Run Away With Me

6

I woke up and sat up on the bed as I let out a huge yawn. "Morning!" I turned over to see Blake reading the newspaper. "You read the newspaper?" I questioned with a smirk. "Yeah, don't you?" He asked. "Uh, not really. My grandpa does though." I said with a grin. "Oh, ha ha very funny, an old man joke. Listen there are valuable information written in these newspapers. The newspapers are dying you know, well print is. Everything is so digital now that in a few decades newspapers will be extinct. I'm gonna keep them so when my grandkids come see me I can show them how cool newspapers are." "Okay... You do that." I said as I hopped off the bed. I walked towards the window and smiled as I looked outside. I love New York so much, the vibe here was amazing, the people were so interesting, and so much was going on. I could feel Blake's presence approach me. Still, the feeling of my heart going a thousand miles per hour remained. I don't know why or what is going on but he has a certain thing about him that makes me feel safe, like he is in control of everything. "Isn't it beautiful?" He whispered. "Mhmm." He looked over at me and smiled but I kept my eyes on the city. "Did you wanna go get breakfast? Or we could order something here and just continue to be creeps and look at all these peoples." I laughed and looked back towards him, "I guess I should limit my stalking time, let's go eat." 

We left the hotel and I followed him as we jumped into the mix of walking people. Every time I was here I felt a rush when I was walking with the people of New York City. Every one around me had a different story, a job, a different life with their our problems, and I was in the mix of it all! Blake turned his head around to see if I was still behind me and when our eyes met we smiled. He grabbed my hand to bring me closer to him. The feeling I received was unexplainable, the way his fingers toughed my wrist was a feeling that shot electricity throughout my body. He gave me feelings I never knew were possible to have, and each time I had different feelings I yearned for those feelings to stay with me for ever. 

We sat down at the table in the little cafe. "This place looks expensive." I said. "It's New York, everything is expensive." "Right." I looked down at my menu and was interrupted by my phone ringing. "My mom." I said. "What?" Blake looked up from his menu and saw my phone was ringing. "Oh." He leaned back against he chair and stared at me then the phone. "Are you gonna answer it?" He asked. "I don't know." I stared at my phone. It stopped ringing and I breathed a sigh of relief. Then it rang again. "She's not gonna stop." Blake said. I nodded and grabbed the phone. My finger hovered over the "Accept" button and I mustered the courage to press it. "Hello?" I asked. "Where are you!?!? Are you okay?! Have you been kidnapped?! I'll go pick you up!" My mom said in one breath. "Mom! I'm fine. I just need to go okay? I can't be with you or dad and I'm not happy there so I'm just gonna go." I said. "Go where?! What are you doing?" She asked. I sighed, "I'm with a friend but know that I am okay and if I ever need you I will call you. I'm 18 now and I can make my own choices." I said. "Come home!" "Mom. No." I heard her tears through the phone and I closed my eyes to stop the tears from forming around my eyes. "Lexie Marie Johnson! You are going to come home now! When you get here you will be grounded! Do you understand?" "Mother! I am not coming home! I am running away from you and dad because I am tired of looking at him and I am tired of us fighting over him. I am tired of me not being happy around you! If you want me to be happy then let me go!" I yelled out. Her breathing was strong and I could tell she was hurt but I just couldn't be home anymore. "I love you." She said. I was shocked at her response, "I love you, too." "Please be safe honey. If you need anything please let me know. I'll be there for you. I'll always be there for you." A tear strolled down my cheek, "Thank you." I hung up the phone and laid it on the table. I looked at the people walking down the streets and thought about my conversation. She took it differently than what I had expected, but she took it. She's okay. I'm okay. 

"Um, did you wanna talk about anything." Blake asked. I looked at him and his face wore a worried expression. "Well my mom is okay with me not being home. I was expecting her to call the cops, create an Amber Alert, created a search party. But she's okay." "And how do you feel about that?" He asked. I thought for a moment and realized that I really don't know how I feel. I felt strange yet content. I looked at Blake, "I'm okay." A smile formed on his face, "Well I think you should get the French Toast, I hear it's amazing." I smiled at him and picked the menu up once more to find something to eat.

"Oh my gosh that place was amazing!" I exclaimed as we left the restaurant. "I know! We would come here all the time, it was everyones favorite?" "We?" I questioned. "My family." "Oh." "Come on, let's go over here." I smiled as he led the way to a few stores. We entered every store that was near and he bought me clothes even though I told him no. He kept buying things for me, as if he had to. I just hope he doesn't expect me to pay him back because I don't have enough money right now.

"Look at this!" He picked up a hat and put it on. I laughed as I grabbed another hat and put it on. "Oh! These!" He picked up some sunglasses and placed them on my face. I grabbed a scarf and wrapped it around his neck. For the remaining time we dressed each other up, we got crazy looks from the coworkers and customers but that was the fun part. We were strutting around the store as if we owned the place, and for the first time ever I felt care free. We laughed and joked around with each other as if we had been friends for years. 

We left store in laughter, my arm linked with his and bags on both of our arms. "We should walk back to the hotel, check out is in an hour and we should get going." "Awww but I don't wanna leave! New York is my home." I said. "We can come back one day." He said with a smile on his face. One day? What does that mean? Like on a Tuesday next month? Next year? How long does he expect to be with me? 

We packed up our bags and made our way to the front desk to check out. Once that was done we made it to his car, I put my stuff in the back and hopped in the front. "Ready?" He asked. I smiled and nodded as he drove out of New York. "Where are we going?" I asked. "Connecticut." "I hear it's lovely there." He smiled at, "Yeah, it is." "Well, what do you listen to?" I asked. He gave me a questioned look. "Music."  I stated. "Oh, well anything really. What about you?" "Indie, alternative, a little bit of pop. I'm actually not into the stuff you hear on the radio, I just like fun songs and songs that hold deep emotion." "Well play something." He handed me the Aux cord and I willingly took it. I looked through my Spotify and played one of my playlists. Ophelia by The Lumineers played. I smiled and leaned against the seat and sang along to the song. "O-Ophelia you've been on my mind girl since the flood. O-Ophelia heaven help the fool that falls in love." I looked over to see Blake singing along. "Wait you know this song?!" I asked. HE smiled and laughed as he nodded his head. We continued sining until the song ended. "I guess The Lumineers are kind of popular so you would know their music." I said. "Hey, I know a lot of people that don't know that song." He said. "Yeah I guess I do too.?" The next song played and it was Paris by Magic Man. Blake and I sung every word from the song. "I cannot believe you know that song! My friends don't know anyone from my playlists." I shared. "I can't believe you know these songs!" We laughed over our new found interest between music. "You intrigue me." He said. I looked up at him and he was smiling at me. A blush formed on my cheeks and I looked down at my phone to see what song was playing next. 

"Looks like we are here!" I looked up to see the "Welcome to Connecticut" sign. We drove into the state and a smile grew across my face. This place was absolutely beautiful and I loved everything I was seeing so far.