Lone Runner (On HOLD)

Chapter 9

 I knew Gabe hated when I wanted to do my own things, so after that whole scene last night he didn’t really want to talk to me. It was nearly four in the morning when we all went to sleep and I wasn’t even tired from sleeping earlier. I stayed up the entire night, when I looked at the clock it was already six in the morning. Everyone was still sleeping, I was thinking how I was going to get at Victor and then I remembered that I had promised my mom that I would call her. I got up from the bed, as quiet as I could be I tiptoed around the bed towards the door. I saw Gabe laying, sleeping, facing the wall… just because he was mad at me. I slipped on my shoes that were in the closet and snuck out of the room.

I was in the lobby of the hotel, in search for a phone, I went to the front desk and rung the bell that read push. A young lady came out and said, “Good Morning miss, how may I help you today?”

I politely smiled at her and asked, “Good morning, uhm, I was looking around for a phone but I can’t find one, do you have one out here?”

“No we don’t, but is there a problem with the one in your room?” She asked right back.

I shook my head, “No, it’s just that everyone is still sleeping and I didn’t want to make any noise, you know?”

She gave me a look i didn’t like and then went to the back. When she came back she said, “We have a phone in the back if you want to use it.”

“Sure,” as much as I wanted to slap her for the attitude she was giving me, but I really needed to call my mom. We walked through a narrow hall and then we reached a small office, she pointed to the phone and walked away. I wasn’t going to be rude like she was so I said, “Thank You.”

Ring, ring, ring …..

“Hello?” A deep heavy breathing was on the other end and I knew on instant it was Victor.

I took slow, steady breaths and said, “Hey Victor, can I talk to my mom please?”

He laughed, but that laugh wasn’t good… it was an evil laugh, one that I didn’t like, “You think you’re smart, don’t you? You’ll end up back here, I guarantee it. Cynthia, it’s your daughter, she wants to talk to you.”

“Rosalinda? Sweetie, uh, you didn’t call last night, I thought something happened to you. Are you coming home now?” her voice was weak and shaky.

I sighed, “Mom I am fine, I had a breakdown last night thinking of Lydia and I messed up my arm a little. I miss her so much. I was with Gabi last night, helping her that’s why I forgot to call, but I can’t come home yet. Mom, I love you and I’m sorry I forgot to call, but I just have to help Gabi before I go back home.”

There was a small pause but she was still on the other end, unlike last time, “Rosa, why are you with Gabi? She was Lydia’s friend, not yours. Does she know something about my little girl? I hope you’re not getting into any trouble.”

“Mom calm down, I’m just helping her like I said before, I’ll be home before you know it… Mom I have to go now, I love you. I will call you as soon as I can.” the stupid lady was walking towards me and she looked irritated.

“Bye honey, I’ll tell Jay you called,” this time my mom hung up before I could say anything else. She had gone from sounding weak to confident and now I felt something weird.

I quickly hung up the phone and rushed out of the office before I heard the lady’s mouth run. I ran past her and said ,“Thank You,” as I reached the exit to the lobby.

I was standing in front of the door when i hear mumbling, they were up. I pressed my ear against the door and heard them talk about me.

“She’s crazy, I don’t care what she says, I am not going to let her, let him get her. She’s my motivation, my best friend, my everything and I can’t risk losing the one I love to a fucking bitch ass like Victor,” Gabe was furious and that made me nervous to go in.

Now it was Robbie talking, “I know man, she wants to act like no one cares about her, like it’s only her up against that monster, but we’re all here with her involved in this problem. SHe’s not going to face him alone.”

“You guys weren’t asked to be apart of this, she’s doing this for herself because inside it’s killing her that Victor did all this to get to her. She wants to make up for the mistakes she did, like not being there for Lydia when she had the chance, not saying I love you enough, she wants to catch and make justice for her sister… even if she believes she has to do it on her own. I’m here because she just wants the support and you guys should be giving it to her no matter what. If she believes later that she needs us then she will tell us,” Gabi was all on point telling them exactly how I felt.

I couldn’t help to just stand outside the door eavesdropping anymore. I slid the key in and out of handle and I walked in. They all turned around, looking kind of scared. I walked straight to my bed and sat down, unlacing my shoes. I looked up at all of them and said “hey, did that cat eat your tongues or what?”

Gabi was the first to speak up, “Good morning Linda, we were wondering where you went.”

“I had to call my mom, I forgot to do that last night,” I acted like I wasn’t just listening to them talk about me.

Robbie walked over and sat next to me, “Oh yeah, did she say anything? Was Victor there?”

I nodded, “Yeah, Victor was there, he was the one that answered the phone. He told me that he guaranteed that I’d be back home soon. My mom sounded ok, I guess.”

“Linda come here,” Gabe was leaning on the wall behind our bed and just staring at me, no emotions.

I rolled my eyes and turned back around, facing Gabi, “Whatever, you want to be mad at me, not comfort me or anything last night when I was up the entire night. Why do you want to talk to me now?”   

Both Gabi and Robbie looked at each other and then at me. I didn’t really care because what I was saying is true. They looked at each other again and both got up.

Robbie held Gabi’s hand, they walked to the door and he said, “We’re going down to the breakfast.”

“Thanks man,” Gabe said as he walked towards me.

I actually wanted this alone time, so I wasn’t mad that they left me alone with Gabe. I layed down on the bed and faced away from him, he leaned in and whispered in my ear, “I’m Sorry.”

“No,” I said sounding like a little kid.

He was now on top, well more like hovering over me, “Baby, I just love you too much to watch you get hurt or killed. To hear you say that you were going to let him get you… that just fucking killed me inside.”

I know how that feels, “Sorry Gabe, I know, I get it… but you know I need to do something about this, i can’t just let it go.”

“Babe I want to help you every step of the way, so let me. I don’t want you to let it go, I just want you to let me help, be there for you,” he was whispering that into my ear and I knew he wanted to make up.

“I know,” I whispered back and next thing I knew we were under the covers.