Sometimes We Build Walls

Chapter Three

I waited around until around two thirty. Reaching down, I grabbed my bag off of the floor and took one last look around the immaculate bedroom. It looked exactly how it did when I entered it. I slowly drew the door open and then shut again, stepping out into the hallway and sticking close to the wall until I reached the stairs.

It was pitch black on the entire lower level, with the exception of the dim light illuminating the outside porch. I followed the light down the stairs, thankful I hadn't gotten lost. I reached for the knob of the front door, and then eased the door open, sliding my hand with the bag through first.

The driveway was brightly lit, but it started getting darker by the time I reached the gate. And as I did, I realized that it was taller than I’d expected. I walked forward, thinking about how I was going to do this in the darkness; I could barely see my feet below me.

Pulling out my phone from Nevada, a thread of light appeared. I took one step forward and jumped onto the fence when two giant lights coming from the house were heading towards me, lighting up my every move. I panicked, reaching up and grabbing the top of the fence, scrambling to try and pull myself over.

My triceps and biceps were burning as I tried to pull myself up farther, trying to get more leverage. I managed to get one elbow over, hoisting myself up enough to throw my bag over the side. I did, and straining, I pulled myself up so I was hanging on one side of the fence. I tried to throw a leg over the side. No luck.

I realized that these lights were car lights, and as I heard a car door slam shut, they turned off. I looked back, muscles tense and still burning.

I saw a figure; it was hard to make out his features, but by the look of the giant black truck he'd arrived here in, it was clearly a male.

"Do you-?" The guy asked.

"No," I told him as I relaxed my grip. His face disappeared as I slid down the other side of the fence, landing on my feet with a loud bang.

“You know, you might want to open the gate next time. Instead of scaling it. You might hurt yourself.”

"Okay." I muttered back.

"Are you leaving?"

I didn't answer; I threw my bag over my shoulder and turned my back to him.

"Wait up," I heard, the voice was closer. I slowly turned around and saw Griffin standing behind the fence, looking down on me through his dark eyes.

"They'll be devastated if you do this. I'm not just talking about my mom. I know she can be a little pushy, but she’ll back off. I promise. But seriously, they’ll all be devastated.”

When I didn't say anything, Griffin continued. "I guess the choice is yours, though. Do what you want."

And then, he turned around, pressing a button on some remote, the gate swung open. He hopped into his truck and started it, the rumbling so loud; I couldn't even hear my own breathing. Before he pulled forward, Griffin rolled down his window. "Well, I guess I’ll see you around.” He paused, realizing that this simple, casual remark meant something more than just a goodbye. “Or not. Do you want a ride somewhere? To the airport?”

"No."

Devastated was probably an exaggeration; I'm sure they'd get over it. After searching for a few hours, they'd give up on finding me and sign some paperwork, writing me up as unable to be saved, getting their brownie points for at least trying. That’s what they, and I, all wanted in the end, anyways. That’s how it always was.

But not tonight.

As soon as I started down the road, walking towards civilization or any lights, for that matter, a Dodge Challenger was following close behind, lighting up the road in front of me. Stepping off of the roadside, the car pulled onto the shoulder, the window rolled down.