Run

Chapter 5

Walking along the sidewalk our shoulders brush every now and then. It was quiet for about a half hour. Surprisingly long for James. I didn't speak because I didn't want to and it hurts to talk. The events from earlier weighing heavy between us. 

Just when I thought James was broken and couldn't talk anymore, he does. "So, what's your story Haylee?" I look over at him as he shrugs. 

"Yeah. Who is Haylee..." James trails off.

Chuckling, my cheeks turn pink and I look down. "My name isn't actually Haylee. It's Sadie Sue but that's such a dreadful name that once everything happened and I started meeting new people I named myself Haylee. Just Haylee, no surname." He quirks a brow and I roll my eyes. "Well what about you, then? Oh so mysterious James." 

He laughed. "Jameson Brantely Jones." Extending his hand, we shake before laughing. 

"Nice name, Mr. Jones." 

"Why thank you, Sadie Sue." 

Rolling my eyes, I glare playfully. "Tell me something, Haylee." 

"Like what?" I ask.

"Anything about yourself. Birthday, family, favorite color." James says, bouncing a ball he took out from his pocket- like a freaking kid. I think for a moment, our foot steps and the bouncing ball are the only things making noise.

"After we get more supplies." I say and point to a convince store ahead. 

"Deal but don't think you're getting out of this." James laughs. 

"Fair enough." A moment goes by in silence. "One question though." 

"Shoot." 

"Why shorten Jameson? I like it." I glance at him to see him smiling at me. 

"Well," He says, opening the door to the store. "You shall call me Jameson then." giving me a wink.

After that we spent around fifteen minutes whatever we could find that we needed. Getting all that we could we continue west and Jameson and I talked about ourselves. 

He told me about his mom and girlfriend that he left behind- or well, not really left behind. Anyhoo, he's from Brooklyn and is twenty years old, his birthday is next month. Living with his mom and girlfriend in a two bedroom apartment, Jameson shared that they weren't wealthy but still a happy family. 

Surprising myself, I told him about how I was turning twenty-two in four months. About my life in Florida, where I grew up with my brothers and parents.

"Yeah, I was the middle child and pretended that I hated it." I mumbled with a small smile. "Our parents worked a lot and my mom was gone on business trips a lot. My father was a chef meaning he practically lived at the restaurant. My older brother acted like a tough, over mature adult and my younger brother would mock him. It was really funny actually."  

"Being the only sister and most of the time the only girl in the house, I was that sister who'd snap at the boys for being gross and stupid and be embarrassed by my whole family. I was stupid, though. Only thing I can remotely think of as good that came out of this is now I see how great I had it." 

Jameson smiled sadly, paying close attention. 

"You say you were the snappy sister but it sounded like you had good times with your brothers anyway." 

I nod because we did.

After that, Jameson didn't let the mood fall like it would have. Instead he told me a story of his. "Junior year of high school, I changed schools. It was a hard transition because we went from a really nice neighborhood to crap. The school was a crappy one also- a complete hellhole. On my first day I was there, I got a black eye. Don't ask," he chuckled when I was going to ask. "And right after I received it, in the middle of the hall in front of literally all the students, I walked with straight to the nurse's office because I was bleeding. As I was about to open the door, someone  opened it from the inside and hit me right in the face with the door. I fell like an idiot." 

I couldn't help it and laughed so hard that I snorted. 

"Yeah and a chick comes out, hand to her chest laughing her ass off. Not apologizing nor trying to help me up because she was laughing so hard she fell over next to me and we both stayed there laughing at the situation. Afterwards, she tried to apologize but couldn't keep a straight face and neither could I really."

"That's how you met your girlfriend?" 

He nodded smirking, "Yup. And once she realized I was the new kid and got a black eye for nothing, she laughed again. I didn't mind though because she had a great laugh. However, I didn't really appriteate everyone calling me a klutz all the time." Jameson said and snorted again. "What about you? Any loves from the past?"

I snorted and shook my head. 

"I was a bitch to everyone, no one looked at me twice." After a moments thought I shook my head. "Well, in sixth grade there was this kid, not that those were real relationships but I broke up with him a week after he asked me out. I liked him but wasn't allowed to date. The last day of eighth grade came and I was getting off the bus and he just belted out his love for me. I froze, smiled really wide and practically ran home. Sad thing, I still had feelings for the kid." At the end of my story I sighed but Jameson almost peed himself laughing. 

"Shut up Jameson, it was a horrible experience."

"For him yeah!" He laughed. "That poor kid." 

"I know! I never got to apologize and I'll feel guilty till the day I die." That only made Jameson laugh harder.

The day went on as we walked and shared stories but the sun was setting soon. 

We were in an alley, I know stupid, when we heard movement. I don't know why  but when a can roll toward us, I pushed Jameson behind me. Crouching slightly, I put my hand on my blade but groan in annoyance and stand straight seconds later. 

Out from behind the trash comes a medium sized brown dog. 

Walking over to it, I bend down and pet it with a sigh. Jameson gave me a strange look and then eyed the dog wearily. "Afraid of dogs?"

He rolled his eyes. 

"He's ours now." I say, patting the dog's head. Jameson fidgets and rolls his eyes. 

"Let's just go. Leave the dog, though." 

"Uh no, we'll leave you before that happens." I stand and the dog grumbles as if agreeing. Jameson rolls his eyes again before mumbling a whatever. 

The dog follows as we walk a little farther and then find a two story building. Deciding it was our best bet, we check the area before going in and checking around. Setting up camp by the stairs on the second story, we can see the entire ground floor from here. It wasn't long before we fell asleep. James about five feet from the dog and I. The dog cuddled up to me and the warmth was like sleep itself, blanketing me.