Runaways- Runaways 1

Chapter 11: Luke

Peyton and Eli had managed to build a fairly decent fire. I couldn't help but notice how close they'd decided to sit to each other on the ground as they each ate a granola bar. I didn't know why I was jealous. I had Marcus. I shouldn't be looking at her the way I did. But she was pretty, and sweet, and kind, and she had planned something that saved me a lot of pain. I knew it had never been just for me. If anything, it was for Marcus, but I liked to think she'd had me in mind too. I liked to think she thought I was handsome, sweet, and kind too, but I guess not if she'd taken to Eli so easily.

It was about eight o'clock. We'd messed around in the creek for almost two hours, Eli and Peyton joining us after they got a good fire going, before we'd decided to eat dinner. Of course, we'd been able to see the fire from the creek, so we hadn't left it unattended. The sun was sinking, but it wasn't supposed to set until almost 8:30. Now we were just starting supper.

I'd set all the beef jerky, granola bars, and trail mix we'd gotten out earlier in the middle of our little circle around the fire. I took the seat in between Aaliyah and Marcus after I picked up some food. "Should we stay here more than a night?" I asked.

"I don't know," Aaliyah replied. "It's really nice having the creek right here and not having to worry about being heard by any surrounding neighbors. I like it here."

"Now you see why I've been here for as long as I have," Eli said. She nodded. "If I could live somewhere like this, I would."

"It's nice and quiet, aside from the birds and the creek. Oh, shoot, are there racoons around here?" Peyton asked suddenly.

"Not that I know of," Eli answered.

"I think we should move on tomorrow. It's only going to get hotter, and we're still fairly close to home. I mean, not super close, but close enough to where they could find us if they cared to expand the search," Marcus pointed out.

"I get where you're coming from," Aaliyah began, "but we're a few hours' drive from Greenville. Hate to break it to you but missing seventeen-and-eighteen-year-olds are not going to be any county's top concern these days. We're all old enough to drive and they probably think we're pretty independent, especially if they have no suspicion that we were abducted. They aren't going to be too worried, except maybe Peyton's parents. Still, it's unlikely they'll get all the way down here."

"I'm good here another night, but we do need to move soon," Eli agreed. "It's pretty nice."

"Another night it is then, I guess," Peyton concluded. "Shouldn't someone keep watch tonight? I mean, it seems like that would be the best idea. I know you were out here alone before, Eli, but I think it'd be safer if one of us just stayed up."

"That would take some stress off for sure," Marcus replied.

"Believe it or not, I was sleeping in trees before. I've never really been with anyone after my experience with the guy who stole most of my stuff, so I've just always felt safer and more out-of-sight up there," Eli added.

"What, like a monkey?" Aaliyah joked. I laughed.

"Sure, you could call me that if you wanted to." As if to prove his point, he jumped up and started moving around like a monkey, swinging his arms and scratching his head. That made all of us crack up, and eventually he started laughing too. He fit right in with us, whether he realized it or not. 

"Don't know about y'all, but I'd like to finish dinner," I told them lightheartedly.

"Hm, good point. I agree," Marcus said.