On the Run

Chapter 17

AN: Please vote and comment!!(:

January 16, 2004

I stare out my window, watching the raindrops race each other down the glass. School was cancelled today and because Hilary acted out we were all sent to our rooms. Her class was supposed to go on a field trip to a museum and because school was cancelled she demanded to go to the museum. She threw a temper tantrum demanding that someone should take her to the museum. Miss Grace was already in a bad mood that morning and then to have her favorite kid act up like that.... I shivered. She was screaming at us all.

After being here for close to two years, I have learned to keep my mouth shut. Even if it's your birthday. I just turned 8 and no one knows or if they do they won't say anything. If you are silent, you can slip past the wrath of Miss Grace. I'm still learning the in's and the out's of this hell hole. At 6:30 a.m. you are woken up by an alarm over the loud speaker. You have thirty minutes to get dressed and to be at the dining hall. Breakfast is served and sometimes the cook will slip me another apple or banana for breakfast to take to school for a snack. Sometimes there will be a packet of sugar to sprinkle into my oatmeal. The bus to take us to school arrives at 7:43 and leaves at 7:45.

Then I have school from 8:10 a.m. to 2:35 p.m. The school bus arrives at the school around 3, allowing us extra time to get help from our teacher, or to be is student government, or just to play. We don't get home until close to 4 because we have to pick up the older kids from middle school and high school. Dinner is served at 6 p.m. and then it's quiet time.

There is a soft knock at my door making me jump. I pad over to my door and open it. Dillon is standing there with a big grin on his face. I grab his arm and pull him into my room, shutting the door quietly behind him.

"What are you doing here?" I ask. We both can get in so much trouble if we are caught. 

"I wanted to see if you want to play Uno with me?" He pulls a deck of cards out of his sweatshirt pocket.

"Sure," I smile sitting down on my floor.

"Do you know how to play?" He sits across me.

"Yeah, I used to play this with my dad," I smile at the memory. "We would sit downstairs and play while watching the 5 o'clock news."

"That sounds like a lovely time," he shuffles the cards before dealing them out. I received a green 7, 9, and skip, a red 2, 5, and two draw-two wilds.

"What did you do with your parents?" I ask. He flips over a yellow 7. I study my cards and place a green 7 down.

"I'm not sure," he shrugs. He plays a green 3. 

"Oh," I look up from my cards and our eyes meet. "I'm sorry."

"Don't worry about it," He tries to smile but I could see past it. I look at my cards and play my green 9. He lets out a sigh and starts to pick up cards. I couldn't help but smile.

"Don't get cocky now," he smiles at me, laying down a wild.

"Hmmm," he rubs his chin taking forever to pick a color. "Blue."

"Seriously," I whine making Dillon laugh.

"What?" I ask feeling self-conscience.

"You sounded like Hilary just now," he wipes his eyes. I roll my eyes at him and lay down my draw-two wild card.

"Hmmm," I copy him. "Green."

"Seriously," he whines. I couldn't help but laugh.

"See it's funny," he chuckles. He starts to pick up cards. Four cards in he lays down a green 6.

"So Amy, tell me something about you," Dillon asks.

"Like what?" I lay down my green skip and then my draw-two wild. "Red."

"I don't know," he picks up his two cards. "Favorite book?" he asks as he lays down a red 4.

"Harry Potter," I lay down my red 2. "Uno"

"Seriously?" he whines again. I press my lips together trying not to laugh at him. He smiles at me and plays a red 1. I stare at him.

"What?" he asks. 

"Nothing," I shrug playing my red 5.

"Seriously?" he whines. He gets up from where he was sitting and starts to stomp around my room.

"I was supposed to win. Why didn't I win?" He slams his right foot down and crosses his arms. "I let you win anyways." He rolls his eyes.

I busted out laughing. Watching Dillon make fun of Hilary made me laugh so hard. I rolled onto my side, holding my stomach, silently laughing.

"Breathe Amy," he laughs. I inhale sharply before hiccupping, making us only laugh harder.

"What in God's name is going on in here?" Miss Grace shouts. My whole body froze. We are in so much trouble.

"Sorry Miss Grace," Dillon quickly says. "I just wanted someone to play cards with." He stood up and faced her.

"Don't take me as a fool," she shouts and her hand connects with Dillon's face.

"Don't," I shout, standing up. She turns and looks at me.

"You," she points at me. "I have told you numerous times to stay away from this boy." She points at him, causing him to flinch.

"I know," I look at the floor. "I'm sorry Miss Grace." Tears start to fall down my face.

"Dillon let's go," she grabs him by his wrist and drags him out of my room. Right before she closed the door, Dillon mouth "Don't worry."

I sunk down to the floor and hugged my knees to my chest. Why am I here in such an awful place? Why did dad have to go to work that morning? I cried until couldn't cry anymore. I couldn't move from my spot on the floor. Memories from that night flooded my thoughts. His voice, Dad coming home, the police asking me question after question.

There was a soft knock and I lifted my head.

"Go away," I yell. It's Dillon. I know it is. He is the only one who knocks softly so that we don't get in trouble, but I want nothing to do with him.

"Come on Amy, at least open the door," he says. I want to, but I am done watching him get smacked around by that evil lady. She knows I hate it and that I won't do anything to stop it.

"Can I at least have my cards?" he asks. I sigh and finally move from my spot. I quickly pick up the cards and rubber band them together. I open the door a little and stick my hand through. His fingers skim my hand as he takes back what is his.

"Amy," he says softly. I pull my hand back and close my door but he moves his foot to stop me from slamming the door on his face. I open the door and see him smiling at me.

"Thanks," he wraps his arms around me and hugs me. I just stood there not knowing what to do. He releases me and walks away.

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Hello my lovely readers!!

I think it is time to change the cover of this story! If you or anyone you know does covers please let me know!! I will give them a dedication and a shout out!! Either message me or comment here!Xx