✯ North Star ✯

31 - Running Again

I sit with my eyes closed, focusing on my breathing. In through the nose. Out through the mouth. Trying to ignore the way my stomach still twists.

"Hey hey" kie says gently

I open my eyes to see them walking back toward us.

"How are you doing?" John b asks, kneeling in front of me.

"Fine" I mumble

"So uh" he says, pulling something from behind his back.
"apple a day keeps the future baby hap-pay" he says

He hands me an apple.
I smile despite myself and take a bite.

"Oh that's all you got?" Rafe scoffs

"Rafe could you shut up?" pope says immediately

"You good?" Pope asks me

"Feeling any better?" JJ adds

"Yeah. I'll be alright" I nod

"Good" kie says, satisfied.

"If you're not gonna finish it just let me know" jj says

I roll my eyes
"Not happening" I said

Cleo glances down the street.
"Okay well wharfs that way, you think you can make it?" she asks

"Yeah" I say, standing.

"All right we should probably get a move on" jj says

That's when we heard shouting.
Boots pounding.

"Uh...are those cops?" Kie asks

"Okay, we gotta go" JJ says instantly

"Let's uh let's get going that way" Pope says, already moving.

"You didn't tell us you got caught!" Kie snaps at pope as we start running.

"Ask questions later!" pope says

"Where the hell are you guys going now?" Rafe yells behind us.

We run.

Then I hear Rafe shout again.
I glance back just in time to see the cops grab him.

I stop short.

"Hey, Stella- come on." John b says, grabbing my arm.

"No, stella- come on" kie adds urgently

For a second, I just stared. Not knowing what to do. Then the cops turned toward us again.

"Shit" I mumble

And then we're running again.

We don't stop for a long time- ducking through alleys, weaving through crowds, cutting left, then right.

Finally, JJ slows.
"Okay I think we're good" he says

"I think we lost Rafe" cleo says

"Who cares? Big whoops" pope said, still panting.