Runaways

Eden

My alarm clock rang.

7:00 am

Three more hours until he takes Brownie. I wonder if I should text him. I opened my phone, and I stared at his name.

Ash

I wonder if it's a nickname. Maybe Ashton.

I stared at Brownie who was laying on the pillow next to me. He looked so peaceful. I wish I were a dog. No worries. No social interactions.

I scratched behind his ears, and his eyes opened up a little. He had eye boogers, so I wiped them off.

"Hey, mister cute face. Good morning."

He yawned then got up on the pillow to stretch. He walked forward to lick my cheeks.

Knock knock.

"It's Mrs. Fiddle. I just wanted to let you know that breakfast is downstairs."

Brownie started growling. I covered his mouth and started scratching under his chin.

I heard the stairs creak under Mrs. Fiddle's weight.

"Brownie, shhh. You can't growl, or we'll get into trouble." He whimpered.

"No, no. I'm sorry. Here." I grabbed him and snuck him downstairs to pee and poop. Mrs. Fiddle didn't try to stop me. She looked like she was on the verge of tears, but I couldn't bring myself to ask if she was ok.

Brownie sniffed around the bushes until he peed and pooped.

My phone vibrated.

"Hey."

It was Ash or Ashton, or whatever it was.

I stared at it. Should I respond with hey? That seems so dull and basic.

"I'll come by to pick Brownie up at 10. See, I didn't forget. :)"

"Ok."

I didn't know how else to respond.

I picked Brownie up and snuck him back upstairs to my room. I pulled out the bowls and poured some of the dog food he had given me into one bowl. He immediately started eating.

I bent down, "You were hungry, weren't you little guy."

Once he was done eating, he sniffed the empty bowl, so I poured some more dog food. I took out the second the bowl and found a water bottle on my desk, so I poured some water in. He stopped eating and drank all the water.

7:45 am

I picked up Brownie, and we laid down in bed. I scrolled through my playlist until I found the perfect song. I played it out loud on low volume, and we fell asleep together.

10:30 am

I woke up and stared at the time. I was late! I snatched Brownie and hurried downstairs.

"Hey, Eden. Aren't you going to eat? You must be hungry." Mrs. Fiddle stopped me half way down the stairs.

"Uhhh, I'm not really that hungry." Lie

"Where are you heading off to?"

"I just wanted to catch some fresh air." I could feel Brownie getting antsy underneath my jacket.

"Well..."

I pushed past her.

"Sorry!" I yelled back.

I ran to the spot we first had met. To my surprise, he was still there, laying on the grass.

I stood, breathless next to him.

"Hey." He sat up with his head tilted and smiled.

I looked away.

"Um, I'm sorry I was late. I uh took a nap and overslept."

"No worries, I was planning on waiting until you came."

I pulled Brownie out from underneath my jacket. He ran to him. He ran in between his legs and jumped onto his lap.

"I think he really likes me." He cradled Brownie in his arms.

"Yeah."

He was wearing a black shirt that enhanced his physical features. His jawline was sharp, and his collarbone poked out from underneath his shirt. He had khaki joggers on with black worn out shoes on.

"Well, I guess I'll be going then." I said.

"Do you have stuff you need to take care of?" He asked, staring down at Brownie.

I shook my head.

"You should sit with us for a bit then." He looked up, smiling and tapped the ground next to him.

We sat there, silently. I found a twig and played fetch with Brownie to distract me from sitting next to a boy.

"How old are you," he asked.

"Why?"

"Just curious."

"I'm 16. You?"

"17."

12:00 pm

"Well, I better be going." He said.

"Right..." I was little sad, but I barley even knew the guy.

He whistled. "Come here, Brownie! Come, boy!"

Brownie was playing in grass. He ran to Ash. Ash picked him up and looked at me, smiling, so I stood up and wiped off the dust.

"I'll take good care of him."

"Ok."

"I liked hanging out with you. We should do it again sometime."

"It wasn't really a hangout. Just awkwardness."

"That's true, but who knows maybe we'll end up being the best of friends, Eden."

I liked the way my name sounded coming from him.

"I doubt it."

He smiled, "Guess we'll have to wait and see. When do you want me to bring you Brownie."

"Sunday. So in two days."

He laughed, "I know how to count, Eden."

"Oh um sorry. That's not what I meant."

"I'm just messing."

He walked off with Brownie.