Trying Hard to Ignore You

"You need to pay attention to what you have in front of you."

Spencer

Ethan puts his hand on my arm in the crowded restaurant.

"Get Audrey and let's go outside and call Emily." He says.

I nod and look down at Audrey, putting my hand on her shoulder.

"Let's go outside."

The girl who looks up at me is not Audrey, but she damn well could be. I study her face.

"Oh gosh, sorry, I thought you were-"

"You thought I was my sister." She says.

I take a deep breath.

"Yeah." I hesitate. "Let's go outside." I say.

I take her hand and pull her outside.

"Let's call Emily and hope she answers." Kendall says, pulling her phone out.

"No need." I say, shoving my hands in my pockets. "She's right here."

Ethan and Kendall look up.

She really looks a lot like Audrey.

"How old are you?" I ask.

"Twenty two." She says quietly.

Nobody knows what to do or say.

I need to use my skills and start talking everyone ears off.

I open my mouth to begin when my phone starts ringing.

I pull it out.

Audrey

I press answer.

"Where are you?"

She's panting.

"I took off." She says. "And I got a mile down the road and I remembered you telling me I'm a runner, and I started walking back but I can't, Spencer. I'm freaking out."

"Well which way did you go?"

"Right." She says.

I hang up.

"I'll be back in a minute." I say.

Audrey

I'm leaning against a fence, gasping.

A couple minutes pass and I see Spencer's shoes in front of me. I lift my head up.

"We said the same thing." I say. "We both said that guy was a bloody cunt, at the same time, and when I looked at her...I looked into a darker shade of mine, and Spencer, that girl is my sister. I hate running. I'm tired of running, and this is me trying here, but I don't know how."

"All you have to do is stand there." He says calmly. "And I will stay with you."

I nod carefully, swallowing the nerves.

"Also, it's not smart to run around in unfamiliar territory."

I frown.

"Would you run around Albany?" I ask.

"Yes, but I was born and raised there, and you-" he cuts off. "Oh. Right."

He sighs.

"It's alright. Let's go."

He starts to walk away.

I watch. He turns around when he realizes I'm not following.

He walks back to me.