Taking What's His

Taking What's His - Chapter 36

I silently thanked God for two years of softball practice.

I stared down at Ashton's unconscious form, biting down on my lower lip and wincing as I dropped the heavy skillet on the back of his skull for good measure, just in case.

"Sorry. Really, really sorry." I muttered, as I shut the freezer door.

Not wasting any time, I sprinted up to my room and collected my stuff, scribbling a quick note I posted to my door before grabbing my keys and high tailing it out of there.

With suitcase shoved in the passenger seat, I jumped in and started the car, revving the engine before screeching out of the driveway.

I didn't let up on my speed until I was out of town, but still kept checking the forest that flew past my window as I drove.

It was already 6'o clock, and by the time I reached another town it was going on 10:30. I stopped at a gas station for gas, snacks, and energy drinks before getting back on the road, knowing I'd have to keep going for a while if I wanted to get away without being caught.

The sun was just beginning to rise when I finally stopped at a cheap motel to rest, and I dragged myself up to the room I booked and fell onto the bed in an exhausted heap. I was asleep before my head even hit the pillow.

~

I drove the entire day after waking up, only stopping to gas up and take bathroom breaks. I finally felt at ease enough to roll down my windows and turn on the stero, and spent the hours singing along to the top fifty. I had soon escaped Oregon's borders and was back in California, and a pent up sigh of relief escaped me. Grinning from ear to ear, I picked up my phone and dialed Erika, the friend I'd be staying with for the week.

"Hey girl! Where are you?"

"I just escaped Oregon. I plan to stop for the night, but if I get up early I should reach you by mid-afternoon." I laughed, sticking the phone between my cheek and shoulder.

"Seriously, you should have just stayed out here! With the jobs we were working we could have easily gotten our own apartment. And Lord knows I'm dying to get out of this house!"

I smiled, remembering Erika and her family all too well. "Well hopefully me staying for a week will make it bearable for you. Also we totally need to hit the beach! I'm paler than a dead fish at the moment."

"That's what you get for moving to a state where there's barely any sun. Your mom should have moved to Florida or something."

"Yeah, but then I wouldn't be close enough to visit. Besides, Florida is way too humid for my taste. Look, I gotta put the phone down but I'll call when I'm close, kay'?"

"Sure babe. Just hurry and get your ass here!"

We hung up laughing and I leaned back in my seat, pulling down my sun visor as the sun began to set and shone its rays right in my eyes.

I checked my phone and looked at all of the missed calls and texts from Ruby and Ashton, but merely turned my phone off and chucked it in the passenger seat.

It was going to be a good week.

~

"Oh. My. God. Delilah!" Erika squealed as I got out of my car, laughing as she tackled me in a hug.

"I missed you too!" I giggled, hugging her back tightly. She pulled away and smiled up at me, already rambling about all the things we'd have to do while I was here. Erika was a cute, 5 foot 2 Korean girl with brown eyes too big for her face, chubby cheeks, and black hair cut into a bob with the front being longer than the back. We'd been friends ever since sophomore year when I complimented her on one of her many interesting, eye-catching outfits, and she was like a little sister to me, despite being two years older.