Learning From The Bad Boy

Making The Same Mistakes

The house was empty when I got there. I sent a silent thanks to the big man upstairs. A simple sentence written on a yellow sticky note was stuck to the fridge. Be back by 8-dad.

Meaning I had the house to myself for at least 4 hours. I wanted to scream, punch a wall or something crazy even. How could I have been so dumb? What made me think that he left the same way I did? Why did he tell me he wanted to kiss me?

Angry tears filled my eyes. No. Forget him. I won't be crying over this anymore. Why was I even crying?

If they weren't going to be back for a few hours, they won't notice that I disappeared anyways. Hell even if they were home they probably wouldn't notice.

I slipped on a slightly warmer jacket and donned a pair of shoes more fit to run in. Slamming the door behind me when I left, I started down the street. By the time I got to the end of the block, I was reminded why I never run. The pain in my side from lack of exercise flared alive. I kept running.
The area we lived in was almost on the rural side. Trees lined the area but, from years of wandering the dense wooded area, I knew my way around them.

After what felt like ten thousand miles, I quit running. My feet slammed against the ground in an effort to slow my pace. A burning sensation climbed into my throat as I took in ragged breaths to calm my erratic heart that was thundering against my chest. I was really out of shape. The cold air had made my sweat turn icy against my skin.

Letting out my frustration, I kicked a decaying tree stump. Bits of damp, dead oak flew through the air. Fighting the urge to scream, I kicked at the stump until it was a mess of wood chips and I was out of breath.

Damn him! And damn her too!

I closed my eyes, taking in deep breaths. If I didn't get a hold of myself, it would end badly.

Yeah for Axel's pretty face and Chelsea's cheap extensions.

I shook my head.

Breathe in, breathe out. The sun was already starting to set. Had I really been out here so long? I'd been so distracted by my destructive actions and murderous ideas I hadn't noticed the approaching sunset. I took in another breath.They weren't worth it. I shouldn't be flipping out over this. It's okay. It's all okay. Right?

Assuming I had wandered almost a mile into the wooded area, I wasn't sure how long it would take me to walk back. Or if I would make it back before sundown...

What did it matter? I could dissappear for weeks on end and nobody would even notice. Not my mom. Not my sister. Probably not my dad. And now... not even Axel.

A familiar fire seemed to lick at my very soul. I was just so pissed. What right did he have? To give me the impression I was worthy of his affection just to shut me out was completely atrocious.

So consumed by anger, I didn't notice the small hole camouflaged by fallen leaves a foot in front of me. Well, that was until I stepped into it.

Shooting pain ran up my leg as my ankle twisted upon impact. Out of pure shock, and partially pain, my legs crumpled beneath me. Of course. Why not make my day better? I lifted myself off of my stomach, pulling my ankle away from the hole. At my attempts to move it, more pain coursed through my leg. I'll be damned if I didn't know a sprain when I felt one.

Holy biscuits and gravy. I'm still a good half of a mile away from my house. Internally weighing the pros and cons of calling for help, I pushed myself to my feet. It'd be more trouble to ask for the help of my parents than to hobble home.

Dragging what I'm sure is a sprained ankle behind me, I hopped out of the woods and back onto the sidewalk. My neighborhood was empty. Streetlights lit the deserted road. If everything looked desolate, it meant it was past eight o'clock. Everyone around here seemed to go into their homes by eight.