Uncoordinated Paths

Chapter 1

Cecily’s POV:

I walked out of the house with my bags in hand, taking one last look at the house, and walking away. I didn’t know where I was going, and I didn’t know how I was gonna provide for myself, but I had to get away.

I reached Nathan’s where I sat in one of the booths with my bags next to me. I needed time to think. I needed somewhere to stay. My stomach growled ferociously. I hadn’t eaten all day, but I was starving. I would buy something, but I had little to no money on me. I put my head down, quietly sobbing to myself.

                I heard a large amount of guys walking in, knowing they were from my school. I quickly wiped my eyes and took out my phone, pretending to be texting. From the reflection of my phone, I could see all the boys there. They were the popular ones, the guys girls were all over, who never paid me any mind. Of course I knew them all, but from when we were children. But times have changed and so have we all, so each one of us drifted apart. I focused on one person in particular. Michael. He had big brown eyes and the most gorgeous smile. Hate to say I’ve crushed on him since the 2nd grade, but I have. I was the closest to him out of them all. Sure he was popular, but he was different at the same time. His priorities weren’t smoking weed or having sex. He used to tell me how much he wanted to be a wrestler and how it was his life. He was on the varsity team for wrestling and already had scholarships lining up for him. I would tend to watch him down the halls, but he never noticed me. There were other, prettier girls, of course. Yet, he always seemed unhappy.

He looked my way and I quickly started ignoring him. My heart pounded faster and faster. I always did this when he looked at me, but I heard footsteps coming my way. It couldn’t be him. He never gave me the time of day. I felt someone tap on my shoulder, and I turned around and looked up.

It was him.

His eyes bright and welcoming. He gave me this soft smile. He stood over me, and it took me a while to let it sink in.

Michael: Mind if I join?

Cecily: Uh…yes…I-I mean no. *chuckles*

He sat down  in front of me and rested his arms on the table. His smile faded away.

Cecily: You remember me?

Michael: Of course I do. We were like best friends. You came up with the nickname “Mikey”

Cecily: Oh yeah…right…

My mind drifted off into those memories. How close we used to be. All the fun times we used to have together.  How times have changed. How different our lives are…

Michael: You okay?

Cecily: Huh? Yeah…what makes you say that

Michael: Your eyes…they’re green.

My eyes were a blue-gray, with a little bit of hazel mixed in the middle. Weird for a Puerto Rican, right? They changed color, depending on my mood.

Cecily: What about them?

Michael: They turn green when you cry

I was surprised he remembered. Nobody ever knew that much about me, or ever took the time to know that much.

Michael: What happened?

Cecily: …nothing

Michael: Then what are all those bags for?

He pointed to my bags. I looked down and played with my fingers.

Michael: You’re running away, aren’t you?

I nodded my head, holding back my tears.

Michael: You have any place to stay?

I shook my head. I couldn’t fight my tears anymore. A tear rolled down my cheek and I wiped it away on my sleeve.  Michael looked at me sincerely. Then he got up, and went back to hang with his friends.

He probably went to tell them how crazy I was for running away. I watched him walk away and looked back down at my hands, playing with them. I took out my phone and started texting a few people, asking if I could stay over their houses. I got rejected one after one. I might as well just give up and go back home. If my parents found out I ran away…well, let’s just say I’d be better off gone than coming back.

I rested my head on the table to take time to rest. My head was hurting. I heard someone  sit at my table and I lifted my head and saw Michael with a big smile on his face and a tray 2 hotdogs, chicken wings, onion rings and dip in front of us.

Michael: Dig in…

My eyes went wide.

Cecily: This is….for…us?

Michael: Yup

He smiled took a chicken wing, biting into it. I took a hotdog and started to eat.

Cecily: Why did you do this?

Michael: Remember that time I put brown paint on the teacher’s chair and you took the blame?

Cecily: Yea…

Michael: Well I figured I owe you one

We continued eating as the silence grew more and more between us, creating and awkward atmosphere.

Michael: You have nowhere to stay?

I shook my head. The tears didn’t seem to come out this time. I felt comfortable with him at this point.

Michael: You can come home with me. My parents wouldn’t mind.

I finished chewing my food and swallowed, covering my mouth in case of any left overs still there.

Cecily: Are you serious? Thanks SOO much

We finished eating our food, and he carried my bags for me into his car, and drove over to his house. Taking his key out his pocket, he opened the door, letting me in and closing the door behind us. I looked around. The first thing was the living room. He had ivory couches with decorated coverings on the seats. His house was classy and simple.

Michael: Everyone’s probably sleeping. The guest room is upstairs, I’ll show you the way

I followed him upstairs and at the end of the hall and into the room. It was painted white with flower paintings hanging in frames and a king sized bed in the middle. The dresser was at the side.

Michael: Is this all you have?

Cecily: No, I’m going back tomorrow for the rest of my stuff

Michael: I’ll help you get settled. Get your rest tonight, we have school tomorrow, okay?

Cecily: Alright.

I watched him walk out the room. I unzipped one of my suitcases, and took out my journal. Taking a pen out of one night stand drawers, I began writing:

November 12th, 2012

I finally did it. After the numerous times I said I would, I did it. I ran away. But somehow, I ended up in the strangest place. Michael’s house. I’ve written about him in here many times before. Out of all people, why him? He never seemed to notice me until now. Whatever the reason, I’m grateful and I don’t think I’ll stay here for long. Long enough for me to get a job with a reasonable income, and rent an apartment. My new life starts here…