Weeks pass. Everyday I meet Ryan after school in our secret hideout. He always brings snacks and I supply a small music station, just to cut through the cold air. We went on for almost a term in this routine. People were starting to suspect us as an up and coming couple, but then wrote it off as unlikely and decided we were friends or that I'd finally gotten a muchly needed tutor.
I am in my bedroom on the phone to Ryan. Since we have become close we have done everything a normal couple would do. The only difference is that we do it in secret. It's easier that way, less drama. We decide to meet at the place, it's easy to get to because the school is always open. I get on my bike and ride it down to the school. I pass Ryan on the path that we first met so we ride together.
Getting closer to the school, we hear loud noises of sirens. The fire department is just down the road from the school, they must be going out somewhere. But it gets worse. The smell of smoke starts to fill the air and flames are arising from the building our secret room is.
"Beth, we have to get out of here." Ryan says urgently.
"No! I have to find out what happened!" I demand
Despite Ryan yelling at me to stop, I run out to investigate. Standing out the front of the school burning down there are government officials.
"Excuse me sir, do you know what has happened here?" I ask one of them, wearing a clean black suit,
"As you can see, there was a fire. We are not sure what caused it yet." he calmy replies, before walking to a group of men on walkie talkies and dressed the same.
"Are you crazy? You do know that this is no accident, right?" Ryan says, while catching his breath after chasing me.
"Am I crazy? The government would have caught people if it had been an accident." I say.
"Did that man say that he knew what had caused it?"
"No, he said that they didn't know yet." I say, getting rather frustrated.
"And you didn't even suspect that he lied for even a moment?" Ryan whispers to me. I see one of the officials looking at him suspiciously.
"That's impossible, you're being rediculous." I whisper back. I'm shocked in his lack of respect for authorities.
"Look, they're after me. I am really good at finding places that even they haven't monitored yet. They know that but they can't stop me. I have other places we can go to, I'll explain every detail there.
Ryan and I go back to my house and I let my parents know that I am going to go out for dinner and will be back later. We take a bike each and ride through the town. I follow Ryan through small side streets and eventually find an old restraunt. It's not abandoned, but it looks like it doesn't get as much attention as it used to.
"This used to be a popular cafe or something a long time ago. Everyone used to eat here. These days it is not so popular."
We walk under a flashing sign saying 'Starbucks' and find an almost empty fast food restraunt. It has wooden booths and tables with old bits of chewing gum shoved in the cracks.
"Ok. We will order and you will go to the 'bathroom'. Go down that hallway and take the second door on the right. It is unlabelled. I'll meet you there soon after."
We order a small meal and I leave for the door. I easily find it. On the other side of it is another door. I stand for a few moments, wondering if i should go through it. Just as I go to touch the door handle Ryan opens the other door behind me.
"Hey" I say
"What are you waiting for? Open the door!" He says jokingly.
I twist the handle to reveal a small, wooden room with a floral patterned couch and a large bookshelf.
"I've spent a lot of time here. It comforts me, it's always good to have a back up space that you can escape to."
"Who are you escaping from?" I ask.
"The government, teachers, family, and sometimes you."
"Me? Why would you escape from me? I thought we could trust each other." I say, feeling pain shoot through my chest.
"I've been lied to before. How do I know you're not going to turn on me?"
I pause for a moment, considering what he has said. Ryan's eyes watch the ceiling.
"You clearly already know that I'm here to stay. With you." I say quietly.
"Why do you say that?" Ryan says sounding slightly annoyed.
"I can see it in you. You've shown me your only safe places, you've given me more information than anyone else could ever be trusted with." I say confidently, awaiting his reply.
"I think I should drop you off at your house now," he says softly, "it's getting late."
YOU ARE READING
The Rotation
Teen Fiction"And what are you feeling now?" I ask, timidly. "At this very moment? I am in regret." "Regret of what?" "Of this" Imagine if you could change who you are every four years. All of your mistakes and regrets would disappear, you were a new pers...
