Aarmau Short Stories ●A Purplla Publish●

|Story Three| Diary of a Runaway Teenager

"Jarrod wouldn't let me remodel for twenty seven years." Hearing about how long the remodel took was the last thing on my mind at the moment. I'm more worried about what's going on in Phoenix Drop with Dad and Elaine and the boys.

How I got up and just left.

No warning.

No heads up.

Nothing.

Aaron's standing behind me actually listening to Aunt Maria and asking questions. I'm surprised he's interested in this type of things. "How long did it take to get the granite installed?"

"Where do I begin? Let me tell you the story." I wonder what they're all doing. I wonder what Mom is doing. Has anyone noticed I was gone? Has anyone noticed Aaron was gone?

What if we end up on the news?

What if Aaron gets caught across state borders with a minor?

What if they find us? What happens to Aaron?

"Aphmau?" Hearing the tales of the new bathroom is the last thing on my mind. How could I leave like that? Why did I leave in the first place? What was I thinking?

Maybe I wasn't. Maybe that's the problem. Yeah. I wasn't thinking clearly. Maybe we should go back before anything else happens.

"Aphmau." But we're already here, I would feel bad for leaving too early. Ugh.

"Aphmau!"

"Huh?" Aunt Maria has her hand on my shoulder while examining my face.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, I'm great! I'm fan-freaking-tastic!" I give her a thumbs up and I flash a wide smile. She raises her eyebrow before turning back around at the counters.

"Anyways." She looks up at Aaron. "You. Help me with the paint in the garage, I've been trying to get this spot I can't reach and you look tall enough." She walks out of the kitchen.

"Are you going to be okay?"

"Yeah, yeah I'll be fine." I won't be. "She needs your help. I'll be here."

•○●A Purplla Publish●○•

I couldn't sleep. Aaron and Aunt Maria were working all day, so I decided to come outside by myself. The grass crunched under my feet as I run to the gazebo and start climbing up the poles to the roof. I sit on the white roof then look up at the sky.

I wrap my arms around my legs then my phone vibrates in my pocket:

Katelyn 💙: Where were you today?

Me: Not there.

Katelyn 💙: No shit Sherlock

Katelyn 💙: Are you sick? Are you okay?

Me: I'm fine.

Katelyn 💙: Then why weren't you here? You missed a lot of notes

Me: I'm out of town.