“Jesus.” Harper says.

“I packed my bag that night and hopped a bus to Hollywood.”

“You are shitting me? You were 15?” Harper is in shock.

“Yeah, 15 and didn’t know a soul out here.” Shane says looking at Harper.

Harper closes her eyes knowing where this story is leading. “So what did you do?”

“The first thing I did was walk from the Greyhound depot to Hollywood Boulevard. I was so happy to be here and so excited to see the Chinese Theater and all the hand prints. And the stars on the Walk of Fame. The Hollywood Sign. I walked up and down both sides of Hollywood Boulevard twice making sure not to miss one single star. I had no idea who most of them were but it didn’t matter. Finally I gave in to my hunger and walked down to a cheap place with an all you can eat buffet on Santa Monica Boulevard. I had asked this pan handler where to go and he said ‘Are you really hungry son?’ He told me where to go and as I walked I thought about how he called me son. Everyone always thought I was a boy and for the longest time it pissed me off. But when he said it for some reason it didn’t bother me. Anyway I went to Shakey’s, you know the one right off Highland on Santa Monica?” Shane says looking at Harper.

“Yeah, I know exactly where that is.”

“Well, that’s where I had my first meal in L.A.” Shane smiles. “I stuffed myself and my bag with all I could eat and then some. When I was done I didn’t know what to do with myself so I just kept walking down Santa Monica. When I look back at that day I can see how obvious it was that I was a run away and had no clue. Walking around aimlessly carrying a big knapsack overflowing with clothes.”

“But you probably thought you were a total bad ***** walking around the city of your dreams on your own with no one to answer to.” Harper says.

“Part of me thought that. And part of me was scared shitless. Right before it got dark I was sitting on the steps of a bank and these guys walked by. They kept looking over their shoulders at me after they had passed me. I had no idea that I was being cruised by ***** guys. That night I found a cheap motel room and crashed out. I knew I couldn’t do that for long because I didn’t have much money left. So the next day I went into every store I saw that had a help wanted sign. Most of them turned me away when I inquired about the job telling me I was too young. I remember I was standing on the corner of Santa Monica and Gardner waiting to cross the street and these two kids were sitting there. They started talking to me asking me where I was going and where I lived. They asked me if I wanted to go around the corner and smoke some pot with them. It was my first time and I got so ***** high. They ended up taking me back to this squat they were staying at. It was crazy, there were so many kids there. All of them run away’s. They had this whole system planned out. They would each steal food and drinks and bring it back and they’d make entire meals. It was like this little family and every one looked out for each other.” Shane sips her cold coffee.