Runaway Man

Chapter 1: The Beginning

Chapter 1: The Beginning

Neon colours flickered onto everything and the smell of smoke, alcohol and sweat drifted up everyone's nostrils. Upstairs there was bound to make loads of couples 'getting it on' or 'funky' but the thought made shudder. This was a typical high school house party: everyone drunk, everyone having a fun time.

Apart from me.

I hated house parties with a passion. We were only sixteen and everyone was drunk like there was no tomorrow made me want to hurl without even drinking anything more dangerous than orange juice. To make matters worse, the only reason I attended the party was because the host was my best friend: Diana Williams.

I looked over at Diana, who had hurled herself onto the middle of the dance floor. Her hips swayed in no shape or form to the rhythm of the music, which I couldn't make out what it was because it was just sounded like a typical drum beat like all the other songs that had been played. It was obvious that she was off of her head as she then wobbled over to a boy with brown bangs and hung off of his waist like she was a koala. I felt embarrassed for her, I really did.

Before I thought that it couldn't get any worse, she dug her lips into his clothed chest. Lucky for her, he seemed out of it too because he didn't even try deny her.

"Diana," I growled harshly, "What are you doing?"

"I'm Dracula," A light flickered onto her pale face, making it damn right obvious that she was way too tipsy. I found it slightly amusing though as a red substance had stained around her mouth. It was probably only the red lipstick she applied just two hours ago. I hoped it was, anyway.

My eyes diverted my attention away from her and onto a boy, who was leaning against one of the walls near the door. The darkness made it hard to make out his features but his hair was a dark quiff and he was well toned. I squinted at him. Did he go to Birch High with me? Nope. He couldn't have otherwise I would have recognized him instantly.

For some reason, I was feeling confident. Maybe it was something in the atmosphere or maybe he was a magnet because somehow... I found my body edging towards him without being able to stop it. Once I had reached 2m within radius, his eyes were focused on me. I stared at his defined jaw and waved at him.

He waved back... with a smile that had dimples near the corners. I wanted to pull my elbows into my body in a way to say success but it didn't feel right to.

"Are you enjoying the party?" I yelled over the noise. He raised his left eyebrow and cocked his head to one side. Had I said something wrong? I realised what it was when I saw his hand gesturing me to come over. Like the bitch... dog I was, I obeyed his command.

"It's hard to hear and my head hurts," He said to my ear, which made me tingle in the inside. When he came closer, I realised that he had sweat was dribbling down his forehead. Ew. My nose crinkled. Either way, he looked attractive, just smelt bad, "Do I smell or something?" He pinched his shirt from the bottom and raised it to his face where he unintentionally flashed his six pack.

"You don't."

"Don't be nice, be honest," he playfully growled, obviously having a drink or two himself, "Why aren't you drunk?

"I'm a light drinker, what about you?"

"I've had some, I just can limit myself," he rolled his eyed at me. I made out the colour of his iris, which was a deep blue like the sea.

"You don't look drunk," I muttered under my breath, "What's your name?" Just as I finished my last word, the hostess of the party wandered over and tugged me away by gripping onto my arm tightly. Maybe I wouldn't have been pulled away so easily if I hadn't seen her nibble some random guy's abs. My head flicked back and he was shouting at me but the music was too loud to understand what he was saying.

I would kill Diana later: drunk or not.

"Why are you talking to my dad," Diana yanked my brown hair in her hands, "Ma dad shouldn't be with ya." Her words sounded more slurred now like she had had another glass of beer... make that two to sound safe.

"What?" I blinked.  I knew that she was drunk and all but after I said the word, I wanted to take it all back. When she was a lot younger, maybe even still a baby, her father walked out on her mother and never came back. I figured that she never got over that fact and her drunkenness damn right showed the wounds of her insecurity.

Before she could reply, I shoved my hand over her mouth. I didn't want her to answer that, I really didn't. The boy couldn't be her father because he must have been the same age as us or maybe a year older. No older than eighteen, I could tell. Besides, why the hell would her dad be here when he had been gone for waaaay too long?

By the time I had sat Diana down and prevented her from puking, I glanced over at where I first saw the mysterious boy but to my horror he was gone. I mentally stabbed Diana twice. There were some sparks between us, I could feel it. I cupped my face in my hands.

Why me?

"Did you like my partah?" Dribble dripped down Diana's chin. I wiped it off with a nearby napkin.

"Yeah, next birthday go out for a meal." I folded my arms over my black dress that reached down to my feet. Diana nodded her head and twisted her body into an awkward position.

I checked the time on my phone briefly, which was just one those cheap ones you can buy at like every super market that exists. Texting had never really been my thing so I didn’t bother to upgrade it to a smartphone.

11:46pm

I remembered that I had told my mum to pick me up at dead on midnight outside of Diana's so I still had time... time to find him. Maybe not that long so I’d need to rush but not rush too much.

"Move." I roared, pushing passed every wasted idiot that came into contact with me. Wherever I looked, all I could see were girls with their breasts hanging half out of their shirts or teenage boys doing whatever they were doing with their penises. Everyone was too drunk to care about how rude I sounded and I felt too irritated to either.

Once it had reached midnight, I felt disappointed as I hadn't had any luck. He must have had enough and gone home. Or maybe he hid so he wouldn't have to talk to me ever again. What really annoyed me was that from inside the Diana's crazy party, a familiar car horn that was outside screeched over it.

My mum's car.

Pissed, I ran in my heels to her red Rover. A frown was plastered on her rosy cheeked face and I nervously bit my lip and pretended that I had lost my voice so she wouldn’t ask much.

"You never said that they'd be drunks and loud music," the dreaded words escaped her lips, "You're barely legal to be having sex and you better not have lost your virginity, Florence…" My mind zoned out from her lecture as I tried to digest what had happened at the party.

"I didn't," my lips talked by themselves, "I hate parties and you know that better than anyone else." Her eyes glanced at mine for a split second before facing the road again.

“I guess I should trust you because you seem like you haven’t drunk much and you look presentable,” she giggled, honking the horn again by accident, “Just promise me you’ll tell me when you do.” I raised my eyebrows at her before leaning my arm against the side of the window. I knew exactly what she was talking about.

Not another word was said for the rest of the journey and the only thing that could be heard was my deep breathing and the car's engine roaring. She hadn’t even bothered to put the radio on so the awkwardness in the air felt a lot more awkward than it should have been.

Maybe I’d meet him again soon.

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That's the first chapter, remember to vote, comment and fan.