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

Much later that evening Terry and Rudy were sitting on the front stoop of the unit where they were staying. Josie and Snap had already headed to bed, but Terry was still too wound up, he said, to sleep quite yet.


“Feeling a bit safer now?” Rudy asked, pulling Terry against his chest in a loose embrace.


“Yes. Finally. I won’t feel completely safe until after the Young’s guardianship becomes permanent and Kel is theirs until he turns eighteen.” He chuckled softly. “At that point he’s on his own. Until then, I’ll keep worrying.”


“You wouldn’t be you if you didn’t. We should go visit him soon.”


Terry stiffened momentarily then relaxed. “Yeah, we should.”


“Still not sure Heller wasn’t lying so you’d lead him to Kel?”


“Maybe about this much no sure,” Terry said, holding his fingers a quarter inch apart. “Still, as he said, why show himself at all if that’s what he was planning.”


Chapter 50