Run Away With Me

New Years Revelations

JANUARY, SIX MONTHS AGO

I took a deep breath and hiked my backpack further up on my shoulder. Now or never, Madeline.

I walked forward towards him with purpose and all of the fake confidence I could muster.

"Well if it isn't little Miss Madeline Parker. Are you lost?" He grinned and all of his friends around him snickered like it was the best joke they had ever heard. His stupid friends gave me a boost of actual confidence, now that I can see that I was the smartest person standing here.

"I have a proposition for you." I squared my shoulders and looked him right in his icy blue eyes. I tried not to make the mental note of how good they went with his sun kissed skin and auburn hair.

All of his friends started to 'ooo' at me. I think they thought I was proposing sex? Apes.

"Mmm, do tell." He purred and smirked at me, his eyes roaming down my frumpy body. I resisted the urge to roll my eyes, because I did need him...sort of.

I started walking away from his friends, hoping he would follow. This plan is top secret. Once I was a few feet away, where there were fewer people, I stopped and looked behind me. Luckily, he was there, relaxed against a nearby wall and still staring at my body with a quizzical look. It wasn't like there was much to stare at. I was wearing a two sizes too big red t-shirt and a pair of large jeans cinched at the waist to look 'artsy'. Compared to other girls we went to school with, I looked like a soccer mom.

"I'm escaping to California." His eyes snapped up to mine in an instant, zeroing in on my words. "For the summer, that is. No one will know where I'm going or when I'll be back, no parents, no friends. I need new scenery and experiences and I need someone to help me along the way with some things. I prefer a guy, someone to watch out for me, make sure I don't get hurt or robbed or..." I stopped talking, not quite sure where I was going with this. "I've known you almost my whole life, so I would like it to be you." I finished.

He stared at me for all of three seconds before saying, "Sure, when are we leaving?"

"That's it? You don't have any questions?"

"I believe I just asked one." He smirked at me and it made me blush. Of course he did, now who is the smarter one?

"Three days after graduation, 3 AM. This is top secret, so don't go telling anyone." I glare up at him.

"What are you escaping from?" His brows furrowed as he searched my face for something. Maybe it was what he saw in everyone else at this godforsaken school; emptiness. But he wouldn't find it in me. I have a good life and loving family. I just wish I could see how others had fun. While he was looking for answers in my eyes, I decided from this point on there would be no lies, just honesty.

"You ever just wish you were someone else? Someone you never could be before because your life had already been preplanned?" He didn't respond, only nodded his head once in understanding. "Can I ask you for a favor?"

"You mean other than going thousands of miles away with you for who knows how long? Sure." He smiled, but not his usual cocky smile.

"Yeah, I need you to be brutal with me. I want you to come for a couple of reasons; I need a body guard, someone to watch out for me and make sure I don't stray too far and I need someone to guide me through this whole new person thing. I need you to tell me if what I choose to wear looks good, I need you to encourage me to try new things, I need you to show me how to live the life you have been living for the last twelve years."

He nodded his head again. "I can do that, but I need two things in return."

"Anything."

He barked out a laugh, waving me off with his hand. "Don't sell your soul just yet. What I need from you is; this whole honesty thing," He waved his hand motioning to my entire self. "Don't stop that. I want it. I want your thoughts out loud and if I ask you something, don't lie to me. I need your trust and you need mine, that's the only way we are going to earn it."

"Deal."

I shoved my hand out and he looked down at it, curiously perplexed but shook it anyways.

"Wait, what's the second thing?"

"You already shook, so I guess you'll just have to wait to find out, Soul Seller."