Run Away With Me

Chapter 14 (Jack's POV)

She hugged me! Without any malice! Or pressure from me! That my friends, it what we call progress. 

And she still has that drawing. I mean, it is a pretty good drawing. I just don't know why she likes it. She says it's because it's a good drawing, but that can't be the only reason. I could always draw a new one. I guess it doesn't matter that much. 

Since Spot has the car, me and Kathy have to either take the subway, or walk. Since it seems that everything in New York is 2 blocks away, I make the executive decision that we're walking. Which means that I'm going to need a jacket. I wait on the couch for a few minutes until Kathy comes out. I pull out Davey's laptop, (which is now everyone's laptop) and look for nearby restaurants. I look up as Kathy comes out of her room. 

"So, what are you thinking you want for lunch?" I ask. 

"Um, I don't know. What do you want? It's your celebration after all." 

"Come on, I hate choosing. For my choice, I pick for you to choose." She glares at me, but she thinks about it. 

"You know what? I really want some good chicken. Is there a Chick-fil-A around here?" I pull up the map, and look. 

"Um, it looks like there's one about a mile from here. You up for a walk?"

"Ugh, fine." We grab our coats. "I probably need it anyway." 

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The weather is that perfect temperature where if you wear a jacket, you're hot, but if you don't, you're cold. Kathy chose to wear a jacket, I did not. We've been walking for about 15 minutes, and I'm just praying that I know where we're going. I want to start a conversation, but I don't know what to say. Still, this silence is deafening. 

"So, what did you do today?" I ask. 

"I started unpacking a bit more. Some little things of mine." I nod. I don't want to press further, but she kind of killed the conversation. 

"May I ask what sort of things?" 

She looks at me. "Ya. Um, I brought a couple of books. Some posters, and some photographs. I grabbed that one of us at Davey's graduation last year. That made me laugh." 

"The one where Spot snorted Coke?" 

"That's the one." The thought makes me laugh out loud. That picture is the Holy Grail of all unplanned pictures. It's times like those that make me really and truly appreciate my friends. 

Let me ask you something. Have you ever had a best friend? Someone you trust with your life? Someone who always sticks with you no matter what? Someone, who if ever you need someone, is there in a heartbeat? Someone you want to have by your side every step of the way? Someone who you want your kids to know and love someday? And you know, that even if you fall apart, you'll meet up again someday, and remember all the good times you had? 

I hadn't. Not for a long time. But these boys; They showed me what true friendship means. I know, I know, that's super cheesy and everything, but it's true! I know I would stick with them no matter what. And they would do the same. I mean, they did move across the country for me. Sorta kinda. We're pretty much a family. Most of us don't have folks. So we have friends. And I know tha-

"JACK!" Katherine tugs my shirt backward. I come back from my thoughts and realize that I was about to march right into a busy intersection. "Watch where you're going, why don't ya?"

"Sorry. Thanks, though." She stares me down. It takes every bit of me not to crumble. I really can pick 'em, can't I? Kathy's beautiful, but she can be scary. Don't ever get on her bad side. Ever.

"Don't mention it. By the way, before you travel back into that messed up brain of yours, we're here." I look over and see that we have, in fact, arrived. She pushes open the door, and we walk inside. 

"So, whatcha gonna get?" Kathy looks at the menu. 

"Um, do you want to split some chicken nuggets, and some frozen lemonade?" Kathy asks. 

"Sure. But make sure you get some ranch!" She gives me a thumbs up and goes to order, while I find us a table. Which isn't too hard, but the restaurant is pretty full. I find us a small table near the front. After a few minutes, Kathy comes back and sits down. 

"Did you order ranch?" I ask. 

"Yes Jack, I got you ranch. And some other stuff too." I nod and look out the window. Outside, cars and people and buses and all manner of things pass us by. 

"Do ever think that life is just passing us by? Like everything is just moving so fast and you're trying to catch up, but then you're thrown into another race, and you have to learn a whole new course. And then by the time you do, you're falling behind again, and you just feel like you'll never be able to catch up?" I look over at Kathy, hoping she doesn't think I'm crazy. 

"Um, I guess. But I think it's more like a storm. We're always being tossed around, and the only way to navigate it is to find something to hold onto." I nod. "Speaking of which, what's your new job?" 

I blink at her. How did she make that segue? Doesn't matter, I guess. I'm just happy for the communication. I'm unsure just how much I want to tell her. Truth is, I only applied for the job because I was sure I wouldn't get it. 

"Um, nothing fancy. Just a regular old job." 

"Come on, it can't be worse than Davey's job."

"No, it's not that, it's just . . ." I trail off. 

"Jack," she grabs my hand. "Please? I won't tell if you don't want me to." I realize I have no good reason not to tell her. So I take a deep breath. 

"Igotajobworkingforalocalpaper," I say. More like a word vomit. 

"What? Jack, slow down." Ugh. Why can't she understand my incoherent nonsense?! That was a rhetorical question. 

"Okay. Um, I got a job working for a local paper." 

"Wow, that's great! I didn't know you wanted to be a reporter too!" 

"Uh, ya. I'm not a reporter." She gives me a puzzled look. 

"Then what are you doing?"

"Uhm, I draw the daily cartoon." 

"Oh my gosh! You're perfect for that job! You're such a great artist, and now the world is going to be able to see it!" Kathy clapped her hands together. 

"Relax, it's a local paper." But she's still smiling at me 5 minutes later when our food arrives.