Fracted (Book #2)

Chapter 11: Really Boring

"We got out," Robert gets up, shaking dust off of his green shirt.
"Jess," Jackson rubbed his cheeks and checked for more dust. "When I tell you to do something and our lives depend on it, you do it. Do you understand me?"
I look away and helped Eiffel stand up.
"Jess, hey!" Jackson called my name again. "Jess, are you listening?"
"Just leave him, Jackson." Sarra said.
"Fine then."
"Let's get out of here," I said.
"Good idea. No one wants to be barbecued," Ace said. "Wait, Jess. What about your--"
"She can handle herself, alright?"
"Jess!" I hear someone from behind me. She wrapped her arms around me. Oh great, she's alive.
"I told you, she can handle herself." I tell them.
"Come on, we jave have to keep moving." said Jackson.
I look out through glass and scanned the plane. The tail is on fire and the windows behind the wings are covered with smoke. All of the people inside were panicking. Clamoring and bumping into each other.

The seven of us sneak past the security investigation zone in order to escape. They were asking the passengers about the "bomb".
"There was smoke everywhere. We don't know where it came from. We thought the flight attendants just accidentally overcooked someone's meal. All of us heard a loud boom behind us. And there was fire--"
I stopped listening. Things are happening too fast. And those Zip interviewees are horrible liars. There was no boom sound. None of us heard it. They just ran. And they didn't even ask who was behind all this. We know it's Mr. André, but I couldn't say it. We all can't.
Police cars and ambulances have made a traffic around the airport. Sirens wailing and paramedics trying to stop passengers from running. No one noticed us running. So it's like middle school in Los Angeles again, except I can be alone with other people like me.
"Where do you think Zach and Alice are right now? Do you think they're safe?" Robert asked. He's getting tired of running, despite how he's wheezing after every sentence.
"What's going on, Jess?" Eiffel asked again. "Jess, answer me. Earlier on the plane, you weren't like this." She slowed down to immediate stop.
"Eiffel, come on!" I said. We got left behind while the others kept on running, even my mom.
"No," she said. "I know you saw the figure too in the smoke. I saw it too. So can you please tell me what's going on?" She was so insistent. I can't resist having to answer too much questions. "Come on, Jess. Tell me what's happening. All I need is a simple response."
"Okay, fine!" I said. "We're fugitives. We're running away from a person who tried to something from us."
"Y-you guys are criminals?" she looked at me like I should be distrusted.
"Look, we didn't want to tell you in the first place 'cause we thought it'd be too risky."
"Well it is risky, running away from your problems."
"We're not running away from our prob--" Jackson called our names and waved for us to get inside the bus.
"Guys, come on! We can talk about this on the bus!"
I looked at her. "You coming or not?"
She looks hesitant. I hold out my left hand. "Trust me, I'm not dangerous. We're not dangerous."
"Okay," she sighed.
"We're coming!" I tell Jackson, trying to catch up to them.
I look at her as I ran. Please trust me on this, Eiffel

I sat on the very back of the bus with Eiffel. She looked out the window, at the smoking airport surrounded by security. She sighed and dialed on her phone again.
"Now, can you please tell me what's going on?" she asked.
"First, tell me who you're contacting," I said.
"Nothing. It's just my sister, Sky."
"Do you know her well? Unlike your mom?"
"Yeah, she's basically the only person I trust." What about me? She puts her phone down her lap and frowned.
"Oh? Do you know where she is?"
"With my mom."
"Do you miss her?" I asked.
"Yeah, of course."
"It's a good thing you still have a dad." "George is my stepdad."
"But you must have a real dad."
"I never knew him or my mom-- So what's the deal about your mom?"
"She's just bad," I said. "She tried to steal something that can never ever be stolen."
"I know it's rude to ask, but what was it? Was it money?"
"Something worth more than money."
"Okay, I won't try to find out. I promise."
"Okay, promise." I said. She smiles. "And I also promise to get you somewhere you want to be. Where you can be safe and happy by yourself." I promised. She nodded happily but unsure.
"Okay," she said. "Can you really tell me what's going on here?"
"Sorry, that's all I can tell you. There's a limit you know."
"Fine. Okay." she laughed. "Your secret's safe with me. No telling." I imagine myself saying the exact same words. I guess secrets have limits too.
"This bus ride might take an hour for us to stop at the hotel," Jackson announced.
"Get comfy," Sarra said.
"Are you guys okay back there?" Leah asked. I looked at Eiffel and remained silent.
"We're okay," she said to her.
"Thanks, it would've been a mess talking to her," I said.
"Don't mention it. I know what it's like to talk to people you can't stand. I mean, I lived with George for nine years."
"What a monster," I say under my breath.
"Tell me about it." After a long pause, she asked me something, "Where's your dad?"
I shrugged. "Gone, but not dead. I think. I don't know."
"So we're both having parent issues, huh?"
"Yeah," she chuckled. "So much in common..."
"You think there's a lot?" I asked.
"I don't know. What do you want to know?"
"Anything," I shrugged again.
"So you know my birthday, my backstory... what else?"
"Your interests," I suggested.
"No, not my interests," she shook her head. "I'm a really boring person. You do not want to know anything about me."
"You know, I was a really boring person, right before I met these guys."
"You're lying. You are not boring."
"Oh, yes I am!" I proudly said. I think I made her feel better about herself. I am here for you, Eiffel.
"Are you really?" She covered her mouth.
"For starters, I have Type 1 diabetes, which you already know..."
"Is that why you have a fake arm?" she asked.
"Well yeah, how smart of you to know that," I compliment her.
"Thank you. My intelligence has always been ignored by everyone. Like nobody's worth being proud of me."
"I've felt like that before, and I couldn't afford to think like it again. Trust me, it does get better."
"It does?"
"Of course. You just have to look straight, not back."
"Yeah..." she moved closer and leaned her head on my shoulder.
She's making it very hard for me to not like her. I swear, I want to blink.