The File

The File ~ Chap. 11

Let me know how you like it (or hate it, please, I want to know)

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Tate

In the morning, I woke to find Cole's arm draped over my stomach, and he was snoring softly. I tried to lift his arm off of me so I could stand, but his arm was surprisingly heavy. He was decently muscled.

"Cole," I said softly, shaking his arm. "Wake up, Cole."

He shifted just enough for his arm to slide off of me. I stood and surveyed the area. There was no one around, which I took as a good sign. But Cole needed to get away no matter what.

I kneeled down next to him. "Cole," I said, louder than I had before. "Cole, wake up now." I shook him.

His eyes fluttered open, and it took him a moment to realize who I was. "Tate?" he asked.

"Yeah," I replied. "It's me. Get up."

"Why?" He turned on his side so his back was to me, almost asleep again. "I'm tired."

"No, Cole, you have to get up." I turned him over onto his back again. "It's time to call your parents."

He grudgingly sat up. "What do you want?"

"For you to get up. We need to find a phone." I slid my arm around his shoulders and helped him stand. It was harder than I had hoped, seeing as he was firm with muscle and wasn't using any to help me out.

"Whoa, whoa, wait," he said, brushing my hand away from him. "I'm not calling."

"Don't be silly. You said you would."

"It's my birthday," he said sleepily.

He was not going to be able to change the subject that easily. "Then Happy Birthday."

"Thank you. I'm seventeen now."

"That's great," I said with fake enthusiasm.

Yesterday must have been more tiring than I thought. Cole looked like he was about to pass out again.

"Come on," I said, putting my arm around his shoulders again. "Maybe walking will wake you up."

We walked into the town-this one I didn't see a sign indicating its name-and I searched for a pay phone. It took a while, but I was finally able to find one behind a bank. The booth was one of those old ones that you had to walk inside and close the door for.

"Here we go," I said. We both went inside and I closed the door behind us. Cole sagged against the wall.

"What's your phone number?" I asked, feeding coins into the phone.

"Why?" he asked groggily.

I was suddenly partially grateful that he was half-asleep still. If he was this tired, I could probably trick him into giving me the number and calling his parents myself. "Because they need to wish you a Happy Birthday."

Yeah, that worked.

"Oh," he said. "It's..."

He tiredly spoke the digits of his number and I punched them in. It rang a few times, but finally a female voice answered.

"Hello?" the female said.

"Hi, is this Mrs. Denwood?" I asked.

"Yes," she replied. "Who is this?"

"A friend of your son's."

"Cole?" she asked anxiously. "Where is he? Is he okay?"

The news of our departure must have gotten to both of our parents. "Yes, yes," I said calmly. "I actually called to tell you where he is. He would like you to come get him."