The Run Aways

Chapter One

Coby Cotton as Matt, Serenity's boyfriend.

Serenity's POV

The bell chimed loudly, being heard over the chaos of screeching chairs and talking teens. I pushed my pinkish red hair over my shoulder before throwing my heavy book bag over that same shoulder. I politely hand the previous nights homework to my English teacher, Mrs. Kelley.  She gives me a warm smile, much like one a mother would give her child. "You and your friends are doing the final project on Tucson Hospital, correct?" She asked, writing me a note for my next class as we spoke. "Yes, ma'am. We're doing the essay, presentation, and billboard about the hospital." Mrs. Kelley laughed while shaking her head. "You ladies are such overachievers. It won't surprise me if all four of you become valedictorian, I mean, you and Miss Craymor are already a grade ahead and straight A's since pre-school. Along with that, all four of you are not only this school's smartest students, you somehow manage to keep them boys out there on their toes." I giggle at her last sentence. All the guys at our school believe that one of them will take one of us to prom, even though we already have boyfriends.

Students began to pile into the classroom, seating themselves before the bell rings. "Here's you a note, just tell that old uptight grouch I was speaking to you about the homework, I'll see you tomorrow Miss Rose." Mrs. Kelley waved to me as I walked out the door to go to my next class, computer technology. As I walked into the room, right as the tardy bell rings, I hand the note to my least favorite teacher. She scowls at me as I give her a bright smile, walking back to my desk. "Hey Ser! What took you so long?" My friend, Hazel gave me a smile. "Mrs. Kelley. You know how she is about us, Naomi and Jessica." The darker skin girl chuckled, shaking her head full of curls. A loud smack noise brings our attention back to the class, we look up to see Ms. Harp frowning at the whole class. "Silence!" She yelled over the chatter of teenagers. Ever since her divorce with her husband of five years, she's been the worst person to be around, even other teachers called her a grouch.

The rest of class was filled with silence as she drones on and on about the importance of watching what you post and say on the internet. Talking about our "online footsteps" and going as far as searching Hazel's name on Google and showing everything that can come up about us.

After the class was over, the bell signaled the end of school and the end of the week. Ms. Grouch sat at her desk, mumbling about 'stupid weekends' and 'dumb teenagers' as everyone filed out of the room. Upon walking out of the room, I was tackled by my other two friends, Naomi and Jessica. "Hey, Ser! You comin' with us to the mall?" I giggled at Naomi's excitement, she was always the most hyper out of us. "Yeah, sure. We can't stay out too late though, we have to go to the hospital tomorrow." I stated, putting the last of my school supplies in my locker, only bringing my bag with me. The girls all cheered, carrying on about how there's a new shoe store that just arrived, taking over an outdated 99 Cent store that used to be there.

As we exited the school, I was pulled aside and before I could say anything, my boyfriend of three years came into view. He smiled putting his perfect, white teeth on show. "Hey, babe. What you and the girls up to today?" His voice was low and smooth as butter, "Hey, Matt! We're just headed to the mall, we won't be staying long though since we have to go to the hospital tomorrow." I reply with a smile. He nodded, kissing my temple. "Ok, have fun and please text me when you're home so I know you're safe. I have practice tonight, but I should be out by six. You coming to our game Friday?" I giggle and nod, kissing his cheek. "I'll be in those stands just like every Friday night. Have fun at practice and try not to break anything." I wink cheekily at him before waving bye and catching up with the girls who were already in Jess' car.

The girls were all smirking at me, then laughing when I blush. I was the only one to have a boyfriend who went to the school, the other three's boyfriends went to different schools. I jump into the front seat of the car, putting my bag between my legs and the seat. "What are we doing at the mall today?" I ask, putting my seatbelt on as Jessica leaves the parking lot. I put my hair in a ponytail so the wind doesn't mess it up since Jess put her convertible hood down. "Well first, we're checking out the new shoe store that moved in, then after we'll probs just hang out in the food court or walk around, something to keep us out of the house," Hazel informed me. I nod before chuckling, "I hope this new shoe store is good, I've been needing new shoes for a while." I look down at my worn out baby blue converse I got for Christmas three years ago. These shoes have definitely seen better days, that's for sure.

We enjoyed the car ride in silence, the warm evening weather caressing us as it blew through the vehicle. I watched the scenery pass by, loving how the trees lightly swayed with the wind. After about a thirty-minute car ride, the mall came into view. The girls cheered, chatting about the things they wanted to buy and where all we would go. Jessica quickly found a parking spot and after we all got out of the vehicle, she and I put the top up before she locked the car up and we all made our way inside the large building. We looked on the large map that told where everything was, immediately finding the 'NEW' sticker put over the new shoe store. It was on the second level, all the way to the right. 

We began to speed walk to the escalator that would lead us to the correct side of the upper level, Jess and Naomi jogged up the moving escalator, too impatient to just stand and wait. When Hazel and I reached the top, we all walked to the destination, seeing it was a Converse store. Much like how there was a Vans store, they now had one for just Converse. I smiled happily, running to all the different colors of Converse. Personally, I liked the high tops, because I could wear any socks I wanted to with them. All four of us were separated throughout the store, looking on excitedly.

"Hello, ma'am, may I help you with anything?" A tall male spoke. He wore a 'Converse' employee shirt. "Oh, I was just looking. Thank you though." I said politely, looking back at the maroon converse I was looking at just moments before. "Okay, well you and your friends are the first to come into the store, which means you all get your first pair free and your second pair half off," My eyes grew wide and my jaw fell slack. "Really?" I stuttered out, my shock evident in my voice. He nodded with a proud smile. "Converse wanted to reward their first customers since they're putting up new stores all over the place." After another smile, he walked back to the counter.

After I chose three pairs of Converse: A pink pair, maroon pair, and peach pair, I walked over to the other girls, quickly telling them about what the guy told me, making them run back to the aisles and getting two more pairs each. I went ahead and checked out, paying the seventy-five dollars for the shoes. Soon, the other girls paid for theirs, and we left. 

We walked around to other stores, getting new things and overall just having fun, before deciding to get some food and head home. We all decided to stay the night at mine, so we loaded up the car and went back to mine, which was thankfully just a fifteen-minute drive away from the mall. 

Back at my house, we went straight to my bedroom after greeting my parents who were cuddled up on the couch watching Harry Potter like the nerds they are.  My room happened to be in the basement which meant I could make the whole lower level my own space like it was an apartment or something. Naomi dropped her entire body onto my small couch, Hazel on the matching love seat while Jess went to my mini 'kitchen' to get herself a coke and some of my special fruit salad. I went to the flat screen t.v. to choose a movie before putting it in the DVR and clicking start. 

The title of the movie came up, Cabin In The Woods. It's a movie that all four of us enjoyed a lot, especially since the druggie was so cute. Ten minutes into the movie, I receive a text. 'Did you get home, okay, babe?' Matt asked. I found it sweet how he cared so much about whether or not I made it home safely at the end of the night. 'Yes I did c: Just got sat down, bought to watch a movie with the girls before we hit the hay for the night.' I responded, setting my phone down and focusing back on the movie.

The movie ended an hour and a half later. All the other girls were asleep, so I quietly stood up and made my way to the t.v. turning it off along with the main lights before finding my way back to my recliner and dosing off for the night.

First Chapter! Sorry for taking so long to get this out, I stayed at my grandparent's house majority of the week, but I am back home now, so hopefully, I can get a few chapters out! School starts back Friday, so I hope to get at least two more chapters out before then. Let me know what you think the secret that's being held by the hospital, you never know, maybe you're right ;)

S_O