You Can't Run From the Past

Chapter 21: Saving

Chapter 21: Saving

Tessa's Point Of View:

As soon as we pulled up into the Orange Leaf and I saw Zander.  I knew what I had to do.

When I smiled at him, I felt Jessie's cold eyes on me. We stood in the parking lot smiling at each other. Behind us I could hear Nate mumbling some sort of complaint. I couldn't help but think about what I'd done. How could i have done that? I mean, I don't even like Nate.

"Hey," Zander said as he walked towards me.

"Hey," I said still smiling. I began to fell even more guilty.

"So what do ya say about a movie and dinner?" he asked putting his arm over my shoulder.

"I'm actually kind of tired. Is it okay if we just go to a hotel and go to bed?" I asked.

"Yeah. We all could probably do good from a little extra sleep," he said.

"Hey guys, why don't we stay in a nice hotel tonight?" I asked with a smile.

"What are you thinking?" Shane asked.

"How about I surprise you guys," I said felling anxious to get off the street.

"Okay," Zander said.

"Follow me," I said then slipped out from under Zander's arm, "Nate, keys." I said holding out my hand. He tossed me the keys then slid into the back seat of the car.

"I'm going with Shane." I heard Jessie say as I was shutting the door.

"Zander," I said as I rolled down the window, "why don't you come with me," I said pointing at the seat next to me. Even though I knew Jessie wouldn't say anything to Zander about what had happened, but it still made me anxious.

"Sure," he said with a big grin. He walked around the car and climbed into the seat next to me.

"So, where did you have in mind?" Zander asked as we pulled out of the parking lot.

"It's a surprise," I said as i pulled out my phone. I found Marks number and called it.

"Hello?" Mark asked.

"Hey Mark," I said.

"Tessa? Are you okay?" he asked in shock.

"Yeah I'm fine. Can you do me a favor?" I asked.

"Anything," he said.

"Remember the promise you made me before you left?" I asked.

"Yeah."

"I'm ready to use that promise."

"Okay. What size room do you need?" he asked

"Big enough for five people," I said.

"So a king condo?" he asked.

"Sure," I said.

"Okay, there is an open king condo near where you are. It's in a Hilton," he said.

"Thank you Mark; for everything," I said sadly.

"If there is anything else you need let me know," he said then hung up.

"What was that about?" Nate asked as I slid my phone into my pocket.

"Mark made a promise before he left for school, and so I decided to use that promise," I said.

"And what was that promise?" Zander asked.

"He said that i could use his condos when ever I needed them," I said simply.

They where silent for the rest of the drive.

"There it is," I mumbled as I pulled into the parking lot.

The building was at least seventeen or so stories high. The lights that where shining up on it made it look like a building you would only find in a dream. the lights reflectid a cream color with accents of gold. It was beautiful.

"Where staying hear?" Nate asked in shock.

"Yep," I said. We parked then i jumped out of the car and ran into the building.

"Can I help you?" a girl who looked to be about sixteen or seventeen asked.

"Uhm yeah. I booked a room," I said walking over to her.

"Whats the name?" she asked going over to the computer.

"Mark Paulson."

"Did you book a king condo?" I nodded.

"Okay here are two room keys and you room number is 1202. Check out is at eleven," she said handing me the keys.

"Thank you. I have a question." She nodded. "How old are you?" She smiled and laughed a little.

"I'm sixteen. My mom works here and got me and my friend a job."

"Oh. That makes a lot of sense. Have a good night," I said smiling.

"Hey, you too," she called as I walked back outside.

"What room?" Jessie asked. Her and every one else was walking up the smooth tile path towards the door.

"1202," I said then handed her a key.

"Hey, how can we afford a placed like this?" she asked as she toke it.

"We can't," I said simply. "Its Marks."

"Did he say you could use it?" she looked suspicious.

"He made a promise to me along time ago. Now he is fulfilling that promise," I said quietly so that only she could hear me.

"If your planing something, you won't get away with it," she said then pushed passed me and through the doors.

"You ready?" Zander asked me as he walked past me.

"For what?" I asked laughing. He shrugged and continued walking.

I followed them into the hotel and up the elevator.

"Holy crap," I heard Nate mumble.

My heart skipped a beat when I saw the room. There was a spiral staircase leading up to a loft. It was a cream colored room with gold accents. It was really pretty. There was two bedrooms on the main floor and two beds upstairs. There was a full kitchen with and oven and everything.

"How can Mark afford this?" Nate asked.

"He has had condos since his senior year. He's paid it off and now he gets it way discounted," I said shrugging.

"Its almost midnight," Shane said. "We should probably get some sleep," he said pulling Jessie behind him towards one of the rooms. "Good night."

"Good night." Zander said.

"Zander, is it okay if i just go to bed?" he nodded.

"Yeah," he said. I walked into one of the rooms, locked the door, and laid down.

I didn't really fall asleep, but around three in the morning I finally set my plan in motion. I got up wrote a note and left the hotel.

My job isn't to make friends; it's to save the world. I thought. Right now, all my friends need is me.  I had to decide where I was going to go. How I was going to expose them.  I knew Nate would be angry with me and I knew Jessie would tell Zander what I had done. I had told them not to come after me and not to worry about me. I told them to stay in the hotel until all this was done and over with.

I hope they listened to me.