Page 44 of Run For Me
I’m reading a book on my phone as I wait for class to begin when it dings with a text from Amelia.
Amelia:Dinner tonight?
It’s been a while since we’ve hung out, but we’ve chatted at least every other day. She’s sweet and I like her. Not enough to open up about everything, but enough to be okay with hanging out with her.
Me:6 good? What are you thinking?
Amelia:6 is perfect. I need something greasy today. It was a loooooong weekend!
Me:Oh no… tell me all about it later. How about The Burger Joint?
Amelia:I plan to! I’ll see you there at 6.
I can only imagine what she got up to this weekend. The girl is not used to having the freedom to do what she wants. Thecomplete opposite of me who craves the limits of rules. I’ve never had rules, not when my parents were around and not after they died. A mix between being pitied and the depression my mother fell into. Then my grandparents spoiled me and didn’t set limits, obviously more pity. Kids crave rules. They want to know they’re safe and protected by someone more responsible. I never felt that. Never. Maybe that’s why I am the way I am…
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Sailor
The professor walks into class and gets right into it. I take notes for the next hour and a half and at the end of class, he collects the papers that are due.
It’s a busy day, and I find myself hardly having time to think about anything other than class, but every free second I get, my thoughts go to him, and I wonder if he’s seen me today. Is he in any of my classes or did I drop the journal in the hall? Does he pass me in the halls? I look for him, having a feeling I’ll know who he is when I see him. The same way he said he just knew me when he saw me. No one sticks out to me though, and I can’t tell if it’s because I suck at knowing who he is, or I just suck at checking my surroundings.
When I get the courage to glance at the people near me, everyone seems so oblivious, caught up in their own crap. No one is paying attention to the girl who still dresses like she’s going through her high school emo phase. I’m okay with that, though. I don’t want them looking at me. I just want him looking at me. And if he can do it without me knowing, that’s even better.
I grab a coffee when classes are done and instead of going home, I go to the library. There’s only an hour before I have to meet Amelia, so staying in the area makes sense since The Burger Joint is right down the street.
I walk to the very back, to that same corner, curious about whether I’ll still get a weird feeling from it, or if it’s just me being crazy. When I get back there though, I find someone sitting in the chair, an open book on his lap. I quickly turn and head away, back through the stacks, but as I go, I glance at him over my shoulder, noting the crease in his brow and the frown on his face. He looks like he doesn’t want to be bothered, maybe even in a foul mood, and I don’t want to make it worse by distracting him from whatever work he’s doing. I guess school does that to you though, doesn’t it? It can be so stressful at times.
I move to the front and take up one of the smaller chairs by a window and read a few chapters of my book to pass the time. When it’s 5:30, I gather my things and head to my car, once again looking around for a motorcycle that I don’t find.
The Burger Joint is a staple for college kids, and I’d walk if it didn’t look like it’s about to downpour any second. I do not want to get caught in the rain, especially while it’s so cold.
I drive my car the few minutes down the road and see Amelia already there. She’s sitting at a table against the front window, and I wave at her as I head to the door after parking my car in one of the free lots down the block.
“Hey!” she squeals as I step inside. The scent of grease and herbs fills my nose, and my mouth waters. It’s been a while since I’ve had a good burger.
“Hey,” I say with a smile as I reach the table. I hang my coat off the back and put my bag on the floor by the wall. Amelia already has a menu in her hand. She offers it to me.
“I already know what I want,” she tells me.
I take it from her and browse the list of burgers. There are so many choices that it takes me a few minutes to decide. It doesn’t help that I’m starving because I skipped lunch. Everything looks so good; I want them all.
Amelia goes up to place our order since there are no servers here. I hand her my card to pay but she waves me away and I make a note to buy our meal next time. She’s in line for a few minutes and I spend it staring out the window at everyone walking around outside.
It’s a busy area over here, like a mini downtown. It’s a few minutes from campus and popular with all the kids. There are a couple of restaurants, a cafe, a general store, and a supply store that has everything we need for school. During the summer, people will sit by the fountain with coffee and do homework. Of course, now that fall is here, the fountain is off, looking more like an old, weathered statue.
“They said it’ll be about twenty minutes.” Amelia plops down in her chair and rests her chin on her fist.
“Plenty of time to tell me what happened this weekend?”
“Oh, I don’t know about that, but I can try.” She gives me a forced smile and goes on to explain what happened. “My parents had a mini-intervention and threatened to come up here if I didn’t ‘stop with the antics.’” I raise a brow, and she rolls her eyes, then continues. “They somehow got onto my Instagram account, even though it’s private!—and saw a few photos I posted from a party I went to. They did some digging and found other pictures and videos from this party, and I guess after I’d already left, there was some kind of strip show.”
“Damn, are your parents in the CIA or something?” I laugh and she shakes her head, handing me her phone.
“This is what they found, not what I posted.”
My eyes widen as I take in the photo of a topless girl giving two guys a lap dance. One of the guys has the biggest grin on hisface, looking like he’s having the time of his life. He’s covered in tattoos, all up and down his arms, and even looks like he has some on his face, but I can’t tell what they are from the distance. The other guy’s face is covered by the girl’s body. He’s slouched against the couch, the girl straddling him, his hands resting on her backside, and I only assume he’s staring at her boobs that are in his face.
