Runner

Runner: Part 7

The nurse left a couple hours ago leaving the boy and I sprawled on the ground blankly staring at the ceiling. For hours we have been working out our escape plan and all we need to do now is take action. I blow a stray hair out of my face and sit up. I feel the boy's eyes land on me so I look over to face him. As tired and worn out as he looks, I can still feel a sense of energy rushing through him as I lock my gaze on him. All I can think about is how he risked everything to get through to me- like talking to me, giving me the pill, breaking rules- just for our freedom.

"How are you feeling about this escape plan?" He says, while brushing dark brown locks out of his face.

I hesitate, "great."

I lied.

Slowly, he sits up to face me and searches my eyes, while saying, "you can be honest with me. I'm not trying to force you into something you don't want to do."

"No, no, you're not," I reply, "it's just that, there's so much that we're leaving behind, you know?"

He nods in agreement. A thick silence falls between us when he doesn't reply.

"I really want to go on with this plan," I say.

He looks up at me with a puzzling look in his eyes and buries his head deep in his hands. I shuffle closer to him, awkwardly placing my hand on his shoulder. He looks up and smirks at me, gesturing towards my hand. I feel my face burning red as he shrugs me off. I try to hide my embarrassment between the tangled locks of hair that keep on falling on my face.

"What, it was a friendly gesture," I say when he won't stop glaring at me.

He scoffs.

"You looked upset. What was I supposed to do, kick you up your side?"

"Maybe. At least it would've knocked me back to my proper senses instead of sulking."

I struggle to stifle my laughter.

He shoots me a look and says, "just so you know, I wasn't upset, I was thinking."

Hmm. That makes more sense.

"About?" I ask.

"The plan," he says, "you know, I was thinking about what you said. About what we're going to do once we escape from this building."

Immediately I lean in closer for more information.

He continues,"you just have to trust the nurse and I. We know what we're doing so you don't have to be troubled."

"Well, can you at least tell me how we're going to survive on the outside? For crying out loud, it's dangerous out there!" I say.

Instantly, my mouth shuts and I feel my cheeks flush. I cower down as my eyes lower down to my clasped hands. A brief reminder of the previous argument the boy and I had flashes through my mind. I look up, only to see that the boys lips has formed into a grim line and his blue eyes are narrowed down at me filled with fury. I still don't fully understand why he gets angry when I say things like that, but he has his reasons. I open my mouth to say something but he interrupts me before a whisper even escapes from my parted lips.

"I've told you before, the outside is not as dangerous as people tell you it is. How many times do I have to tell you before you finally get it?"

I sit there unable to muster a word as I watch him ramble on.

"Yeah, so what that it might be dangerous out there, but I thought you could take it!"

By saying that, he triggers something inside of my that makes me snap. I promptly stand up, and so does he.