Laney wasn’t sure what all the motivation was behind her needing to stay connected to the girl, but it was very important to do so. In front of her was the construction worker again, and at least she didn’t have to worry about hurting him or knocking him over as the line pressed from behind. More than once she’d spoken and “I’m sorry” to him as they inched forward. At one point he had turned towards her with a scowl on his face, but seeing her and the girl’s hand she was holding, he’d softened his frustrated face and grinned at her in a manner she didn’t understand. She wondered briefly if he worked for her father.<br/><br/><br/>What about her parents? They were all she had in the world. Mom would have been in the suburbs. Dad was working in the commercial district on a new warehouse for a chemical supply company. She wished they were here, but more than that, she wished they were together. They were hard on her, especially her father….cruelly so, but they loved each other very much. It saddened her that they would be at different shelters.<br/><br/><br/><em>if they both made it to a shelter…</em><br/><br/><br/>Laney’s were interrupted by the girl speaking into her ear. Jennifer. It was a nice name, not as common as it used to be. And it seemed to fit the fire engine haired young woman. Laney turned as far sideways as the crowded packed line would allow, her eyes angled down slightly so she meet the gaze of her companion. When she did, a soft smile curled her lips in response. Something about Jennifer was very…well, Laney wasn’t sure. But it was nice, pleasant, even a little bit exciting. She spoke as loud as she could force her gentle voice to be. “I’m Laney. I wish we could have met under better circumstances, but I am pleased to meet you."<br/><br/><br/>Inwardly she cringed. It sounded so formal. She always sounded formal, but it was ridiculous, in a situation like this she still sounded like she was meeting a friend of her parents.<br/><br/><br/>