Page 10 of Run For Me
Chapter Seven
Sailor
Rico’s is pretty empty, which makes it easy to be here. I hate being in loud, crowded places. It’ll be nice to chat with Amelia without so many distractions—I get distracted easily.
“So, did you live in Georgia your whole life?” I ask, taking a sip of my Shirley Temple. I use the straw to poke one of the cherries—I asked for extra because they’re the best part—and pop it into my mouth.
“Up until two weeks ago.” She shrugs, picking up her taco and taking a bite. She moans as her eyes close, and she places the taco into the basket and reaches for a napkin to wipe her mouth. “This is so good, Sailor, oh my god.”
“I’m glad you like it. Tacos are a staple food for me. I eat them at least once a week.”
“I can see why.” She picks up her taco again and takes a huge bite. I can’t help but laugh.
“So, what made you move all the way out here? Aren’t there schools closer?”
She nods vigorously, her glasses sliding down her nose. She pushes them up and swallows.
“There sure are, but I needed to get away from home. My mother is the captain of helicopter parents, even at my age.” She rolls her eyes, reaching for her soda and taking a sip. “How are your parents?”
The question catches me off guard, even though I should have seen it coming. I stare blankly for a moment before I shake out of it. “My parents are dead.”
“Oh, my—I’m so sorry. So, you live with grandparents? Aunt or uncle?”
I shake my head, reaching for my drink, hoping the chill will get rid of the knots forming in my stomach. “It’s just me.”
She waves her hand at me. “You don’t have to talk about it. I’m sorry I’m so nosey.”
“It’s okay,” I say quickly. “My dad died when I was thirteen, my mom about two years ago, and my grandparents a year ago.”
The look on her face is the reason I don’t tell people about my life. They look at me with such pity, like I’m a poor thing that now needs to be treated as so.
“Sailor—”
“Please don’t look at me like that. I swear I’m fine. I mean, it’s hard sometimes, but I’ve got a lot of good things going for me, and not to sound too harsh, but I don’t need anyone feeling bad for me.”
She shakes her head. “It’s not that. I mean, I do feel bad, but only because it’s sad, Sailor. That’s just a lot, but I don’t think any less of you.”
I give her a small smile. “Thanks. It’s not something I like to talk about.”
She perks up, wiping the sad look off her face and replacing it with a bright smile.
“So, let’s talk about something else! You have a boyfriend?”
The question should make me happy. Thinking of Sam should put a smile on my face. I should be proud to talk about him. But it doesn’t, and I’m not. All it does is put a sour taste in my mouth.
“No,” I answer. “No boyfriend here.”
Yep, I’m the worst girlfriend ever, but there is no way I can tread the online-boyfriend conversation after just explaining my family situation, so for now, Sam stays a secret.
And speaking of Sam, my phone dings with a notification from Surge, and assuming it’s him, I don’t bother checking it. I’m not home to jump on the game right now, so there’s no point in talking to him. Besides, I told him I was going out, so I don’t know why he’s bothering me.
“Me either,” Amelia says, sinking into her chair. “My parents would never allow it. Though, I snuck out of the house successfully a few times to go to parties and hooked up with a few guys, so I wasn’t a total loser.”
I force a smile, knowing I made the right decision not to tell her about Sam. She’d definitely think I was weird if I explained I have a boyfriend who I’ve never met and I’m a virgin. Yeah, no thanks.
“Parties aren’t really my thing.”
Amelia shrugs. “I like them sometimes. School is important, so it’ll always come first for me, but I won’t pass up an invitation if I have the time. Do you live on campus?”
