Not On Her List

V 💚

Cj Barton

I jam down on the brakes then park my car. Soon enough I'm inside Bakes and Drinks.

I spot Luke at once. He's sitting at a table at the far end of the café and gazing out the window.

I walk up to the counter and order a milkshake and a chocolate shake.

As soon as the brunette behind the counter pushes the shakes towards me with a rosy smile I grab them then head over to Luke.

"Hey, man," he says once I settle down opposite him.

"Hey," I say, setting the milkshake down in front of him.

"I'm glad you took the pleasure of getting me a milkshake. Thing is, I already had one," he says, relaxing into his seat

"Doesn't mean you can't have another," I say, picking up my chocolate shake.

He smiles. I'm already smiling.

"Where you been, bro," he chuckles.

"I'd never thought I'd miss you Luke," I say, smiling. "Never."

"Well, you did. Because I'm special," he says, pulling the milkshake towards him.

"So, what's doin'?" I ask after a short pause.

He looks at me for a while then tips the milkshake to his lips and gulps.

"It's bad news, bro," he says.

"What's that mean?" I ask.

"They're coming down here. Seems they tracked you or something," he says and glances out the window.

"Who's 'they'?" I ask, frowning.

He snorts. "Is that a trick question?"

He notices I'm frowning.

"Your parents, Cj," he says, "and Dulcie."

I stare at him blankly.

"But I didn't take their stuff. Any of it. Well, except dad's car, but, I covered up my tracks pretty good. How's it possible they know where I am?" I ask.

Family.

That's a very funny word. To me, that is. It sounds odd to me at times. The one I have could hardly be called one.

Why else would I want to be as far from them as humanly possible?

But that doesn't mean I'd travel all the way to the South pole or anything.

"I don't know," Luke says and finishes up his shake, "you can't really run from them that long, you know."

"They're your family," he adds.

I scoff. "Not in this case, trust me."

"So what you gon' do?" He asks.

I sigh, tip my shake to my lips. Gulp.

"I'll handle them," I decide.

He raises an eyebrow.

"If they find me, well they already have, but when they eventually get to me, I'll handle them," I say. "They are family after all."

"That reminds me. They're not gonna be here in another two months or so. I'm not sure," he says.

"How did you know that?" I ask.

"Intel? Plus there's more news," he says.

"Bad?" I question.

"Pretty."