Two minutes till departure and still no sign of the person who is supposed to sit next to me. Maybe I will luck out and have a free seat. A blonde hair, blue eyed girl plops down in the seat next to mine. She's breathing heavily and looks at her watch.
"Thank god I made it on time! I thought I was going to miss the train" she smiles at me. "I'm Liz by the way" she extends her hand out. I take it and shake her hand.
"Amy" I smiled. She seems cool enough so far. I can't help but notice that she only has a backpack like me.
"Nice to meet you" she says with a smile. She unzips her bag and pulls out an IPod and tangled headphones. Jealousy washes over me. I have always wanted one but I never had the money. The money was for emergencies only. I call my situation an emergency. That and the home couldn't afford it.
"Do you want to listen?" Liz hands me the right ear bud. I nod and take the ear bud and place it in my ear.
"Do you have any preference as to what you want to listen to?" I shake my head no. I'm just excited to listen to music. It calms me and I love to get lost in the sounds and the lyrics. Red Hot Chili Peppers began to play. I tap my fingers against my leg to the beat of the music. I really lucked out that Liz is sitting next to me. The train ride is supposed to take 24 hours so I'm glad Liz has an IPod. We listened to Californiacation before Liz spoke up.
"What brings you to Portland?"
A lot of things actually. But of course if I answer like that she will ask why.
"You don't have to have to answer if you don't want to" she noticed my hesitation. "I'm running away", she states boldly.
I stare at her with wide eyes. Everyone has a story and a reason for why they need to escape and I am curious as to what it is.
"Really? Why?" I ask, still shocked.
"Shitty living arrangements", she shrugs.
"Same here" I tell her quietly. It was her turn to stare at me with wide eyes.
"Really?" I nod in response.
"I guess we are in the same boat" she smiles.
"I guess so" I smile back. "We could stick together" I suggest. It would be cool if I had someone with me and I feel like I can trust her. Partially because we are in the same boat but she seems like she knows what she is doing.
"I would like that actually" the excitement in her voice makes me smile. "How old are you? I'm just curious."
"17 1/2. I turn 18 in December" Liz's eyes grew big again.
"Shut up. No fucking way! Mine is in December and I'm turning 18 too!"
The rest of the train ride we talked about our likes and dislikes and slept. We have many things in common. We both like music, dogs, grilled cheese sandwiches and Disney movies. We both dislike spiders, heights, and math. We both shared our fear of being caught and returned to where we are escaping from. She hasn't given me much details of why she is running and she doesn't have to. If she explained why I would feel compelled to tell her and I just can't.
The train finally arrives in Portland. When Liz and I step off onto the platform it is noon time. We begin to head towards the exit of the station.
"Where are we going to stay?" Liz asks in a shaky voice. She is wearing a worried look on her face. I can tell that she is a bit scared. I am too. I'm not familiar with this area and we have nowhere to stay. I have slept on the streets before but I don't know if Liz has or not.
"Well together we have about $1500...so we should be able to find a cheap motel" I smile to reassure her and myself. She nods and trails behind me.
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After walking around for an hour we were able to find a place to stay. We walk into our room and it isn't that bad. There are two beds, a couch, a desk with a chair, a bathroom, and a mini fridge. I place my backpack down on one of the beds and take out the hair dye and scissors.
"Can you help me with my hair?" She smiles and nods.
"I should do this too"
"Probably...we will work out the details of what we should do tomorrow." I am really tired from traveling and the train seats weren't the most comfortable seats in the world. Liz sets down her backpack and takes the box from my hands and starts to open it up. I wrap a towel around my shoulders and she is about to begin applying the dye to my hair when I thought of something.
"Wait!! I want to cut my hair first"
"Oh", a shock expression forms on Liz's face and then I watched as she realizes my logic without having to explain myself. "Oh gotcha".
I laugh and get up and kneel on the tile floor. I turn the faucet and the water starts to run. I move my head under the running water and the cold water on my scalp gave me the chills. I wrapped my soaking wet hair in the towel around my shoulders. I got up and fished out my hair brush out of my back pack without letting Liz see the contents of my bag.
I brush my long hair and par it down the middle. Liz grabs another towel and places it around my shoulders. She takes the scissors and begins to ut my hair. My long hair I have been growing out for years was now gone.
"Are you okay?" Liz asks looking concerned.
"Yeah", I wipe away the tears, "it's just a little hard you know?" She nods. It is hard. My hair, my identity, now lays at my feet. I look at my reflection in the mirror. My hair now hovers above my shoulders.
"Do you think you could give me bangs and maybe layer it a little?" I ask in a shaky voice.
"S-S-Sure", she stutters before letting out a chuckle. "Go big or go home huh?"
It is true though. For this to work out, I have to completely change my look. I can't go back.
Liz runs the brush through my hair before taking up the scissor and cutting more. I watch as more of my precious hair falls to floor to join the other hair.
It is time for Liz to start dyeing my hair. I take off my shirt and rewrap the towel around my shoulder. Liz takes her shirt off not wanting to spill the dye on hers. The cool liquid touches my head.
There is no going back now.
Liz massages my head really making sure that every strand of hair is well coated in dye.
"I think we should dye your hair black with a blue tint" I say trying to distract myself. I know that I am going to the extremes but if she wants to stay with my she needs to change her look too.
"Hmmm....I was thinking of purple." I give her a weird look.
"Purple?" I question. She breaks out in a goofy smile and nods her head yes.
"Wweeellll.......not all of it" she says dramatically, "just the ends of my hair"
I shrug no really caring what she does. We can't go overboard with changing our look, I guess.
"Actually I want to be a brunette and have the ombre look" she says with a determined look.
"I will try my best" I promise. At least it is better than purple. She rinses out my hair and blows it dry. I let out a yawn. I knew I was tired but didn't realize that I was that tired.
I climb into my bed and I can hear Liz start the shower. My eye lids start to feel heavy and the next thing I know I drift off.
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Hey there!
Yay chapter two is here! Please vote and comment! I want to know what you guys think of this story so please please please let me know!
I am dedicating this chapter to @EatReadWriteRepeat! You should read her story "Drifter" and her newest one "Drive". She is amazing and a really good writer so read her works!!
The schedule of when I am updating is now up under my profile! On Wednesdays I am updating this story and on Friday I am updating "Why me?"
Thanks for reading I love you all!! Xx
YOU ARE READING
On the Run
Teen FictionMy whole life has been a lie. I'm trying to escape from my past but it keeps catching up to me. Is it too late for me to make a new life for myself? The only thing I know is that I have to keep moving.
