Attracted to Trouble

Chapter 6: Running From Trouble

Gabriel’s hand reached out for me and I took that as my cue to run away. I swung my legs over the side of the monkey bars and jumped to the ground, completely uncaring over the potential injuries. Ignoring the pain that shot up my legs as I landed heavily on the ground, I jogged over to where our bags lay on the ground jumbled with each other. I hastily untangled my bag from Gabriel’s and without looking back or acknowledging Gabriel’s voice calling out my name, I broke out into a sprint. 

Although it was unlikely, my mind decided to create the illusion that Gabriel was chasing after me. This caused me to run even faster, disregarding the fire that was burning with each breath exhaled by my lungs and the aches throbbing in the muscles of my leg. Somehow, I made it to the entrance of my building. The adrenaline still pulsing through veins propelled me to keep going and run the six flights of stairs to my apartment. Once I managed to unlock the door, I continued to run to my room. The second I stepped into my room, I locked the door behind me and collapsed to the floor. Before I knew it, tears began leaking out from the corners of my eyes. I squeezed my eyes shut repeatedly to attempt to stop the tears from flowing out of me but it only helped to increase the flow.

What is wrong with me?, I thought to the tears falling onto my hands. I don’t even know why in the world I’m crying right now.

“Avery, open up the door!”

I jumped at the sound of my mother’s voice on the other side of the door. I quickly wiped off any trace of tears off my face and slipped the bogus smile back onto my face. I slowly opened the door and peeped around my door. My mother was standing on the other side of the door with a steaming plate of spaghetti mixed with shrimp and white rice in one hand and another steaming bowl of the biggest pieces of broccoli I had ever seen in the other hand. My bogus smile was replaced with genuine laughter at her attempt to add something healthy to my diet.

“As you can see, I was physically incapable of opening the door,” my mom gestured to the plates with a soft chuckle, “Here’s your dinner, love.”

I thanked her and took the plates over to the small desk in the corner of my bedroom. After I heard the click of my door being closed, I fell into my chair in front of my food. As I was about to take a delightful bite of my succulent shrimp, I heard the telltale ringtone of my phone sing, “And after all, you’re my wonderwall,” alerting me that I just received a text message from Andrew.

After debating in my head whether I should talk to him or not, I decided just checking the message wouldn’t hurt. So I grabbed my bag fro off the floor and fished out my cell phone.

7 unread messages

3 missed calls

I scrunched up my face in shock. When I clicked on the screen to open up the unread messages, five of them were from Andrew.

From AndyCandy<3

Hey, You. You home yet?

From AndyCandy<3

Ave, you there?

From AndyCandy<3

You should have been home an hour ago. Is everything OK?

From AndyCandy<3

I’m actually a little worried now. I texted Mia and Albany and they both said that they didn’t see you after school. Where are you? Please message me back.

From AndyCandy<3

Avery, where are you? Message me back as soon as you see these messages.