The Runaway House

Twenty . Fight

   It takes me four bedridden days to write the letter. I get two or three sentences down, and then my words start to blend together. But after days of re-reading and re-writing, I have a short, wobbly-written letter ready to go.

The morning after I complete it, Penelope lets me downstairs.

I make it out of my bedroom fine and steady myself against the hall walls. But the stairs are too narrow and too steep. My head is so heavy it's like it'll pull me straight down. I sink onto one of the steps halfway down.

Penelope sighs from a few steps below me. "I can try to guide you the rest of the way, but I don't think I'll do much good."

"Hey." Nathan peeks up from the bottom of the stairs. "Need some help?"

I nod. He ascends and pulls me up, staying one step below me. "We'll take it slow. Just take your time."

I grip his hands as I step down. Light and noise barely bother me now, but my balance is far from stellar.

Nathan keeps me steady all the way to the bottom of the stairs and through the living room. When we step into the kitchen, I bask in the morning light. My body aches to run outside into the fresh air, but I focus on where I am. Brittany is sitting at the table, smiling.

Nathan pulls out a chair for me and helps me into it. It seems that ever since Travis marked me as his, a few of the guys have been treating me better—especially Nathan, since he's closest to Travis.

I sink into the chair. "Thanks."

"How're you feeling?" Brittany leans forward.

"Pretty good. I'm glad to be on my feet again."

"We were really worried about you. So was Travis," Nathan says. "You really mean a lot to him. Honestly, I'm glad. He needs someone like you."

"Like me?"

Brittany giggles. "Love, just look at yourself and what you've done here. You're so brave. You've stood up to Ben at least twice from what I've heard. You've got this . . . aura about you. You're strong. Whatever you're running from, you aren't here cowering, like some of the kids. However hard it might be, you're forcing yourself to grow through this. It's . . . beautiful. No wonder Travis is attracted to you."

I stare at her. It's like she knows me, inside and out.

Nathan shrugs. "You're the new kid, Lee." He gently elbows me. "Everyone's been watching you. Especially since you hang around Travis so much."

"I didn't realize I was being scrutinized."

"You're just really amazing, that's all," Brittany says. There's a quiet admiration in her voice.

"Agreed!" Travis strolls through the back door. He grins at me. But then his attention is turned toward the others. "How's the prep going?"

Nathan shrugs. "Done. Brittany did most of it."

Travis laughs. "Of course."

"Prep for what?" I glance between the three of them, but all I get is silence.

"Guys, seriously?"

Brittany giggles. "You'll find out soon enough."

As I begin to protest, the backdoor creaks open, and Amy and Zoe bolt in, followed by Samantha.

The grin falls from Travis's face as Samantha plops down right next to me. "How're you feeling, Lee?" She squeezes my hand.

"Just fine," I murmur.