Run Away With Me

It May Be Stupid, But At Least Nobody Can Call Me a Wuss

I'm trying to contain my anger. I've already had my outburst this morning and since then Jack and I have been on good terms. He set his rules, I've been following them diligently.

But when he made me get the fake ID, I didn't think I would be using it so soon. It really wasn't that bad. I had a 6 pack in my hands and Jack had a handle of vodka. Mine was nowhere near as bad as his choice. But I still felt like a liar. I felt like my face said I was a liar, like big fat letters were on my forehead spelling it out.

"Hi, how are you?" I asked the guy behind the counter. He looked in his early thirties, maybe older.

He only grunted a "Fine, you?" in response but I could tell he didn't really care so I didn't answer him. I could feel myself starting to sweat. "ID?"

I slipped the little piece of plastic out of my wallet and it felt like it weighed a thousand pounds. The man behind the counter looked at it, at me, and typed something into his register.

"Ten seventy-eight."

Shocked, I handed him a twenty-dollar bill and stuck my hand out when he gave me my change.

"Receipt?"

"No, thank you." I whispered and took my beer that had been placed in a black bag. I turned and walked out the door, waiting outside for Jack to come out.

A few minutes later he strolled out with a smile on his face. "Easy peasy, right?"

"I..."

"You...?"

"I can't believe that worked!" I laughed and pushed his shoulder. 'Oh God, I was so worried! And for nothing!"

"I told you. You just have to get out of your own head and relax a little."

"What next? Are we going to that cliff diving thing?"

"Damn, there she is." Jack laughed and unlocked the car, opening my door for me.

"What? Who?" I asked confused.

Jack hung off of my open door and peered down at me with a knowing smile. "You. When you asked me on this trip you were so confident and sure of everything. It's nice to see that Maddie back and taking control again instead of this fear-filled Maddie I've been getting for the last few days."

"Well the fun Maddie is back and ready to have fun. So, take her to the beach so she can jump to her death."

"Aye, aye cap-i-tan." He shut my door and walked to the passenger side.

We drove back to the house to change, the whole way back talking about the cliffs and what I should wear. It was odd to talk to a boy about clothes in this much detail. I always thought talking about girly things like clothes and hair and nails made boys brains melt but Jack always seemed so interested.

"What about this?" I walk out of the bathroom in a flowery white bathing suit.

"It's nice but not what we're looking for. How many did you bring?"

"Like, five. I brought a lot." I slump down on the bed making it creak beneath me.

"I know, I carried your bags in." He rolled his eyes but smiled and stood from the bed. "Can I see them?"

"Sure. In the small suit case."

"Oh, my favorite one. That's the one that has your underwear in it."

"Jesus, Jack."

"Kidding, kidding." He unzips the luggage and rifles through the clothing. He takes a couple bathing suit tops out and examines them, then hands me the black one. "Can I see this?"