Page 12 of Run Away With Me

The Mustang screeched to a stop a few yards away, and Brooke leaned out of the driver’s side window, a handgun pointed in the man’s direction.

‘All right, asshole, leave her alone.’

While he was gaping at her, I dashed for the car, the plastic CVS bag knocking against my leg. The asshole yelled something, but there was too much blood rushing through my ears, blocking up my brain, and all I could think wasthank God … thank Godfor Brooke being here to save me.Again.

‘Go, go, go,’ I said, shoving the bag next to my feet and pulling the door closed at the same time.

I pressed the heel of my hand to my sternum, hoping to hold back the sick, terrified feeling and settle my rapid heartbeat. I still felt a little stunned, like I couldn’t really believe this was happening, that this was actually my life now.

The man was still yelling something as Brooke pulled away, revving the engine so hard I felt the vibrations through my entire body.

3

Get a Grip– Aerosmith

Brooke drove out of the town in stony silence, her jaw clenched and her knuckles white on the steering wheel. After a few minutes I bent over and put my head between my knees, sure I was going to puke, and she still didn’t say anything.

Then she snapped at me.

‘Put somefuckingmusic on, Mouse. You know I hate driving in silence.’

I grabbed another cassette out of the glove box and shoved it into the player without looking. This time the speakers blasted angry rock music.

It looked like this road trip was going to be over before it had even begun. The plan had been so simple … get cash out and get back to the car. But no. I’d screwed up, like I always screwed up, and Brooke had had to do somethingillegalto save me.

I couldn’t blame her for being angry. I was angry at me, too.

Hopefully I could convince her to drop me off at the next bus station, or a city with good public transport links. I had a thousand dollars in cash on me now, plus what I’d stashed away before leaving home. That was enough to get me … somewhere. I’d be on my own again, but at least I had a plan, right?Get to a bus station. Get on a bus. Go …

My stomach lurched and I held back the instinct to throw up, knowing if I did that in Brooke’s car it would only make her angrier. I’d originally planned to run away on my own, so I didn’t know why being without Brooke was suddenly such a terrifying idea.

I barely noticed when the car stopped. I did notice when the music cut out.

I forced myself to sit up, my stomach still churning. ‘I’m sorry.’

‘Jesus Christ, what are you sorry for?’ Brooke said irritably.

‘For screwing everything up!’

‘It was such a simple plan, Mouse. Get some fucking cash and go. You do realize I was probably caught on security cameras waving a gun at someone?’

‘I know,’ I whispered. ‘I’m sorry.’

Brooke closed her eyes and shook her head. ‘It’s all right. We’ll handle it. Are you okay?’

‘I … Not really.’ I couldn’t lie – my brain was too scrambled. Even though it was pathetic, and I was probably going to make Brooke hate me even more, I didn’t have it in me to pretend.

She reached over and squeezed my arm, either not noticing or choosing to ignore it when I flinched.

‘Come on,’ Brooke said, opening the car door and getting out.

We were in a small parking lot next to a nature park that had pretty picnic benches angled so they’d be in the shade of the trees. It was raining a little, but not enough to deter me from getting out of the car. Brooke didn’t seem to be bothered by the rain, either.

I followed her in silence as we walked over to a picnic bench. I sat down on the table with my feet resting on the bench part, and Brooke straddled the bench so she could look at me from a right angle. I didn’t have to look at her at all if I didn’t want to.

‘What happened?’ she asked, more gently this time.

‘I … I don’t know. I got the cash out of the ATM, and when I turned around, he was there. Then you showed up with a gun.’

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