decide they’ve scared us away.”


“As far as I’m concerned, they have,” Terry muttered angrily. “I’d rather set up anywhere else but there, even if it means we make less cash.”


“What about the bike path?” Snap suggested. “We’ve done that before and made out okay.”


Rudy nodded. “We’ll give it a try.”


“What’s the bike path?” Terry asked much later in the evening. He and Rudy were the only ones still awake. Kel had crashed almost as soon as they’d gotten back to the squat. A few minutes later, after the remaining food from the deli had been stored in a battered cooler Snap had found by a dumpster two days earlier, he and Josie had retired to their ‘bedroom’ for the night.


Chapter 18