On The Run

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Lay low, play dumb, keep moving
- Roger Stone

I wake up with tears streaming down my face. It's nothing new for me because for the past month now I have been waking up with tears down my face. I wipe them off and get out of bed. I move around my room to look at the time.

5:30

Well, shit. I could've slept a good hour more. I shrug knowing I won't be able to go back to sleep and decide to pull out what I was going to wear. I do my morning routine, which consists of brushing my teeth, brushing my hair, doing my business with the toilet, and putting on some mascara.

I don't like to wear too much makeup. It feels weird on my face if I put too much on. When I would party in Georgia, I would put concealer, highlighter, mascara and some eye shadow with some lipstick. That was considered fancy for me. To be honest, I don't know how girls can cake makeup on their face and apply more throughout the day. If I put that much on, I swear I wouldn't be able to see because my eyes are closed from wearing too much makeup.

Around six, I go downstairs to see my aunt and cousin sitting down at the table with some food. They are still wearing their pajamas because we have an hour left until we leave. I take my place at the table and drink some apple juice. I'm usually not that hungry in the morning, so I just drink some apple juice and wait for the others to eat the food.

Yeah I know breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but I do better without it.

We all talk for a little while then go to get dressed. It's Monday and I can already tell it's going to be a long week.

Of course I have lived here for a month, but this is my third week of my new school. My aunt made sure that I stay low and not show the man that took me where I'm at.

My cousin, Mark, drives me to and from school everyday, but I don't hangout with him and his friends. They know me, but they mostly think I'm weird and quiet. I only have two friends, Chole and Zenon.

Chole and Zenon are great friends. They look after me and are there for me when I need something or someone to talk to. I avoid certain conversations, like my parents and old friends, and they know not to get into that topic, which I'm grateful for. I will never be able to tell anyone, even if I had to. The topic is so difficult for me that even thinking about it brings me to tears, not that I would ever show them or anyone at this school.

I get to school and blend into the crowd. Most people don't pay attention to me, which is good. I don't want any attention in the first place. I wouldn't even be surprised if they didn't know my name and thought I was a new kid in school.

Arriving at my locker, I see Chole pop out of the crowd of teenagers. "So how was my bestie's weekend???" She says as I grab the things I need for my class and stuff then in my bag. "Good. I mean like I didn't do anything special, if that's what you're asking." I say slamming my locker shut and turning around to see Zenon with us too.

"Man, you really need to get out of your house sometimes. It's not good for you to be cooped up in there all the time. How about we all go to the mall today? Just the three of us." She says as we all start to walk to our class. We all have the same classes until the last period of the day when I go to my English class and they go to their history class.

"Ok, I'll go, but only because I do need to get out of the house. I gotta tell my aunt about it though. She will get worried if she doesn't know where I'm at." I say with a sigh of defeat because I know if I said no, she would bug me about it for the rest of the week.

"YES!!! We are going to find new clothes and dress for you to wear and help Zenon find things he needs too." She says excitedly as we walk into our first class of the day. We take our seats as the bell rings and the teacher comes in.