Note: I will no longer write 'Katherine's' or 'Jack's' POV. Just know that they alternate every chapter. Thank you!
I ordered the big 30 nuggets. That seems like a lot for two people, right? But I feel like Chick-fil-A's chicken nuggets are really small. Do you find that because I totally find that.
We eat and make small talk. But my mind is elsewhere. I know Jack probably wasn't stoked on telling me about his job because he thought I'd be jealous. Maybe I am a little. But I'm more happy for him. His art has always been a quiet thing he did. But he's SO good, and this could help his art to go somewhere, then I will help him in any way I can.
"Kathy!" I whip my head around so hard that I crack my neck. Jack's hand is on mine. He quickly takes it back when he sees me staring. He stares down at his lap.
"What?" I ask. He looks up.
"I called your name like 5 times. Anyway, um, do you wanna head home?" I look at my watch. Jack got it for me on my birthday. It's 2:12, plus the 25 minute walk home. No one else will be home until 7 ish.
"How about walk around a bit? I mean, we can't really buy anything, but we can look!" Jack looks like the idea of shopping terrifies him, but he nods and we head out into the chill September air.
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We end up spending the whole day walking the streets of New York. We just walk further and further uptown, so at 6 o'clock we're about an hours walk from home. And we cannot stop laughing.
"Well, we can call Medda's. Have Spot come pick us up," I suggest, after we've calmed down a bit. Jack looks me in the eye, and we double over in laughter at the thought of Spot having to come pick us up. We must look like complete idiots, but that only seems to make the whole thing funnier.
Jack takes a deep breath. "Ya. Let's call Medda." We find a nearby pay-phone. "You got any quarters?"
"Uh," I dig around in my purse. "Ya. How many do you need?"
"Um, it's 50 cents." I hand him two quarters and he dials up Medda's number. I squeeze myself into the booth so I hear the conversation that follows, because with any luck it'll be a good one. After two rings, one of the twins picks up.
"Medda's Cafe and Deli, what can I do for you?"
"Hey Mike, can you put Spot on the phone?"
He sighs. "It's Ike. But yeah. Hold on a sec,-"
We hear some muffled noises in the background and then Spot.
He sighs. "What do you want Jack?"
"Um, when do you get off work?" He bites his bottom lip, like he always does when he's nervous.
"Jack, what'd you do?"
"I- uh,-"
"Give me that." I snatch the phone from him. "Hi, Spot, how are you?"
"I'm fine. Katherine, why does Jack want to know when I get off work?"
"Okay, so hears the thing." I hear him give an exasperated sigh before I continue. "So, Jack had his job interview today, right?" I eye Jack before I continue. He nods. "Anyway, he gets the job right? So we say, 'Let's go out to celebrate!' But you have the car so we have to walk. And so we walk and get lunch, and Jack's all, 'Should we go home?' And I'm all, 'Let's walk around!' So anyway, we're way uptown now and- Shut up Jack! Anyway, we need you to pick us up after work. Please?" I can almost feel his frustration.
"You two are unbelievable. I'll come, but I don't get off for an hour. Where should I pick you up?"
I look at Jack. "Um, maybe Central Park? It's only a little ways from here." I nod.
"Central Park," I say
"Centr-. What the heck you guys!" I pull the phone away from my ear while Spot lets out his frustration.
"Sorry!"
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We watch as the car pulls up at the curb, with all the boys in it except for Davey. I get in the front with Spot. Jack and I promised to keep it together, but look on Spot's face is priceless. He is obviously so ticked at us. I start to laugh which makes Jack laugh, which makes me laugh harder, and it becomes a conundrum. Spot looks a little taken aback. But a smirk begins to creep up on his features that scares me a little.
"So," he starts. "What were you two lovebirds doing in Central Park so late? Going for a midnight stroll, were we?" The laughter dies immediately. The three boys in the back softly 'oo.' The car suddenly feels really hot, and I just know I'm blushing so hard. But why should I be? Our outing was completely platonic. I try to come up with a witty comeback.
"It just so happens we needed to be around some tall things after spending the last week with you." Now it was Spot's turn to blush. I turn back to the front, trying not to think about the days events.
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Davey stands in the doorway when we get back to the apartment. With his hands on his hips, he looks like a mom ready to scold her children for being out after curfew. Everyone else disperses to rooms, but me and Jack stay.
"What were you two thinking?!" Davey demands. "Hmm? You could've gotten lost! You've only been here for a little over a week! New York is one of the biggest cities in the world! Why, were you wandering the streets of New York this late?!" Jack and I look at each other. We're straight faced, but I can see the smile in his eyes. Davey stands expectantly, and so Jack recounts the whole affair.
Davey pinches the bridge of his nose and shakes his head. "Well, I'm glad you're okay. And I'm glad you found a job. Speaking of which, Katherine, I found you a job too. Congratulations, you're the newest member of the Baskin Robins team. You start work on Monday, you get weekends off."
"Thanks," I mumble. Davey collapses on the couch.
"We're really sorry Davey," Jack says, sitting next to him.
"Ya, we're really really sorry," I say, sitting on his other side. I can tell he's trying really hard not to smile.
"We pwomise it will never happen again," Jack pleads, adopting a baby voice, which I follow.
"Will you pwease forgive us?" I ask. Davey looks at the two of us.
"Get out of here!" He laughs and pushes us off the couch. We head to our separate rooms. I collapse on my bed and stare at the ceiling. I sit there for a few moments before a voice scares the bejeebees out of me.
"So, spill." Crutchie curls up next to me. I scoot to make room for him. I sigh and roll my eyes at him. I tell the story again, and I turn to Crutchie. He looks almost sorry for me.
"What?" I ask.
"Oh sweetie," he says. "You've got it bad." And with that he leaves the room.
YOU ARE READING
Run Away With Me
FanfictionEight kids run away to New York to pursue their dreams. Amid unstable living and work conditions, Jack Kelly falls head over heels for miss Katherine Plumber. But he just can't put his feelings into words. Katherine is trying to pursue her dreams, b...
