Borderline

Chapter 8

I almost dropped the note, but I held myself together.

Joshua was the first to speak. "It's Carter."

I didn't speak for a minute, but when I did I was all business.

"Did you see him?"

Joshua shook his head. "No. That was laying on my table when I walked in this morning."

Eli decided to add his two cents. "Maybe it was just a random note?"

I glared at him and he immediately closed his mouth.

"No," Joshua explained. "There's no way this way random." He looked back at me. "You know what you have to do, right? What this means?"

I sighed and nodded. "Yeah. But you're coming with me."

Joshua nodded and pulled a duffel bag out from under the table. "I'm already packed."

I let a small smile escape from me. "Like you ever unpacked."

He smiled too, but there was no life behind it.

"Wait," Eli interrupted, directing his next words at me. "So, you're leaving then? Just like that?"

"Yeah? Is there a problem?"

"Yes! There is a huge problem with this!"

I shrugged. "I can't imagine what it could be. I've been careful not to get attached to anyone here."

Immediately after those words left my mouth, I understood Eli's problem.

"Shit."

***

Somehow, I ended up sitting outside Eli's house with Joshua.

This kid was insistent that he come with us, even after we told him it would never work. He didn't care.

"It'll be fine, don't worry," he had said.

"What do you think he's gonna tell his parents?" Joshua asked me.

"Not sure. Can't we just leave without him?"

Joshua raised his eyebrow and smirked at me, telling me he had a plan.

"What are you thinking?" I asked, curious.

"Eli told me about something while you were grabbing your crap."

"And that something is...?"

Joshua winced. "Well...I'm not sure you're going to be all for this plan, but it's not a bad one..."

"Just spit it out, Josh."

Just as he opened his mouth to speak, Eli stomped down the stairs in front of his house. He had a backpack, a duffel bag, and a smile.

"The fuck are you so happy about?" I asked. "You realize you're going to have to put about half of that back, right? Traveling light, remember?"

Eli looked at Joshua. "You didn't tell her yet?"

"Didn't get a chance to," Joshua muttered, sounding slightly annoyed.

"No, he didn't. Now what is this plan of yours, dumbass?" I was getting more and more irritated that no one was telling me anything.

Eli grabbed my wrist and started walking. I grabbed Joshua and dragged him along behind me. To anyone else, we probably just looked like a group of kids going to sports practice.

Eli looked back at me with his stupid smile. "We're not running away."

I stopped suddenly, causing Eli to stumble backward and Joshua to slam into my back.

"What the hell do you mean by that?" I demanded. "We need to leave. Carter knows where I am. He's probably got eyes on me right now!"

Eli rolled his eyes and tugged us forward again. "We're not running. We're gonna hide in plain sight." He winked at me.

I glared daggers at him. "And where do you expect to do that, exactly?"

He gestured to his backpack. "We're going to school."