Coast.

Ch. 4

Two Weeks Ago

Harrison grabs his backpack as he quickly bolts out of his room, stealthily moving his way downstairs. Upon entering the living room, Harrison sees his Father on the sofa, clutching an empty beer bottle in hand, snoring loudly. Realizing the coast is clear, Harrison rushes back upstairs, entering his parent's bedroom, opening drawers to look for any wads of cash, stashed from his Father.

"Looking for this?"

Taken back with surprise, Harrison's Mother steps into the room, with a wad of cash in hand. Harrison faces his mother, holding his backpack with one strap on his shoulder anxiously.

"Where are you going?" 

"To a friend's house."

"Then, why are you raiding your parent's drawers?"

Harrison eyes the wad of money in his Mother's hand, increasingly getting more anxious. But, with surprise, his mother hands the money to Harrison.

"Your Father is gonna get pissed when he realizes you're gone," His mother told him.

"I know," Harrison said as he pockets the money. 

As Harrison was about to leave, his mother stops him.

"Are you sure this is what you want to do?" she asked.

"Mom, I love her. I can't live without her." 

"When will you come back? What if it doesn't work out between you and her?"

Harrison sighs as he looks away. His mother reaches out to him, touching his face.

"My beautiful boy, running away with a girl..."

Harrison moves away from his mother, leaving the room with her. As he leaves, he stops and turns to face her one last time.

"I'll decide when I'll come back," Harrison replied. "But for now, I don't think I'll ever will."

Harrison leaves the room, grabbing the car keys to his parent's SUV and drives all the way to Judy's house.

*****

Upon arriving at her house, Judy, wearing a hoodie and carrying a duffel bag, waves with merriment as Harrison pulls over for her. Hopping in, Judy kisses Harrison, smiling at him.

"You know, we don't have to do this," Harrison replied as he holds her hand.

"Running away?"

"Yeah. It doesn't have to be like this. We can still find ways to be together."

"But, that would hinder our relationship," Judy cried in protest. "No, I don't like that. This is the way, Harrison. I've made my choice."

Harrison holds Judy's right hand and kisses it. 

"I feel you. I'm just afraid of what the results are gonna be for us. Like, if it would work out. I don't want anything bad happening to us."

Judy touches Harrison's face and kisses him softly. Pulling back, Judy places her forehead next to Harrison's.

"Nothing bad will happen to us. Until the day I die, I will never stop loving you. Even if it means losing an opportunity to become anything in life, I won't be complete without you."

Harrison smiles but quickly subdues as he notices Judy's home illuminates with lights, realizing that her parents figured out that she was missing.

"Let's go," Harrison said as he and Judy buckles their seat belts. with the car already in motion, Harrison, and Judy leaves everything they ever knew, just to be together forever.