If You Read This...

... KI!

"I'm here," Ivy texted me. I then heard a knock. It was time to go.

I walked over to the guest room door, attempting to lock it, but the lock was broken. I had to be quick. I creeped to the window, then slowly turned the latch. I then slid it up, taking breaks to make sure no one had heard and was coming to stop me.

Finally, when there was enough room, I climbed out and shut the window just as I opened it, slowly and quietly. Then I took off, faster than a rabbit escaping a prairie fire.

I didn't know how to get to Rory's from here, but my main concern was getting out sight from Ki and his family.

I ran about three blocks until I stopped inside a clothing store to GPS my way to Rory's house. Twelve miles away?! I didn't have the money to pay for a cab.

I trudged to the corner, out of shape and out of breath, and began to screech into a green sequenced dress.

Initially, I didn't want to get neither Ivy nor Nia involved, and I felt bad dragging Nia out here and asking for money, but I already burned the bridge of her ignorance.

I called her.

Before she got the chance to say anything, I blurted, "don't let Ki know you're on the phone with me!"

"I- um- I'll be right back," I could hardly hear her say to Ki. There was about a twenty second pause as she walked outside.

"Theo, what the hell is going on? Seriously, are you okay?" She demanded. I've never really heard Nia curse before. I've never heard her sound that demanding for that matter.

"I- it's better you don't know." She sighed, but didn't say anything, so I continued; "can I borrow money for a cab? I'm at Mimi's."

"I'm not even going to bother asking what you're doing there. I'll be there soon," she hung up the phone. I didn't even get the chance to thank her. My god, I'm so lucky to have a friend like her.

I waited for about ten minutes. The fear of Ki finding me rushed through my veins, as I stood, violently vibrating like a phone with an incoming amber alert, just trying not to let my legs buckle enough to collapse.

"Where are we going?" Nia asked when she got there, pulling her wallet out of her pocket.

"Back to my apartment." Rory's was only about a block away from my place. I could run over after she leaves.

She didn't talk very much on the cab ride; she asked a few questions, but didn't pry when I denied her the answers.

My feet pushed flat against the floor of the car and I sat with my hands folded tightly in my lap. I stared ahead, eager to get home.

I did feel bad about Nia. She didn't deserve to be left in the dark after all she'd done for me. But I was determined to get to Rory's, and she'd try to stop me. She'd say it's not safe. She's right.

It wasn't safe for Rory either though, but we let him go back. Every night. Until he couldn't take it. I was given the chance to fix my mistake.

And i'm will to die if that's what it takes.