Never Coming Home

2.

Day Two, I typed at the top of my notes on my phone. I found myself somewhere that reminded me a lot of home, not quite the big city area I was hoping to get off at. I glanced the the time and percentage on my phone. Sixteen percent. I was in desperate need of a charger and a place to shower. There was a gym I went to up the street, so I decided to head there, get a good shower, change clothes, and think of ways to make some spare money. 

"Excuse me ma'am, you aren't allowed to bring those in the facility," the lady behind the counter said, pointing at my suitcase.

"Please, I just got kicked out of my house. I'd really just like to work out and get my mind off of things." After a few moments of silence, she agreed to let me and my belongings in. I rushed to the locker rooms and found an outlet to set my things by. I grabbed a towel off the rack and draped it over the rod above the shower. The heat of the water was soothing. I saw my skin start to turn pink from the intense temperature, but I didn't care. I scrubbed as hard as I could, trying to wash away the past, the pain. What could I do to get money? I thought to myself. I could sing, but I didn't have a guitar. I could mow some lawns, but I really wasn't feeling it. I could put up some babysitting ads, but how would I print them? And there was no guarantee of how long I'd be here. 

I walked out of the shower, a white towel wrapped around me, and checked my phone. No texts, but I had fifty-seven percent battery. I decided to wait untnil it was up to eighty before I left, so I sat there and waited.

-

"Hi, I'm Aaron, I'll be your server today, what can I get you to - wow you're pretty," he paused, looking at me from his notepad. I was at the nearest breakfast restaurant, tired and starving.

"Thanks. I'll have the ham and cheese omelet with has browns and orange juice please."

"It'll be right out. And I'm sorry for the outburst," he said, walking away. When he brought my food, I invited him to sit with me and take a break. I'm not really supposed to, but-"

"Sit."

"So, um, how are you?" he questioned.

"I know you like me. I'm new, and I don't know if I like it here yet. So can you show me around or something? You look my age-ish."

"Gladly!" he agreed, going into the back to tell his manager he was going to take off for the rest of the dar. We got into his car and he drove me around a little.

I don't know what prompted me to ask to go to his house, maybe the sadness I felt, or possibly the desperation for a home after only a day. You're getting weak, I thought to myself after thinking I could miss something so badly after just a day. I don't know what made me push him against the wall and kiss him, this complete stranger, a waiter at a breakfast place. It was silent in the house. How could he afford this place, I wondered. He's a waiter; surely he can't have this much money, not just from that job. I could hear our breathing and I could hear him say unintelligble words. He came near me, started to unbutton his pants, and that's all it took for me to snap out of it. "What time is it?" I breathed.

"I don't know, is it really important, I mean-"

"What time is it," I asked flatly. 

"Eleven thirty," he said back. 

"Damn, my mom's going to wonder where I've been," I lied. I got up, apologized, and hugged him, managing to snatch his keys before he realized they were gone. I got into his car, checking to see if my luggage was in the backseat before driving off. 

-

I slept in Aaron's car last night after driving for about five hours. I was near Pennsylvania, so close to New York. You will get there, I promised myself. I felt bad for stealing his car, but surely an eighteen year old with his own house could afford to get another car, at least more than a self-proclaimed orphan and homeless kid. I drove into town and looked for the nearest grocery store. I scanned the aisles for a quick snack, something I didn't actually have to cook. I looked through the frozen sections for something I could let thaw and eat when I almost walked into someone.

"Hello," I smiled. 

"Hi," he smiled back. "Looking for something?"

"I was looking for food, but I was lucky enough to find you." I grimaced inside as I said it, but I was running on a high from Aaron and couldn't stop myself.

"How do you say we get out of here?" he proposed. 

"You have a place?"

"Yep, parents bought it for me," he replied. I agreed to go, and he told me to follow behind him in the car. I arrived at his house, which was very nice and complimented his Audi well. I'm going to assume that his parents bought that for him too. I walked into his house after him and found the kitchen. 

"Any food?" I asked, opening the pantry, fridge, and every cupboard.

"Yeah, but that's really not important," he snarled, grabbing my waist and pushing his forehead onto mine. Too soon, I thought to myself. I held his waist in return, searching for his keys. I felt in his back pockets and found them. I pulled the keys to Aaron's used Hyundai out of my front pocket and traded them with the Audi. 

"I have to pee really fast," I whispered in his ear. He groaned, showing me the master bathroom. When he left, I closed the door and searched for a way to open the window. I finally figured it out and crawled forty feet down to the ground, silently getting my stuff from the old car and transferring it to the new one. I left the keys to the Hyundai on top of the car, slipped into the Audi, and drove off once again.