The File

The File ~ Chap. 10

The previous chapter was kinda short, so I'm putting this up too.

I'd love feedback!

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Cole

Tate may have thought she could get me to call my parents, but I wasn't going to give in. Hence my aggravated tone.

"Why don't you call?" I repeated.

She sighed. "For the same reason I want you to call. So she'll be safe."

"You're seriously worried about my safety?"

"Yes," she said, becoming less and less patient by the second.

"Why? You're the one those two punks are after."

"They're after you, too," she reminded me.

"Not as desperately."

"I just don't want something to happen to you because you were stuck in the middle. You have nothing to do with this, and if something does happen, it would be my fault, just like it was for my dad."

Now that was new. "What are you talking about?"

"My dad's dead because of me."

I looked at her like she was insane. "It is not. Tate, he died because someone wanted him like that. You just heard it over the phone-which I'm really sorry for, by the way."

She forced a smile. "Thanks."

"Besides, how could it be your fault? You have no idea why he was killed in the first place."

Her expression became guilty. "Actually," she admitted. "I do."

I stared at her in shock. "You do?" I thought for a moment. "Is it the same reason those guys are after you?"

She nodded. "Correct."

I suddenly had an idea. It wasn't very good, but it was the first thing that came to my mind on such short notice. I didn't really want to lie to her, but it would be the only way to get her off my back for now.

"Okay," I sighed. "Tate. I'm not going to call my parents." I could see she was ready to protest again, but I cut her off. "Yet," I emphasized. "I'm going to stick with you until the next town,"-I put my hand behind my back and crossed my fingers to take away some of my guilt-"and then I'll give them a call."

She didn't notice my gesture, and sighed in relief. "Thank you," she said. "You have some common sense."

I smiled, though I was a little bit ashamed that I was able to fool her so easily. It would've been better if she had at least sensed something was wrong. "No problem. How about we get going? The sooner the better, right?"

She smiled back. "Exactly." She was quiet as we went on our way to leave Cedar Falls. But then she spoke again. "Quoted from the movie Babylon A.D.," she said, "'You're risking your life for me...Why?'"

I looked over at her. "I'm not sure if this is quoted or not, but, because I'm in this now, and I want to."

She smiled at that. "At least you won't be in danger once we get to the next town."

I smiled outwardly, but frowned inwardly. "Yeah, sure."

* * *

The next day, we thankfully didn't get to the next town. There was only a bunch of trees and the highway. We made sure to stay in the trees just in case the men happened to be in one of the cars that passed by. We barely spoke at all, unless we were telling each other which way to go.

"Hey, Tate," I finally said after a very long time.

"What's up?" She glanced at me.

"Where exactly are we going? I mean, I know we're going to the closest town, but do we have a specific destination after that?"

"No," she replied. "I don't. I just want to keep away from those jerks."

I smiled at her stubbornness. But it surprised me that she truly wanted me to go home. The safest thing for her would be to have company. What if she fell into a ditch and sprained her ankle as the "jerks" were chasing after her? What would she be able to do? She needed help, whether she liked it or not.

By the time the sun was setting, we had managed to get to the next town, much to my disappointment.

Tate smiled. "Finally."

I didn't want her to get those gears moving, so I quickly said, "Maybe it will be better if I call tomorrow. You know, when it's light out. My parents are probably getting ready to go to bed."

Tate looked disappointed-which meant she agreed.

"I guess so," she sighed. "But first thing tomorrow..."

"Alright, alright." I didn't really want to think about how I would tell her I wasn't going to call.

"Where do you suppose we should sleep?" she asked.

I shrugged. "In the midst of the trees?" I suggested.

"It's really our only choice," she agreed. But then she hesitated. "Unless we should get a motel room?"

"No," I said quickly, before she could run off in search of one. "Save your money. This is only the second day...right?"

"We've actually been away for two and a half days," she corrected.

"Okay, then." My birthday was tomorrow! I was right: I was going to be away from my family. That didn't matter. But of course I was going to have to argue with Tate on that day. "Keep your money for food. We may need it soon."

"I," she corrected.

"Whatever you say," I mumbled.

We found a secluded place in the trees that looked comfortable for one night. We situated ourselves, and soon fell asleep.