Run Away With Me

Chapter 24 (Jack)

hey

Hey

wyd?

Nothing much. Dad's gf is over for dinner.

she nice?

The nicest. I think you'd like her.

guess ill just have to drive back 2 kansas

I guess so

I set my phone down, not really sure where to go from that. My eyes shift over to the envelope that's sitting on my desk. It's been a week, and I still haven't opened it. I don't even know why, it's not as if it's my last remaining message from her. Clearly. Maybe it's because it's bound to be something really heartfelt and mushy. But then why wouldn't I want to open it? I groan and roll onto my stomach, plopping my face into the pillow. I roll back over a couple seconds later, realizing that it's quite hard to breath through a pillow. I look at the time. 10:07. Which means it's just past 8 in Kansas. I pick my phone back up, and begin to type a message when one comes through.

She wants to see you

ok, that didnt sound creepy at all

Shut up

A small laugh escapes me, but a lump in my throat quickly smothers it as I see the incoming facetime request from Kathy. This whole week, I hadn't thought to facetime. Or even call her, for that matter. I shove my guilt aside and accept the call. Katherine's smile greets me, and I feel my cheeks heating up. I will myself to be cool though, and I give her my best nonchalant smirk.

"Hey, Kathy." She glares at me.

"Hey Jack. And quit calling me that, Hannah will get ideas!" I'm confused for a second, and then I remember the reason she called. Hannah must be her father's girlfriend.

"Oh, I would never take that away from you guys, that's clearly a thing," an off-screen voice says. I think my face might actually melt, and I'm relieved when I can see that Katherine's face is a deep shade of red too. The video moves, and suddenly another person is looking at me. Her bright red hair is done up into a messy bun, but like, a nice one. If that makes sense. She has the face of someone you don't want to cross, but right now she looks inviting. She pushes her glasses up her nose, and leans in real close to the camera.

"Hi, you must be Hannah." She smiles, and my heart flutters a bit.

"That's me. And you must be Jack. I've heard all about you." I quirk an eyebrow.

"You have?" She nods.

"Yep. And I must say, you do not disappoint." I laugh as the video goes all frantic, and then I see Kathy again. To my delight, her face is a shade of red near to that of her hair. She's glaring at Hannah, and I take this time to get in my two bits.

"Aww, did you miss me Kathy?" Her glare is directed at me now, and I literally have to bite my tongue to keep from laughing. But I hear Hannah snicker off screen and that's all it takes for me to start laughing too. She rolls her eyes so hard, I was surprised when they didn't roll right off her face.

"Bye Jack, I'll talk to you later." Hannah whines.

"C'mon Katherine, let me say goodbye to your boyfriend!" She groans, and Hannah's face appears beside her's.

"Bye Jack! You be good and take care of all those other little friends of yours!" I chuckle a little.

"Will do, Hannah. Bye Kathy!" I hang up quickly before she can protest my use of a nickname. The grin on my face takes a long time to slip off. A loud sigh brings me out of my head in a harsh manner.

"Jeez, don't scare me like that!" Crutchie sits up in his bed, and I try to remember how long he'd been there.

"You two are so made for each other, why can't you guys see that?!" I shake my head.

"Oh, trust me Crutchie. I see it. Katherine. . . might see it, I don't really know. But fate won't hear any of it." His eyes slide off the ceiling and look toward the desk. I follow his gaze and my eyes land on the envelope. I sit staring at, wondering what's inside. Well, technically it's just paper and ink. Or graphite, I guess, but my name's written in pen, so. But that aside, that's all it is. So then why haven't I opened it? What could she possibly write that would be so terrible? Crutchie's voice pulls me out of my stupor.

"I can't believe you still haven't opened it. What are you waiting for?" I shrug.

"The words to magically implant themselves in my brain so I don't actually have to read it." Crutchie chuckles and shakes his head.

"C'mon, Jack. It's probably the same old stuff you'd normally get." I frown.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, it's probably all 'I'll miss you' and 'you've changed my life' and 'this isn't goodbye.' That's what mine was mostly. And of course, the list of attributes she likes. That's how they all go." He shrugs. "You should open it." I sigh, and painfully, I walk over to the desk and grab the envelope. Crutchie's right. What am I so worried about?

Agonizingly slow, I peel the envelope open. I pull out the single page. I was right. It is written in blue ink.

Dear Jack,