Sometimes You Need To Let Down Your Hair

Chapter 25

       I checked to make sure that Gothel was no where in sight before I walked out of the store. Then I started walking. I kept my head down and tried to look as inconspicuous as possible. My shoes slapped on the dry sidewalk in a steady rhythm, and I tried to make it drown out the thoughts running through my head. However what ended up happening was that it kept pace for the running cadence of thoughts in my head. This was actually happening. I couldn't believe how unlucky I was. This was actually happening. On my sixteenth birthday, that one day that was supposed to be happy and special, had been ruined because I found out I had been lied to all of my life. Then I get drugged and wake up in a strange place where I end up getting hurt more and ridiculed by the very people who were supposed to protect me! This was actually happening!

       I noticed that my heart started beating faster, and my breath quickened, so I stopped. I shook my head and chided myself. Thinking about stuff like that would only hurt me. I kept walking. After awhile my stomach growled, so I walked into the first fast food place I came across. I walked in and ordered myself a cheeseburger and a drink. When I sat down in a booth in the back, I was happy that I had thought to take her money. As I ate my cheeseburger I started to cry a little. I didn't like this one bit. I wished that the cops would've taken me seriously. 

       One of the workers notices me crying because after they gave someone their order they sat by me. I looked at the worker. She was an old woman with gray hair and a kind smile. She asked in a soft voice, "Are you okay?" I meekly nodded in response and dried my tears with a napkin. She looked around and said, "Where are your parents?" 

       I gulped in response and told her the truth, "I don't know."

       She frowned and asked if I had any place to stay. I shook my head no, and she said "You could stay in my son's old room for as long as you need to if you'd like."

       I thought over the offer. It would give me a place to stay for the night, and the old lady seemed nice. Also, there was no way I'd make it back before the end of the day, so I'd have to sleep outside or on a bus. I hesitantly answered, "That would be nice." The woman smiled me in a grandmotherly way and told me to wait until her shift ended. I nodded and decided to take a nap in the booth.

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       I woke up when someone softly shook my shoulder. The old woman drove me to her house and showed me the spare room I could stay in. I repeatedly thanked her then went back to sleep. It was funny to me that I could even fall asleep. When I woke up in the morning I groggily rubbed my eyes and walked into the lady's kitchen. She was standing there talking on the phone. I was about to say hi, and thank her again when I saw what she was watching on the TV in her kitchen. It was the news, but there was a story on about a girl who had run away. The news lady described a girl with long hair who was tall and had some cuts and bruises on her arms. Then they pulled up a blurry picture of me in the police station. "If you see her call the cops. Her mother says she is delusional and dangerous to herself and others. She was last seen on main street "

       I narrowed my eyes then glanced at the old women. She glanced at me then the television. Her eyes widened in shock and she hung up her phone. "Was that you?" She asked. 

       I gulped and shook my head no, but I could tell she didn't quite believe me. She hung up the phone and told me to wait here while she got something from the living room. Then she walked out. At first I didn't think anything of it, but then I realized she took the phone with her. I quietly stalked to the living room where I heard her say, "Hello, yes I wanted to make a call about the missing girl on television."

       My eyes widened in fear as I slowly backed away. I went back to the kitchen and went out the back door. I made sure to shut the door as quietly as possible before running round her house and out onto the sidewalk. As I ran away I realized that I needed to make myself as inconspicuous as possible. First, I needed to stop acting like I was running from something. I slowed down then decided that I needed to change how I looked somehow. I walked around until I found a thrift shop. Once I did I sneakily walked in and searched for some 'new' clothes. 

       After counting my money and seeing that I had around one hundred bucks left, I looked for clothes. I ended up grabbing a gray jacket, a black pair of jeans, and a Star Wars T-shirt with R-2 D-2 on it. I also grabbed a small black and white backpack purse to hold the rest of the money I had and for any thing else I'd buy for the trip back home, like snacks. I bought the things at the counter and the cashier didn't even realize I was the chick who supposedly ran away. I thanked them and left the store as quickly as I could. When I was outside again I walked around some more until I found a gas station. I awkwardly changed in the bathroom and then threw away what I had been wearing. Then I braided my hair really tightly and tried to hide it in my jacket. 

       Then I went out, bought some snacks and water, and asked about bus schedules. The cashier was helpful and told me where the nearest bus stop was and told me that the next bus should be there in thirty minutes. 

       I went to the bus stop and waited for the bus to get there. As I did I decided to count how much money I had left. I had roughly fifty, and I hoped it would be enough for me to get back. Once I got back I could go find Lucas, and the cops, so I figured everything else would work itself out. When the bus got there I got on and stopped to talk to the bus driver. I pulled out my map from earlier and pointed to the place I wanted to go, "Take me here and I'll pay fifty bucks. I don't care how long I have to wait." I pulled the cash out of my bag and held it out. 

       A few moments of silence passed between the bus driver and me. Then she took the cash and muttered, "I'll take you after I finish dropping these people off at their stop."