The Run ©2014 Sydney Wray

Chapter 7

I stormed inside the house, my file tucked firmly under my arm and slammed the guest bedroom door. I didn't say anything on the car ride home. I sat on the bed, a familiar squeak sounding against the springs. I looked down at the file and I clenched my teeth. My finger hovered above the sickening sentence,

Cause/reasoning of foster/orphan associations: Unable to care for, Lindsey Garland.

Unable to care for, Lindsey Garland. They had given me up. But the strangest part was, I was told they were killed. Did they request for his explanation? Or was I taken away? A million thoughts swarmed through my head. I was five, but I didn't remember my parents. I heard low murmuring outside the door and suddenly Nathaniel appeared with Lavender. 

He crossed his arms and stared at the ground. Lavender looked headstrong.

"We've come to a resolution."

I looked up from under my lashes.

"You are going to go look for your parents, in Virginia."

I snorted.

"With Nathaniel."

I almost choked on my saliva. "What?"

She nodded. "With my car. Tomorrow."

I shook my head so forcefully I earned a whiplash. "This is ridiculous." I looked over at Nathaniel. "I'm not going with him."

"Well you can't go by youself."

I stood up and crossed my arms. "I don't even have to go."

"Don't you want to see your parents?"

I thought about. "No, not really."

"Well you're going."

I moaned. "That takes eight, nine hours to get there! Imagine me, in the car with this bozo!"

"Hey!"

I ignored his pleas and stared at Lavender. "I. Am. Not. Going."

~~~~~~~~~~~

I was only bringing one bag, but Nathaniel was bringing three.

I smirked, eyeing his bags. "What are you, a teenage girl?"

He scowled, eyeing my bag. "What are you, a teenage boy?"

I shrugged. "I don't see the point in carrying so many bags."

"And I don't see the point in carrying so little bags." He retorted.

I sighed. 

Driving on the highway with Nathaniel was awful.

"Read me the stupid directions!" He yelled at me.

"Stop yelling at me and ask me like a normal person!"

"Ugh! The problem here is that you're not a normal person!"

My mouth was clenched. "I'm not the one who can't read!"

He scowled. "News flash sweetheart! I'm driving!"

Growling, I snatched the map and turned it sideways. Along with my head, I squinted to read the tiny lettering.

He snorted. "It looks like you're trying to read cryptic."

"Turn left onto Washington street.

He frowned. "That's not right."

"Jesus, Nathaniel! Just listen to me! I'm right and you're wrong."

"You're so pushy." He grumbled as he turned left onto the street. Several minutes later, we reached a dead end.

I didn't say anything and picked up the map again.

He looked at me. "Nice directions, Captain Genius."

"Well you were yelling at me!" I defended.

"Oh yeah? Who said," he cleared his throat, and tried an impression of my voice,"just listen to me! I'm right, and your wrong!"

I glared, "That doesn't sound like me.

He groaned. "I need to murder someone."

"Okay, turn around and come back the way we came."

He did and we later found ourselves on the familiar highway.

I studied the map. "Okay, we're gonna take a shortcut."

"Oh, this'll be good.

"Take exit 16, east."

He eyed me. "Why do I feel like this is wrong?"

"Just do it. You need to learn to trust people, Nathaniel."

He made a strange sound in his throat. "Look what happened when I did."

I took a deep breath. "Just do it."

~~~~~~~~

"See! We are on the right way!"

He ignored me and clutched his stomach. "I'm starving." As if on cue, his stomach growled.

"Deal with it."

He gasped. "You are not a caring person."

I smiled sweetly. "Thank you for noticing."

He pulled into a drive thru. "Hi, I'd like two boxes of chicken nuggets, one large fry, and a hamburger. Oh, and a chocolate milkshake."

I cringed at the amount of food he was ordering then laughed as a certain realization came to me. No one answered him, and he frowned.

"Hello?"

I couldn't hold it in any longer, and I was grinning stupidly. "Um, Nathaniel?"

He turned around. "Yeah?"

I pointed. "You just ordered to a trash can."

Confusion was written on his face as his cheeks turned pink. "Whatever." He mumbled. He pulled up the right one, and ordered the same thing. He finally noticed my presence. "Oh, do you want something?"

I was starving, but I didn't want to let him know that because I had recently pushed away the fact that he was hungry.

"Just a water."

He frowned, than turned toward the lady. "Hamburger, fries, and a water please?"

I raised my eyebrows. He pulled up to the pick up counter. "You need food."

I pulled out my wallet, but he had already beat me to it. I sighed.

"I could've paid for mine."

"You're a girl." He pointed out.

Andd the moment is ruined.

He handed me my food and my mouth watered just by the smell of it. I ate it all.