Runaways

Chapter 10

Elizabeth

Whoa, South Carolina? We were asleep for that long? The lady that informed us has shoulder length, gray curly hair. Her eyes were a blue deep like the sea and she had freckled just under her eyes following with a few wrinkles. We thank her, and I glance at my friends. I smile, but then realize, “Where is Allie?” I ask looking everywhere.

            “She’s probably being Allie!” Mary giggles. I should’ve known, I found Allie sitting in an aisle, her eyes scanning through the book that lay in her hands. She didn’t notice us, so Dario came from behind her and let out a scream while grabbing both her shoulders.

            “HOLY SWEET, MOTHER OF GOD!” She slaps Dario in the arm with the book she held because that was her first reflex. He was laughing hard, clenching his stomach as Oliver, Mary, and I are amused by the scene. “Don’t do that you guys!” Allie finally exclaimed after minutes of laughter. People shushed us, as we were being too disruptive.

            “You should’ve seen the look on your face.” Oliver reminds everyone, chuckling. Once again, even more laughter, but this time Allie joined us. I was laughing pretty hard because I had to put my hand on something for balance, and I knocked over a small bookshelf.

            “Elizabeth... Look at the masterpiece you have created.” Mary says picking up a small doll and starts waltzing with it.

            “What the hell Mary? That’s my bitch.” Oliver steals the doll away. He grins the biggest grin I have ever seen him make since Florida. I haven’t laughed like this in so long, that I got down onto my knees as well as the rest of the group. Suddenly, I hear someone clear their throat. We all look up, wiping tears from our eyes, and there stood a tall, black man. He was a bit chunky and his jet black suit read “SECURITY”

            “I’m going to have to ask you kids to leave immediately.”

            “I’m going to have to ask you to suck on my balls.” Dario returned the favor. We all turn our heads to Dario’s direction in shock and snicker, backing away from the man.

            “Excuse you? Out, now.” The security guard boomed. He glares down at us, almost the same height as the tall bookshelves next to him.

            “Alright, alright, we’re going.” Allie stands up and bows for him. “Excuse us, sir.”

            “We’ll be on our way.” Oliver prances with his doll into the next aisle. Just as we’re walking away, the security guard puts on a horrid face that makes Allie snort. We’re about to exit the store when I feel that I haven’t done enough.

            “Wait here.” I say to my friends. I go back a couple of aisles and push the bookshelf as hard as I could. Down went tumbling 3 shelves in a domino effect. “FUCK BITCHES!” I sing out loud as I dash out of the door with the group following.

            We turn at a corner and the book store was out of sight. I stare at all of them and notice how happy we all are. I knew that we haven’t been for a long time, and I’m glad I was one of the reasons they’re happy again.

            “We’ve made it so far! To South Carolina, and we already started trouble.” Mary shakes her head smiling.

            “That’s just how we roll.” Oliver winked. I glance at Allie and notice that her icy blue eyes start to tear up.

            “Are you okay Allie?” I caringly ask.

“Oh! No, I’m great. I’m just really happy that I’m out of that house and I’m here with you guys.” She wiped back a few tears and she demanded a group hug. While hugging, one of them squeezes the cut I received at 1 a.m. that Halloween morning from that white glass lamp.

            “Shit! Ow!” I hold onto my right arm.

            “I’m so sorry!” Allie touches my other arm, hoping I could forgive her.

            “It’s fine.” I took off my sweater revealing all of my cuts and bruises. I scanned my arms then at the gash. It was still red with blood as I loosened the knot in the cloth that Allie tied around it. The cut was deeper than I thought it was. It stung to touch it, even look at it. They all stare at me as I rip a piece of clean cloth and wrap it around the injury.

            “We should get something for that.” Dario breaks the silence.

              “It looks pretty bad.” Oliver tells me.

            “I’m fine. I’ll get something for it later.” I answer to both of them as the group stares at me in pity. I turn my head to hide the tears that I feel are about to rush out at any second.

 “Where are we going anyways? It seems like all we’re doing is walking to nowhere.” Dario changes the subject.

“My feet hurt.” Allie complained. Oliver then purposely trips Allie.

“Are you serious, bro? What the fuck.” She lies on the floor, pulling herself up from the dirt.

“Well, do they hurt now?” Oliver questions, chuckling with Dario as us girls, rolled our eyes at them. Allie stayed quiet.

“We’ll stop when we find something!” Mary exclaims and as soon as she did, the sidewalk turned into dirt. Not too far off, was an enormous forest.