Run Away

Plans

For the next two days, Alex followed me around everywhere. When he followed me to the bathroom, I had to pick him up and put him outside, and then I would slam the door in his face. When I opened the door, he was always standing there, waiting for me.

He was also spending a lot of time with Jennifer. Good and bad…it was good, because he left me alone, but it was also bad, because he would jump on her at every minute, kiss her, and touch her.

She wouldn’t do anything, so I took matters to my own hands. Before he would jump on her, I would grab him and put him in a random corner and made him stay there for a long time or until Jennifer left to the store.

He would glare at me and I would mouth ‘pervert’ to him, luckily, he didn’t know English. One time, he was about to jump on her when her back was to him, I grabbed him and put him to a corner. He started to cry and Jennifer twirled around, she ran to him.

“What happened?” she asked in Spanish.

“Dessie!” he pointed at me.

She turned to me and growled, “What did you do?”

“When he was about to jump on you, I got him and put him to the corner, he started to cry…” I said.

“I’m telling mom!” she started to walk away while holding Alex’s hand.

I grabbed her shoulder, “For being a twenty – year – old, you’re so naïve! He’s all over you and you let him!”

She scoffed and left with Alex. He stuck out his tongue at me. I glared at him and went outside.

Jacob was coming up the stairs. I smiled and gave him a hug.

“You’re evil uncle came, didn’t he?” he asked.

“Yes,” I sighed, “How’d you know?”

“You’re skinnier,” he smiled.

I rolled my eyes, “I thought I was fat…”

“Dessie, you’re not fat, you’re underweight, and you have to gain weight slowly.”

I nodded and stared at his bruise on his face.

“Is your mom still abusing you?” I asked, concerned.

He nodded.

“That crazy lady…” I mumbled, “Let’s go to McDonald to get you some ice.”

“You’re cheap…I think I’m rubbing off on you…” he smiled. I laughed.

We went into his car and he drove to McDonald.

At McDonald, I wrapped ice with a napkin and gave it to Jacob. He put it on his face. He was frowning.

“What happened?” I asked.

“The nightmares keep getting worse. I’m waking up sweating, trembling, and I can’t go to sleep…”

“It’s okay…someday, that woman will be behind bars with the key thrown away."

I picked at my McChicken.

“Eat it,” Jacob said in a low voice. “It make you strong like bull. You are weak like chicken…”

I smiled and rolled my eyes. “You stupid like dirt.”

“Dirt good. Good for plants. Plant make chicken. Chicken make McChicken. McChicken go in mouth. It energy for tummy to be strong like bull.”

I laughed. “You sound like an idiot, plus, I'm pretty sure chickens don’t come out of plants.”

He smiled then leaned forward as I ate my ‘strong like bull’ food.

“I have to tell you something…” he whispered.

“Hit me…” I whispered back.

“I’m going to run away…”

I stared at him, “Take me with you…”

“It’s serious,” he stared at me with his beautiful light blue eyes.

“I know…I want to go with you…” I pleaded, “I don’t want to be in that…”

“Hell house?”

“You know I hate saying those words…”

“I know, but you have to stay with your family.”

I was on the verge of the tears. “They don’t want me there. They wouldn’t do anything if I dropped dead in the living room.”

“Okay, I cannot deny your puppy eyes…” Jacob smiled.

I smiled, “Thank you!”

He whispered, “Bring as much money as you can get. Travel light. Midnight, we’re leaving.” I stuffed the rest of my McChicken in my mouth as we both got up. “I’m going to make sure you gain a lot of weight.” We left to his car.

He drove me home and I got out the car. When Jacob drove away, I went inside my house. My uncle was there, staring down at me, a frown on his face.

“Where were you?” he growled in Spanish.

“At the library. What, you couldn’t find anyone else to mess around with?” I growled back at him in Spanish.

I went past him and up the stairs. Gabriella stared at me. I patted her head and smiled.

“Hola Dessie,” she smiled.

“Hello to you too…” I kissed her forehead.

I went into Jennifer’s, Carmen’s, Gabriella’s, and my room. I saw Alex on Jennifer’s lap. There was about three feet of space where Alex could have sat on, but no, he had to sit on her lap.

I grabbed his shoulder and pushed him out the room. Jennifer slapped my back and I shoved her.

“No PDA in this room! This is my room too!”

“PDA?” Alex mumbled.

“Public Display of Affection, idiot,” I growled at him.

Carmen ran into the room. “Stop it! Leave Jennifer alone! Dess…” her voice trailed off.

What the HECK?! She forgot my name too!

“Why would I listen to you?! Did you know that I was born before you?! You don’t even listen to me! I try to tell you something and you end up shunning me out! You even forgot my name!  You make me feel like an idiot!” I screamed at them.

Carmen and Jennifer glared at me and walked out my room mumbling. I slammed the door shut and slid down the door. I began to cry silently.

Where are you Blake when I need you?! I screamed in my head.

I grabbed a pillow and screamed into it.

I went to the mirror in my room and stared at myself. My eyes were hazel, but lighter; more vacant. My hair was light brown and long – to my waist. I looked at my clothing; it was a little baggy on me. I wear Jennifer’s shirts, pants, and her old underwear. My aunts give it to her, but she just gives it to me in disgust, because she hates it. I stared at myself a little longer and saw that I was too skinny; I needed to gain more weight.

I put my hair into a ponytail and went to my bed. Out of the hiding spot I had, I quickly got the money I’ve been saving. I stuffed about a thousand dollars into my duffel bag. I grabbed some Jennifer’s pants, shirts, and underwear and stuffed it into the duffel bag. I looked at the clock; it was 7:00pm. I hid my duffel bag as I lay on my bed; I was going to stay up until midnight.