Running From You

Chapter 14

NORA

When my alarm clock goes off the next morning, I wake up more tired than I've been for years. I managed to only get a few hours of sleep, again, and I'm drained. But I fling my legs over the mattress and get ready for the day.

After I've brushed my teeth, washed my face and taken a chilly shower to wake up my body, I tie my curly hair up on a ponytail, not bothering with it today. I then pull on light high-waisted jeans and a flowy white top, which I top with a long pale pink jacket.

I run downstairs and as I enter the kitchen, I see mom already up, standing in front of the stove cooking, none the less.

"Um, morning," I stop in the doorway, confused. Mom's not much of a cook, and she doesn't usually have the time to make breakfast from scratch.

She looks at me and smiles, "Good morning, honey. Sit down."

I take a seat gingerly, waiting for the other shoe to drop. This is unreal.

"Here," she puts a plate with a delicious looking omelette in front of me. "Eat. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day."

"Thanks," I can't help but examine her face. She looks fine but I have a hard time believing dad's sudden return hasn't affected her sleep. "Where's Mads?" She should already be down here.

"Oh," mom bites her bottom lip. "She already left. Said she's gonna take the bus today."

Of course she did. Heaven forbids she has to sit in the same car with me.

"I'm sorry, honey" mom looks at me sympathetically, seeing my face fall. "She just needs some time. She'll get over it."

I nod, though I'm not so sure about that. I fork down my eggs and drown a glass of orange juice, then get up and head to the door.

"See you after school!" mom tells me.

"Yeah, bye!" I grab my keys and make my way to my car.

The moment I enter the English classroom, Zane's head picks up and his eyes follow me all the way to the back. I turn my head away, still mad at him. He's tried to talk to me the past few weeks, but I've been effectively ignoring him. I don't want to hear him out, I want him to just leave me alone.

"He's a douche," Lindsey squeezes my shoulder as I sit down. "A few more months and you never have to see him again."

"Ain't that a blessing," I say, digging out my English book. I can almost feel him burrowing holes through my skull.

"He's still watching you" Audrey shakes her head, her blonde waves bouncing.

"I wish he'd just stop" I groan. "I mean, it's not like we were that good together."

Sure, we had our sweet times but we also fought a lot, especially ever since his parents' divorce got dirty last spring and started affecting him. He started drinking more and smoking, a habit I never liked. He started closing up and I couldn't get in.  It was this never-ending cycle of fighting and making up.

I knew we were close to a break-up but I had hoped he'd talk to me about it first. That he'd actually dump me before sleeping with someone else. I was dead wrong.

Audrey smiles at me sympathetically.

"I wish he hadn't cheated on me," I say, "but I don't miss the fighting. It was exhausting."

"I bet" Lindsey winces, peeking at Zane.

I just want to be left alone. Is that too much to ask?