Runaway 2

Chapter 11

(4:21pm. Events)

"Are you ready? My parents charity event is going to be soon," Mark pats my lower back as I put my earrings on. Mark's dad owned a production company. So he was a big deal up in the movie industry. He was holding a charity event tonight for special kids.

I put on my red lipstick and look at myself one more time before I head out the door. My heels clicking against the marble floor as we make our way to th elevator. I ruffle my hair as we step inside. We stood quiet, no conversation. The car ride was similar as well.

(5:10PM. Mothers, exes, fiancés)

I sipped my champagne as I stood by a tent. Mark was busy talking to people, I stared at him and the things around me. I feel a pat on my shoulder and I turn around. It was Mark's mother.

"Audrey," she clears her throat.

"Melanie"

"How are you doing?," she asks.

"I'm alive and well, how about you?," I reply.

"Have a walk with me, will you?," she intertwines our arms and I follow her. We walk slowly around the crowd of people until she stops infront of a familiar person.

"This uh.. Harry, he was a volunteer doctor who helped our charity," She introduces me to someone I know. She stares me down, waiting for a reaction.

"I'm Audrey," I shake hands with Harry, playing pretend is so common these days.

"Harry," he smiles. He plays along, I'm shocked he is playing along after that phone call we had.

"Have you ever met Harry before?," Melanie looks over to me.

"We haven't, why?," Harry speaks up before me. "May I say you are a wonderful looking young woman Audrey though"

"Oh I don't know, it just looks like you did, the looks you're giving each other, I just assumed," Melanie lets out a cold laugh. Her plan didn't clearly work. "My bad"

She walks away, smirking. I back away from Harry too and find my way over to Mark but my arm is yanked.

"Can I talk to you?," He asks.

"Harry.. Let go, people are here, Mark knows about you and I'm pretty sure if we talk his mom will be sure I know you," I say softly, I can't cause any kind of attention towards us here.

"Two minutes..," He pleads. I sigh and shake my head no. "Audrey... Come on.."

"No Harry, I said no!" I pull my arm out of his grip and scurry away through the crowd of people. I find Mark and stand right beside him like a two year old child who holds onto his mother in public places, my eyes still scan the people around me. Anxiety running through my body. I nervously bite my nails on one hand as I sip champagne from the other.

"Are you okay?," Mark rubs my back. I look up at him, our eyes meet and he senses something is wrong. He grabs my hand and we walk over to the toilets. He takes me inside one, I take a seat on the loo after I close the lid. I run my hands through my hair, Mark's torso at my eye level. I grab his waist and rest my head on his stomach as he stands. He strokes my head and then bends down so we are eye to eye.

"Tell me what happened?,"He grabs my face. "I just want you to relax and know that nothing bad is going to happen"

Tears fall down my cheeks, I begin to cry a little louder and my breath hitches. Mark engulfes me, my head resting on his shoulder. I'm a nervous wreck.