Runaways and dreamers

Chapter 26- Promises

"Was that Tommy?" Jace questioned as she came back inside, the brownish-blonde haired guy, with the warm smile and kaleidoscope green-blue eyes, having walked away. Disappeared down the street, into the city.

Katie nodded, wearing a happy smile, "Yeah, it was Tom."

"What'd he say?"

"That he wasn't mad at me, and that he wishes me the best just like I do for him." Katie answered in short, leaving out Tommy's request for her not to run from Jace and to trust him. To stay, just this once.

Nodding Jace smiled, "So I guess now you have your closure for that too."

"Yeah I guess so." Katie agreed, smiling, satisfied that she finally knew that Tommy had turned out just fine and that he didn't hate her.
Casually Katie grabbed a few food items from the shelves and slipped them into the pockets of her jacket. Grinning mischievously, she grabbed a few more and handed them to Jace to put in his pockets.

Taking a new approach, Katie called out to the cashier, "I think I just saw someone climbing onto the roof outside that window!" Katie pointed urgently toward the window furthest away from her and Jace.

The cashier's brow furrowed as she walked toward the window to check. Katie grabbed a handful more of food items in one hand, and Jace's hand in the other, before bolting out the door as fast as possible before the cashier could even turn around. Running as fast as they could, hand in hand, Katie and Jace sprinted down the street, winding their way back through the city the way they'd come that morning. They only stopped once they reached the forest in which their very small house was. Laughing as they slowed to a walk, Jace spoke up, "That was a good plan."

"Thanks, I thought it was fun." Katie replied through a wholehearted laugh that lit up her orange eyes and the rest of her face, "Did you see the cashier's face?"

"Yeah it was priceless." Jace smiled; he loved when she looked truly happy.

They took turns imitating the store cashier's look of utter shock and repulsion when they'd took off running. They laughed uncontrollably at each other's impressions. Katie couldn't remember the last time she'd laughed like that. Maybe with Tommy, but she couldn't recall. With Jace everything just felt right. Except for the fear still bubbling in the back of her mind. Fear of staying; committing.

But, also there with the fear was the feeling that Jace was her last chance, that he was the one she was supposed to not run from. Though, fear is hard to control, it's consuming. Especially when it's all you've ever known.

Katie's mind had always been susceptible to fear. Thoughts raced in her head even now, What if he leaves eventually? What if he gets tired of living how I live and wants to go back to being rich? Can I really stay? I don't even know how. From day one my life has been a series of leaving and being left. How am I supposed to change that? But if I leave I might never find another chance. I don't want to be like my parents; leaving the people I care about the most.

Jace's hand taking hold of hers snapped Katie out of her thoughts. "You okay?" He questioned carefully, meeting her gaze.

"Yeah, yeah I'm good, just got lost in thought." Katie half lied, I'm all good, just drowning in doubt and fear.

They went inside the place they were staying for now, emptying their pockets onto the table before putting the food into the small fridge. Katie felt a strange sense of déjà vu to the day Jace had showed up. She'd just gotten back from stealing food that day, just like she was today. Except this time she hadn't had to go alone and now her attitude toward Jace was completely different. She wasn't cold and hostile toward him, not as impudent, not quite as stubborn. Now, she was open and affectionate—trusting in a way. Though she was still as strong willed as ever. But now she wasn't dead set on making him leaving. She was, instead, determined to make herself stay.

Thinking of that first day, Katie thought of something, "Hey whatever happened to Tux?"

Jace paused, trying to remember, "I'm not sure, probably went back to being an alley cat."

Katie chuckled lightly, "Yeah, most likely. Guess he didn't bother following us anymore since we kept moving and being gone all the time."

"I think we forgot to bring him with us—somewhere between running from the cops, jail, and Romona's house." Jace guessed, though neither of them was sure.

"Ah well, we'll find another cat eventually." Katie shrugged, remembering Jace's first encounter with Tux and laughing to herself. Jace and Katie both had changed a lot since then. Grabbing a protein bar, Katie went over to the couch in front of the window and plopped down. The sun was already getting low over the horizon. Jace followed suit, grabbing some food and sitting down next to her.

Katie was lost in thought as she peered out the window at the orange and red sky. As scared as she was of commitment, she decided that she owed it to Tommy to keep her promise. Besides, there was no reason other than fear itself to be afraid of staying with Jace. There's nothing to lose by trying. I know Tommy wants the best for me. All I have to do is trust Jace; just try.

The more she thought about what Tommy had said and how amazing Jace was the more that it cemented in her mind that she really did love him. The sun was slipping below the horizon, leaving the sky looking like it was on fire.

"Jace?" Katie broke the silence and pulled herself out of her thoughts before she could overthink it.

"Yeah?"

"I love you."

Jace's face lit up as he smiled ear to ear and put his arm around Katie's shoulders as she leaned on his shoulder, "I love you too. I always will."
Katie grinned, meeting his sky blue eyes with her bright orange ones that mirrored the colors of the fiery sunset.