Runaway

Chapter 5

I wake up exhausted. My eyes are red and puffy from crying myself to sleep. I don't remember how  I ended up on my bed. The chickens outside make it difficult to get any sleep around here. I replay last night's events in my head and slowly start to regret everything I said to Joyce.

I run my hands through my hair, still damp from my shower last night. Finally, I work up the strength to get out of bed and get ready. I pick out one of the many new outfits Aunt Joyce had bought me this weekend, and leave my room. I walk into the kitchen to see Dave serving Lily her breakfast. "Good morning sunshine," he smiles at me politely. I guess Aunt Joyce didn't fill him in on the hurtful speech I gave her last night.

"Good morning Dave and you too Lily," I reply, smiling back at them warmly. "Where's Aunt Joyce?" I ask.

"Oh she decided to go into work early today," Dave replies, tensing up a bit. I guess she did tell him. And she went to work early so she wouldn't have to look at me. Great. I feel a small pit form in my stomach as I sit down to eat my breakfast.

***

Dave drives me to school again today. I pray it will be easier than the last time I went. With my luck though, it won't be. The tension between Dave and I after my argument with Joyce, becomes too much and finally, I break, "Did Aunt Joyce tell you everything I said?"

"She didn't have to," he replies, "I heard most of it from the other room." Sh*t. Could Lily hear too then?

"Oh.." I pause not knowing how to make it right. "I'm really sorry. I just- I don't- Well-" My thoughts suddenly leave me. "I'm just sorry. It was out of line what I said." I finally finish. My hands start shaking as I try to distract myself by looking out the car window.

"If that's how you feel, you shouldn't apologize." Dave replies, to my surprise. "You shouldn't have yelled or gotten angry, but...you have been through a lot and I'm sure it's been difficult. I think Joyce will understand your point of view."

"Thank you..." I say. I didn't expect any kind of sympathy after the things I said. I meant them...but still. I get out of the car and make my way into the school. I walk into my first class of the day, AP Literature, with none other than Shawn Gates. That's when I remember what happened at dinner. I had been so caught up with the Aunt Joyce situation, that I completely forgot what Lily had said. I think Mai wants to marry Shawn.... So embarrassing ugh.

My shoulders sink low as I quietly enter the classroom, trying desperately not to be noticed. I hang my head low and make my way to the back of class, just like before. Of course, I can always count on Kaitlynn to ruin everything. "Mai! Oh my gosh hey! Sit over here!" She yells out, putting everyone's attention on me. I feel Shawn's glare on me, along with everyone else's. Kaitlynn's sitting with a few other people who I hadn't seen before. "I made us some new friends! We all met at the party, which by the way where were you!? I lost you right when we got there," she says happily.

"I left early, it was boring," I lie. "I'm sure you're all nice but I'm actually gonna go sit in the back." I say, quickly making my way back to where I belong. I notice Shawn look up at me when I settle down and send a small smirk my way. I quickly look away and take my seat. There was no way I was going to talk to him after Lily told him I wanted to marry him. The pit in my stomach grows and I can feel that this is going to be a long day.

***

I blew through my first few classes until finally it was time for lunch. It's pretty typical for a high school student but lunch is my favorite time of day. I get my food and head outside to the courtyard. There's kids sitting at different tables, all huddled around their different cliques. I make my way towards the back of the school near the soccer field. It's empty, just like I wanted. I take a seat on the field and look around. It's quiet and the sun is shining across the turf.

The cafeteria served nuggets today, which trust me was a lot better than the pizza they served on Friday. I start to dig in when I hear footsteps behind me. Shawn stands there, hands in his pockets. His green eyes shine in the sunlight and his tan skin glistened. "What are you following me?" I ask him playfully.

"You could say that I guess," he says coyly as he sits down next to me. "This is a weird place to eat lunch don't you think?" He says, raising one eyebrow at me.

"It's quiet," I reply, "I like quiet."

"Look," he says, his tone suddenly more serious. "I think you're nice and anyone would be lucky to marry you..." he continues. Oh my gosh he's talking about what Lily said kill me now.

"Let me stop you there," I interrupt. "We don't have to talk about this. Lily's just a kid, she doesn't know what she's talking about. I don't have any feelings for you okay?"

"Okay." He says, chuckling a bit.

"Ok." We both stare at each other in silence. I attempt to read his expression but it's useless. Finally, I break eye contact and start eating my nuggets.

"Can I ask you something?" He says, no longer staring at me. I nod slowly, nervous about where this conversation was going. "What else have you heard about me since you've been here?"

"Do you really want to know?" I ask.

"Yes." He replies, then continues, "I know you heard I'm a bad boy...what else?"

"Ok if you insist," I tell him, "but don't shoot the messenger," I say jokingly. I notice a small smile on his face before he quickly wipes it off. "I've heard that all the girls want you, I heard that you're damaged, that you're weird, you used to be really popular and had tons of friends, and now you don't talk to anyone." I say plainly. I don't see the point in sugarcoating.

He looks back at me, somewhat shocked. I can't tell if he's upset. He clenches his jaw a bit before finally he replies, "Interesting."

"Interesting? That's it?"

"What else could I say?" He looks back at me, now confused.

"Well I don't know, are any of the rumors true?" He fixates his gaze on me, making me nervous. It looks like he doesn't know how to answer but also like he knew exactly what to say.

"Well clearly all the girls do like me if just last night you wanted to marry me," he says cockily. His eyebrows raise as he looks at me, smiling. He breaks into laughter and eventually I join in.

"Shut up," I say, shoving his arm playfully. I stuff my last chicken nugget into my mouth and pick up my things. I stand, taking a bite out of my apple and look down at Shawn. His eyes meet mine, he squints from the sunlight. I laugh once more and turn, walking off.

"Hey where're you going Fuller!" Shawn yells after me.

"You really need to stop following me Gates or I might think you're the one who wants to marry me!"

I hear his laugh echo across the empty field  as I head back inside the school.