Runaway 2

Chapter 8

(10:23am. Morning run)

I was out for a run at the beach. Mark's parents beach house was basically on the beach, so we kind of lived on the beach. The sun was shining and the smell of salty water, always made me nauseous but today it kind of woke me up. The fresh and crisp air, made it easier to run. I was gliding through without any stop or distractions. My ponytail bouncing, as I look over ahead of me, picking up my pace. Running always makes me think, it helps my thoughts, complications find resolutions. I breathe in the air and continue to run. Mark didn't want to join me, I think it's because of last night. I still haven't texted back Harry but I don't feel obliged too. I know in the back of my head, no matter how much I avoid this situation or thought, I know that me and Harry will meet again.

I stop and bent down, holding my knees, exhaling out and trying to catch a normal pace of breathing. I stand up straight and wipe the sweat off my head. I look around me, I had come pretty far, it's a long way home. I turn around and begin to jog back slowly. I know, I know I'm going to meet him again and this time I'm not sure what else I'll have to explain to Mark.

(11:01 am. Uninvited yet surprising visitors)

I stand there, staring at the house, out of breath but I stand far away. I was back home but I wasn't sure I wanted to go towards the house. From where I was standing, I saw a familiar haircut, it was blonde and almost like a bob cut on a young skinny man. I shake my head but the heat was getting to me now, I needed water. I can't believe this. I see the front door open, Mark's mom engulfes Peter into a hug and I slowly back away, trying to get out of sight from across the street. I turn away and begin to jog, jog out of breath, I didn't care at this point. It just doesn't make sense.

I come to a bus stop and sit down. I wait for a bus to go I don't even know where. I didn't know who to go to, the only safe haven I have right now is me and Mark's place deep into the city. I sit there, my head resting in my hands. Somebody sits beside me and I look up. A young black woman sat there, I couldn't help but notice her beauty, she smiles at me.

"You okay?," she asks me.

"Yeah..," I nod, my mouth dry. She begins to dig through her bag and pulls out a water bottle and hands it to me.

"You look thirsty, here, take this," she hands it to me. I thank her and gulp down the water. I hand her back her bottle. "So.. How are you doing? What's a girl like you doing at a bus stop?"

"I could ask you the same..," But she doesn't answer me, waits for a reply. "Actually I don't know, I don't even know why I'm here, I'm just avoiding things right now, things don't make sense to me lately"

"Nothin makes sense these days," she shakes her head in agreement. She stared at her shoes and exhaled deeply.

"You're really pretty," I blurt. I think it's really nice when women empower each other by saying nice things to each other instead of being jealous of something they have and you don't.

"Oh why thank you," she smiles at me brightly, she nudges me lightly as she giggles, a little shy.

"AUDRrey?!" I look over to my left and see Mark running to me. I groan but it almost sounds like a cry.

"Is he here for you?," she asks. I nod in disbelief as I stare ahead of me, at the road. Mark finally reaches me and helps me off the bench.