Forever The Good Girl

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fourteen

Comment, please!!!

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I ran and ran. I didn't stop at the end of my road. I just kept going. It was perfect.

Not thinking, just doing.

When I reached the elementary school yard, which is a good two kilometres away from home, I realized just how long I had been running. I also realized just how dark it had gotten. My heart started racing. I needed to get home.

But I didn't want to go home.

I ran my hands through my hair and faced the dark play ground. It was empty. A cool breeze made me pull my sweater closer. I turned around, deciding home had to be safer, at least physically, and crashed into someone.

"Ouch!"

I screamed. I kicked and screamed and then ran. I ran towards the playground and climbed up the ladder. "Don't hurt me!" I didn't need to be sexually assaulted again.

"Hurt you? You're the one who walked into me."

I stopped running and turned around. I stared at him from the top of the playground. He was a boy about my age, with shaggy brown hair. I blushed furiously.

"Hi." I said nervously. I needed to remember that just because he looked safe didn't mean he was.

'Hi." He replied back, smiling slightly. "Who are you?"

"I'm - why?" I eyed him suspiciously.

"Why? So I know what to call you. I'm Eli, if it helps." I blushed again. I felt embarrased but my mind was still racing. You don't know him...

"I'm Andromeda." I thought for a second. "Andy."

"Andromeda. What are you doing out in the dark?"

"Escaping." I threw the word at him. Then caught myself. He didn't need to know anything. "For a while, at least."

"You're a runaway?" His voice brightened at the thought.

"What? No!" Not technically. I just kind of... ran away. With every intention of going back though! "I just needed to clear my head. Why?"

"Why; again? Because.." He stopped. His smile flickered. "I don't know."

"Yes, you do." I said, taking a step down. "Why are you here?"

"Why are you here?"

"I asked you first," I said, completely aware of how childish I sounded.

"I asked you second," he countered.

"So?"

"So."

I sighed. This wasn't getting anywhere. And why am I not running away from him? I'm in a park all alone with a stranger. There should be warning sounds blaring in my head right now. But there isn't. "I ran from home. But I'm not running away. I just needed to clear my head," I repeated the phrase.

"Clear your head from what?"

I rolled my eyes. "Drama."

He searched my face. "I see."

"Your turn." He bit his lip. "Why are you here?"

"Drama." He repeated my answer.

I stopped for a minute before asking, "are you a runaway?"

He stayed silent, avoiding eye contact.

I gasped. I couldn't help it. The instinctive reaction of the 'good girl'. I tried to form words but I couldn't.