Runaways

Chapter Two

Dylan never understood school. All you do there is learn useless information while adults yell at you for things that mean nothing to you. Occasionally, Dylan would skip a class or two to snatch a pack of cigarettes from the corner store while he told the foolish older man working that there had been a flood in the bathroom. Dylan stole almost everything he could. Although his mother starting working two jobs, they barely had money to live off of. The only reason Dylan ever attended school was for his mother, so she wouldn't think he was a total disappointment.

As Dylan inched closer to school, he noticed a few people he got into constant fights with, but he also noticed the golden locks of none other than Owen Peters. The freckle faced boy noticed Dylan approaching him and lifted his hand from his guitar to wave him over. When the lanky boy reached him, he sat down next to Owen on one of the benches outside.

"So...whatcha playing now, Mr. Musician?" he asked.

"I'm learning how to play 'I Want To Break Free'. It's not that good yet, but I'm getting there."

"Why don't you play it for me?" Dylan smiled as he waited for the other boy's response.

"Oh, I don't know, Dyl. I need to perfect it first, ya know?" He looked down bashfully.

"Aw, come on, Owey. Puh-leaaasssee. For me?" Dylan batted his dark brown eyes.

Just as Owen was attempting to protest once more, the bell rang. As he began to walk towards the building, Dylan gripped his wrist lightly. With a blush rising on his cheeks, he began to ask the boy a question that would change both their lives.

"Hey, tomorrow me and Amber were planning on maybe going on some sort of adventure. Try to go to Florida or something. You want in?"

"You mean run away?" Owen's eyes widened.
"Kinda. Soo...?" He bit his lip as we awaited a response.

"Dyl, this is a lot."

"Just meet me Friday morning, back of school."

Dylan let out a sigh as the two boys began walking into the brick building.

As a few excruciating long hours passed, the lunch bell rang. Dylan heaved his school bag over his shoulder and bolted to the cafeteria.

Amber Wright, whose first name matched her hooded eyes, met Dylan at their table. She glided half of her lunch in the scrawny boy's direction. Before Dylan could begin to bicker with her, the bronze-skinned girl raised her voice and spoke firmly in a way a mother would typically do.

"I can already tell you're gonna argue with me, so I'm gonna stop you right now. You're built like a string bean, eat."

"Geez, fine." Dylan began to feast on the sandwich Amber gave him when Tommy Hudson roamed over to their table.

"Oh, look, it's Tommy the Traitor. Glad you decided to join us after you abandoned us for your stupid girlfriend." Just as Dylan said that, Chloe Townsend sat down next to her boyfriend. The two started dating a week before Valentine's Day and became inseparable ever since.

"For your information, Dylan, I have straight A's, so I'd think twice before calling somebody stupid." She crossed her arms and smirked. In response, Dylan just rolled his eyes and continued eating so he wouldn't be scolded at by Amber yet again.

Ambers eyes lit up as she got an idea. She nudged Dylan.

"Hey Dyl, we should tell these lovebirds about our plan."
"Fine by me, I already invited Owen, so I guess you can invite them." Amber shifted her eyes and smirked slightly when Dylan mentioned Owen, but he brushed it off.

When Tommy and Chloe overheard them, they looked at the two in confusion.

"Uhh, what plan?" Tommy's brow furrowed. Amber did not hesitate to get straight to the point.

"We wanna run away and go to Florida starting tomorrow. You guys want in?" Dylan doubted they would agree to something like this, but Amber knew that they would. Tommy felt guilty about leaving his friends, and Chloe follows Tommy's everywhere.

"Sure, I'm down." Tommy said confidently, although he felt as if he had just made a deal with the devil. Chloe's face grew pale thinking about leaving her perfect life behind. Nonetheless, she agreed on one condition.

"I'll go, but if I die, it's your fault." Dylan grinned.

"Great. See you both tomorrow."

Dylan and Amber left two hours before school was supposed to end to drink until they were numb. Amber trailed Dylan to his apartment. The Brandis apartment was one of the smallest in their town.

After Dylan's father ran off with their money, Donna had to sell their house. Amber knew it was painful for him, so she wouldn't bring it up.

Once the two best friends went inside, Dylan walked to his room trying to avoid eye contact with his mother. He felt that it would be easier to leave everything behind that way, he also didn't want her to know what he had been doing. The smell of cheap liquor permeated the space, but Donna didn't say a word. While turning the knob to his bedroom door, Dylan asked a question with an answer he anticipated.

"Hey mom, can Amber sleepover tonight?"

"Sure, honey." His mother had a hard time saying no to Dylan after everything with his father.

While Amber was attempting to clean Dylan's room, she knew she had to ask him about someone in particular.

"Owen, huh?" Dylan stopped stuffing his bag and stared at her in disbelief.

"What about Owen?"

"Don't 'What about Owen?' me; you know what I mean."

"I don't but okay." The truth is, Dylan knew what she meant, but his feelings towards Owen were more baffling to him than any school subjects, even physics. Deep down, he believed that maybe his affections for the boy with the guitar were greater than friendship, but he doubted he felt the same way. Like his other dilemma's in the 14 year-old's life, Dylan refused to speak of his fondness of Owen.

Sorry for taking so long on this chapter, let me know in the comments if you want shorter/longer chapters or if this is a good length.