The Words

Chapter 7

"Alright, come on then," Cayden says.

We begin running down the back alley, hearing nothing but our breaths and footsteps. Each time our shoes hit the ground, the sound echoes up the brick falls and bursts into a canopy above us. The cops will definitely know where we're going.

Reaching the end of the alley, Cayden turns slightly towards the street but then quickly snaps his head back around. He holds his hand out as if to give me a high five. I debate whether or not to do it (anything to lighten the mood), but Cayden doesn't seem like he's in the mood for jokes right now.

A police car drives past the alley, and Cayden motions his hand for me to follow. He tip toes to a car a little to the left of the alley, bending down so we're out of view from the street.

"What are you doing?" I ask.

"Shhhh!" He snaps, putting his hand over my mouth. I roll my eyes in frustration as he removes his hand, but then he brings it up to my head and pulls a Bobby pin out of my hair. Bending the Bobby pin, he unlocks the door, and an alarm sounds.

"What the hell are you doing?!" I exclaim.

"Come on, Alaska. Live a little," he says as he gets into the car and starts it. I stare in disbelief through the window.

"Cayden it's illegal!"

"Alaska, chill. Get in the car."

I sigh. If I don't get in the car, then I will get arrested, but if I do get in the car, then I probably will get arrested. That doesn't leave me with much of a choice.

I get open the passenger door and slide in, breathing harder and harder with each passing second. Cayden puts the car in drive and moves onto the street, glancing in the mirrors for cops. Almost as if one cue, rain begins to pour from the black sky above, but this doesn't hinder Cayden.

"Slow down!" I snap at him.

Cayden jerks the car to the side of the road, turns off the lights, and looks at me. "Get out of the car."

"Why?" I ask.

"Because the cops know what we drove away in, Alaska, and I'm not about to get arrested," he states. "We need to get on a bus, so we can drive back to my house. I have more money and we need more clothes."

"Why do we need all that?" I ask, beginning to panic.

"We're leaving but for good this time. No more childish games, Alaska; I need you to be all in for this."

"What if something bad happens?" I ask. "Are we doing the right thing by running away?"

My mind has begun moving in a million different directions, and I can't think straight. Just a moment ago I was in a restaurant, but now I'm sitting in a stolen vehicle while running from the police. Great, this is just great.

I'm screwed.

"Alaska, I'm not going to let anything bad happen to you, I pro- "

"I'm your soulmate," I blurt out.

Cayden's face contorts, and I'm just as surprised as he is. I can't believe I just said that, let alone why I thought now would be the perfect time to say it, but for some reason, it seems as though he needs to know at this very second.

He's silent for a second, looking at me with hurt, confusion, hope, understanding, and anger. For a moment, I have no idea what he's going to do, and that scares me. But suddenly he relaxes, pulling up his shirt to reveal his Words: A. K.

"Alaska Kingsley...I should've known," he whispers.

A smirk begins to form on his face, and I know what he's about to do.

"May I?" he asks.

I nod, allowing him to slowly lift up my shirt. His warm skin tickles my stomach as he glides his hands up, stopping where the ink is marked in my skin. He burrows his eyes in deep thoughts, feeling my Words as if they're just a figment of his imagination. A chill runs through my body, and I begin to feel my cheeks burn.

"Why didn't you tell me?" he asks.

I know he's serious because he looks straight into my eyes. What am I supposed to say?

"I didn't know for sure, and I didn't want to freak you out or anything. We kinda just met."

"But we're not strangers, Alaska. The fact that we're soulmates changes nothing between us."

I practically laugh in his face. "Of course it does! This changes everything!"

He seems genuinely hurt that I've just yelled at him, and immediately I want to take the words back. Cayden is such a kind person, but I hardly know him anymore, and I don't know if I can trust him. Yea I may be all for adventure, but I lack trust.

If he's my soulmate, he's gotta prove it.

"Can we just keep going?" I ask.

"Not until we settle this."

I roll my eyes. "There's nothing to settle. The truth is out, Cayden. No more secrets."

His voice suddenly becomes serious. "But something tells me you're not too fond of these arrangements."

I don't respond.

"We're soulmates, Alaska, whether you like it or not."

"That doesn't mean I have to choose you," I whisper under my breath.

Cayden's jaw tenses, and I know I've made him mad. "Fine," he simply states. "It's not like I wanted anything from you anyways. I was just trying to get you away from home like you've always wan- "

"You don't know what I want, Cayden!" I interrupt. "You don't even know me anymore. I'm not the same girl you knew when we were younger, and just because we met again a few days ago, it doesn't mean I'll treat you the same. I can't trust you."

"You done?" he scoffs, glancing away.

"Yes."

He looks deep into my eyes. "Fine then. Go home. Call the cops. I don't care."

"What?" I ask.

"I mean it, Alaska, go home. You said yourself I don't even know you anymore, and you sure as hell don't know me, so why bother?" he sneers, balling his fists up and getting out of the car.

Cayden slams the door, and I hurry out of my seat to meet him, but he walks right past me, bumping into my shoulder. I call out to him, but he doesn't answer. Instead, he leaves me standing in the pouring rain with nothing.

He turns a corner and disappears out of sight.

~~~~~~~~

Surprised? So am I! Hope you enjoyed this chapter (again it was kinda long so I apologize).

Thank you to those who have been diligent and faithful enough to stick with this story so far. It means the world to me :)

Please feel free to vote and comment, especially if you have any predictions.

Thanks :)