Escape | Updated Weekly

14

I managed to sneak out of the house without anybody noticing. Tom and Chloe were in the kitchen whilst Mac went and  distracted them. Within a few minutes he met me by his car. He looked me up and down "You really need to stop stealing my clothes," he said, opening my door. I looked down at the shirt I had 'borrowed'. It was too risky for me to get upstairs and change, then out the door before being seen, so I figured this was the safer option.. "My Mum's gonna wonder why the washing is double this week" I laughed as I climbed in the car. He got into the driver's seat and quickly drove off.

"So what do you wanna do?" I asked, we never actually discussed it, we had just decided on a whim to run somewhere. It was awful planning really. Mac thought about it for a moment. "I think I know a place"

I was hesitant when I saw it at first. I was a very competitive person and Mac clearly had no idea what he was in for. He had taken me to a miniature golf course, I hadn't played mini golf since me and Tom were kids, we got banned from playing it ever since he beat me, I got so wound up that I threw my club and it smacked him straight in the nose. To this day Tom never lets me forget it and always uses it against me. I wasn't sure I could be trusted again.

We got given our clubs and made our way to the course. I was thankful when I saw that it was just us, less people to witness what a sore loser I was. Mac let me go first, I set my ball down and hit gently. The ball rolled out into the course, hitting the side but nowhere near the hole. "Wow," said Mac. I bit my lip before I faced him "I'm just warming up" If he wanted to play hard core then I could do that, he just might need a helmet first.

"I wasn't talking about your skills" he said, stepping up to take his go. "I nudged him just as he was about to swing, sending him off balance and causing the ball to bounce off the sides multiple times, ending up close to where it had started. Mac's mouth dropped open. "That is cheating" he couldn't believe that I had done it. The competitive side of me was appearing already.

"I'm sorry" but he knew I wasn't. I was giggling too much to be sorry. I walked over to my ball and just whacked it this time, it went flying, landing right next to the hole, all I needed was one more hit until I would have got it in. I couldn't help but turn back around to Mac with a smug look on my face.

We went through the whole course taking it in turns to get our balls into the designated holes. Halfway round we just tried to sabotage each other, not even trying with our own balls, as long as we made it harder for the other one.

I think I laughed so much it hurt my sides, Mac couldn't help but  say golf puns. My favourites had to be:

"May the course be with you"

and

"Putter late than never"

In the end, he actually beat me, and I was very proud of myself for not losing my anger about it. "So tee-rific" I said as he countered up the scores and officially declared himself as the winner. He looked more proud that I joined in on his puns than he did about winning. "What's my prize?" he asked as we handed back our clubs. He took my hand leading me out of the building. "You want a medal?" I was confused. What prize was he exactly expecting? He pulled on my hand making me lean in close to him. He stood in front me, arms around my waist. "I was kind of thinking more along the lines of this" he leaned his head down and kissed my neck. I would never get bored of that feeling, but the uncertainty of how long it would truly last still hung above us.

"Mac-" I realized I had begun talking but hadn't planned what I was actually saying. Where was I even going with this? I didn't want to ruin the magic of the amazing day we were having.

As if on cue I was rescued out of having to finish my sentence. Mac was looking behind me not even paying any attention to what I was saying anyway. I followed his eyes.

Behind us was his Dad, he was a younger woman and they were heading to the entrance of the mini golf. Before they got there Mac's father spotted Mac and stopped in his tracks. Mac let go of my waist, his arms staying at his side's. I noticed his fist's were clenched. His whole demeanour had changed in seconds. It was like seeing a whole different person stood in front of me.

"Are you okay?" I asked, he was just staring, even his Dad didn't know what to do. He said something to the woman he was with and then began walking towards us.

Suddenly Mac went storming towards him too, I chased after him. "Mac, wait". I didn't know the specific  situation with him and his Dad, but for Mac to change moods like that meant it was a very very bad one. He didn't listen to me though, I wasn't even sure he could hear me.

"How dare you?" shouted Mac. I thought he was gonna hit him, his fist's were still clenched but he pulled them back before they made contact, like he was trying to control himself. "Mac-". 

Mac threw up his hands and changed directions just as quickly as he had stormed towards his Dad. "Actually. I don't wanna hear it" he called back shaking out his hands as if trying to get rid of the anger.

His Dad glanced at me. I somehow ended up in the middle, I didn't want to be in the middle. I followed Mac again. He got in his car this time, hitting the steering wheel. I jumped into the passenger seat and just let him ride it out. After a few hits he managed to stop, just gripping the wheel instead. I didn't know what to say. Or do. So I just stayed quiet until he was ready to say something. "Sorry" he muttered.

"Don't be" clearly he had bigger problems going on in his head. I didn't need to be adding to it. "I ruined the day didn't I ?" He let go of the wheel and leaned his head back into his headrest. I felt bad that one person could have that kind of effect on him.

I rubbed his shoulder trying to reassure him. "Of course not". He seemed relieved at my answer. We agreed to grab some food and head home. He seemed to cheer up once we got there, stopping outside the front door. "Thank you" he said.

"For what?"

"Being you"