Run Away With Me

Chapter 2 (Jack's POV)

I've finally done it. I got out. It's 1 am. Davey's been driving for about an hour. I know should get some sleep, but I can't. I've never left Kansas. I'm a little underwhelmed. I don't know, I guess I just expected some big change when we left. But it looks very much the same, a long road and endless plains. I'm sure it'll change though. I've seen pictures of New York, and it sure doesn't look like this. Behind us in the back seats, everyone else is asleep. Crutchie is curled up in a little ball. I think this will be good for him. See the sights. Get out of boxy Kansas. He's always been limited because of his leg. I hope he'll see that can do anything he wants. 

Katherine has her head resting against the window. She looks so peaceful right now. I'm glad she's here. Not so happy about her 3 bags of luggage, but I suppose it could've been worse. She's going to love New York. I know it. I also know this is hard for her. Leaving her hometown and her dad. Still, she's here. I turn my head to the back seat. The sight makes me smile. Jojo's sitting in the middles with his arm around Albert. Race has his head on Jojo's shoulder. Those boys deserve so much more. 

Davey catches me smiling. 

"And what're you smiling about" he says, with a smirk of his own. 

"I'm just happy," I say. And it's true. "I'm finally doing what I've always wanted to do. And I know that you will all love New York. How about you Davey? How are you holding up?"

"I'm okay," he says with a shrug. "My family will be okay. They're smart. Les. . ." he trails off. 

"Hey," I look him in the eye. "Les is going to be fine. Okay?"

"Okay" he sighs. I'm not sure whether I've made things better or not, but what's done is done. I look back at the clock. 1:23. My turn starts at 2. I sigh. As much as I want to go to New York, I wish we could skip all the driving. But we can't afford airplane tickets, and most of us are still minors, without passports. It'll be better when everyone's awake, and we can talk and joke around. Davey's done the math. He says we're going to get to the apartment around 10pm tomorrow. Well, today I guess. That means, . . . ?

"Hey Davey, how much longer 'til we're there?" I inquire. Inquire? I spend too much time with Davey. 

"Umm, 18 hours. 18 and a half" he answers. 

"Ugh," I groan. "That's so long."

"Hey, you're the one who wanted to do this. We're doing this . ."

"Ya ya ya, for me. I get it," I interrupt. "But still. Driving's no fun when there's no one to talk to."

"What am I then?" he scoffs. 

"Alright then, explain why I'm still bored?" I ask. 

"Why don't we play a game?"

"What kind of game?" I have to be careful with this. This could go either way. 

"How about I spy?"

"I spy?"

"What? Fine, how about the ABC game?"

"The ABC game?"

"You look at road sign and try to . . ."

"Ya, I know what the ABC game is, Davey." Prospects aren't looking to good. 

"Fine, okay. How about 20 questions?" he proposes. 

"Okay fine. I'll start." I begin to think of something in my head. I can't be predictable. I'm always so predictable. 

"Okay, I've got it,". I've chosen a porcupine. Let us see him guess that.

"Okay. Is this thing living?"

"Yes."

"Is it an animal?"

"Yes"

"Is it smaller than, say, a basketball?" he asks. I don't know! I don't know what size a porcupine is! I think it's smaller though . . .

"Yes" I decide. 

"Would you keep this thing as a pet?"

"No. I mean, you could, but you wouldn't."

"Alright. Is this animal a mammal"

What?

 "Yes"

"Okay. Is this animal a rodent?"

A rodent? Is it? 

"Yes" I think.

"Is it around the same size as a raccoon?"

"yyYes." He's getting too close. How does he do that?! 

"Is it a raccoon?"

"No". Maybe I'll be okay. 

"Is it a hedgehog?"

"No"

"How about a beaver?"

"No." A beaver? I'm going to be fine. "You've only got 10 left". 

"Okay. Is it a gopher?"

"No. C'mon Davey, you can do better."

"Alright. Is it," he pauses to smirk at me. "A porcupine?"

"How?! How could you possibly know that?"

"Well, it was pretty easy once I figured out it's size and that it was a rodent. Seeing as you don't know very many rodents, I was bound to hit it eventually.". 

"But how did you know? You smirked at me!"

"Oh. Got lucky, I guess," he says. 

"Pff. Lucky," I mutter. I look at the clock again. 1:45. Ugh. This is taking forever. Davey clearly sees the exasperation on my face. 

"You know, if you try to sleep, the time will go faster," he says. 

"Mm-hmm. Sure." But I know he's right. Davey's always right. So I turn over, and close my eyes. I must be more tired than I realized, because I fall asleep within minutes.