Imogen Grey

Chapter 1

I bring the match between my lips while I try regaining my balance with the clutter in my arms. My eyes quickly look up and I see the smokers den at school. My eyes scan over the landscape and I quickly run over and slip inside the shed. The doors are always locked but if you position your self perfectly, you can fit between the metal doors. The chain clangs as I push my body through the small opening. Once inside I quickly turn on the small lamp and I go and sit on the tattered blue couch. My eyes dart up looking through the curtain of my hair and across from me are a couple smokers on the other couch. I give the two of them slight smiles and bring my papers and sticks to the cement floor and start making a tipi of sorts.

I can feel the girl and the boy staring at me but I don't care. Everyone who has seen me come here knows I don't come here to smoke, even though I have several match books in my pockets and lighters in my jacket.

"H-hey" I look up and see the girl looking directly at me. I look around and then point on myself in question, then the girl nods answering me.

"Oh. Um.." I say trailing on, looking back down I answer a quiet "hi." I start working back on my paper pyramid, only to peer at them through my hair.

"What are you doing?" I say nothing and just shrug. Why does it matter what I do? "I think you have at least some clue to what you're doing."

"I'm making a fire. Don't worry, I'm not going to burn down the shed. It's contained." I say quietly while I work.

"Hmm." she starts,"hey how come every time you come here you never smoke? I mean all I ever see you do here is light people's cigarettes and make tiny fires." All this does is earn another shrug from me. She watches me closely while I light the pages before speaking again. "Oh well, hey will you light this for me?"

"Yeah, sure" I say and stand and pad over there. I take out my favorite lighter, a classic white Bic lighter, and light the end of her cigarette.

"Thanks. Hey what's your name? Mines Audrey. Audrey Anderson." She says and puts her hand out.

"Imogen. Imogen Grey." I say and shake her hand. Her hand was clammy but small.

"This is Ethan. He doesn't say much at first, but once you get to know him he's swell" she says and points to the tan boy next to her. Ethan had short black hair and wore glasses, the classic ones that you would see the nerds wear in old movies. His hair wasn't shaved of anything but it wasn't long either. I looked over at Audrey and took in her appearance. She had a red flannel and faded jeans that were a light blue with holes at the knees.

I realized I still hadn't said anything so I just half smiled at them and they smiled back. Kinda. The paper and the sticks start to burn brighter as we three watch. They start to fall and the paper is completely burnt and the sticks are now embers. I reach over the couch and grab  a glass bowl and put it over the dying flames.

"Hey we should probably be getting back to the school soon" Audrey says and looks to Ethan and me to see if we'll agree. I nod my head and look over to Ethan and he just nods his slowly.

Audrey opens the doors as far as they'll go and heads out. When I look over and half smile at Ethan all I get is a scowl in return. My smile drops when he turns and goes noisily out the door. I scoff, not at him but at myself, and head out after him.

I can see and hear him and Audrey whispering to each from behind the building. But instead of whispering it was more of yelling but in a whispered tone. I creep toward them quietly and see them a couple yards away. I duck back behind the shed and just listen.

"No, don't invite her Audrey, this is supposed to be a you and me thing. No one else." Ethan says harshly to her. I can hear her intake of breath before she responds.

"You aren't the only one who can decide things. If I want her to go, I can invite her. It's her choice got it?" I wasn't sure how to feel. The fact that Audrey wanted me to go somewhere with them was lingering through my thoughts. Audrey seemed nice so wherever they were talking about didn't seem to bad.

"Fine, whatever, but if she makes us get caught, I blame you."

"There we go. See? It's easier to just agree instead of argue, right?" Her tone changed back to the one she uses with me. Once I heard their footsteps moving and walking back I ran to the front of the shed and sat quietly. I see Audrey followed by Ethan appear around the corner.

"Um hey, you know you didn't have to wait up right?" She says surprised. I just say oh and then she shrugs and starts to talk again. "Oh well, I wanted to ask you something anyway. Would you maybe, perhaps um run away with us?" That was not what I expected to hear. My eyes stare at her blankly.

"Um, uh maybe? Can I sleep on it?" I say to quickly. That's what they were talking about? Why would they want to run away?

"Yeah sure. Just make sure you get us your answer before Thursday. We plan on leaving Friday."

"Um yeah sure. I'll make sure to get you an answer before then." With that she smiles and we three start to walk back towards the school. The cool winter air gently brushes against us ruffling my side bangs. What am I going to do? I want new friends and all, but what about my mother? What will she do if I'm not there? All these thoughts and many more race through my head.

All I can hear are the thoughts that run in mind and the soft patter of our shows on the blacktop. And if I listen real close, I can hear their intake of each breath and when they exhale each breath.

I start to see the school come into view through the trees, we crawl through the small gap in the fence and say our goodbyes and promises to talk after school.