Run Away With Me

Chapter 8 (Jack's POV)

Oh. My. Gosh. I cannot believe I just left her there. Well, I can a little. But what was I thinking?! Well, I was thinking I would warm up the car for her. But I really should've told her. Oh my gosh. But wait, did you see us walking up to the apartment? Yep, that's me. With my arm around her. And she didn't shrug it off. Point one for me.

Davey's making us all go to bed right away. He wants to spend the day tomorrow walking around town. Seeing the sights. Because first thing Monday morning we're all going job hunting. Rent's due soon enough and either we pay or we don't stay. Here's our dilemma; We have 5 beds for 8 people. Of course, Race and Spot will share. Kathy will definitely get her own bed. So will Crutchie. Which means me and Davey will share, as will Albert and Jojo. I'm not sure how I feel about this. I may have had a small bed back home, but it was mine. I think I might the cushions from the couch, (because the couch is a hide-a-bed) and make a make-shift bed. Make a make-shift bed. Make a make-shif . . . ya I'm not sure that's right. But the point stands. The thing is, I don't want to offend Davey. Would that offend him? I don't know. I guess we'll see.

I walk into our bathroom to clean-up before bed. This is a nice bathroom. Two sinks, a big shower and a separate room for the toilet. The counter tops look to be made of tile, just like the floor. I wash my face in the porcelain sink, and reach for my toothbrush. But it's not there. A panic fills me. It feels as if my world is collapsing. I can feel my heart rushing, my palms sweating. The toothbrush that has stuck with me through thick and thin, is gone. i burst through the door to my room and collapse on the bed, sobbing.

"Jack, what's wrong?" Davey asks. I gasp for air between sobs.

"My *gasp* toothbrush *gasp* is gone!" I cry.

"Calm down Jack, it's just a toothbrush."

"But you don't understand," I explain. "Sir Brush-a-lot was my best friend!" I hear Albert and Jojo snicker behind me. "You think its funny?!" I demand.

"Jack, I found your toothbrush," Katherine says. "It was in your suitcase." Just so you know, that little scene really did happen. I mean, I was faking the whole time, but how was Kathy to know that?! She just assumes I have a really deep attachment to my toothbrush, 'Sir Brush-a-lot.'

"Y-, yo-, you heard all that?" I stammer. She just nods and hands me my toothbrush. She's more than halfway down the hall when I stutter a feeble 'thank you.'

"Dude," Albert says. "That's embarrassing! Kathy totally thinks you need your toothbrush to function!" Jojo is laughing so hard that he fell off the bed and is now literally rolling on the floor laughing.

"It's Katherine," is the only thing I come up with. But Albert is too busy laughing to care. Davey pats my shoulder, and leaves the room. It wouldn't have been so bad if it were only the guys. I would've gotten my toothbrush, we would've laughed, and Jojo would praise me for my acting. But Katherine had to come to my rescue. I sit in shame for a few more seconds before realizing I still have to brush my teeth. As I look at myself in the mirror, I can see that I'm still blushing. There's a knock on the door. I sigh, sure that it's Spot and Race come torment me.

"Come in," I say. To my surprise, and relief, Crutchie walks in. He boosts himself onto the counter. One good thing to come from his bad leg is his amazing arm strength. He looks at me.

"I, uh, see you found your toothbrush," he says with a snicker. I give him a look that clearly conveys don't push it. But really, he could push it all he wants. Crutchie is too much of an angle for any of us to get mad at him. I boost myself onto the counter and join him.

"Do you think you could explain to Katherine that I was acting?" I plead.

"Never," he says. "But she did seem to find the whole thing quite hilarious." I groan and put my face in my hands. Crutchie just pats my shoulder and leaves. I get off the counter myself and head to my room. I walk in to find that Davey has made a make-shift bed on the floor already.

"Are you sleeping on the floor?" I ask him.

"No, you are," he replies. I guess I was destined to sleep on the floor. I walk out to the main room to grab my suitcase. Race and Spot are already asleep on the hide-away, but I'm sure I hear them laugh as I head back to my room.

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I wake up to the smell of bacon. I walk out to the kitchen to find that Race is cooking a breakfast of bacon and eggs. I now am realizing that of all the furniture, we don't have a table. Most of us are eating in the living room, except for 'the backrow trio' (a name that has stuck), who are eating at the small bar. I'm sitting down on the couch when Davey stands up.

"Alright everyone! As you know, we are walking around downtown today. See the sights, grab some food, and job scout. It is currently 8:17. We are leaving at 9:00. Be ready!" We all nod and give our assurances that we heard him. I finish my breakfast and get up to take a shower and get dressed. I pick out some jeans and a t-shirt Kathy got me for my birthday one year. It has a cartoon cheese on it and it says, "Does this shirt make me look Cheesy?" I hate it with all my being. But I think it's the best option today.

"5 minutes!" I hear Davey yell. I grab my jacket and head out into the living room.