Run Away

Chapter 27

It is always amazing how when everyone is silent that the smallest noises can be heard. The rhythmic tick of the clock on the wall to the scrawling of pencils on paper, and then sure enough there is always that one person who coughs breaking the utter silence.

The minutes were ticking down. Evie knew the answers to all the questions off the top of her head. She had studied enough, maybe a little too much. Stuff she had forced herself to remember wasn't even relevant to the exam, which made it frustrating.

Finally, the timer on the teacher's desk buzzed, making some of the students jump. Evie looked around the classroom and noticed two students hurriedly rushing to write their last answers before Mr Mason noticed. Evie saw Harley across the room and she looked exhausted. When she looked in front of her, Owen looked relaxed and confident.

Evie handed her completed paper in and headed quickly out the door, keen to get outside to her lunch seat and get some fresh air. She purposely snuck out before Owen was even out of his seat, she didn't want to admit it, but she had been avoiding Owen since Sunday morning. Evie had tried to convince herself that she was doing it out of fear of putting him at risk, but deep down she knew it was the fear that she was falling for him and she couldn't let that happen.

Outside, sitting in the comfort of her table, which was half in the shade and half out, Evie pulled out her bottled water and took a drink. The chicken salad wrap sat in front of her, freshly unwrapped from the plastic wrap, ready for her to eat. Placing her water down, Evie picked up the wrap and took a bite.

"Feeling confident after the exam?"

Evie looked up at Owen walking towards her. She gulped down her mouthful of food as he sat down opposite her at the table.

"Umm, I guess."

Owen nodded as if her response was good enough for him.

"We haven't talked much the last couple of days. Even in the car you've been quiet."

"Nothing to say," Evie replied quietly.

"Have I done something to upset you?" Owen asked concerned.

Evie surprised by his question, as it showed he cared. He cared that in some small way, unbeknownst to him, he had done something that had caused her to withdraw from him. If only he had known the real reason, what would he say then?

"No," Evie answered.

"Okay," Owen studied Evie carefully before going on, "Have you given any more thought to my party?"

Evie looked down at her lunch, avoiding Owen's gaze. She wondered why he was being so insistent to her going to his party. What was the big deal?

"Owen," Evie started, but he cut her off.

"Don't say it wouldn't be a good idea. I think it would be a good chance for you to get out. You're always locking yourself up at home. And we've been getting along lately, you and I, yes?"

Evie eyed him suspiciously. They had started to grow closer, but was it a good thing?

Owen waited patiently for Evie to respond, hoping she would finally agree. He didn't know how else to convince her and he had stopped thinking about why he wanted her there.

"There you guys are," Zane exclaimed walking over to where the two were sitting, and placing himself beside Evie.

Owen's eyes narrowed on Zane slightly, as if in warning, but it went unnoticed.

"Hi Zane," Evie greeted him, with a small smile.

"So, we're going to see you on Saturday, right?" Zane asked Evie, jumping straight to the point, while stealing a piece of chicken sticking out from Evie's wrap and popping it into his mouth with a smirk.