But I Just Found You

Chapter 6

Chapter 6

Luke

"Come with me," she shouted at my back. I didn't expect her to ask, hell I didn't even know if I wanted to go. Well... that was a lie, I'd follow her anywhere if she wanted me to. I turned to look at her. I stared deep into her eyes for some sign, any sign of doubt. I saw nothing but the connection we shared. I was excited, confused and scared all at the same time. I was excited because I knew she felt what I felt, confused because I didn't know if I could just up and leave, and I was scared because I didn't think I could just up and leave and what about my father. He would sh*t a brick if he knew that I had skipped school and ran away all in one day...

"You're doing it again," she said sweetly; or at least it sounded sweet to me.

"Doing what," I asked, walking back towards her. When I reached her I left a sizable space between us. I know how she likes her space. My wrist still hurt just thinking about it. She looked up at me and filled the empty space between us. I gulped.

"You were spaced out again," she whispered sounding out of breath, she sounded nervous. If I wasn't so nervous myself I'd say she sounded kind of sexy. Our connection was straight out of a storybook or something, and this would be the scene where we kiss. We were making solid eye contact and holding onto our silence as if it was the only thing we held near and dear, and the birds chirping in the background giving us the loving song. All that was next was for me to make the first move...

"Sorry." I managed although my voice was cracking terribly. Embarrassing, I thought to myself.

"Don't be. So," she said taking her eyes away from mine. She must have felt the tension too. "Are you going to come with me," she asked again.

What was I suppose to say? I wanted to go but the circumstances just were not in my favor. I was terrified that if I went with her and my father came looking for me he'd beat us both into a bloody pulp. Then what if along the way she gets tired of me? Do I turn around and head home or do we just go our separate ways? There were a lot of questions in my mind and I wanted and needed a lot of answers before I made my decision. I looked away from her. I wanted to be with her always and I wanted that so bad, but the fear weighed more than the wanting. Looking at the ground and watching the ants form a line towards their home, I could feel her stare on the side of my face. She was waiting for her answer. I couldn't look at her and I wouldn't dare speak to her in fear that my voice would relay my true feeling. Fear. She had to have felt what I was thinking because she walked over to me and grabbed me by the face. She made me looked at her, she was smiling.

"I like you," she said as she stared me right in the eyes. She must have gotten use to me searching for something that was never there.

"I like you too."

"I want you to come." There was a forceful gentleness to her tone. It was like she was telling me what to do but still left the decision completely to me.

"Are you sure," I asked hesitantly.

"Yes."

"What if you didn't want me there anymore?"

"That would never happen. I promise," she said promising me the future I wanted but only God knows if I will have it. I loved this girl that I had only truly met hours ago. We shared our stories of pain, pleasure, and hurt only to find that that just made more in common between us, and brought us together. Now my inability to answer this simple and basic question could possibly tear us apart.

"I don't think I can." That was my answer. Her face dropped and the look on it broke my heart. She looked like she was on the verge of tears. Her face was all scrunched up and she wouldn't blink her eyes. After about five minutes she finally closed her eyes tightly. I watched sadly as two tears escaped her tightly closed eyes. She sniffled and I felt horrible, she had put herself out there only to have me let her fall. When she opened her eyes she was angry, I could tell. Even worse than her just being angry was that she was angry at me.

"Fine," she said walking over to her bag and picking it up. She began to walk away but then she stopped. She looked at me with tear filled eyes, "I'll be here at 9:30 tonight waiting. If you're not here I'm still leaving."

She sprinted off, probably trying to hide her tears. I sighed. What was wrong with me? Here I was looking for a way out and she had just given it to me and I told her, 'I don't think I can?' I'm a complete and total nut. The feeling in the pit of my stomach started again. "OK Mom, I'll go. I just hope when I get home Dad isn't there," I spoke out loud. I ran towards my house happily. Ready to share this new chapter and maybe even my life with Josie. About ten minutes later I reached my house and my happy feeling dropped, my father was home.

"D*mn it!" I cursed. I was hoping I could have beaten him home. I looked at my watch, it was only 5:30. so I had enough time to deal with my father and then make my escape. Walking to the front door I took my key out but the door was already unlocked. I peeked my head in and noticed the house was a mess, and it smelled like booze again. He's drunk again, I thought to myself. What a shocker... I ran upstairs to my room and ran straight for my closet. I pulled out my huge duffel bag and started throwing clothes, shoes and underwear in the bag. I even threw two afghans in there because it does get cold at night.

I heard the back door downstairs open and slam shut. "Luke! You up there boy," he asked drunkenly.

I knew better than to answer, I just focused on packing everything that I would need. I looked underneath one of the wooden planks of my room floor by the bed and reach inside and grabbed my sack full of money. I'm not sure how much was in there but I knew it was enough to survive on. The sound of boots clumping on the wooden steps was getting closer. I ran to my window and tossed the bag out of it, then I ran and grabbed one more outfit, and then finally to my dresser and grabbed Mom's picture, her necklace, and her wedding ring. It was all that I had left of her other than the feelings. I shoved my mother's things into my money sack and held on tight to the clothes as I climbed out of the window. I was almost to the ground when my father made t to my room, he must have noticed the emptiness and the open window. Just as I reached the ground he reached the window, I looked up at him.

"Where the f*ck do you think you're going," he slurred.

"Away from you."

"Ha. And where will you go?"

"Doesn't matter as long as I never see you again old man," I said spitefully.

"I'll find you you little sh*t! And when I do prepared for a as* kicking that's out of this world," he shouted. Dogs started barking and people opened there windows to tell him to shut up. I just picked up my things and ran. She told me she'd be waiting for me at the train tracks so that's where I was headed. It was a ten minute run to the tracks from my house and when I got there there she was waiting. I looked at my watch. It was only 6:00pm. I smiled at her. I don't know if she saw me but I was happy I saw her. I jogged towards her. At first she was cautious but once she realized it was me she ran to me and tackled me. We landed on the ground laughing, but then she stopped laughing and kissed me. It was my first kiss and it was a deep and passionate one, you know one of those kisses that had you light headed and dizzy. After about a minute of kissing she looked me in the eyes, as she stroked my face.

"I knew you'd come," she said.

I smiled at her. So this is what being in love felt like. I never believed in love at first sight, but now I have experienced it first hand. I nodded at her, "I wouldn't let you go anywhere without me." She smiled and kissed me again. It felt like I had died and gone to heaven...