Chasing Pavement (ON HOLD)

Chapter Five

Chapter Five:

[Missing]

    Alex came over about an hour after the text message. I had just gotten out of the shower when he came up to the loft.

    “They think she ran away.” he said, quietly.

    He played with his dirty blonde locks. His macramé bracelet was worn, and his jeans ripped, the kind he wore to work. I wasn't used to seeing Alex like this ever. He always dressed cleanly, and sophisticated, not like a bum.

    “Why would she run away Sophy? Wouldn’t she take me with her? Or tell you?” he asked, running a hand through his hair.

    I was drying my hair with my white robe on, and fluffy slippers. It felt awkward with Lara’s boyfriend in my bedroom while I was getting dressed.

    “Did she say anything to you?” he asked.

“I would have told you, if she did.” I mumbled.

    “So she didn’t?”

I gave him and idiotic look, “No she didn’t Einstein.”

    “Why do you think she ran away then?” he asked, playing with the fringes on my carpet.

    I sighed, “I don’t know the answer, Palmer. I think she had her reasons.”

“I don’t believe that. She loved me, and your family more then anything else.” he paused. “she wouldn’t hurt us, like this.”he stared out the oversized window in the loft, out at the lake.

    “Believe what you want to. But, I think she wanted to get away.” I sighed, looking for something decent to wear in my wardrobe.

“I don’t think you believe this bullshit either Sophia. You and I both know Lara wouldn’t do something so stupid.” he gaped.

    “You’re right. I don’t. But, I don’t want to believe someone’s holding her hostage… or worse.” I cringed at the thought, my beautiful sister tied up in some shack in a pasture.

    “Or worse…?” he contemplated what I meant. Then he realized, his eyes began to fill with tears. “No… you don’t really think that do you?!”

    I began to feel my heart pound, I hadn’t realized it but this was a possibility.

“I don’t know Alex. Its not like Lara to just run away. You said it yourself”

    “Who would do that though?!” he cried.

I walked over to him, with my blouse on and my towel covering my lower half. I put my arm around his muscular shoulders.

“I guess we just believe, she ran away. I’m trying to convince myself of that.” I choked.

    “I can’t convince myself that she ran away Sophy. Because. I know its not true. That’s not what happened…” he struggled with the thought.

I could see it in his brown eyes. “Try.” I moaned, throwing my arms up. “Try.” I repeated.

    “She wasn’t herself that day…” he started. I shot him a glare as I picked out some  blue jeans.

    “What do you mean?” I gasped.

“I mean… she didn’t want to talk to me on Thursday. At school, she wouldn’t hold my hand, kiss me before Chemistry, or even look at me. She kept distance. I felt something between us… like she wanted to talk. But, she couldn’t. I wish I pushed her to talk. Maybe… maybe this wouldn’t of happened.” he cried. Tears streaming down his face.