The File

The File ~ Chap. 21

Tate

"Cole, you are the craziest person," I hissed, "I have ever met in my life." I watched in anxiety as he searched for the family's hide-a-key-if they even had one. If they didn't, I prayed that he wouldn't break a window to get in.

"I'll take that as a complement," he whispered. "Now, ssh. It's so quiet that even hushed tones are loud."

I pouted, but did as he ordered.

Ordered. I hated to be ordered around. And Cole was doing it like he was the president. If we ever made it out of this, I would never get over that. I knew how to hold a grudge.

"I got it!" Cole informed me happily. He pulled his shirtsleeve over his hand as he reached down to retrieve it. Not trying to get fingerprints on it, I supposed. It had taken me more than ten minutes just to go over the entire motorcycle with my little pocket tissues.

"Good. Now hurry and find the stupid car key before you wake someone up." I stormed down the porch steps and went over to stand beside our new car. Then I prepared to brace myself for any crashes-or shouts. I knew Cole could be pretty sneaky, but that didn't mean he couldn't make mistakes.

I heard Cole's amused chuckle as he entered the house, and then the silence. I looked around to see if anything could distract me and pass the time. When I looked up at the starry sky, I saw some blinking lights. I squinted to get a better look, and figured it was a plane or a helicopter. That got me thinking about where the closest airport could be. I wouldn't mind spending a lot of money on a plane to get to Virginia faster.

I couldn't finish my thoughts about flying because Cole came out of the house then, holding the car keys in one hand and the spare key in the other-both of his hands covered by his sleeves.

He locked the front door behind him and put the key back where he had found it and strode over to me, grinning obscenely.

"I did it!" he said soft and happily.

"How?" I whispered.

"They had all the keys in the kitchen. Typical. I had to look in some of the drawers, but I found it."

"Good. Now let's hurry up before I change my mind and make you go back in there."

He rolled his eyes and put the key in the driver's side door. It unlocked, and he got inside. He leaned across the seats and unlocked the passenger door, then motioned for me to go around the car. I got in the car and softly closed the door just to be safe. Cole started the engine-as my heart raced in my chest from the crime-and started down the road.

"I can't believe we're actually doing this," I muttered over and over, "I can't believe we're actually doing this."

Cole placed his hand over mine, which were in my lap. "Tate, come on. You know we have to do this. It looks too suspicious to have two teenagers going all over the country on a motorcycle. It's so noticeable. We'll be like any other people in a car." His tone was very persuading, and I hated it.

"That doesn't mean I have to like it," I objected.

"Maybe so, but keep it to yourself. You're going to make me paranoid if you keep it up."

I nodded grudgingly and looked out the window. I leaned my head against the glass and thought about how I had changed-for the worse-and how much Cole had grown.

The moment I jumped out of the window, I was strong and thought I could find a way to get away from my attackers. When Cole had jumped out, he was just focused on keeping me safe. As time went by, I was strong, but worried about Cole every time we got into a fight with one of the guys. Cole had begun to be more of the leader than I was supposed to be. I had been broken down, and Cole was building up.