Run Away

Chapter 11

"I promise I'm fine," Evie tried to convince Sandra for the umpteenth time, while sitting on a kitchen chair.

They had been discussing whether Evie should return to school the following day. Sandra was concerned about Evie having another attack at school and felt she should rest up after the last two. Evie on the other hand felt fine and would rather risk having another episode at school than stay at home all day alone, and left with her thoughts.

Evie was dressed and ready to go, Owen stood leaning against the kitchen bench not saying anything and Sandra paced worriedly around the kitchen.

"Maybe I could stay home with you," Sandra offered, stopping in front of Evie with a hopeful look that she had figured out a solution.

A day at home alone with Sandra wouldn't be relaxing, Evie thought to herself. Knowing Sandra, she would try to find out more about her. Evie would rather face Harley and her friends' questions again. Evie threw Owen a pleading look, but he looked away from her. Either bored of the conversation or didn't care what the result was.

"I might have to move some meetings and reschedule some things, but I could do a lot of my work from home," Sandra continued on, counting on her fingers as she listed things she could do.

Owen looked back over at Evie and saw her distressed face as she watched Sandra. With a roll of his eyes, he sighed and moved away from the bench.

"Mum, if Evie says she will be fine, let her go to school," Owen complained to his mother, slightly agitated at having to stand up for Evie. "I can keep an eye out for her."

Sandra studied her son and thought long and hard about his offer. Glancing back at Evie she could see by the look on her face that she was only stressing Evie out more. Relaxing her stance, she decided it was probably best to give in and trust Evie.

"Okay, you can go," Sandra stated finally.

Evie smiled and stood up from her chair, grabbing her bag and ready to follow Owen to the car.

"Just a second," Sandra stopped them, before dashing out of the room.

Evie gave Owen a questioning look and he just shrugged his shoulders in answer to her unspoken question. He didn't know what his mother was doing either.

Sandra bustled back into the kitchen with a small, flat, white object in her palm.

"Here, take this," Sandra ordered, handing the brand-new phone to Evie.

Evie stared down at the phone in her hand in astonishment; it was not a cheap phone. Easily a new design, not that Evie would know much about it, she hadn't owned a phone for a long time.

In the corner of her eye, Evie could see Owen's surprise at the gift his mother had given to a complete stranger who had been in their home for only a week. When he had asked for a new phone, his parents had told him he had to save his own money for it.

"I can't accept this," Evie protested, reaching out to give the phone back to Sandra, but she didn't take it from her.

"I want you to have it, it will put my mind at ease," Sandra explained, gently pushing Evie's hand away from her not accepting the phone back, "My number is programmed into it as an emergency contact. I've also put Brian, Owen and Kelly's numbers in it just in case."

"What?" Owen exclaimed, unsure he wanted Evie to have his number.

Sandra ignored Owen's small outburst and went on, "This is my condition if you want to return to school. Otherwise you can stay at home with me."

Evie sighed, giving in and stowing the phone into a side pocket of her bag.

The drive to school was silent and the only time Owen spoke to Evie was when they were getting out of the car. It wasn't even speaking to her, more ordering her.