Page 13 of Run For Me
My heart pounds even harder in my chest. My hands are clammy and shaking. Is he for real?
This is impossible.
My cheeks burn with shame, and I rush to the bathroom because I swear I’m going to be sick. Water splashes everywhere after I turn the faucet on high, needing the cold water on my face. I’m panting as I lean over the sink, my face nearly numb. I’m going to pass out… I’m definitely going to pass out.
Those thoughts, my private thoughts, were never supposed to be shared with anyone. They were personal things that went on in my head that I wanted no one to know about—ever.
But now someone does know. And what are they going to do with that information? That is the most important thing, so I wipe my face, look at myself in the mirror and take slow deep breaths before heading back to my room to handle this. These thoughts were never supposed to make it out into the world, and it needs to stay that way.
It’s not the end of the world, Sailor.
This can be fixed. Just see what they want and give it to them.
It’s that simple.
Just do what he wants, and you’ll get your journal back.
Your secrets will stay safe.
Chapter Nine
Him
The grin on my face is a mile wide as I stare at the jumping dots on the screen.
DarkRaven: Tell me what you want for the journal. I’ll give you anything, even money, but I need your silence.
“Not what I expected her to say.” I shake my head and glance upwards, trying to decide how to respond. I guess being honest is the best policy, right?
You_Run_Ill_Chase: Believe me, little dove, I don’t plan on telling anyone about this. You’re my little secret. Now and always.
DarkRaven: Please just give it back.
You_Run_Ill_Chase: I’m not done reading it yet…
DarkRaven: Good! It’s private! You shouldn’t read any of it!!
I laugh out loud, trying to imagine her flustered face shouting at me out of fear. She really hates her thoughts. What an awful thing that must be. I can’t imagine what that must be like. Torture, I suppose.
You_Run_Ill_Chase: I’ll agree not to read anymore on one condition.
DarkRaven: What?
DarkRaven: Anything, I swear. Just stop reading!
You_Run_Ill_Chase: You keep me as a friend on here and answer any question I ask you.
I roll my lips between my teeth as I wait for a response. This is the better deal. It seems she’s nervous about writing things down in her journal, which is why there isn’t much. I can get more out of her this way. Minutes pass, the dots dancing on and off, but nothing comes.
I wait and wait and wait. I even close the app and restart it, worried it froze, but it didn’t. She still hasn’t responded. Ten minutes pass and still nothing, so I close the app and drop the phone onto the couch. I get up to make myself a bowl of cereal—by far my favorite late-night snack. When I get back to the couch, snack in hand, I find a message waiting for me.
DarkRaven: I have to think about it.
You_Run_Ill_Chase: And I’ll keep your journal safe until you decide.
You_Run_Ill_Chase: Good night, little dove. Dream of me.
I close the app and put my phone down to enjoy my cereal and the TV. It’s been a long damn day.
