Fiction.

Chapter 37: Runaway.

Chapter 37: Runaway.

Today was the day of the talent competition at the High School. I was so excited to see what Peasnie’s doing, she never told me what she’s doing all she said was she was going to be in the talent show. She invited everyone. So our little family took up most of the front row, the auditorium was full with parents and students. Most of the acts were fairly good; some kids have some serious talent while others should stick with school.

I swear I saw Peasnie running around in the hall ways. She wore a plain black tee shirt under a light checkered jacket, the sleeves were bunched up and her skinny jeans ran down to a pair of black sneakers with floral designs on them, they’re designed by Red. Her hair was down and under a black wool hat. She had to be wearing her glasses as well. She looked like a ‘hipster’. Not saying she is but I’m saying she could pull it off. She looked excited, I don’t think she knows I saw her but I did.

I sat in the dark auditorium with the rest of the family, my legs crossed as I wore a nice informal outfit. My black skin tight jeans were paired with the purple shirt that had a black design on it. Its early afternoon so the students were restless between acts, you can’t put a bunch of teens in a room for an hour and expect them to sit still. Trust me, I’ve been there and done that. As soon as school’s over we’re taking Peasnie to the studio so we can work a bit more.

“What do you think she’s going to be doing?” I heard Zack ask. I shrugged and looked over at him.

“I honestly have no clue.” I replied quietly.

“I reckon she’ll be good at what ever it is” Gena muttered softly. I nodded and smiled widely, she’s right. Whatever Peasnie is going to be doing is probably going to be amazing. I’m proud of her anyways.

“Damn right.” I muttered softly.

My heart began to beat faster when the short lady with bleach blonde hair and a long jean skirt came out with a clip board. She leaned into the microphone with a weary smile. Her long blonde hair was tied up high on her head. She wore a green blouse with the jean skirt. She wore brown shoes.

“And for our final act singing runaway is Peasnie Sullivan.” She announced before exiting the stage. I never knew Peasnie could sing, I knew she could play the drums but that’s it. Wow, I should’ve known better. I felt butterflies in my stomach when Peasnie came out with a little back pack; she looked like a street kid. She was a street kid. Better yet, she’s a runaway. Her blue gaze instantly scanned the crowd to see all of us sitting in the front row, her lips curled into a smile as the music began. She seemed a bit shy but I don’t blame her. I just sat there and watched as she tapped her heel in time with the music.

“I've got my things packed, my favorite pillow. Got my sleeping bag, climb out the window. All the pictures and pain, I've left behind. All the freedom and fame, I've gotta find.” She was a really good singer, very wholesome. I couldn’t take my eyes off her. It looked so right of her to be on that stage, singing. She had a smile on her face the whole time. She was happy to be up there right now.

“And I wonder how long it will take them to notice that I'm gone. And I wonder how far it'll take me.”

“To run away, it don't make any sense to me Run away, this life makes no sense to me. Run away, it don't make any sense to me. Run away, it don't make any sense to me.” Her voice became powerful and emotional. It awed us all with the way it became loud and extreme. I was completely taken back by this sudden burst of passion.

“I was just trying to be myself, have it your way; I'll meet you in hell. It's all these secrets that I shouldn't tell, I've got to run away. It's hypocritical of you; do as you say not as you do. I'll never be your perfect girl, I've got to run away.”

“Well, I'm too young to be taken seriously. But I'm too old to believe all this hypocrisy. And I wonder, how long it will take them to see my bed is made And I wonder, If I was a mistake, I might have nowhere left to go. But I know that I cannot go home. These words are strapped inside my head, tell me to run before I'm dead. Chase the rainbows in my mind. And I will try to stay alive. Maybe the world will know one day. Why won't you help me run away?”

“It don't make any sense to me, run away This life makes no sense to me, run away. I could sing for change on a Paris street, be a red light dancer in New Orleans I could start again to the family I could change my name, come and go as I please.”

“In the dead of night you'll wonder where I've gone. Wasn't it you, wasn't it you Wasn't it you that made me run away.”

“I was just trying to be myself, have it your way I'll meet you in hell. All these secrets that I shouldn't tell, I've got to run away. Hypocritical of you, do as you say not as you do. Never be your perfect girl, I've got to run away.”

“It don't make any sense to me, run away. This life makes no sense to me, run away. It don't make any sense to me, run away. It don't make any sense to me.”

“This life makes no sense to me. It don't make any sense to me. It don't make any sense to me. Life don't make any sense to me.” Her voice faded away along with her smile. I knew what this song meant, it was obvious to see. For so many years she didn’t have a voice and now she does. She left Chicago with a hint, just a hint. All she knew was I lived in California and that my name was James Sullivan. The room fell silent as she stood up there looking out of the crowd. There was a sudden roar of cheers and applauding. I rose to my feet and clapped, cheering loudly to her. I whistled to her and kept smiling widely. I don’t think I’ve ever been so proud of her than I have been right now. She blew me away with how powerful her voice is, I thought Matt’s voice was emotional but hers, it must be a chick thing. But still you could feel every emotion she put into every word. She blew a kiss to the crowd with a huge blushing smile before skipping off to the side of the stage.

When the show was over I met up with Peasnie at the front of the school, she was so radiant and glowing. She was smiling very proudly. The amount of pride I wore on my face was insane. I wrapped my arms around her and hugged her tightly. Her friends laughed happily and awed. I like her friends; they’re really cool and smart. The family gathered around us and congratulated her happily.

“I’m so proud of you.” I said happily. Peasnie giggled sweetly and pushed me away.

“It was so scary seeing you guys sitting right there, in the front row. I thought you’d be like in the back. But when I saw you in the front, I was like ‘shiiiiiit’.” She said making herself stiff as a board. I laughed and shook my head.

“Either way you nailed it.” I said proudly. Peasnie was blushing brightly and smiling widely. It’s nice to know that she’s proud of herself for doing something she wouldn’t have done this time last year. She’s coming out of her shell and I’m apart of the reason she’s doing that.